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Written by Wouter Brand, Tracks4Africa
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Friday, 14 October 2005 |
WHO IS TRACKS4AFRICA (T4A)
Tracks4Africa is an INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL organisation
with but one mission. “Let’s get the wheels back on track”. Our
core-business is mapping and re-mapping Africa the only way it can be
done. That is to put the land surveying in the hands of experienced and
responsible travellers who know conditions at ground zero.
Membership to T4A is open, free and voluntary. Sharing in the
collective navigation experience of the entire T4A data community is
the working principle of community mapping.
To sustain T4A mapping operations high quality spatial data is made
available (license fee) to other non-profit organisations and
commercial operators who shares a common value system and eco-conscious
read “Africa for the next generation”
5 years running and the Tracks4Africa data warehouse is a comprehensive
and accurate spatial record of where, why and when the Outdoor
community take the road.
4x4-ING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WESTERN CAPE AND ELSEWHERE
Some statistics
The total number of ‘4x4 trails’ and exactly where they are is NOT
known. There is not a single reliable source with an up to date and
complete record of these trails and where exactly they are. Estimates
indicate there may be as many as 400.
The T4A data warehouse may provide some indication. Statistics (below)
and Eco-trails (193) is by far the most popular destination category.
| Destinations |
Count |
39. Racing / 4x4 Playgrounds
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12 |
40. Eco-Trails (off-road trails)
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193 |
41. Game Reserves
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42 |
42. National Parks
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86 |
43. Nature Reserves
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168 |
46. Tourist Resorts
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16 |
47. Hiking Trails /Mountain Bike Trails
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15 |
48. Fly Fishing Beats
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23 |
49. Game Range / Hunting Farms
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20 |
50. Protected Areas
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10 |
51. Community Rest Camps
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2 |
52. Golf Courses
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4 |
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591 |
(This classification is not final and under revision)
Eco-trails per Country/Province and it points to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
| Country / Province |
PARTS |
| Botswana |
6 |
| Namibia |
26 |
Eastern Cape
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27 |
Free State
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7 |
| Gauteng |
5 |
| Kwazulu-Natal |
9 |
| Mpumalanga |
14 |
North West
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4 |
Northern Cape
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12 |
Northern Province
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12 |
South Africa
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3 |
Western Cape
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67 |
| Swaziland |
1 |
The complete T4A list of eco-trails and GPS coordinates can be
downloaded from
http://eiportne.tracks4africa.co.za/Eco_trails.zip (43kb)
The problem and the solution
Like never before in history the World today has become acutely aware
of environment. It has become impossible to debate the validity or
otherwise of issue or activities perceived to threaten environment.
Whale culling on the oceans and 4x4-ing on the mountains is the same
thing. It will be fruitless debating the validity of otherwise of this
statement.
In 1984 the Montreal protocol banned the use of CFC gasses. Laboratory
test proofed that CFC destroys Ozone but no scientist could explain (or
bothered to explain) how CFC gas (1.31 times heavier than air) reaches
the upper layers of the atmosphere to do the destruction. Despite
hardcore facts CFC's was banned anyway.
The same will happen with '4x4-ing' in the mountains of the Western
Cape and elsewhere for that matter. Whatever this Conference debates
and whatever NOW formulate in the White Paper, '4x4-ing' in the
mountains will be banned anyway.
and rightfully so, South Africa is a World leader on environmental
legislation. The Minister and DEAT team have every reason to be proud
of this achievement.
Legislation on requirements, construction and control of 4x4 trails
goes back 1997 and long before. Despite this, practically ALL the '4x4
trails' exist and doing business illegally.
There is no justification for the status quo and NOW has no choice
other than to recommend to the Minister that ALL (as in every one) of
these 4x4 trails be closed down and all commercial 4x4-ing in the
mountains be declared illegally.
Such a step is anyway a necessary first step to sterilize and to
normalise this part of the 4x4 industry. The task to bring order and to
legalise cannot be done otherwise.
We further recommend that the Minister empower SAROOF to assist trail
owners to comply with EIA legislation and to eco-expectations of the
Outdoor public.
Specific issues
For workshop discussion:
- The name ‘4x4 trail’ should be replaced by ‘eco-trail’
- A clear-cut distinction between ‘eco-trails’ and ‘4x4 playgrounds’
- Names of eco-trail inviting 4x4 playing such as ‘Diep and Deur’ or ‘Stuck in the mud’ are un-acceptable.
- An eco-trail cannot offer ‘4x4 play ground’ facilities. It is the one or the other.
- Eco-trails will carry a maximum trail grading of 3.
- Eco-trails (if possible) be mapped/graded to the same standard as the Aussenkehr trails (Namibia)
- Tracks4Africa mapping be made available for such mapping.
- All eco-trail have week spots (prone to erosion etc) must be
clearly marked. The travel community then reports directly to SAROOF on
the condition of such week spots.
Wouter Brand
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