The Zulu Tracbar tour of Southern Africa involved two groups of enthusiasts travelling in classic Citroen cars, the "Traction-Avant" models that are now over 50 years old. Both groups travelled the same route of about 7,000 km through South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia. However they made the journey in opposite directions.
These large groups filled our farm house accommodation and some of the travellers slept in roof top tents on their vehicles and others pitched their tents on the ground. We treated them all to our Karoo cuisine and we were thanked most warmly by all concerned.
One group reached Hillandale from Cape Town via the Swartberg Pass (top photo) rather than the much easier national highway. The Swartberg Pass is famous for its scenery and notorious for the very steep gradients of the narrow, winding pass. But, as one of the travellers' described the trip: "les Traction sont vaillantes et toutes franchissent le sommet sans aucune panne" - the valliant "Tractions" all crossed the summit without a single breakdown. Bravo!
The other group arrived towards the end of their long journey after thousands of kilometres and exciting wildlife encounters in Namibia. Referring to their stop at Hillandale, one of the trip reporters noted "Nous retrouvons bon nombre de Tractions après le petit-déjeuner du côté de l’atelier de Robin"- after breakfast a good many "Tractions" found their way to Robin's workshop. We were glad we could provide the men with workshop facilities to carry out running repairs on the cars, while the ladies relaxed on the lawn with Karoo tea and coffee.
Shortly after leaving us one of the drivers was caught unawares by a turn and the car skidded on the gravel road and landed on its side. Fortunately the travellers were only shaken but unhurt and the vehicle suffered only minor damage that did not stop them continuing the trip. (From the trip report: "Peu de kilomètres après avoir quitté la ferme, l’équipage 408 se fait surprendre par un virage, la Traction glisse de l’arrière jusqu’à buter sur le talus et s’immobiliser au milieu de la piste, couchée sur le flanc. Heureusement plus de peur que de mal, Guy et Laurence n’ont rien, la Traction presque rien.")
For anyone interested in adventurous travel in classic cars, there are detailed and fascinating accounts of the Zulu Tracbar tour available on several websites. Even for those who don't read French, the pictures tell a great story thanks so some fine photographers amongst the "Tractionnistes".
Here is a good place start:
www.globe-driver.com/tracbar/2004-zulu/indexGB.html
Both the following accounts include Tracbar visits to Hillandale:
http://www.globe-driver.com/tracbar/2004-zulu/suivi/9juillet.html
http://traction.avant.free.fr/zulu.htm