Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 33 i Adventure Afrika

I don’t get out into the bush enough. After every (usually too short) visit, that’s what I always say… and everyone I tell about my holiday tends to agree. This does not happen when I talk about a visit to some overseas city – yes, people enjoy the interesting anecdotes, but that recognition, that longing in their eyes is lacking. This made me think about what makes the African bush so very special. Many people listen to the stories us overlanders tell with disbelief and just a tad of fear in their eyes: “Why would you give up the comfort of your bed, your air-conditioning and your running water to sleep on the ground or on the roof of your car, unsheltered and as possible prey for predators on the…

Hold the line It’s quite the conundrum: where do you hang wet clothes or towels to dry when you’re on an outdoor adventure? Manufactured from elasticated cord, this compact travel washing line from Lifeventure is twisted, allowing you to secure items without the need for pegs. There are both hooks and suction cups on each end, so you can pick the most effective way to fasten your line to whichever anchor point is most convenien (or available). *Available from R139: www.animalgear.co.za Cool as a cucumber Summer is on the way and with it – yes, you guessed it – the heat. Portable and rechargable fans can keep you cool inside your tent or caravan, but what about outside, under your gazebo? PortaMist has just the thing: the Portable Compact 220V/12V…

Bakkies… new bakkies everywhere! No wonder South Africa is known as bakkie country. And as if we haven’t already been spoilt for choice, Isuzu has now also joined the so-called ‘big guns’ with the launch of the D-MAX Arctic AT35. It is available on special order through Isuzu’s local dealer network, with limited production numbers guaranteeing exclusivity. The AT35 is powered by Isuzu’s trusted 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, delivering a peak power output of 140kW at 3 600rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1 800rpm to 2 800rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard. Proudly local Designed in collaboration with Arctic Trucks, the newcomer is assembled at the Isuzu plant in Struandale, Gqeberha. In fact, the local plant is the only Isuzu facility in the world accredited by Arctic Trucks…

When the GWM P-Series first hit the South African market towards the end of 2020, there were a lot of critics. Full disclosure – I was on of them. However, during the past few months we have spent a good amount of time behind the wheel of various iterations of this bakkie and while it is not perfect, it certainly holds its own in a super saturated market. The P-Series LTD represents good value. It comes standard with a host of systems that are usually only available on more expensive offerings. The interior is big and spacious and fitted with modern comforts such as USB ports, a 220V outlet and a 12V power supply, heated seats, a yacht-style gear lever and a nine-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android…

What began in 1980 as nothing more than a promotional idea became a legendary event that saw adventurous individuals vying for the opportunity to participate and become the epitome of the ‘Camel Man’. That was easier said than done, though… Even if you were lucky enough to be selected from around 70 000 entries received, you were then pitted against competitive, muscular and testosterone filled athletes in the provincial selections. If you were successful, you would make it to the semi-finals, only to endure more excruciation exercises, endurance tests, medical examinations and phycological evaluations. Of course, your driving skills were also put to the test. Still, it wasn’t the end. You were now in the final four… of which only two could move on to the next round. In the…

Run by the husband-and-wife team of Simon and Desiree Steadman, Ultimate Adventures offers a range of tours and self-drive adventures, designed to create amazing memories. Prestige Tours: Aimed at adventurers who enjoy the finer things in life, guests can look forward to a bit more luxury and comfort whilst travelling in an intimate group. These tours are limited to four vehicles and the qualified bush chef will spoil guests with mouth-watering breakfasts and dinners every day. Accommodation is a mixture of camping and lodges or guesthouses. The Serengeti trip falls within this category (although it does involve a lot of wild camping). Adventure Tours: Tailor-made for off-road adventurers who are after a true bush experience, camping in Africa’s wildest destinations. Limited to a maximum of 10 guests per vehicle and…

We started planning our trip months in advance. We were on a mission: finding snow in the Wartrail and Rhodes areas of the southern Drakensberg. I wasn’t convinced that we’d be successful, so I was relieved to hear that snow had fallen on the peaks of the Drakensberg ten days before our departure date. Our group of snow seekers met up at Lupela Lodge, just 18km outside of Lady Grey. The lodge is situated on a working farm of 1 300ha on the banks of the Karingmelkspruit. The owners, Alf and Denise Ross, went out of their way to make our one-night stay a memorable one and spoiled us with a scrumptious farm breakfast before we headed out the next morning, heading for Bidstone Cottages in the Wartrail area, where…

For the purpose of this article, I am going to write about standard batteries, which are based on the principle of lead and sulfuric acid. This relates to most batteries used these days, whether it is a lead-acid, absorbent glass mat (AGM), gel battery or whatever else it is called. Any battery consists of six cells of 2V each, which are in series – therefore 12V. The basic principle is that you convert the sulfuric acid to lead sulphate by applying electrical power across the poles, in other words charge the battery. When you use the battery, the lead sulfate will break down again to lead and sulfuric acid. The 2V cells operate at 1.75V when depleted and 2.25V when fully charged. The midpoint between the two is 2V –…

It took us a year to plan our trip to the Mountain Kingdom and seeing that Philip Rawlins is an expert on all matters Lesotho, we roped him in to ensure that our clients saw the very best of what the small, land-locked country has to offer. Moreover, he is well known in Lesotho and his presence ensured that we were whisked through roadblocks unhindered, whilst accommodation and meals also ran smoothly. For this reason, he was put at the front of the convoy – his first experience at leading a large group – while we fell in at the back as sweep. Lesotho has changed a lot since our previous visit four years ago, with many new roads offering more convenience and speed (but that’s a relative term). One…

VEHICLE: 2013 Land Rover Defender 110 5-door Station Wagon OWNER: Peter Field Celebrating a decade of adventure this year, our Aintree Land Rover Defender 110 with its 2.2-litre Puma engine is the best four-wheel adventure partner a family could ask for. I have always adored the Land Rover brand for its incredible heritage, go-anywhere capability, the Kingsley Holgate expeditions (the legend signed his name on our Hilda!) and simple mechanics. While the latter may no longer ring true for the popular Defender plaque, our Hilda takes us wherever we want to go with ease and comfortably tows our Bush Lapa off-road caravan. Our circle of friends and family is crazy about camping – the more remote, the better… and, being in a Land Rover, we always opt for those roads less…

I must admit that I felt as if I’d been living under a rock when I received the invitation to the launch of the Suzuki Fronx. Fronx? What the hell is a Fronx? Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know because my colleagues all seemed very excited to see it in the flesh. Was I in for a pleasant surprise! Turns out it’s a coupé SUV and a very good looking one at that. It was first revealed at Suzuki’s global conference in India in January this year and the name is derived from two terms. The first is ‘frontier’, which refers to the fact that it’s Suzuki’s first foray into this market segment and how its design crosses a frontier between SUV and coupé. The ‘x’ points…

The Somkhanda Community Game Reserve was for-mally proclaimed as a nature reserve in 2011. It is not only the first community owned game reserve that introduced the critically endangered black rhino as part of the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Program, but it is also home to the critically endangered African wild dog. Apart from using the reserve as an economic engine for the neighbouring and beneficiary communities through sustainable tourism and resource utilisation practices, it places nature conservation as its core value. It contributes significantly towards both local and metapopulation conservation management programmes and has contributed towards the establishment of viable populations of black rhino and wild dog at various other protected area across Africa. The reserve also offers a safe and stable environment to leopards, lions, spotted hyenas,…

The Camel Trophy began in 1980 as a team expedition over the Trans-Amazonian highway. Over the next eight years, the expeditions crossed Sumatra (Indonesia), Papua New Guinea, Zaire, Brazil, Borneo, Australia, Madagascar and Sulawesi (Indonesia) before returning to the Amazon. In the 1990’s, the event headed to Siberia and the USSR, followed by Tanzania, Burundi, Guyana, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Kalimantan and Mongolia. Over the years the event evolved from a mud-plugging expedition to involve elements of adventure sport, such as kayaking, mountain biking and winter sports. Teams were selected by each competing nation in competitions held nationally, designed to test the athletic, engineering and driving prowess of potential candidates. In 1998 the Camel Trophy returned to Argentina and Chile for the penultimate Tierra del…

Few people know where Roedtan is located. Even fewer know about the Roedtan Klou & Grou 4x4. Roedtan is a small farming community in the Limpopo province, about 70km northwest of Groblersdal. The region of about 80km wide and 130km long is also known as the Springbokvlakte since a wide variety of antelopes grazed this region until the end of the 19th century. After the Second War of Independence, the area was opened up for agriculture, and grasslands gave way to crop fields where wheat, maize, cotton, sorghum, peanuts and sunflowers are grown. There are also orange orchards under irrigation. Several game farms are currently trying to restore the diversity in wildlife. However, Roedtan is about more than just farming. Every year, the farmers in the area organise the Roed-tan…

It is unclear where the name Shingwedzi comes from, but the local people believe it is named after Tsonga people who used to live in the area. Shingwedzi is believed to be a combination of ‘Shing-za-goli’ (the name of the leader in the group) and ‘Njwetse’, which describes the sound you hear when iron is rubbed together. In the heart of lush mopane veld, this is prime elephant country. During the 1970’s and-80’s, most of the Kruger’s so-called tuskers – thus named because of their enormous teeth and widely known as the Magnificent Seven – came from this region. One of these elephants, aptly named Shingwedzi, died close to the camp in 1981. The old man’s heart gave out at the ripe age of 65. His ivory tusks weighed 47kg…

Namibia is a land of natural wonders where rugged landscapes, stunning wildlife, and warm hospitality come together to create an unforgettable experience. From the iconic Etosha National Park to the ancient rock formations of Brandberg, this vast country offers a range of incredible campsites to stay at. They are gateways to a world that ignites the senses, stirs the soul, and leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who venture there. Whether you seek adventure, solitude, or a deeper understanding of the natural world, Namibia’s campsites will awaken your spirit. DAMARALAND REGION Brandberg White Lady Lodge At the foot of the legendary Brandberg Mountain, the Brandberg White Lady Lodge offers a serene escape into the heart of Damaraland. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this lodge is a gateway to…

I can go without many things in life. Bread is not one of them. There is nothing that can beat a thick side of fresh bread with a decent layer of butter and maybe a little grated cheese and apricot jam. Yummy! They say you are what you eat… that might explain why my backside resembles balls of dough… If you’re the homey sort you can make the dough yourself, but for lazy(-ish) people like me, most supermarkets sell bread dough that has already been prepared. You can even choose between brown and white! From here, your imagination is your only limit. You can use the dough as it is for a basic pot bread, or you can add a few simple ingredients to make it a feast like no…

The compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment was extremely popular in the mid- to late-90’s, but tapered off in the early 2000’s when SUVs started taking over the roads in South Africa. As a result, it became a rather forgettable segment. But not for my folks, who saw this segment as the perfect solution for our big family. I basically grew up in the back of a humble Toyota Avanza, the first seven-seater compact MPV. Honestly, I think this segment still has a lot to offer for families on a budget and the Mitsubishi Xpander is a prime example. As soon as I got into the Xpander I immediately felt nostalgic. I remembered all the long trips down to the coast and our quick long-weekend getaways to the Kruger National Park.…

ALFA ROMEO BMW (x2) CHERY DAIHATSU EICHER FREIGHTLINER HAVAL ISUZU KIA LINHAI MERCEDES BENZ OPEL (x2) RALLY SSANG YONG TRIUMPH APRILIA (FAT) BOY CHEVROLET DAIMLER ERF FUSO HAYABUSA IVECO KOMATSU MAHINDRA MINI PETERBILT RENAULT STELLANTIS UD TRUCKS ASTON MARTIN CADILLAC CITROEN DATSUN FAW GEELY HINO JAC KTM (x2) MAN MITSUBISHI PEUGOET ROLLS ROYCE SUBARU VESPA AUDI CAM COBRA (HARLEY) DAVIDSON FERRARI GRENADIER HONDA (x2) JAGUAR LADA MASERATI MOTO (CROSS) POLARIS SCANIA SUPER (BIKE) VOLKSWAGEN BAIC CAN AM (MOTO) CROSS FIAT GWM HUSQVARNA JEEP LAMBORGHINI MAYBACH MOTO GUZZI POWERSTAR SCOOTER SUZUKI VOLOVO (X2) BELL CATERPILLAR DACIA DODGE FORD (X4) HARLEY (DAVIDSON) HYUNDAI JMC LAND ROVER MAZDA NINJA PROTON SEAT TATA YAMAHA BENTLEY CHANA DAF DUCATI FOTON INEOS KAWASAKI LEXUS MCLAREN NISSAN QUAD SILVERADO TOYOTA WIN WITH Protea COFFEE There are very…

Order your Grenadier bakkie now! Following its unveiling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK last month, order books for the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster are now open in South Africa. The Quartermaster shares most of its architecture and components with the Station Wagon, but its strong and rigid box-section ladder frame chassis is 305mm longer. This results in a large and versatile load bay, that is 1 564mm long and 1 619mm wide. With a payload of 760kg, it has the same 3 500kg towing capacity as the Station Wagon. Like the Station Wagon, the Quartermaster is powered by BMW 3.0-litre turbo-charged inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. A centre differential lock and a two-speed transfer case are fitted as standard…

It was early on a chilly winter’s day when my youngest daughter, Marli, and I hitched an Outbound Cyclone caravan to a new GWM P-Series LTD and headed to warmer weather in KwaZulu-Natal. More specifically, we were on our way to the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, about 35km west of Pongola. It is renowned for offering amazing game viewing and birding and with the new P-Series we were going to explore as much of it as we possibly could. Despite being warned about the condition of the road and the number of trucks that use it, we decided to take the N2 through Ermelo to Pongola. Very bad idea! A seemingly never-ending convoy of coal trucks makes travelling very slow and when you finally get past them you can’t really…

After stocking up on fuel, water and supplies in Faya, we headed north towards the Tibesti Mountains, in the heart of the Sahara desert. At first, the route was dominated by dunes. If our drivers had plans to ever enter the Dakar Rally, they were certainly getting in some good practice! With feet fully down on the gas pedal, they would climb up the dunes at crazy angles and then plunge down the other side. The leading Land Cruiser did not set a very good example and got stuck twice… Conflict in the sands One morning we stopped at the foot of a sandstone escarpment. It was exercise time. We had to trudge up to the top and then hike for a few kilometres to rendezvous with the vehicles. Once…

We knew from experience that any trip with Simon and Des Steadman from Ultimate Adventures would be a special one. Thus, we had no hesitation in signing up to join a group of fellow travellers on a bucket-list adventure to Tanzania to witness the spectacle that is the Great Migration. The plan was to fly to Tanzania and rent fully equipped 4x4 vehicles, which allowed more time in the Serengeti with the advantage of still having a self-drive experience. The self-drive, in my opinion, is a must as it allows you the freedom to experience this awesome place by yourself, but under the exceptional guidance of the Ultimate Adventures team. Information shared and guidance given were spot on and we were well informed from day one! Getting there We were…

2023 WINNERS Women: 1st place: Andrea Van Heerden 2nd place: Angelique Denner Standard: 1st place: Helon Hulme 2nd place: Frik Venter 3rd place: Walied Abrahams Modified: 1st place: Johnny Du Randt More about Roedtan Klou & Grou 4x4 The Roedtan Klou & Grou 4x4 is the brainchild of Oelof de Meyer. It kicked off in 2001, with the first event taking place in Mokopane (then still called Potgietersrus), and all funds raised were used to purchase wheelchairs for the elderly. Years later, a proper 4x4 track was built on Albert Pienaar’s farm near Roedtan, which ensured the success of the fundraiser. In the subsequent years, the funds were used for the operation of Bysonderheid Primary School, where the farming community’s children received education. After the school closed in 2022, the…

The medium-sized Shingwedzi rest camp has plenty of space and offers many accommodation options, including camping, chalets, budget cabins and, for larger groups, the Rentmeester guesthouse. The campsite has 50 stands with power points, braai areas and communal ablution and cooking facilities. A maximum of six people per stand is allowed, and if you get one of the prime spots along the fence, you will often see hyenas coming to scavenge for bits and pieces (NEVER feed them!) and, every so often, a lone elephant-bull or dagga boy (the term used to describe old and usually solitary buffalo bulls who have been forced out of the heard by younger bulls). The large shop is well-stocked if you have forgotten something, or the children fancy an ice cream. The restaurant area…

With camping being part of what we do, one would think that the Adventure Afrika team have packing down to a science. Alas, that’s not the case. And we’re not alone – campers everywhere often have the wrong tools or equipment on hand or simply forget to pack the obvious stuff. This you usually only realise once you’ve reached your destination and start setting up camp. I, for one, often forget the tent pegs at home – not a train smash as both our tents can be pitched without them, but they do provide peace of mind when the wind comes up. On our most recent trip I also left the windbreaker at home. It would really have come in handy as the wind howled across the salt pans of…

I’m not going to reveal my exact age… let’s just say that I’m old enough to move to a retirement village if I was so inclined. I’m from an era when cars had wind-down windows, no seatbelts in the back, no aircon and none of the fancy acronyms that are the norm these days. According to my kids (who have since been disinherited), this was round about the same time that dinosaurs became extinct. So, after 30-plus years as a motoring journalist the inevitable finally happened: I got a fully electric vehicle on test. A BMW nogal! I was super excited… until I wasn’t. After a week of dri-ving it, I can report back that while it’s an absolutely marvelous vehicle, a stroke of engineering genius, it’s not my cup…

Marius & Marie Bekker 2019 Suzuki Jimny GLX Manual WINNERS “I believe that age is but a number and find the pleasures that come with a, let’s say, more mature age, simply delightful. One such delight is the freedom to break away more regularly without worrying about school runs and kids – and what better way to explore this beautiful country of ours than in the nimble, yet powerful Suzuki Jimny? I first caught a glimpse of Frosty – as our little steed is fondly called – on yet another mundane commute from work when I passed a Suzuki dealership. As soon as I saw this vision in white, fitted with a pair of all-terrain takkies, I knew I had to have it – and even though the waiting list…