Conquering Breedt’s Neck in an Audi Q7

Breedt’s Neck is a mountain pass that many deemed impossible to traverse without a proper 4×4 vehicle. But we weren’t deterred by the naysayers, and we set out on our adventure with determination, hope, and a sense of humor.

Meeting at Nobel Village

We all met up at Nobel Village, with Dem and Michelle joining us on an adventure for the first time. After a hearty breakfast, I told Dem an old 4×4 folk tale that a Mazda 323 made it up Breedt’s Neck, giving him the courage to conquer the day. And with that, we set off towards the pass.

Beginning the Journey

After breakfast, we headed northwest of Magaliesburg on the tarred R24, also known as the Rustenburg Road the adventurous couple eager to test out their Audi Q7 and see what all the fuss was about when it came to reaching the top of a mountain.

The Initial Challenge

It was a rainy day, and we knew that the weather might present some challenges for us. But we were ready for anything. As we made our way along the road, we encountered some muddy spots, which the Audi managed to navigate without any problem. However, we soon got to the real first challenge – driving over rocks. This posed no threat to the Land Rover, but for the Audi, the initial challenge was set.

To the 4×4 enthusiasts, they said, this is the “entrance test” – if the car can’t get over this, you’re going to have a long day ahead. Dem, determined due to the folk tale, couldn’t let his Audi fail this test, so the day of stacking rocks began. After 20 minutes of packing rocks, we managed to get the Audi through. The effort left our hands muddy. I walked to my car to get us a cloth and towels, but Dem couldn’t wait and used Michelle’s fresh, light grey jacket to wipe his hands clean. Needless to say, Michelle wasn’t pleased and told him that they were going shopping tomorrow.

The Drive Through the Pass

After conquering this initial challenge, luck was on our side as the weather held back, and the rain subsided to a light drizzle or no rain at all for most of the time. We continued on, navigating through the pass and had some more rocks to pack off the minor obstacles our way.

The View From The Top

When we finally reached the top of the pass, we were ecstatic, elated, and a little muddy from the trek. We had conquered what others said was impossible. The weather held back long enough for us to celebrate our achievement, as we looked down to the valley and basked in the silence that mountains bring. We also had a toast at the top and played around with the drone to take awesome photos and videos.

The Drive Down

As we started the descent, we encountered rock steps along the way, but we took it super easy, packing some rocks again just to ensure we didn’t damage the vehicle. Most of the rock steps we could conquer without laying anything, but with good spotting and driving, we tackled the way down until we got to our last challenge.

This part of the road was washed away, and previous 4×4 enthusiasts placed many rocks to cross the washed-out section. We had to lay more rocks for the Audi to get through, but fortunately, not much, and a good-angled car got through.

The last obstacle came, and this was tricky. It was the last washed-out piece that we forgot about, and it was the hardest of them all. We scouted the area, and I noticed that there was a different line we could try to take. As this obstacle was tackled by the Land Rover we tried the new line, which served us well and allowed the Audi to follow suit. With some skilled driving, we finally finished Breedt’s Neck.

Dem’s driving skills were put to the test, and for a novice off-roader, he really had the knack. The day had its challenges, but with teamwork and determination, we managed to conquer it all. We were all excited to celebrate our achievement, but we had one last stop to make.

The Brauhaus

As we finished the track, the heavens opened up, and we were soon driving through a downpour that made it almost impossible to see. If we had encountered this weather on the mountain, we would have been in trouble. But after a hard but short-lived downpour, the weather held back again long enough for us to celebrate our achievement at Brauhaus with some great food and drinks.

We were all grateful for the warm meal and cold drinks, and the sense of camaraderie we felt after completing such a challenging adventure. We talked about the day’s events and shared stories about our past adventures.

Conclusion

Conquering Breedt’s Neck was no easy feat, but it was a memorable adventure that we won’t soon forget. It just goes to show that sometimes, with a little determination, hope, and a sense of humour, you can accomplish anything – even in an Audi Q7.

As we looked back on our journey, we were all proud of what we had accomplished together. It was a testament to the importance of good teamwork, as we all played our part in getting through the worst.

If you’re an off-roading enthusiast looking for a new challenge, we highly recommend giving Breedt’s Neck a try. It’s not for the faint of heart, but with the right mindset and a capable vehicle, anything is possible.

As for us, we’re already planning our next adventure – and who knows, maybe it will be even more challenging than our last. But we’re ready for anything. Bring it on.

Carlo Oehl

Carlo is an off-road adventure enthusiast and hobby copywriter who is passionate about exploring forgotten routes. When he’s not blazing trails, he works as a Digital Software Solutions Architect, bringing innovation and creativity to his professional pursuits.