Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 37 i Adventure Afrika

Back in the early 2000’s buying a caravan in South Africa was a pretty simple exercise, with only a few manufacturers around. Choices were limited and if you were in the market for an off-road caravan, there were only a handful of options to pick from. Jump to the present and the choices are almost endless, with something for just about every taste, need and preference. Nowadays most manufacturers focus on gravel and over-landing caravans, and yes, I refer to them as overlanding caravans as I doubt that we have any proper 4x4 caravans available in this country. We have tested a number of caravans over the past couple of years and most of them where very suitable for overlanding… which is what the majority of our readers will do…

The plan was simple: I wanted to make a three-part series on the Eastern Cape and a handful of places that make it a favourite playground for those who enjoy exploring this beautiful country of ours. On my list of must-visit places were Rhodes, Hogsback, Dwesa Nature Reserve and Coffee Bay. We set off from our home in Johannesburg early in the afternoon and headed for Zastron. The plan was to cover some distance on the first day to make the later days more manageable. It turned out to be a wise decision. The road was smooth until we left the N1 highway. The initial few kilometers were fine, but the condition of the tar road deteriorated significantly from there. Obviously, this negatively affected our travel speed and we eventually…

1 Rust De Winter Bundu Trail Situated around 100km north of Pretoria, this popular 4x4 playground offers an 80km long trail, which would take 10 hours to two days to complete. Low-range gears and good ground clearance are required to complete the trail, and drivers must be accompanied by a guide (rescue services are available). Camping and swimming facilities, as well as drinking water are available at the camp terrain. • Closest town/s: Pretoria/Rust de Winter• Grade (1-5): 3 to 4• Type of terrain: Rocks, steep mountain tracks, gorges, very steep gradients, tight corners and bends. Guidance is required on some sections and the trail is not recommended for novice drivers.• Distance: 80km• Driving time (estimated): 2 days• GPS coordinates:-25.1992969, 28.5754694 CONTACT: +27 82 558 6184 / 12 379 1715…

In order to calculate the approximate efficiency of a solar panel as a percentage, there is a simple equation that can be used: panel power (measured in kW) divided by the length and width of the panel (measured in metres), and then multiplied by 100%. From the get-go, it is important to understand that the efficiency of a solar panel is a matter of surface area, not power. A 10 percent efficient 100W panel and a 20 percent efficient 100W panel will produce exactly the same amount of power. However, you should expect the 20 percent efficient solar panel to be half the total size of the 10 percent version. To calculate the efficiency of the panel, we need to consider that the power the sun provides for the panel…

Location, location, location Shortlist a few species according to which part of the country, and what sort of habitat, you find yourself in. Is it flitting around a reed bed in a wetland? Is it running along a farm road in the arid Karoo? Check the distribution maps in your bird book or app and follow a process of elimination. Call Now that you’re familiar with the LBJs in your area, the most helpful way to distinguish one species from another is by listening. Even the best binoculars on the market will only get you so far with these identical-looking twins. It’s a good idea to listen to the bird calls of the more common LBJs in your bird app before your trip commences, because then you’re bound to recognise…

Major vulture conservation milestone celebrated The first phase of a project to secure the future of wild vulture populations in southern Africa has been successfully completed with 160 Cape and African White-backed vultures having settled into their new home at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The birds are the vanguard of a two-year project to establish a breeding facility, VulPro at Shamwari, for sick or injured vultures that have been rehabilitated and are able to breed but are non-releasable. In what is the largest relocation of vultures ever undertaken, the birds were transported the 1 042km from VulPro’s facility in Hartbeespoort to enclosures at Shamwari. The move involved over 50 people and took 18 hours, with all 160 birds loaded in just three hours. Logistics…

Overlooking the nearby town of Arusha, Mount Meru stands proudly at 4 562m. However, very few visitors scale this volcano… which is a pity, because it has many things going for it. Firstly, being some 1 300m lower in height than Kili, the risk of climbers experiencing the dreaded effects of altitude sickness is less. The lower altitude also means that less time is required to climb Meru – and to top it off, visitors do not have to have such deep pockets to summit Meru since fees are substantially lower. Additionally, visitors are much more likely to spot wild life on Meru’s lower slopes than on Kili. In short, Meru is an exciting must-see destination in Tanzania! Although Kili and Meru are both volcanoes, the two brothers are strikingly…

“A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind’’ – the inspirational motto coined by Thierry Sabine, founder of the original Paris-Dakar Rally, who happened on the idea of the world’s toughest rally when, back in 1977, he got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally. Saved from the sands in extremis, he returned to France, still enthralled by the landscape, and promising to share his fascination with as many people as possible. Convinced that his idea would spark an epic race pitting man and machine against the harshest elements, and carry a message of friendship between all men, the Dakar Rally has generated innumerable sporting and human stories over the course of almost 50 years. Building a legacy One such…

The Suzuki Eeco was introduced on the South African market in 2023 and it was an immediate hit with companies needing a small run-around delivery vehicle. However, the folks from Suzuki SA decided to see if they could turn it into a campervan. So why a tiny camper van? Well, because much like the Jimny three- and five-door, it serves as a gateway to the camping and adventure life. Priced at a very reasonably R205 900, the Eeco is definitely a budget option. The full conversion is done by a supplier to Suzuki and will set you back around R100 000. So, for just over R300k, you will have everything you need for a week in the Kruger or – in our case – a weekend breakaway to the mountains…

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and our amazing tour of the Mountain Kingdom was reaching its conclusion. There were still a few more thrills to be had, though, and the group were as fired up and ready for action as they were when we first set off from Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. Thaba-Tseka to Thaba Bosiu An easy day of tar road driving awaited as our convoy eased out of bustling Thaba Tseka, taking the A3 westwards via a series of big passes. First up, just 16km out of town, was the Mokhoa-bong Pass, which – at 41.5km – is a very long pass. It summits at 2 884m and offers a substantial altitude variance of 692m. This was followed back-to-back by…

Did you know there are about 900 different types of pumpkin? (And did you know that cucumbers and watermelons are actually part of the pumpkin family? But that’s a story for another day…) So why – when there are so many different pumpkins – would you stick to the same old way of preparing it? There should be no need to threaten your children with death to get them to eat pumpkin. With a little creativity, you can serve pumpkin that is so mouthwatering that they will ask for more. In fact, they’re going to completely forget that pumpkin is actually a vegetable and good for you. And don’t even get me started on how impressed your guests at the next neighbourhood braai are going to be when they see…

Send yours to us on: info@4x4afrika.com (Subject: My Ride & I) Chris Janse van Vuuren & Liezel Turner 2020 Land Cruiser 200 VX “We have always been adventure seekers, looking for that perfect campfire – and the more remote that campfire is, the better! If you want to venture off the beaten track in search of those untouched and unseen places, you need a reliable ride to get you there – and our ‘Bos Cruiser’ is the perfect partner in our search for adventure. It has been fully kitted and equipped with everything we need to go completely off-the-grid and truly experience the wonders of nature, as far as possible away from the hustle and bustle of the city! And, thanks to its powerful engine, we have never experienced problems…

ACCOMMODATION BOEREWORS BUY CARAVAN CHOP DURBAN REE GRID HOTEL LAZY LIFE NSRI READING RESTAURANT WATER ROWING SPEND SUITE SWIMMING POOL TOWEL WAVES ADVENTURE BOOGYBORD CAMPING CATAMARAN COAST END OF YEAR FRISBEE GUESTHOUSE ICE CREAM LIFE SAVERS OCEAN READING RIVERS THE SALAD STALL SUNBURN TANING TRAVEL WEST BEACH BRAAI CANO CELEBRATIONS COFFEE FARM FROST HAMBURGER JBAY MEAL PIER RELAX ROAD SHIP STAND SUNDOWNER TENT VACATION WIND BEACHES BRAAIWOOD CAPE CHIPS COLD FIRE FUDG HAT JOURNEY MUSIC PITCHING CAMP LATE RESORT ROAD SAFETY SHOPPING STAY SUNTAN LOTION TIME VOYAGE YACHT BIKINI BREEZE CAR CHARCOAL COSTUME FIRELIGHTERS GRID GAMES HOLIDAYS KAROO REST NATAL PLEASURE REST ROADWORTHY SLEEPING LATE STRECHER SWIMMING TOES IN THE SAND WATER…

First launched in Japan in 1984, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary Land Cruiser 70. It is crazy to think that over 10 000 000 of these vehicles have been sold worldwide since then. That’s an astounding 250 000 per year! From its humble beginnings in 1951 as a mobility vehicle for Japan’s National Police Reserve, and then through over 70 years of continuous production, 14 model lines and thousands of variations, the Land Cruiser is the longest produced vehicle in Toyota’s history. During that time, it gained cult status within the four-wheel drive sector, consistently setting the benchmark for durability, ruggedness, reliability and flexibility. It is the world’s most customer-trusted vehicle and marked the foundation of Toyota’s development target of quality, durability, and reliability. Now, fast-forward…

These days Botswana is far more accessible to the aspiring adventurer or avid traveller. And if you plan right, you could camp at facilities that offer electricity, flushing toilets and hot ablutions. You could also comfortably travel with a 4x2 or even a sedan car… if glamping or lodging are more your style, that is of course! However, to get to some rural areas and camp wild, you need a proper 4WD vehicle, kitted to be self-sufficient. It would also be better to join a trustworthy tour group to enjoy the benefits of the unknown. And this is exactly what we do on our annual Botswana New Year Adventure. Day 1 We had met up with our adventurous travel companions at the Stockpoort Lodge the night before to get to…

Driving a Suzuki Jimny five-door for a couple of weeks during the December holidays gave me the opportunity to really get to know this little 4x4 with its big heart. For the first part of the test-drive period I mostly drove our youngest daughter and her friends around. The two ‘extra’ doors and additional space in the rear meant that fitting four teenagers in the Jimny was fairly easy. Trips to the local grocery store were also a breeze. I was worried that cargo space would be compromised, but the Jimny swallowed all our shopping bags with ease. In fact, I soon discovered that it is the perfect run-about. You can squeeze into the smallest of parking spaces and manoeuvring in and around traffic and crowded parking lots is a…

Over the course of 35 days, we traversed 13 borders, covering an impressive 27 523km, with just under 6 175km spent cruising in our trusty campervan. Our journey was not about the distance, but about the memories made, lessons learnt, and the unique challenges faced when travelling with children in foreign first-world countries. We uncovered many hidden costs and having to pay for things that we take for granted in Africa. We swam in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, North, and Arabian Seas, and visited many iconic landmarks. These included the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, the Black Forest’s biggest cuckoo clock, living museums and so much more. Not only did we visit Ripley’s Believe it or Not! in Amsterdam (which was truly mind-blowing), but we encountered numerous world records – from the…

LBJs are widely regarded as the most challenging group of birds to tell apart, because they are all… well, pretty small, brown, drab, and uncannily similar in appearance. But in this month’s piece, we’re here to put your mind at ease and help you enjoy your next feathered foray, whether that’s at a hide overlooking a reed bed, or along a dusty farm road. Read on to get to know a few bucket-list LBJs better, and for tips on differentiating the little buggers. Cape Long-billed Lark Of the five species of long-billed larks that occur throughout South Africa, the Cape Long-billed Lark is the one you will see along the West Coast. All have similar song-flights given by the males, as they rise up steeply from the ground, sometimes up…

It’s been quite a ride since the latest-generation Land Rover Defender made its highly anticipated debut in 2020. Initially rolled out in 110 guise, the 90 and 130 models were later added to the range. In similar vein, a variety of powertrains joined the South African line-up over time. The latest one of these is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the P400e, which is offered in two 110 derivatives only. We recently sampled one of these, the P400e X-Dynamic HSE. The Defender 110 P400e was introduced locally in 2021. The only thing that sets it apart from its brethren is its hybrid drivetrain, which promises a claimed 43km of pure electric driving range. That’s great for urban commuters who do most of their driving within the city limits, more so if…