Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 4 (Feb 2021) i Adventure Afrika

We have made it into the second month of 2021 and yes, I am keeping count, because after last year one doesn’t know what could happen. Sure, 2021 was off to a bit of a rocky start as much of what happened last year was carried over, but we are here and we are pushing on. The year does, however, look quite promising when it comes to vehicles that appeal to the adventure lovers out there. We have put together a list of some of the new metal headed to South Africa. This includes the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Navara and the updated Toyota Land Cruiser, to name but a few. As always, we will be bringing you the very best story telling that there is from the many…

Let there be light The Desert Battery light pack brings you a portable, high output LED light with a rechargeable lead acid battery in a durable and compact canvas carry bag designed to protect it. The pack includes a battery charger. Remember that lead acid batteries require regular recharging, so do not drain completely. Specifications include: 105mm x 62mm high-output LED panel with magnetic base 12V 7 Amp-hour lead acid battery 220V Battery charger output of 13.8v – 1000mA Includes: cigarette lighter plug and socket * Available from 4x4 Mega World from R995: www.4x4megaworldonline.com Monster must-have Designed and developed by Ironman, the latest Monster Winch range is a must-have for your 4x4 vehicle. Redesigned and upgraded, the winches now include stronger motors, heavy duty casings, competition-style solenoid and are the…

With 2020 turning out the way it did, we definitely did not get anywhere near our quota of bush time, so we were really looking forward to our annual December holiday, which we’d booked in early February already. When we told everyone that we were planning on spending eight nights in the Kgalagadi in December, we were met with various comments and references to our sanity or lack thereof. It made me think of the Rudyard Kipling quote: “Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.” Personally, I would rather spend my December holiday in a hot and dry desert climate than a hot and humid one down at the coast with the rest of Gauteng, so we shrugged off the comments. We knew we were in…

My dad bought his first camper trailer around 1997 and a very high-tech one at that, for its time at least. Basically, it was an old boxy trailer, based on the field kitchens the army used. It had all the necessary amenities with extra batteries, space for a fridge and a decent amount of packing space. A set of bigger-thanusual trailer wheels was rounded off with some all-terrain tyres. The tent, however, was still a basic dome tent that was pitched on top of a rack that folded open to accommodate it. To this day, I still wonder how he convinced my mother – who enjoys the finer things in life – to head into the bundus in this contraption. Fast forward two decades. Today we have a multitude of…

Shortly before llockdown hit us last year, I decided it was time for me crawl out of my shell and venture into the world of dating and give my heart a chance to love someone again. That is, of course, easier said than done. It seems that everyone has a long-lost cousin they believe would be my perfect match. Only to then be highly disappointed when my heart did not quite skip a beat for this sport-crazy man who DJ’s in his free time (he still thinks Slave to Music by Twenty 4 Seven is the best thing since sliced bread) and has an unhealthy obsessed with Yorkshire terriers! I have a Great Dane and a Dachshund, and they do not like Yorkies, and I do not like techno music,…

For me, nothing is as enjoyable as camping, but when a campsite is a mere 15km from my house, I get childishly excited about the prospect of taking a quick mid-week break to clear my head, away from the daily chaos. Pure bliss! The Fleckvieh Guest Farm – located on a production farm near the Tredouw Pass – is the perfect answer when the tent life is calling. Chantell van Staden makes light work of any booking or reservation queries and ensures that your time at Fleckvieh is unforgettable, whether you visit for a week or for a quick “one-nighter”. Since the last 100m to the campsite is a dirt road, I would recommend that you camp there with an off-road trailer (check out our recommendations in our new towing…

Rivers, mountains, deserts, valleys, trails…. You name it, our readers have conqured them all! Herewith a selection of our favourite reader snaps, featuring their trusty sidekicks. Send yours to us at: info@4x4afrika.com Ryan Neumann 2006 Toyota Prado 4.0 V6 petrol & 2009 Land Rover Discovery TDV6 “A overlanding and 4x4 enthusiast, I simply love both my Prado and the Land Rover. The Prado, called Frankie, is heavily modified for our needs and offer copious amounts of power. We got the second 4x4 vehicle – a Land Rover Discovery called Rona since we got her in the year this virus hit – offers luxurious capability and I simply love the shape. Often asked which is my favourite, I can only say it’s like picking your favourite child – you just can’t!…

Chat to any adventure seeker – local or international – about the Namib desert, and they can probably pinpoint its location on a map, without difficulty. Besides that, most of them have either been there or still have a wish to go! However, did you know that our own Richtersveld National Park forms part of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert on Mother Earth? The entire Richtersveld area boasts some of the richest desert flora in the world. The mountain range which forms the southern border of the Park (Rosyntjieberg Formation) is part of a volcanic ridge that erupted two billion years ago. Furthermore, this area has the second most identified number of plant species per square kilometre on earth. This even outnumbers the world's tropical forests, although this specific…

Official tour operator for Adventure-Avontuur Afrika, Ultimate Adventures is run by the husband-and-wife team of Simon and Desiree Steadman. Offering top quality self-drive adventure tours throughout the continent, they pride themselves on delivering expeditions of the highest standards. Their hospitality, attention to detail and superb catering, courtesy of a chef accompanying each trip, is legendary. Some highlights on the tour calendar include: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - RSA & Botswana: 22 February - 2 March 2021 Koakoland Expedition: 28 March – 13 April 2021 Ultimate Kalahari Experience: 18 - 30 April 2021 Makgadikgadi Pans: 8 – 16 May 2021 Ultimate Tanzania Expedition: 27 May – 28 June 2021 Okavango Delta Adventure: 9 – 20 September 2021 (fully booked – watch this space for new dates) Morocco Sahara Desert Experience: 23 September…

The quest for more power from your vehicle’s engine is as old as the car itself. These days the addition of advanced technology and turbochargers makes it easy for many aftermarket tuning companies to extract a bit more power from an engine. For us here at Adventure Afrika the need for more power is sometimes a necessity as we tend to tow heavy off-road caravans, cart along plenty of gear and supplies and tend to venture off into some really rough places. Thus, having more power can come in handy, but what is the best option? What is chipping and mapping? Nowadays it is relatively easy to extract more power from your vehicle through the use of software programmes, giving tuners the ability to change the vehicle’s engine performance. When…

Action cameras have revolutionised how we capture our adventures on film. These pocket-sized devices are robust, water-resistant and mountable to just about anything. This means you can capture amazing footage, no matter where your adventure takes you. It goes without saying that, here at Adventure Afrika, we have a few action cameras in our collection. These little devices are now able to record in 4K resolution. In addition, they can take up to 12-megapixel images and include a host of other nifty features that are all designed to make filming easy and effective. Let’s look at the pro’s and cons of two of the more popular options currently available on the market. GoPro Hero 9 One of the first action cameras to hit the market was the GoPro. It gave…

Make sure you never miss out on your copy of Adventure Afrika by subscribing at 25% less and stand a chance to win an amazing get-away to Mapesu Game Lodge THE PRIZE: A 3-night luxury stay for two people at MOPANE BUSH LODGE in Limpopo including breakfast, dinners and 2 activities per day PLUS a couples’ spa treatment at the Wellness Sala Spa. VALUE: R25 000 HOW? Email us on: info@4x4afrika.com (use “Subscribe & win in the subject line) Visit 4x4afrika.com/subscribe/ Digitale subscriptions are available from: https://www.zinio.com/za/adventure-afrika-m38003 MOPANE BUSH LODGE @ MAPESU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE MAPESU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE pursue conservation efforts that are coupled with responsible tourism to help build the symbiosis between the people that work here, the land and its animals; as well as our guests. Situated…

"After a lot of research and conversations with bakkie owners, it was clear that I couldn’t go wrong with a Hilux," says Trevor, who bought his Hilux during 2020. The Mathews family – Trevor has been married to Karin for 22 years, and they have two teenagers, Nicole and Will – have already had an unforgettable journey with the Hilux. "Our first trip after we bought the bakkie during lockdown last year was incredible! We were privileged to see about a hundred elephants during our visit to the Makgadikgadi National Park. What an unforgettable experience!" Although Glentana in the Western Cape remains a firm family favourite as far destinations go, Trevor dreams of an epic African adventure. He wants to take the Mohembo ferry to Seronga to travel through Linyanti…

Renault One of the more popular manufacturers in the country, Renault will be introducing a host of new vehicles. Among the many new offerings on the way, we are most excited about the possibility of a new Duster during the second half of the year. Speculation about a single-cab Oroch (the brand's Duster-based bakkie) is also rife, but that would likely be for 2022. We might even see the long-awaited Alaskan, a Navara-based bakkie. Finally, Renault is planning to introduce a host of limited editions and special models over the next 12 months. Mahindra 2020 saw the unveiling of Mahindra's new generation of Mahindra’s Willys-Jeep-inspired Thar compact off-roader. The Indian motoring giant has, for over 50 years, offered a compact-off roader and the Thar has grown in popularity and garnered…

Bearing in mind that my own Land Rover Defender is kitted out precisely to my liking, how did I find this fully kitted-out Toyota Hilux double cab 4x4 Safari Camper on a real overlanding experience? I can happily report that this vehicle did not lack anything. Being an A/T 2.4 diesel, it was powerful enough to easily cruise at the national speed limit, with the rev counter hovering around a low 2 000 r/min mark. This, in turn, allowed for excellent fuel consumption and being fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, we managed an easy 1 000km plus range. The camper is also fitted with a 60-litre water tank, with a handy tap at the rear of the vehicle, and a dual battery system providing power to a 40-litre on-board…

The Dakar has pushed both driver and machine to the limit and even over it many times since the 1978 inaugural event which was staged from Paris to Dakar, in Senegal, on our beloved continent. Sadly, security threats in Mauritania led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally and from 2009 to 2019 the events were held in South America. This time around, the race took place in Saudi Arabia, which proved to be just as challenging as previous events. After the trials and tribulations of 2020, we were just happy that the event continued and we followed our local heroes every step of the way. The build up When we say we followed the Toyota Gazoo Racing team closely, we actually mean we stalked them. As avid Dakar and…

Fifty years ago a holiday at the Kruger National Park meant months of preparation. The seasoned Kruger man serviced his Volkswagen Kombi. His wife ironed the obligatory Big 5 tablecloth she had purchased on a previous trip to the Skukuza camp shop. This, of course, was the signature piece in her neat wicker picnic basket as no respectable Kruger lady served brunch at the picnic spot, directly on a naked table. The caravan cupboards boasted nylon tracksuits and North Star tackies: special outfits reserved for cool evening runs to the ablution block. Baby Boomers can still conjure up the creosote and thatch smells of these safari holidays. Thirty years ago I married a guy whose family shared these niche traditions. We met in a caravan park. I knew he belonged…

CHIPPING VS MAPPING 1. What is the difference between mapping and chipping? This should actually be three topics: plug-in chipping models, fully tenable piggybacks and mapping. The short answer is that the Unichip is a piggyback computer that works with a vehicle’s standard ECU (computer) and sensors. The vehicle with the Unichip fitted is then optimally live-tuned on a dynamometer whilst monitoring emissions, power and temperatures and leaving all safety parameters in place. The system is fully bridgeable or removable to bring the vehicle back to standard. Mapping/ECU flashing is a process where the actual map (mostly boost and/or fuel maps) inside the ECU is overwritten by/replaced with a new table/map. In most cases, this cannot be done and monitored/altered while the engine is running or road conditions are simulated.…

The scenic Franschhoek Pass is also known as Lambrechts Road. More poetically, though, a hundred and fifty years ago it was known as Olifantshoek (Elephants Corner) after the now mythical herds of elephant which once roamed these valleys and mountains it traverses. This long, steep and dramatic pass with its variety of scenery was South Africa's first properly engineered pass. During weekends city folk stream to the pass on foot, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, cars and SUVs to enjoy it's sheer magnificence. The elephants' path over the neck was followed by herdsmen and later, by settlers on horseback. It was only in 1822 that Lord Charles Somerset ordered the pass to be built. Major Holloway, commander of the Royal Africa Corps at the time, and his men were tasked with the…

When publisher, Anton Willemse, spent time with Nissan’s Patrol last month, we asked whether it was the new standard in power, prestige and luxury. He certainly thought so and thoroughly enjoyed the power of this “old boy” (the Patrol is turning 70 this year), courtesy of the aspirated V8 engine. In the same breath, however, the Toyota Prado with its new powerplant also impressed the team – and it does come with a slightly lower price tag and much better fuel consumption to boot. But that was last month. Move aside, Anton – I recently got behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, the brand’s most luxurious SUV, the S-Class of SUVs… Or so they say, at least. The Benz is the German automaker’s biggest SUV to date, even larger…

When choosing chairs for your overlanding trips there are many things to consider, of which comfort levels is only one. Depending on whether you travel with a SUV and caravan or a bakkie with a rooftop tent and canopy, your choice of camping chairs may differ. Critical aspects to bear in mind include whether they are easy to pack, aren’t too heavy, can carry your weight and – of course – that they are at least somewhat comfortable. Thankfully, the question of where to find such chairs is not one of the things you need to worry about. Tentco has a wide a range of chairs available through various retailers across the country. The range includes everything from the more old-school director’s chair made from rip stop canvas with a…