Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 24 (Oct 2022) i Adventure Afrika

Twenty-four… 24 hours in a day, 24 carats in pure gold, 24 valves on the 1HD-FTE Land Cruiser engine, 24 beers in a case… and 24 issues of Adventure Afrika! But 24 also brings us to the terrible two’s – or in this case, even more adventure, more destinations, and more magical stories (because how can anything forcing you out of your comfort zone ever be terrible?). Now, I could go on and on about how we started this magazine during the Covid-19 pandemic and how, with hope and a prayer, we got to 24 issues. But why would I want to bore you? We have had so many adventures and highlights over the last two years, but our reader adventures really stood out for us. The Schuttes of Sunset…

After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a staple on off-road calendar – the Toyota Atlantis 4x4 Fun Day – made a welcome return during the month of October. Organised by the Western Cape division of the Four-Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa, Toyota South Africa has been an invaluable partner since its inception 17 years go. The sandy dunes of Atlantis in the Western Cape provided the perfect off-roading playground, with eight action-packed dune obstacles that tested the skills of even the most hardened 4x4 enthusiast. While drivers got to showcase their abilities, the co-drivers participated in a series of timed challenges comprising specific tasks. These ranged from answering quiz questions to tackling puzzles that brought out the competitive side of even the timidest participants. A troop…

Braai when and where you want No overlanding or camping trip is complete without the obligatory campfire cooking ritual. But before you can start firing up the mopani, you first need a suitable braai. Enter the GI 50 Stainless Steel Folding Braai by Anywhere Products. Designed for ease of use and engineered to last, this collapsible unit truly affords you the freedom to braai just about anywhere. It is durable and compact and has a host of other features to make life easy. Constructed from 1.5m 3CR12 stainless steel, it can take a good amount of heat without bending. In addition, minimal heat transfer means that you can fold it up shortly after use without running the risk of burning your hands. It has an open size of 330mm (W)…

Len van Onselen grew up in the cattle-farming Kalahari. Odd farmers in the area had Jeeps and Len was besotted by them. One evening at a local watering hole the boys were discussing the merits of Jeeps and Land Rovers. Len proclaimed that he cared nothing for a Land Rover, but a Jeep… well, he wanted one. One of the fellows remarked that his father had a Jeep on his farm near Lydenburg. He had decided to sell it because it made funny noises from underneath, the axle he thought. Another friend, Broz had a 1948 Jeep – a CJ2A – and a large stock of Jeep scrap, including a rear axle. So, one Saturday morning, Len and Broz headed to Lydenburg to get the Jeep. Neither Broz nor Len…

This attractive gravel pass of 11.8km has a classic inverted profile of a pass that drops down into a river valley and rises up the other side. The river in question is the Mkomazi River, a small but powerful river that drains a sizeable portion of the Drakensberg escarpment. Despite being a gravel pass – which forms part of the long and winding Lotheni Road that connects Nottingham Road in the north-east with Underberg and Himeville in the south-west – the road engineering is sound and the gradients never exceed 1:10. The pass is named after the Bucklands farm over which it traverses and it is worth noting that a small nature reserve is crossed on the south-western side of the pass, called the Vergelegen Nature Reserve. To approach from…

Tentco manufactures a number of bow tents. They range in both size and price, and as such you’re virtually guaranteed to find the exact tent to suit your needs. The utility of these already handy Tentco bow tents can be further bolstered through extensions, of which there are four: the Junior Baobab, the Senior Baobab, the Senior Deluxe and the Double Bow Extension. This complete line-up means that Tentco has an extension compatible with most of their bow tents. Elevate your camping experience We have already mentioned how helpful a tent extension could be in making your temporary sleeping space a true home away from home. Tentco’s most popular bow tent extension is the Baobab series, which is available in either the Junior Baobab or the Senior Baobab. The significant…

Send yours to us on: info@4x4afrika.com (Subject: My Ride & I) WINNER Matthew Hendriks 2009 Land Cruiser 76 1HZ “The first question many ask when they first see my Cruiser is: why Land Cruiser? Aren’t they unpractical? The second question always is why the 1HZ and not the V8? Well, to answer the first question, you drive a Cruiser because you want to go anywhere and everywhere with a proper modern tank. Our tank is named Frank or Frank the Tank. It’s big, strong, tough, robust, and – best of all – easy to maintain. This leads me to the answer to the second question. I chose the HZ1 over the more popular V8 because, simply put, it’s the original engine for the 70 Series, which means that it fits…

The luxurious Gondwana Private Game Reserve is relaunching its Eco Camp, which will offer the same off-the-grid, hands-on safari experience as before but without the required three-or five-day itinerary starting only on a Monday. This allows guests to check in any day of the week to unwind and recharge their batteries in nature. Gondwana Private Game Reserve is situated in what is arguably the Western Cape’s most breath-taking scenery, and the Eco Camp is remotely nestled within the folds of the reserve’s fynbos-adorned landscape. Guests will not only enjoy a one-of-a-kind Cape Safari experience, but they will also roll up their sleeves and get involved in the reserve’s conservation work by helping to collect important data to guide the reserve’s management plan. Visitors can choose from various activities, including elephant…

The official marketing material describes the new Ford Everest as a blend of adventure-ready capability, exceptional comfort, and customer-focused technology in a rugged, refined and fun-to-drive sport utility vehicle (SUV). After spending two days with it during the local launch, I can assure you that it is all this… and more. Think uncompromising capability, premium quality, class-leading technology and exceptional refinement, both inside and out. Killer looks Available in two grades – Platinum and Sport – the new Everest is sleek and modern, with a wider track and longer wheelbase enabling designers to create a more progressive, muscular appearance. Ford’s global design DNA is reflected in the C-clamp headlamps and strong horizontal upper grille bar. The front end also has a mix of horizontal and vertical elements, which add to…

After purchasing a second-hand Land Rover Defender Td5, we started off as rookies in the overlanding world, doing a few camping trips to the Kruger National Park to get a feel for it. We were on a rather tight budget at the time and working hard in our businesses and so, after every trip, we would find out what we needed to improve our Landy. Soon we were going further afield on more testing trips, visiting places like the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans in Botswana, the Kgalagadi and Sossusvlei, and the west coast of Namibia. We had a second-hand Howling Moon rooftop tent, and we would camp in the bush for three or four nights before Donna would insist that we seek more formal accommodation for a night in order…

Ceres Zipline Adventures With eight slides, totalling a length of 1.4km, this is the longest tour in Africa! The amazing rock formations and river form a perfect backdrop to a fun-, adrenaline-filled adventure. The slides vary in lengths from 110m to 290m meters. The highest point above the ground is 40m. CONTACT: +27 78 063 5134 | www.ceresadventures.co.za Buchanan’s Brewery Owner and brewer, Rod Buchanan, has turned his passion into a thriving small business, supplying craft beer to thirsty locals and tourists from the tasting room at Paddagang Restaurant. Six core beer styles are brewed, with regular experimental brews like Buchu Witbier and Roosterkoek Ale also available to tickle taste buds. The brewery itself is not open to the public. CONTACT: +27 82 4114 236 Murludi Hiking Trail Situated in…

The day had finally arrived. I was joining the Land Rover community on my first outing. Being a newbie to the fraternity and to any form of 4x4 driving, I was soon to learn why Land Rover owners feel as if they are part of something that was difficult for me to describe prior to joining it. After introductions were made and a few details of what lay ahead were revealed, a total of five Land Rovers, carrying 11 eager adventurers, set off into the mountains towards the Wolkberg Nature Reserve and the campsite, which is situated at the Serala Forest Station. Driving into the Wolkberg range, which forms part of the northern Drakensberg Mountains, is a breath-taking affair and travelling in a convoy of Land Rovers as they wind…

It was school holiday, and finally time to pack the tent pegs and the braai chops and go camping with my dad. I was very excited to spend time with the ‘old man’ since I play rugby almost every weekend and haven’t been able to go camping lately. Occasions like these build our relationship. The Kemps had invited us to set up our Quickpitch rooftop tent at their bush camp, Saxon River Camp – about 14km from Albertinia. The surroundings are breath-taking, with masses and masses of aloes and the most beautiful gorges. The gravel road to the campsite is in good condition, which makes it easily accessible for most vehicles. The entire campsite has grass, and power points are available, but my father prefers to put out his own…

The first thought when you hear the word “Mokka” is coffee (well, for me – as a self-confessed coffee addict – in any way!). And much like that pleasant early morning coffee shop aroma leading to a satisfying cuppa (mocha) java and a feeling of satisfaction, Opel’s new Mokka delivers quite the buzz. When this sexy little red number was delivered for our week-long test, it immediately put a smile on my face. While the team was in two minds about it, I immediately loved it and – judging by the many appreciative glances while on the school commute – most fellow road users agreed with me. In fact, we often say that a car is a head turner – in this case, people literally stopped me at shopping malls…

Peter Aigner has been bitten by the Africa bug. However, being a German living in Munich, means that there’s a fair bit of water and land between him and the wide-open plains of southern Africa. However, in 2013 he took the leap to heed the call of adventure. He started exploring our beautiful country in standard rental cars, but very soon he was called to the bush and ascended into the realm of African overlanding. “I purchased my first overlander, a Jeep Wrangler JK Sahara – which we christened Big Willy – in 2015. However, like many first-time overlanders, I made the mistake of starting my building from the the top down, instead of starting with the suspension. The project has been ongoing since then and is ever evolving and…

*This month our winners are Kevin Krummeck and his wife, Donna, who share their amazing overland adventure with us on page 24. Send your contributions to: info@4x4afrika.com Protea COFFEE There are very few things in life that can compete with enjoying a cup of fresh coffee as you overlook our continent’s beautiful scenery. With Protea Coffee, getting that coffee-shop aroma and filter-coffee taste is now feasible, even if you are out in the bush. It is available in espresso, supreme and breakfast blends, as well as a lovely decaf option. With every edition, we give away a hamper filled with Protea goodies to the value of R500 for reader contributions (these can be stories, letters or questions). *For more information: www.proteacoffee.co.za…

There’s no denying that Suzuki’s inimitable Jimny has become the darling of many off-road enthusiasts and overlanders, mainly because of its go-anywhere capabilities, affordable pricing and cheeky styling. If you own a Jimny (or you’re just a fan), get out your diary and a red pen because you won’t want to miss the largest Suzuki Jimny gathering in the Southern Hemisphere… and possibly the world. Scheduled for 22 to 24 September 2023, the Jimny Safari Town Festival and Jimny Gathering will bring together hundreds, if not thousands, of Jimny owners and fans to set a record for the largest number of Jimnys on one site. The event will be hosted in Clarens in the Eastern Free State. The venue was chosen, not only for its beauty, but also for its…

When Nissan first introduced the Qashqai here in 2006, it pretty much created the C-segment for crossover vehicles. As a result, it was initially met with great buying enthusiasm… which gradually faded into virtual nonexistence as other players joined the fray. Now, with the launch of the third-generation Qashqai, it’s game on and I’m willing to bet good money that the proverbial applecart is about to get very upset. With its fresh and modern styling, the newcomer is very handsome indeed. More muscular and sharper in exterior design, the all-new Qashqai features a bigger front grille, as well as slim LED matrix headlamps with new boomerang daylight running lights that enhance its imposing stance and presence. Combine this with premium packaging that doesn’t compromise on performance and function, and you…

Last year, when I started working as a journalist, I had the privilege of participating in a cross-country trip alongside Kia South Africa, an amazing opportunity any aspiring travel journalist yearns for. We were to embark on a massive journey around the country to visit seven towns in seven days. The goal of the Seven7 Drive – as the initiative is known – is to travel around the country and visit pediatric oncology wards with gifts for the patients. The 2021 trip was a milestone moment in my life, and it made me aware of the struggles these kids, their families and the courageous healthcare workers fighting alongside them have to endure. I fell in love with the Seven7 Drive and vowed to be a part of it, in some…

When the covers first came off the Suzuki Ignis, I thought it was an interesting shape that could one day become an icon amidst a beige ocean of economy hatchbacks. Its quasi-crossover, ‘indomitable tyke’ aesthetic led to quite a success in the sales figures and it gained a die-hard following as a city car that can flirt with dirt. So, when the opportunity arose to climb into the driver’s pew of a 2022 GLX manual, I took it and immediately pointed its metallic Turquoise Blue Pearl bonnet up the R44, on a mission to Tulbagh. But not before convincing my wife, Kelly. “I have work tomorrow,” and she was right. But the place I had in mind had Wi-Fi and was less than 90 minutes away. Then there’s the fact…

Our West Coast adventure began in the small coastal town of Elands Bay, and since Noup is approximately 520km from our home in Wellington, it was just too far for the two dogs – Pepsi and Mila – who accompanied us on this adventure. The bakkie had barely stopped at Elands Bay before the dogs were out the door. After we had set up camp and headed for the beach to frolic with our four-legged friends, a big Rummikub tournament kicked off that evening while the fire crackled nicely. Early the following morning, we packed up, and after breakfast at the hotel, we hit the road again. Next stop – Noup! Since the petrol station at Koingnaas would likely be closed on a Sunday, we refueled at Garies and both…

There is something about the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park that makes you feel human again. The bare beauty of the dry landscape hits you like a sucker punch, unexpected and intense. It is then that you realise this is the land of mercy. There is just something about the Kgalagadi that determines and reawakens your lust for life. It is here where your soul finds peace and your being finds joy. There is something about the stars in that part of the world that feeds one’s heart. You find something in the “nothingness” that brings joy. The red sand dunes, scarred by paths and tracks made by the wind, teach you gratitude. There is something in the sunshine and the grass dancing in the wind that draws you in. There is…

Anyone visiting the popular penguin colony at Boulders Beach would be forgiven for thinking that these birds are doing well. There are always many birds around on the beach, and the cute fluffy chicks begging their parents for food make for a perfect tourist stop. The reality, however, is not as rosy. The African Penguin population has decreased by over 60% in the last 30 years, prompting a status of Endangered. The most recent census in South Africa showed a paltry 10 000 pairs, a far cry from 150 000 in the 1950s and over 1 million in the early 1900s. The dramatic decreases seen in the first part of the 20th century came because of human exploitation. Penguins were targeted for meat and oil, and their eggs were harvested…

Have you ever looked at the tailgate of your Toyota Land Cruiser 100 or 200 and regretted all that wasted space inside it? Wouldn’t it be great if that space was usable? It is hollow, after all, so just imagine what you could store in there! Well, the guys that know how to do adventure, Big Country 4x4, were thinking the exact same thing and came up with a high-quality and very practical storage solution. It is pretty straight-forward really, but prepare yourself because there will be cutting and grinding involved. The first step is to rip the carpet off the tailgate. Next the tailgate is cut open and any support beams are removed. Then the cleaning starts… and believe me when I say it’s a messy exercise. You’ll be…