Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 29 i Adventure Afrika

Everyone talks about rhino poaching and the importance of protecting these animals against the very real threat of extinction. However, very few people realise the true gravity of the situation. The most recent rhino population numbers for Africa at the end of 2021, as released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year, showed that white rhino numbers have continued to decline at around 3.1 per cent per year and numbered just below 16 000 animals. More positively, between 2018 and 2021, overall numbers of the critically endangered black rhino increased at a rate of 3 per cent per annum to 6 200 animals, in part due to long-term efforts to actively expand their range and numbers across the continent. Overall, there was a slight decline in…

Keep it in your rear-view mirror Towing a rig behind your vehicle is often part and parcel of overlanding. Still, most OEM side mirrors don’t provide an adequate view of what you’re towing. The obvious solution to the problem is a new set of towing rear-view mirrors, but how do you choose? Our recommendation is to opt for the most successful set of towing mirrors in the business, from Clearview. Most modern vehicles are stacked with advanced safety features. For Clearview, it is essential to offer a product that does not interfere with or bypass these features. To this end, the brand works closely with the world’s top vehicle manufacturers to develop OE-authorised towing mirrors to achieve the highest possible level of cohesiveness. Clearview side mirrors are substantially larger than…

“Well, I can see myself tearing up the road, faster than any other boy has ever gone.”– Meat Loaf, Bat out of Hell Namibia is a place of wonder and being able to experience the dunes outside Walvis Bay in a beast like the Ford Ranger Raptor was an experience I will never forget. Cruising at over 100km/h in the dunes and on the beach floods your system with adrenalin and it only subsides hours after you get out from behind the steering wheel. The vehicle literally flies over the bumps and jumps, and you hardly feel a thing as the suspensions sucks up all the punishment you throw at it. Its ability to let you tackle almost any dune without hesitation puts it in a whole different class. Stepping…

ROB ERIKSON-MILLER One of the organisers of the trip, Rob is a Land Rover workshop owner and has been involved with Land Rovers for 31 years. He drove Winston, a 1982 Series 3 model, which he found in the Cradle of Humankind. He restored it in Chartwell, South Africa, and named it Winston, which gave him the idea to drive across Africa to Chartwell House, the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill in the UK. MARK MCCLUE Mark, an entrepreneur based in Chartwell, drove Jan Smuts, which was found on a farm and offered to Rob for sale. Rob bought the vehicle in a derelict state, had it towed into the workshop, and started the rebuild. The paperwork says it is a 1969 model, but it is actually a 1967…

I once drowned a standard brand-new Volkswagen Touareg in Botswana’s world-famous Okavango Delta swamps. I was trying to follow my guide, who was in a Land Cruiser. Little did I know then that the air intake on the VW sits just below the headlights. You really need to know your stuff here as what may be a dry and dusty track today, could be a hippo and croc infested swamp tomorrow. I have done many solo Botswana trips to desolate places such as the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. For this trip I had decided to hook up with an old friend and 4x4 guide, Bernie Williams, who drives a well-kitted 2014 single cab 79 Series Toyota Land Cruiser V6. We were being hosted by MegaXplore,…

Our adventure – booked through Ultimate Adventures – began in Marrakesh with the handover of a mixed bag of 4x4’s from the rental agency. Andy and Sonja Johnstone joined Michael Barton and I in a Land Cruiser Prado, with Russell and Joanie Tarr in a Jeep Cherokee. Sander and Stienie Silva were given a Volkswagen Touareg, and Vicky Johnstone and Richard Hayman travelled in a Fiat Fullback double cab. This marked the moment we all learned what we dubbed the ‘Arabic Shuffle’ – wrong car door, erroneous seatbelt-grab, empty handbrake snatch – before setting off in our left-hand drive vehicles on the right-hand side of the road. Our guide, Khalid, threw us straight into the deep end as we exited the Lé Meridien N’Fis hotel into a roundabout on the…

Nothing beats sitting around a fire while the aroma of grilling meat hangs heavy in the air. This is where great stories are told, laughter is shared, and many lifelong friendships are forged. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen making side dishes. I want to kuier! Maybe it’s the feminist in me talking, but it’s not fair that the men get to socialise while the women slave away in the kitchen. And no, I’m not falling for the excuse that braai-ing is hard work! I rummaged through my grandmother’s recipes (all handwritten) and came across a few simple ideas for side dishes that can be prepared in very little time, don’t require a lot of ingredients and are simply delicious. Vegetable…

Send yours to us on: info@4x4afrika.com (Subject: My Ride & I) Anderson Sinvula 1995 Toyota Hilux Surf 3.0 1KZ-TE “For those who have never seen a Hilux Surf, let me educate you. It was the first general-purpose 4x4 SUV, the granddaddy of the Toyota Fortuner. The Surf is better known by its American name, the 4Runner, and many have found their way into southern Africa as grey imports from Japan. My trusty Hilux Surf is, in fact, one of those grey imports. I have had it for years now, and it has been the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. It has the scars and the mileage to prove it. I have appropriately named my Surf Olivora Carpensis or Honey Badger because, simply put, it is indestructible… a very capable…

The original Africa-conquering Land Rover Classics vehicles that have been taming the continent since 1949, are back at the bigger, better – and longer – 2023 LandyFest. This popular family-oriented event will this year again be held at the Rust de Winter ATV 4x4 Club’s grounds – from Thursday 27 April to Monday 1 May, including both public holidays, making it a six-day/five-night extra-long weekend The 2023 LandyFest will be filled with fun activities for families in their Land Rover Classic vehicles or its more modern siblings, including the new Defender. A new item on the programme will be the LMC Extreme 4x4 event which is scheduled for Friday 28 April and visitors can get a stint behind the wheel of high-performance specially designed Discovery II vehicles that look like…

A main issue with the conventional ammo box has always been the flimsy clips, which have a tendency to break… often at the most inopportune times. So, one of the first goals when designing the new box was to get the clips just right, to make them both user-friendly and robust. As a result, the new clips feature a strong thumb grip and a rectangular design that allow them to be closed and unlocked with relative ease. In addition, they are easy to replace if they break since they are sold separately. Having said that, I tried to break a clip during my time with the box, but it seems to be virtually indestructible. The new plastic material used is more malleable and far less brittle than that of the…

My name is Jan-Harm du Plessis and I have been married to my beautiful wife, Elsie, for over 17 years now. We have two amazing kids – our daughter Luciele (14) and our son EW, who recently turned 12. We post and write of our travel adventures on Instagram under the handle JEWEL4travel. This is actually an abbreviation of our names: J = Jan-Harm, EW = EW, E = Elsie, and L = Luciele. Since 2013 I have been working for an international infrastructure consulting company as a project coordinator. We basically manage and implement various international donor-funded bilateral infrastructure projects across the world. I am currently stationed in Lusaka (Zambia), but before this we were based in Lilongwe (Malawi) for four years on a school construction project. Elsie and…

Over a weekend in March, we headed to Bela-Bela for the return of Camp LA Sport, one of the most popular annual events on the off-roading calendar. We made a few quick stops in town for supplies before proceeding to our destination for the weekend – Mabalingwe Game Reserve. Upon our arrival at the beautiful campsite, we were greeted by many familiar faces, all equally excited to be there. After saying our hello’s we quickly set up camp, enjoyed a delicious meal and settled in for an early night. It was going to be a busy, adventure-filled weekend and we simply couldn’t wait! Doing our part One of the primary goals of Camp LA Sport is to remind the off-roading community why it does what it does. The goal of…

We have never been a family that does ‘normal’ for holidays. We are proud that we always do something special, filled with unforgettable memories and loads of fun. So, when we hit the road for a Namibian New Year’s celebration, we knew it would be one for the books. Accompanied by my good friend, Ruan de Kock (of Willeklong fame), we were up at the crack of dawn to hit the road northwards. A long day lay ahead, and I warned the two boys to stay strong since we planned to cover the approximately 1 800km to Swakopmund, Namibia, in one go. But as Lian always says: “One day of struggling on the road is okay because we know adventure awaits!” And what wonderful adventures this vacation held! Our first…

Full-size binoculars such as 8x42 and 10x50 are the best choice for serious wildlife viewing, including birdwatching. Perfect for safaris and searching for game in the brush, the wide lenses give you a wider field of view, making it easier to spot animals and birds as you take in a broad, magnified landscape. However, not all binoculars are created equal, and being able to choose the right pair for heading into the bush makes a big difference in the long run. By knowing what to look for in a pair of binoculars and how to evaluate them, you’ll be able to ensure you get the correct type for your needs. The magnification of a pair of binoculars is its ability to bring the object closer to you. The number before…

Although the Lenong Pass in Limpopo is tarred, it is rather tricky. However, if you do make it to the summit, the incredible scenic vistas over the Marakele National Park and the Waterberg Mountain range make it well worth your effort. While a 4x4 is not required, you will need to negotiate some gravel roads as part of the access route and as such, a vehicle with decent ground clearance is advisable. The pass can only be approached from one direction. Start by travelling to Thabazimbi in the Limpopo Province. From the intersection of the D1485 and the R510, travel in an easterly direction along the D1485 for 12.4km before turning left towards the main entrance of the Marakele National Park. Since you must enter the park, a daily conservation…

We recently got the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Gladiator for a week and while I expected to be impressed, I was not prepared to be wowed. This is no regular double cab bakkie! One of the things that I really liked was the fact that it has a character all of its own. It is different to its SUV siblings and one gets the impression that Jeep did a lot more than simply just slapping a load bin onto a revised five-door version. The only problem with this is that the wheelbase is much longer (480mm) than other Jeeps on the market, and this adversely affects the Gladiator’s breakover angle. Normal hills and inclines become a problem as the vehicle gets beached at the top. And…

*This month our winner is Jan-Harm du Plessis, who shares some interesting road signs from across Africa on page 20. 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…

We told you about it in Issue 27 and now it’s official. Chery has introduced the Omoda brand in South Africa. We now join several other global markets in South America, Asia, and soon also Europe and Australia to offer this new brand to motorists. The first model from Omoda, the C5, will go on sale in April and will be sold through 30 dealers covering all major metros and cities. Each of these dealers has been pre-selected to offer a dedicated range of sales and support services and each has invested in the range of dedicated diagnostic and support services required. The name Omoda is an amalgamation of concepts and is the result of a competition that saw over 10 000 entries from 30 countries. Entrants tried to capture…

In recent years I have found myself falling in love with the look of just about every new vehicle launched in South Africa. But before you brand me as a car hoe, let me explain. Apart from a few ghastly exceptions, there aren’t really ugly vehicles on the market anymore. Sure, there are quirky ones, less traditional ones, conservative ones, flashy ones, dramatic ones, simplistic ones and even completely over the top ones… but truly ugly? Not really. In most cases branding a vehicle as ugly has more to do with market bias than with the actual design of the vehicle. It’s all a matter of taste really. This brings me to the recent launch of Hyundai’s 2023 Palisade SUV, which bowled me over with its rugged good looks, luxurious…

The C2C mission was the brainchild of lifelong Land Rover adventurers, Rob Erikson-Miller and Mark McClue. The idea was to drive from Chartwell, in South Africa, across Africa, through Europe and on to Chartwell House, the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill in the UK. One of the objectives of the trip was to raise R5-million through donations for the development of opportunities for youth within sustainable environments. The cavalcade set off in July last year and the plan was to reach their destination in three months. Botswana The first stop was Francistown in Botswana. It was a drive of around 15 hours and almost 800km, with a top speed of 90km/h. It was a long drive in the old vehicles and the team was grateful to arrive at their…

Spread over more than 8 800ha of malaria-free unspoiled bushveld, Mabalingwe Game Reserve is situated in the majestic Waterberg Mountains, 28km west of Bela-Bela, in the Limpopo province. With only a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, it is the ideal weekend getaway for family and friends alike. Mabalingwe is known for its beautiful Big Five, and with its rich biodiversity and abundance of wildlife, magnificent sunsets, and starry nights, nature is left to be itself. The peace and tranquillity of the bushveld is to be enjoyed, embraced and remembered. With different accommodation options – including self-catering units – and activities such as game drives and horse riding to choose from, you are sure to be entertained and left in awe with all nature has to offer. The hospitality of the staff…

Jabula Bush Camp Jabula is the Zulu word for ‘joy’, which is exactly what this beautifully maintained and unfenced camping spot offers visitors. Jabula Bush Camp is about 7km from the Tau Gate and offers four glamping self-catering tents and five unfenced campsites. The spacious stands (25m in diameter) provide ample space for two camp trailers/caravans or up to four ground tents. Each has a private ablution block with warm water, a shower, basin, flush toilet, outside shower and wash-up facilities. Note, however, that the campsite has no power points – only solar-operated lights in the ablution block. TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION: Camping and glamping PET-FRIENDLY: No FISHING: No CELL PHONE RECEPTION: Yes ACCESSIBILITY: Gravel roads (accessible to most vehicles and road caravans) RATES: From R160 per person per night (during…

One of the most recently established national parks in South Africa, Marakele National Park was founded in 1994. It was initially called Kransberg National Park, but the name was changed to Marakele (a Tswana word which means ‘place of sanctuary’) shortly thereafter. The park started with an area of about 150km², but by 1999 it had expanded to nearly 670km². Approximately 80km of the roads within the park are accessible to all vehicles, the balance requiring a 4x4. There are two camps – Botle (near the gate) and Tlopi (deep within the reserve), which offer a variety of accommodation options rangings from luxury tented camps to self-catering chalets and campsites. Even though the reserve is heavily populated with animals, game viewing in Marakele can be difficult as much of the…

Toyota is well known for its special-edition Hiluxes, which the brand cleverly introduces whenever it wants to boost a new facelift or give its customers a little more bang for their buck. The goal of these special editions has always been to enhance the platform’s best features while adding a generous dollop of coolness to the mix. A great example of such a special eddition was my dad’s much-loved scarlet red double cab 3.0 D-4D Legend 45. I drove that bakkie to school on my last day in matric, only two days after getting my license. I pulled up in the schoolyard with my arm firmly rested on the door panel and the window wide open, feeling like the coolest kid on the block. That was a few years ago…

VEHICLE: 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser OWNER DETAILS: Flip & Marianne Snyders About three years ago, I was a great source of amusement for a secondhand salesman as I stood next to a pristine FJ Cruiser, dwarfing the truck with my sheer height. Truth be told, I couldn’t care less because as I sat in that driver’s seat for the first time, I knew that Ratel – as we have affectionately named it – and I would be best friends for the rest of time Fast forward a few years, and our bond couldn’t be stronger. Ratel is now less pristine than back then and has the perfect patina for an overlanding vehicle. She’s also had a makeover recently, receiving some goodies to make her more practical and badass looking. The…