Gravel and Tar

24/04/2026

Day 7 in Lesotho – Cold, Wet, and Completely Not as Planned!

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Day 7 of my Lesotho adventure turned into one of the toughest riding days of the entire journey.
The morning started with heavy thunder and rain, and I made the call not to attempt Sani Pass in these conditions. Dirk and I split up, and I headed toward Semonkong to visit the famous waterfall. On the way, the weather deteriorated fast — rain poured down so hard I could barely see through my visor.
When I finally reached Semonkong, the road was extremely wet and slippery, forcing me to turn around. The rain came down in buckets, and I ended up seeking shelter at a filling station, shivering from the cold.
With no sign of the weather improving, I decided to push on and cross the border at Maseru, hoping for better conditions. Thankfully it was drier on the other side — but the wind was relentless, fighting me every kilometre as I worked to keep the bike on the road.
Eventually, I arrived at my guest house, the Kersiehuis. A warm shower, a comfortable room, and some much-needed rest finally brought relief after an intense day.
This was one of those rides that tests both rider and machine — a day I won’t forget anytime soon.
Thanks for riding along with me. If you enjoyed this journey, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Turkana Gear

23/04/2026

Malealea to Maluti Lodge – Part 2: Beauty Beyond the Breaking Point

Check out my Youtube channel Gravel and Tar TV:
https://www.youtube.com//videos

Part 2 saw the tough road continue, pushing me right to my limits — but every struggle was rewarded with breathtaking scenery. After hours of challenging riding, finally arriving at Maluti Lodge felt like a dream come true. We wrapped up the day the best way possible: cold Lesotho beers, tired bodies, and big stories shared after an unforgettable adventure.

Turkana Gear

23/04/2026

Malealea to Maluti Lodge – Part 1: Pushed to My Limits in Lesotho

Check out my Youtube channel Gravel and Tar TV:
https://www.youtube.com//videos

Part 1 was an absolute test of endurance and skill. After a good night’s rest in Malealea, we faced the extremely challenging entrance road out of the village. It was tough, but I handled it far better than expected. From there, we searched for the best route toward Ramabantla and Maluti Lodge, taking a few wrong turns before finally finding the right road.
A short stretch of tar gave way to gravel once again — and this gravel pushed me to my limits. It turned into the most difficult off-road section I’ve ever ridden. There were moments of complete exhaustion, but I pushed through, helped greatly by Dirk’s constant encouragement.
The adventure continues in Part 2.

Turkana Gear

22/04/2026

Barkley East to Malealea Part 2 | Lundins Pass, Borders & Lesotho Backroads Adventure

Watch my other Motorbike Adventures on Youtube at Gravel and Tar TV:
https://www.youtube.com//videos

Part 2 of my adventure from Barkley East to Malealea in Lesotho starts with an intense and challenging ride over Lundins Pass, an underrated mountain pass that proved far more difficult than expected. This episode continues from the breathtaking views of the Drakensberg as we push on along this demanding route. Along the way we were even searched by the South African police, although unfortunately the cameras were off at the time. The border crossing into Lesotho went smoothly and quickly, opening the door to a completely different world filled with beautiful, wide-open scenery. Riding on paved roads felt like a dream, but constant attention was needed for animals and potholes. The day ended with a serious shake-up on the roughly 10 km entrance road to Malealea, a hectic and technical stretch that pushed my skill level to the limit. Thanks to the perfectly balanced Honda Transalp, I was able to ride confidently and enjoy every moment of this tough but rewarding day.

Turkana Gear

22/04/2026

DAY 5 - Part 1: Entering Lesotho via Lundin’s Pass

See all my videos on Youtube at Gravel and Tar TV
https://www.youtube.com//videos

Today we set off with high spirits as we began our journey into Lesotho. The ride took us over the scenic Lundin’s Pass, a route that proved more challenging than expected but rewarded us with breathtaking beauty. Lundin’s Nek Pass, also spelled Lundean’s Nek, is a 14.5 km gravel mountain pass in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This highly scenic and technically demanding route crosses the Witteberge mountain range, an outlier of the Drakensberg, near the southern border of Lesotho.

22/04/2026

Lost Roads & Wild Weather | Hogsback to Barkley East – Day 4

After two unforgettable days in Hogsback, we set off on Day 4 of our adventure, riding towards Barkley East. The day kicked off with the familiar challenge of navigating the tricky entrance to our guest house before finally hitting the road.
Along the way, we met a young adventurer eager to join me and Dirk on our journey. Unfortunately, he fell ill, and we rode together to the nearest hospital where we had to leave him behind before continuing our ride.
The route delivered breathtaking scenery, rolling mountains, and wide-open landscapes, but it didn’t come without challenges. Strong winds, heavy rain, and a wrong turn that forced us to backtrack nearly 130 km tested both our patience and endurance. In the end, the raw beauty of the surroundings made every tough moment worthwhile.
This leg of the journey reminded us that adventure riding is never just about the destination—it’s about the unexpected moments along the way.

Turkana Gear

22/04/2026

Lesotho Motorbike Adventure Day 3: Hogsback Exploration, Rain, Wrong Turns & Good Laughs

Today was a relaxed day in Hogsback. We headed out early to explore the town, knowing rain was on the way. The morning delivered beautiful scenery and some of the nicest little shops Hogsback has to offer. As the rain clouds rolled in, I started getting nervous. The others weren’t quite ready yet, so I decided to head off on my own to our guest house, Never Daunted. That’s when the adventure began. I rode and rode, completely missing the turn-off, while the rain caught up with me and soaked me to the bone. After a few phone calls and some frustration, I finally found the place. Strong winds had even knocked a tree across the road, but luckily there was a detour to get through. Wet, tired, and slightly frustrated, I eventually made it home. By that evening, everything turned into laughter around the braai. Despite the challenges, it turned out to be a really great day.

22/04/2026

Day 2 Adventure | Riding from Nieu-Bethesda to Hogsback

Watch more video on my Youtube Channel GravelandTarTV
https://www.youtube.com//videos

We woke up in the charming little town of Nieu-Bethesda to a cool morning breeze and the sound of birds welcoming the day. Knowing the heat would rise quickly, we set off early and made good time on the road. It turned into a long, hot, but unforgettable ride as we made our way toward our next destination — the misty forests of Hogsback.

Turkana Gear

22/04/2026

Revisiting my Lesotho Motorbike Adventure which started in George.

Riding Into the Karoo | George to Nieu-Bethesda on the Honda Transalp 750

Visit my Youtube Channel for more adventures:
https://www.youtube.com//videos

After a beautiful gravel ride to De Rust, spirits were high as we looked forward to the road to Willowmore. The heat slowly started to build, but the ride remained enjoyable and smooth. In Willowmore, we stopped at the iconic Royal Hotel for a legendary omelette that kept us fueled for the entire day.
Riding deeper into the Karoo, the heat became a real challenge. About 40 km before Nieu-Bethesda, we stopped in Graaff-Reinet to refuel and stock up on food for the evening. From there, we rode one of the most beautiful stretches of road of the trip, heading towards Nieu-Bethesda — a hidden gem in the Karoo where time feels like it has stood still.
A big thank you to Honda Wing George for the incredible Honda Transalp 750, and to Turkana Gear for keeping my gear and belongings safe throughout the journey.

Turkana Gear

08/04/2026

Join me as we ride deep into the eerie heart of the Karoo, searching for South Africa’s most famous spirit—the Uniondale Ghost. Our ghost ride began at Honda Wing and Power Sport George, with a warm coffee and excited nerves. We rode through rain and darkness, passing Oudtshoorn and De Rust, and stopping briefly for a mysterious night photo and a shot of OBS to keep warm.
As the shadows thickened, we reached Uniondale—home of the legendary ghost bride, Maria Roux. While I didn’t see her this time, the atmosphere was electric. We visited the ghost statue, shared stories at The Hungry Ghost, and celebrated with prizes and lucky draws.
An unforgettable, spooky night on two wheels… and maybe… just maybe… she was closer than we thought.

Join me as we ride deep into the eerie heart of the Karoo, searching for South Africa’s most famous spirit—the Uniondale Ghost. Our ghost ride began at Honda...

28/01/2026

Malealea to Maluti Lodge – Part 2: Beauty Beyond the Breaking Point.

Part 2 saw the tough road continue, pushing me right to my limits — but every struggle was rewarded with breathtaking scenery. After hours of challenging riding, finally arriving at Maluti Lodge felt like a dream come true. We wrapped up the day the best way possible: cold Lesotho beers, tired bodies, and big stories shared after an unforgettable adventure.

Part 2 saw the tough road continue, pushing me right to my limits — but every struggle was rewarded with breathtaking scenery. After hours of challenging rid...

26/01/2026

Malealea to Maluti Lodge – Part 1: Pushed to My Limits in Lesotho

Part 1 was an absolute test of endurance and skill. After a good night’s rest in Malealea, we faced the extremely challenging entrance road out of the village. It was tough, but I handled it far better than expected. From there, we searched for the best route toward Ramabantla and Maluti Lodge, taking a few wrong turns before finally finding the right road.

A short stretch of tar gave way to gravel once again — and this gravel pushed me to my limits. It turned into the most difficult off-road section I’ve ever ridden. There were moments of complete exhaustion, but I pushed through, helped greatly by Dirk’s constant encouragement.

The adventure continues in Part 2.

Part 1 was an absolute test of endurance and skill. After a good night’s rest in Malealea, we faced the extremely challenging entrance road out of the villag...