What is the thrill of quad biking in Lesotho? I have asked a friend and well known quad bike rider from Quad24 to share a few thoughts and would like to share his comments: [Pardon my rather reckless translation from Afrikaans]
“I have learnt the hard way, riding my quad to ruins and shedding money and tears along the way in reaching my goal of becoming Free State / Northern Cape Champ. Was this all worth it? Most definitely!
The good news is that nobody has to fall to discover the joys of quad biking! Take a few lessons and enquire from experienced drivers – and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg!
The thrills of quad biking and sharing this with my lovely wife involve the following:
- On Friday evening she packs food, snacks and cool drinks in our rucksacks and I upload the quads, gather the GPS and tools and we go to bed in anticipation of the next day.
- Early morning after breakfast we embark on the road I have marked – a new road this time…
- I must admit that for us it is still a thrill to attempt a new route as we do not know what to expect
- Not long and we are up high in the mountains of the Kingdom of Lesotho, at places where Europeans never visit and where the locals stare at us in awe - as if they have never seen pale looking white people – and definitely never have seen quad bikes!
- Waterfalls are as abundant as traffic lights in the city and from time to time we stop to capture the beauty of our surroundings on our digital cameras
- Traveling approximately 90 kilometers up and down mountains the terrain is beyond description, the air fresh and free from pollution…
- There is no cellular reception and the mountains are overwhelming…you forget about stress, your liabilities towards rates and taxes…
- Back at the lodge we enjoy a cold one and we share our experiences…not only those captured on camera but also in the mind…a sharing of enjoyment and a life worth living till late in the night…
You and your bike, your wife, children, friends, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, passes, evenings, fire and braaivleis…. This all makes quad biking a winner!!” [Comments from Kiewiet]
These experiences do not have to be a privilege for only a few. Social media has enables us to share this with others through the website Quad24.co.za and seasoned travelers such as the Griessel family have allowed us to experience the beauty of Lesotho through the lens of their digital camera! [ View the January 2008 Lesotho experience]
Even better news is that the Tourism Authorities in Lesotho are serious about promoting the tourism potential in Lesotho! The Inaugural National Tourism Conference will be hosted by the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation 23-25th of January 2008. This will address all aspects of tourism in Lesotho and might well benefit quad bike tourism as well!
Perhaps it is time that we forget about our city stress and complaints of traffic congestion and power failures and get out in the open to breathe some fresh air. Let us experience nature and friendships in a crime free and friendly environment under the stars!
The Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog and the Quad24 website would like to extend our best wishes to the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation on the upcoming Conference. May you have much success in promoting the Kingdom of Lesotho as a breathtaking travel destination!
