Xtreme Chilling

A Land Rover Trophy of a different type takes place every Easter weekend, thanks to Pretoria East service centre LR Xtreme. This year, a group of 16 Landies tackled a tough Lesotho route, made tougher when the rains came pelting down…

- Ina-Mari Ferreira Robbertse

Every year during the Easter weekend, Land Rover specialists LR Xtreme hosts a trip for their clients and friends. A different location and organiser is chosen each year, and for 2019 the trip leader was Ben van Dyk, who planned an unforgettable trip to Lesotho.

On April 17, the group driving 16 Land Rovers met in Clarens, all very excited for the journey ahead. An early departure took the group up Ma ka Lisui Pass, which topped out at a spectacular viewpoint. This was a day of some serious climbs and downhills, which everyone managed with ease, before the convoy wound down to the first night’s remote camping spot near a river, pre-arranged with a local chief.

It was clear Ben had not lied about the freezing weather. It was cold, but manageable with a bottle of sherry in hand, excellent company and great camaraderie, before an early night.

Day 3 of driving took us to Katse Dam where we decided to sleep at the Katse village’s camping site. This was our first shower in two days, because it had been too cold to bush shower the previous days. Once again we had a great time around the camp re until rain forced us to escape to our beds. Unfortunately, some of the rooftop tents leaked and there was a bunch of not-so-happy campers trying to dry things out the next morning.