Play all day
A stone’s throw from Johannesburg, and nestled above a botanical garden and nature reserve, Hobby Park in Krugersdorp will offer hardcore off-roaders and newbies an opportunity to test their mettle.
Befitting its name, Hobby Park is where you come to indulge your outdoor interests. Besides 4x4 driving, the facility is mostly geared toward mountain bikers who want to improve their skill on Hobby Park’s tough outrun trail, as there is a training school on the grounds. Owner Mike Gonsalves greets you at the reception/bar area and runs you through the rules and indemnity. There is also a paintball range on the property, which offers would-be gunners a chance to mow down their buddies in a hail of paint-filled nylon projectiles until someone cries uncle. You can also bring your rod, and try to hook barbel, bass or carp. Just remember to let them go after getting photographic evidence of your catch. But you’re here for the off-road driving and, luckily, it is the chief attraction. There are a couple of obstacles near the farm’s dam on which to hone your skills if you’re not that confident. Consider this if you have not yet earned your off-road stripes, because here they throw you into the deep end. Literally. While the Green Trail is itself pretty, you can conquer it with a 4x2 equipped with a diff-lock if you know what you’re doing. But Hobby Park is all about the Action Trail. If you are unsure of what to expect, call on Hobby Park manager Wicus van Zyl, who knows the layout like the back of his own hand, to give you a quick crash course. The obstacles, which are straight ahead as you turn right toward the shop and reception, start with an axle twister decline into a pit that requires low range, make sure your rear diff lock is engaged, and then a sharp right, away from the property’s border.
When there’s decent rainfall, the next obstacle gets quite interesting. It is called a water crossing, but it’s basically another pit. Unfortunately, it wasn’t full of water at the time of our visit, but you still need to keep your wits about you because you’re basically driving through mud here. Wicus reckons that around 1,6 bar of pressure on a decent off-road tyre should see you through most of these obstacles, and while a raised suspension system isn’t a must, it’s definitely going to help with clearance on some of the hairier challenges. And if you’re still driving around with your stock running boards, it might be a good idea to remove them before your visit. But up until this point, it’s all pretty uneventful. The third obstacle is an even longer water trough that only just turned the soil under the tyres into mud, but it does taper towards the end, which requires the driver to hold the correct line from entry to exit. Some axle twisters just behind the reception area leads you around a horseshoe to the fourth challenge. It’s one that requires some finesse – even when it’s not completely soggy. This drop into mud will require you to maintain a little momentum to make it up the slippery incline. Things get serious as you approach the sixth obstacle. Here, you need to decide if you’re properly equipped for the challenge of thick mud in which you have to round a 90-degree left-hander. Management advises at least front and rear diff locks, a raised suspension and recovery equipment. It’s also not encouraged to do this one on your own. You can of course choose to avoid number six and head directly for seven, a simple log bridge – all that’s required
here is that someone guide you across. Obstacle nine is a rocky ascent and decline, that side-slopes toward the passenger side. Obstacle 10 has a name and it’s called “last survivor”. Management doesn’t suggest you try this in a standard 4x4 vehicle. Front and rear diff lock come highly recommended, and they want to know up front if you plan to tackle this one. Looking at it from up front is very intimidating – it’s a 43-degree incline of smooth rock. You’re supposed to drive back down it again to earn street cred around Hobby Park. You’ve got some breathing room at 11 and 12, before gritting your teeth for the next two obstacles. Up on the top of a ridge, you look down to the right towards 13 (a descent down ragged rock shelves and, just a little farther along, 14 (which you have to climb up after having successfully traversed 13.)
These are really not for the faint of heart and only meant for experienced and confident 4x4 enthusiasts to tackle. You also need a guide and, of course, plenty of patience. There are telltale scars scraped into the rocks on 14, along with some side-window deflector debris left behind from a previous off-roader who must have overturned or rolled their vehicle down the obstacle. From here you can figure out if you’re brave – or kitted out enough – to tackle the last two serious challenges. You can turn around and head straight for 16, which is a rocky decline that will require some feather braking. You can also choose to halt the day’s activities and stop for a snack at the demarcated braai areas or continue onto the Green Trail and enjoy a more leisurely jaunt. Most 4x2 drivers experienced with diff-lock should be able to handle this trail without any trouble. The trail continues to the lookout point, which is basically inside the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden. This is a restricted area, but Hobby Park has an agreement with local government to go no further than this point. From here you have a bird’s eye view of the border between Krugersdorp and Roodepoort. The last challenge here is right back where you started, close to reception. Passing the paintball field on your left, you approach obstacle 17 – the water hole. It posed no threat during our visit. So, phone ahead and ask if it’s rained recently. If it has, then you and your buddies are in for a 4x4 treat.