Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i Go! Drive & Camp

I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions, and my reasons are very simple: I’m not very good at implementing them and nothing usually comes from them anyway. In 2018 I didn’t start exercising, I certainly didn’t eat healthier and I also didn’t start drinking Coke Zero with my brandy. I also didn’t travel to Botswana, I didn’t visit the Cederberg once and all my plans to renovate our house didn’t really materialise. Had I made all these resolutions at the start of last year, it would now have been a rather disappointing state of affairs. And let’s be honest: there’s enough in this world that’s disappointing. I really don’t need to reproach myself as well. The other day I read a column on the Chicago Tribune…

Last month I waxed lyrical about the new Ford Ranger Raptor’s suspension. While this vehicle’s suspension setup is great for bombing across rough terrain at speed, it isn’t suited to overlanding as a laden 4x4 tourer. The two main components to your off-roader that determines its ability to effectively and safely cover rough terrain are your suspension and your tyres. Your suspension is essentially your springs and shock absorbers. Simply put, the springs keep the vehicle at the correct ride height, carry the weight of the vehicle and your overlanding gear, and absorb the undulations and rough terrain while touring off-road. “While this vehicle’s suspension setup is great for bombing across rough terrain at speed, it isn’t suited to overlanding as a laden 4x4 tourer.” Your shock absorbers control the…

For campers, the name National Luna is synonymous with fridge/freezers, but now the company has released a small camping icemaker. The icemaker consists mainly of stainless steel, uses 220 V power and weighs 8,1 kg. While the machine is working, you can peep through a transparent panel to see how the ice cubes are made – that can take between 6 and 13 minutes, depending on the outside temperature. The icemaker works with ambient temperatures between 10 ºC and 43 ºC. It can churn out 12 kg of ice over 24 hours and the tank has room for 2,2 l water. The icemaker costs R1 999 at Outdoor Warehouse and is guaranteed for three years.…

Cara-Camp Caravan & Outdoor Centre in the Cape has recently sold their first Swift caravan. Swift caravans are still new to the country and are imported from England by Loftus Caravan City in Randburg. The owner of Cara-Camp, Arnold Prosch, says it’s a milestone for the Cape. The second Swift caravan also has a boss alread. The two Swift models are the Coastline and Atlantic, and cost R579 000 and R539 000 respectively. Cara-Camp is also the only Cape caravan dealer to sell Okto caravans of which they recently received stock. Contact 021 852 8215 cara-camp.co.za  info@cara-camp.co.za…

Fish for compliments Even the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be impressed with this one! You need 1 portion instant noodles foil 1 small onion, sliced into rings a fresh fish of your choice (such as hake) a handful of vegetables, cut into strips black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon soya sauce lemon juice to taste This is how 1 Soak the noodles in warm water until soft. 2 Make a double-layered packet with the foil, large enough for the noodles, fish and vegetables. Arrange the onion on the foil, then the fish, and then arrange the vegetables around the fish. 3 Season with pepper and sprinkle the soya sauce and lemon juice over. Place the noodles on top and fold the packet closed. 4 Braai the packet for 15…

Sherpa Leisure is famous for the small fibreglass caravans it builds for couples. Other than the Rambler, Sherpa’s largest caravan, all the models have either twin beds or a double bed, which means it’s basically a caravan that consists a of a bed. The materials used in building the Sherpa caravans are also a huge plus. The hull is made of fibreglass, and everyone knows that’s just about maintenance free, light and incredibly strong. And, should you need to make repairs to an older model, you won’t struggle to repair any of the panels. Neville de Meillon, the man behind Sherpa’s success, has now introduced the very latest model, the Sherpa Tiny Lite Hi-Rider. This caravan is almost a Tiny Lite clone, but it has bigger wheels – 15” instead…

You’ve already paid an arm and a leg to book your favourite spot in advance for your holiday. That’s not even taking into account the enormous fuel expense just to get you there. Now you just want to watch the wildlife from the comfort of your camping chair. Luckily, you don’t have to sell an organ to be able to watch the elephants drink at the waterhole or see the vultures circling a carcass. These budget binoculars will get the job done without breaking the bank. BUSHNELL POWER VIEW VALUE BUNDLE (10X25 AND 10X42) Perfect pair This roof-prism duo available exclusively from Outdoor Warehouse packs a mighty punch with multi-coated optics. Now you won’t have to fight over the binoculars, because your spouse will also be watching in wonder and…

DOUBLE THE HELP IN BARRYDALE We were on a 16-day dirt-road tour and, after experiencing many dirt roads, lots of dust and two days in Gamkaskloof, we finally reached Barrydale in the Western Cape. Next on our list was the Diesel & Crème restaurant. We turned left to park in front of the restaurant and our friends, who were travelling with us, gestured that we should stop immediately. I could tell from their expressions that something was wrong. My suspicions were confirmed. We were towing a Camp Master trailer with a roof tent, and the tent was hanging skew over the trailer. The framework that secured the tent to the lid of the trailer had broken, probably as a result of the rough dirt roads and all the juddering. For…

I recently saw a newspaper poster that read: “You may not drive with flip-flops.” I consider myself a law-abiding citizen, but I never realised it’s a violation – the previous day, I’d climbed into my bakkie barefoot to buy a bag of wood at the corner café. Later I read the article, and it tells of a South African who was given a hefty fine for being caught wearing Crocs behind his Jeep’s wheel on the road between Komatipoort and Maputo. He was towing an off-road trailer at the time, too. “A South African was given a hefty fine for being caught wearing Crocs behind his Jeep’s wheel on the road between Komatipoort and Maputo.” The article quotes Dirk Fourie of the Facebook group DriveMoz who says South Africans need…

According to the lab coats at Jaguar Land Rover, cars wil soon be able to warn you if motion sickness is about to strike – before you feel it yourself – and could even take steps to make you feel better. Spencer Salter, a wellness technology researcher at Jaguar Land Rover, says that 70% of people suffer from motion sickness but, until recently, very little information was available about the causes and treatment. However, Jaguar Land Rover made a breakthrough and developed biometric sensors that monitor the behaviour of motorists and then employ an algorithm that predicts whether an occupant will suffer from motion sickness. It is generally assumed that motion sickness is caused by conflicting information sent to the brain by the inner ear, skin and muscles. This confusion…

Oryx 4x4 Rentals loaned us a Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD-6 4x4 double cab. A few days earlier, this vehicle’s rooftop tent was set alight by hapless French tourists, but because we already had accommodation booked in the park, the absent tent wasn’t an issue. The bakkie’s suspension is lifted by 50 mm and it is equipped with BF Goodrich All-Terrain tyres as well as a snorkel and a fully equipped canopy. Otherwise, it’s fairly standard and we can confirm that it didn’t put so much as a foot wrong. Oryx 4x4 Rentals is in Cape Town and, besides having a fleet of Hilux and Land Cruisers, they also offer short 4x4 courses for novices before they leave on holiday. 021 412 1542 oryx4x4rentals.com info@oryx4x4rentals.com…

“This is the second time we’ve been here, and we love it. It’s safe, and the kids enjoy being able to ride their bikes, and feed and help out with the animals . The size of the campsite is also intimate, so it never gets too rowdy, which is exactly what we prefer.”…

FISHING RESORT SILVERSTREAMS CARAVAN PARK No border incident This campsite in the Drakensberg is tucked away near the Boesmansnek border post to Lesotho. It can’t be too hard to manage a first-rate campsite when you have large grass-covered stands beside a crystal-clear river and a picture-perfect background. Add a shop where you can buy meat, fresh fruit, eggs and chocolate every day, and you have a gem like Silverstreams. The road to the campsite takes you over a small concrete bridge that crosses the shallow Ngwangwa River. You can catch two types of trout here: rainbow trout or brown trout. For the latter, however, you will not only need the patience of Job, but also a healthy dose of ingenuity and luck. There are eight stands (on grass) next to…

If you’ve ever stabbed your finger while threading earthworms, you’ll be very pleased with this piece of tackle. Fear None is importing a special stainless-steel needle, which you can use to easily – and painlessly – thread a worm over your hook. The Stonfo needles are imported from Italy. Simply thread the earthworm over the 20 cm-long needle, which is straight and has a T eflon tip, then press the other end against the barbed hook. This end of the needle fits neatly over the sharp end of the hook, and then you very simply feed the worm on to the hook. The needles are available in two sizes: a thin needle for Kariba worms, and a thicker one for garden and bloodworms. Price: Approximately R70 (for 2 needles), and…

“I like the high wheel arches with the bonnet sitting slightly lower. It’s easier to estimate distance when driving close to something or parking. It’s quiet in the cabin, even with the engine that’s slightly noisy. I wanted to complain about not having anywhere to put my cooldrink, but then spotted hidden cup holders on either side of the dashboard near the doors. Even smaller cans fit – this gets a big thumbs up from me. Unfortunately, the pockets in the doors are a bit narrow. It’s as if the seat gets in the way between you and the storage space. The gear lever is rather long, and with the mechanical handbrake next to it, it seems as if the Navara isn’t quite as with it as other manufacturers. But…

It’s certainly not all doom and gloom when it comes to the camping community. Despite the economy’s fragility, the global flux and all-round tightening of belts, we’re still willing to spend some money to hook up a caravan, get into the great outdoors and find ourselves among the wild and untamed, with a chop on the braai and a cold beverage in hand. 2018 may go down as a particularly bad year for South African motorists, with all-time high fuel prices and the Nissan Hardbody sparking international outrage for its zero-star NCAP rating. But those hiccups aside, something that counts favourably for outdoor enthusiasts has been the trend in the global rise (South Africa included) of SUVs and crossovers over the last 10 years. The global automotive landscape is mirrored…

Johan Bornman Yes, if you want to listen to music, then rather stay home. You are missing the point of camping and being one with nature. Wilma Du Plessis Pietersen Places should be specific and clear about what no music and what soft music is. What is soft to one might not be soft for another. Music always causes  conflict in a resort. Gert Munnik It’s happened to us twice before at Matroosberg, but Didi, the manager, and her team don’t take any nonsense. Elize Coetzee Some people go camping to scream and shout. The younger generations especially want to party during the December holidays. It’s their right, but  this should be at resorts that cater for it. Some coastal campsites do allow that sort of behaviour, so enjoy it…

The Hartbeespoort off-road trailer manufacturer Bundu Trailers has just launched its first off-road caravan, the Bundu X. The prototype was built a year ago, but in the meantime it’s been tested thoroughly, says Arno van Rooyen, Bundu’s marketing manager. After a trip to Mozambique, the final issues were resolved, including replacing the original aluminium water tank with a purpose-built 125 ℓ plastic tank, as the aluminium one cracked. The chassis is made of galvanised steel, while the hull consists mainly of aluminium. The Bundu X has a door on both sides just in front of the wheel – the right one opens to the pop-up bathroom. A gas geyser is mounted on the inside of the door and you set up the shower cubicle here. The left door is the…

The Cape canopy manufacturer EKO Aluminium Canopies was bought by Extreme Outdoor Gear in October 2018. The new managers – Keith Davies, Jason Collie and Nick van der Linde – are all from Extreme Outdoor Gear and they also all cut their teeth in the boat industry. EKO will be teaming up with Namib Outdoor. Namib Outdoor is one of Extreme Outdoor Gear’s business interests that focus on fully equipped off-road vehicle and trailer rentals. EKO has been making canopies for a wide range of vehicles for a number of years.…

Puncture resistance, payload capacity, heat tolerance, body roll, steering response and pressure performance... are just some of the features directly linked to the construction of a tyre’s carcass. Yet, despite the obvious relevance of these features off-road, you’ll seldom hear any mention of carcass construction in a campfire debate or off-road tyre test. So, what gives? Why are so many people (including tyre dealers and 4x4 magazines) ignoring the one thing that accounts for up to 70% of a tyre’s strength and performance? Answer: Because it’s a difficult thing to gauge. The carcass of a tyre is the foundation on which the rest of the tyre’s design is built; and much like when buying a house, there’s not much you can do visually to determine if the foundation is solid.…

ATKV Klein-Kariba Campsite 73 pitches, all paved, a braai area with a grid, power supply and a nearby tap. Most have shade and some have shade cloth and sewer connections. Ablution facilities 2 neat and modern ablution blocks. Price Standard Rates range from R485 to R1 040 per site for 6 people in peak times and weekends, depending on where you camp. On weekdays the price is R120-R265. ATKV members pay R370-R890 per site during peak times and weekends (or R115-R190 a week). Arrival and departure times 2 pm and 10 am. Contact 014 736 9800 or 011 919 9092 (central reservations) atkvoorde.co.za kariba@atkv.org.za Nearest town Bela-Bela, 8 km. What does the road look like? All tar. GPS S24.849544 E28.336160 go! Drive & Camp says Friends and family…

Where? The Karoo National Park lies next to Beaufort West, about halfway between Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Provisions You can see Beaufort West from certain sections of the park. You therefore don’t have to lug around a week’s worth of food as there’s a shopping centre literally around the corner. The park office also has a small shop (open from 7.30 am to 8 pm) where you can buy things such as souvenirs, milk, wine and firewood. If you decide to go to town every day, do pay attention to your speed. There are quite a few speed cameras and the traffic department aren’t shy about issuing fines. Accommodation The campsite has 24 stands, each with electricity, a bin, a braai and taps. There’s not a lot of shade –…

Campsite 10 stands of varying size, with different amounts of shade throughout the day. Ablution facilities A small building, considering that it’s split between males and females. Very clean and neat throughout the day. Price R140 per person per night, R70 for children aged 4-13 and free for kids younger than that. Contact 072 223 4674 fynbosguestfarm.co.za peter@fynbosguestfarm.co.za Arrival and departure times Get there as early as you want, and just be out the gate before dark. They’re not too fussed. Road condition As you turn off the R46, it’s 1 km of decent gravel road to the gate and another 700 metres to reception. GPS S33.388504, E19.194580 go! Drive & Camp says Remember that these are rescued animals and they’ve already been chased around and abused. If…

Maximum number of vehicles 20 Do I get a map? Yes. Will my vehicle get scratched? There’s regular maintenance of the trail, but you need to be careful to avoid the bushes. Can we braai on the trail Yes. Can I turn around halfway? Yes. Cellphone reception? Yes – not everywhere but there’s strong signal on the mountain. AROUND THE ROUTE Best time to go? All year round. Take my family? Yes, definitely. Just for a day or make a weekend of it? At least the weekend. Ablution facilities? Yes. Directions Drive north on the N7 from Cape Town. About 20 km after Citrusdal, turn left at Markuskraal and follow the tar road to the T-junction. Turn right and follow the tar road to another T-junction. Turn right again, follow…

Fish Rainbow and brown trout Campsite 32 large grass-covered sites with minimal shade. Ablution facilities Neat bathrooms, with an undercover washing-up section next door. There is an automatic washing machine that operates with R10 tokens. Price R220-R600 per night per site for up to 4 people depending on the season and the specific site. Arrival and departure 2 pm and 10 am Contact 082 331 6670 or 082 859 8619 info@silverstreams.co.za silverstreams.co.za Closest town Underberg, 46 km. How is the road? The last 25 km is a dirt road and there are two different access roads to the resort. GPS S29.843911 E29.215664 go! Drive & Camp says The owners prefer a catch-and-release approach but they don’t mind if you want to keep the occasional fish for the pan.…

What does the book say? Fuel Diesel Engine 2,298 ℓ Cylinders 4 inline Power 140 kW @ 3 750 rpm Torque 450 Nm @ 1 500 to 2 500 rpm Transmission 7-speed automatic Driven wheels Rear only Tare 1 805 kg GVM 2 910 kg GCM 5 910 kg Wading depth Not available. Towing ability for trailer with overrun brakes Up to 3 500 kg Dimensions 5 255 mm (1); 1 850 mm (w); 1 865 mm (h) Axle distance 3 150 mm Track width 1 570 mm (front and rear) Ground clearance 229 mm Fuel capacity 80 ℓ Price (new) From R551 900 (with leather seats) Price (second hand) On autotrader.co.za we saw a 2018 model with 6 000 km on the clock for R509 900. Fast facts The…

SWEET POTATO POT BREAD When you have some time This exceptionally soft bread requires a bit more effort than the other breads, but it’s totally worth it… Besides, there’s supposed to be time to spare when camping. Ingredients (makes 1 big bread) FOR MIXTURE 1 ¾ cup white bread flour ½ cup lukewarm water 2 tablespoons honey ¼ teaspoon instant yeast FOR MIXTURE 2 1¼ cup of white bread flour 2 tablespoons dry milk powder ¾ teaspoon instant yeast 1½ tablespoons butter 1-2 cooked sweet potatoes Olive oil 1 teaspoon salt Here’s how 1 Mix together all the ingredients for Mixture 1. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and set it aside in a warm spot for 30 minutes. 2 Mix together the flour, milk powder and instant yeast of Mixture…

WINNING PHOTO Step it up! I usually carry my cellphone with me, but it’s not always for making calls, says Rentia Lombard from Pretoria. “We celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary in KwaZulu-Natal as well as my husband Jaco’s birthday. Jaco wanted go fishing one day and we were at the beach where he cast his line. I saw his footprints in the sand and realised it would make a great pic.” There’s nothing new about photographs of footprints on the beach, so the challenge is to take it in such a way that it draws your attention anew. Here, Rentia succeeds with distinction, because her simple and cleverly placed detail results in a winning photo. The single footprint in the front of the frame is considerably larger than the others…

Camping is something you tend to associate with good weather, which explains why so many people hit the road during the December holidays. But this is also the time of the year when the notorious thunderstorms hit the north of the country. It’s a rarer event in the Cape where people experience it less often. But comparing the Cape thunder with that of the north is like trying to find similarities between an air rifle and a canon. In the north, it appears as if that purple-white discharge is going to tear open the heavens above… and then you wait for the ear-splitting crack that inevitably follows. And then you anticipate the next drumfire. As a child, I remember one evening in Rustenburg when I looked out of my bedroom…