Innholdsfortegnelse for Feb/Mar 2023 i Go! Drive & Camp

NEWS Campsites between Kuruman and Askham in the Northern Cape are as scarce as hen's teeth hence a new campsite in this area is welcome news indeed. Kalahari Erfenis is 24 km outside Hotazel, therefore an ideal overnight stop between Gauteng and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. In addition, the road via Hotazel is 124 km shorter than via Upington (if you're not bothered by the 146 km dirt road between Van Zylsrus and Askham). Owners, Renier and Elske Strydom, added their distinctive touch to the campsite. Six stands are laid out in a crescent, and each has a luxury tent that sleeps two. The Stands, are laid out So you can park your caravan alongside, the existing structure with enough room to set up. Other than a permanent tent which…

The new Ford Ranger launched internationally on 5 December 2022 near Cape Town, and the latest Volkswagen Amarok's international launch happened a week later, also in the Cape. Both bakkies use Ford'sT6.2 platform – a reworking of theT6 that's been in service since 2011 – and it's easier to discuss the differences between the Ranger and Amarok than the myriad of similarities. What differs? As for the bodywork, the Amarok has clearer “mudguard” lines than the Ranger.The front view is different in terms of the grille and bonnet, but when you look at the bakkies from the rear, they look quite similar.The doors and roof rails are the same as well. “For the new generation we have significantly modified the Amarok's archetypal design. It is now unambiguously more expressive and…

For our visit to Goudmyn, we drove an Opel Zafira Life. It is a luxurious car with, among other things, blindspot sensors, a reversing camera, a table that sets up between the seats of the second row, and the heads-up display projected on the windscreen shows your speed as well as the local speed limit. Vans like the Zafira are designed with small groups of people in mind, but the Zafira is not really built for towing. You may hitch a caravan weighing no more than 600 kg –we looked around and the Tonga caravan's weight was low enough: 580 kg. Obviously, with the 370 Nm of torque, you don't feel the weight on the towbar, and moreover, the tiny Tonga easily fits within the van's slipstream. Our tow vehicle…

REEL & WHEEL FISHING RESORT FISHING GEAR DOUBLE MOUTH ON THE BEACH The stands at Double Mouth just outside Morgan Bay in the Eastern Cape are laid out like an amphitheatre along the beach on two terraces. The terraces each form a half circle, and all face the beach. These two crescents follow each other's curves, with the two ablution blocks in the middle. Each stand is numbered and has a brick braai (with a grid provided). Your bin is under the braai. There'S a power point at your stand – you'll need a Fredlin plug. There's a single row of trees at the front of the two terraces. As you look down at the sea in front of you, the hill behind you forms a shoulder that breaks any wind…

TOW TEST There is nothing modest about a twin-turbocharged diesel engine. The numbers - 221 kW and 650 Nm - paint the picture and place the Landy in elite company. In addition, the bodywork is a good 435 mm shorter than the standard 110 model. It's a bit like squeezing a V8 engine under a Beetle's bonnet: every ounce of energy pushes you deeper into the seat. Defenders are also known for their off-road ability, even more so with a shorter wheelbase. Our question today, however, is how the Defender 90 fares when towing a caravan. That's why we hitched the new Armadillo XTR312 for a weekend in the Langeberg, after which we kicked up a decent amount of dust on the outskirts of Cape Town including some corrugated roads.…

CAMP BOFFIN Only newbies rush into a campsite to set up camp at the first good stand they spot. Why would you settle for less when you can find a spacious stand with the best facilities? Unfortunately, it's not that simple because you're not the only camper. Someone else probably already occupies the ‘best’ stand. However, we all also have different preferences, which is why the stand right by the sea is not necessarily first prize for you, because you – and your three small grandchildren – prefer to camp near the jungle gym, close to the ablution facilities. Allocated for you At some resorts, your stand is allocated to you in advance. But nothing stops you from asking for another stand after you arrive and see somewhere you know…

INBOX We love hearing what's on your mind! Write to us at drivecamp@gomag.co.za and please remember to give your full address and contact details. Drive & Camp reserves the right to edit and shorten letters - and publish them in the magazine, on the website, and elsewhere. Drive & Camp is much more than an outdoor magazine - it's almost like a letter to a friend. We really love the bush, and the news article about the new bush camp at Hoedspruit in the OctoberNovember 2022 issue piqued our interest so much that we immediately booked a spot. Thank you also for the experience you shared in the camping destination article in the same issue. We have decided to celebrate our coming fiftieth wedding anniversary in Marloth Park in February.…

NEWS It wasn't long after Naas and Melanie Rautenbach bought their land – just over 20 ha – before they decided to share it with others. The idea was to create a own weekend getaway, but a properly equiped caravan park was born. The Klipspringerkloof Bush Camp lies 3,5 km north-east of the Dinokeng reserve in Gauteng. They built the place from the ground up – in 2019, the couple decided to also build a chalet for friends. If you have a farm, everyone comes to visit, says Melanie – so much so that some of the friends suggested they establish a caravan park. Naas worked on this…. and it was ready for guests in September 2022. The centrepiece is the pool with immitation rock finish, surrounded by five stands.…

NEW CARAVAN INVADER DUO X New models are nothing new for caravan manufacturers, and yet they're always news. And when a manufacturer has only produced two models for many years, it's big news when a third one sees the light of day. Invader's popular Duo and Quattro are unique – they sit somewhere between an offroad trailer and an off-road caravan.Typically, an off-road trailer has a tent on top of the trailer, while its caravan counterpart allows you to sleep inside, but Invader blurs the line. As the names suggest, the Duo is intended for two campers and the Quattro forfour. Not only is the Duo X now the two-sleeper's flagship model, but it has also added a whole bunch of novelties. Colour me orange Where the previous models were…

In July 2022, Mahindra gave us a sneak peek of the XUV700 and Scorpio N, but the XUV700's actual launch was only later in December.The Indian vehicle manufacturer says the XUV700 is its flagship SUV – and therefore also the first to sport their new emblem on the grille. “The XUV700 heralds an entirely new range of Mahindra models that will arrive in the next six months. As the first model to carry our new Twin Peaks logo, it is also the first Mahindra SUV that welcomes an entirely new phase for the brand,”says Rajesh Gupta, head of Mahindra South Africa. What do we have here? Initially, the XUV700 was supposed to be a second generation XUV500, but because it's all newfrom the ground up, it was decided to rather…

JOURNEY Solitaire is a small but pivotal place in the Namib Desert's tourism infrastructure. If you're limping in here with a flat tyre, Patat Katamelo and his colleagues will sort you out in no time. Tank running on empty? Johannes Swartbooi will top it up, with a smile. Haven't seen a good coffee since Swakop? Nico Mangudu will brew you one to put the hair back on your chest. And if you're hungry, head straight for Café van der Lee where a slice of their famous apfelstrudel awaits. Most visitors who have driven the long desert road between Walvis Bay and Sesriem will be familiar with Solitaire. In a way, Solitaire is just like Doha's international airport: there is a constant movement of people arriving and departing, only they don't…

MY WHEELS The Muckelmann's live in Düsseldorf, Germany and, have visited Southern Africa at least twice a year for the past 16 years. Their Volkswagen Touareg gets stored in Europe when they set off for Africa. They initially hired vehicles for their trips but have since bought their second vehicle already: a 2019 double cab Land Cruiser 79 4.5 D V8. Philipp has a story to tell. me. She said: ‘You must come to South Africa with me. If you don't like it, we have a serious problem…’ with the 4.2 diesel engine. We were fortunate that we never had any breakdowns with our Cruiser: from deep water crossings to the dunes in Mozambique – just deflate the tyres to 0,8 bar and there you go. Our first visit together…

FISH DISH What could be a tastier starter for two than fresh oysters? Do give this classic French mignonette vinaigrette a try if you want to express your love in a campsite. Ingredients (serves for 2) A dozen fresh oysters, shucked and ready to enjoy FOR THE VINAIGRETTE 2 shallots or 1 small red onion 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar 4 tablespoons mirin or white wine vinegar ½ teaspoon castor sugar (or to taste) ½ teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon cracked pink peppercorns Here's how 1 Peel the shallots, halve them and then chop very finely – show your steel in the campsite with a razor-sharp knife. 2 Mix together all the vinaigrette ingredients and leave it in the fridge for a few hours – the flavours need to marry…

NEWS Mike and Dawn Solyom have always wanted to own a campsite, and in November their dream came true. The 170 ha Rotsinbos Private Game Farm lies 23 km outside Brits, North West. The couple are campers themselves and therefore know what people like and don't like. The 19 stands are all laid out in the bush on veld grass, and each has its own lock-up bathroom. The private bathrooms are in five buildings among the stands. You get a shower and basin, with the loo in a separate room. The dishwashing sink is on the outside of the bathroom, and gas geysers provide hot water. The buildings were built with face bricks to match the rocky hill behind the stands, Dawn explains. (The sunsets are spectacular from the top.)…

The biggest rally ever in Mobi Lodge's existence was held at Bass Lake, Gauteng, one weekend in November: there were no fewer than 38 Mobi Lodge caravans with 84 people camping there. Mobi Lodge Klub Noordelike Gebied organised the event. The highlight was Saturday's braai when everyone gathered around the campfire. There was also a lucky draw for several prizes. The Noordelike Gebied club was founded on 21 February 2022 by Jurie Venter from Groblersdal. He's a paraplegic who owns a converted Mobi Lodge to accommodate his wheelchair. A total of 67 Mobi Lodge owners already belong to the club and the total membership is 150 from the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The youngest member is 33 and the oldest 78. The club's goal is…

NEW CARAVAN ELXV GHARI 4.7 The ELXV – which stands for Elite Luxury Offroad Vehicles – is still new in camping circles, but it made its presence felt on arrival. Where have you seen an off-road caravan that has a washing machine let alone an electrically operated step-ladder?The aluminium chassis is just as unique, not to mention other luxuries, including the 12 Vair-conditioner and electrically operated pop-up roof. ELXV currently builds the Spoor, Ng'ombe and Ghari models, with three versions of the latter: the 3.7,4.2 and 4.7. Built to last Just by looking at the materials, it's clear the Ghari is built to last. (That's aside from the aluminium chassis which is equipped with Al-Ko's Enduro X suspension.)The panels consist of a 2 mm fibreglass skin on both sides of…

DESTINATION The Breede River weaves like a golden ribbon through the Western Cape, flanked by vineyards. There is also a large selection of campsites on its shores to choose from, including Batis & Bass, Klipkrans, Rivierplaas, Breede Otter and Silwerstrand. For this issue, we checked out Goudmyn and Badensfontein. GOUDMYN RIVER CHALETS Good as gold The Cape isn't synonymous with gold mines – the nearest one is in the Free State, more than 1 000 km away, after all When you come across a campsite here that's called Goudmyn (translated from Afrikaans as “gold mine”), you have to wonder about its origin. Back in the day, someone apparently paid a whopping £2 400 for a large piece of property outside Robertson. An unknown commentor who couldn't believe the price apparently…

Not much can equal the sudden rise in your adrenaline levels the way shining your torch in the veld only to stare straight into the yellow eyes of a lion, barely 3 m away from you, does. You're suddenly immensely grateful for the little things in life – including the fence between you and the king of the jungle and his cronies as they hungrily eye the camp. With the Big Five, enchanting Bushveld landscapes and plenty of campsites, it's no wonder that Dinokeng is becoming ever more popular and bursting at the seams on weekends and holidays. The self-driving route with its picnic spots in the southern part of the park is a major attraction and a popular day trip for overnight and day visitors. From the Tau gate,…

READER STORY After towing for years, Theunis recently bought a converted Land Cruiser. But before embarking on a trip to some of his favourite destinations like the Richtersveld, it was essential to embark on a shakedown cruise to see that everything works and is as it should be. And for that there was no better place than Boegoeberg, so says Theunis. “It's 08:00 on a Friday morning and I check one last time to see if I have any urgent emails that require my attention. Suddenly, none of them seem important enough to justify an immediate response. I delegate one or two back to Head Office because there is a more important task at hand: it is time to hit the road to Boegoeberg's campsite with its oak trees and…

Just as Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Toyota – and Haval of GWM – so Beijing is the luxurious version of the Chinese car manufacturer Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, or BAIC. BAIC – pronounced as “bike” – is not just any old business. It has been around for 65 years, is a Fortune 500 company and also operates Mercedes-Benz's plants in China. But enough about the manufacturer; let's look at the car. What do we have here? The Beijing X55 is a mid-sized crossover, although it is marketed as a compact SUV. It's available with only one engine option: a 1,5 ℓ-turbopetrol that's unique to this manufacturer (BAIC calls the engine “China Heart”). The automatic transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch system and the X55 is driven in its…

The Tourer caravans were a success story from the outset, and today, 10 years later, nothing has changed. The Tourers are gravelroader versions of the Sprint, Swing and Splash road caravans. The Tourer SP is therefore based on the Sprint, the SW on the Swing and the SX takes after the Splash. These models get a rubber axle, but the manufacturer has now introduced an Enduro variant for each of the models. “Enduro” refers to the Al-Ko Enduro suspension, an independent suspension that works with trailing-arms. A solid foundation Judging by the decent corner steadies with their large feet, this caravan will stand pretty solid. These Big Foot feet are also from Al-Ko and have a footprint of 180 × 200 mm each and a load capacity of 1 250…

4X4 PROFESSOR A family from Kempton Park, Gauteng – let's call them the Smiths –would like to visit family in Melkbosstrand in the Cape for a week. They don't want to be a burden, so the Smiths also need their own wheels during the visit. Should they drive or fly down? The numbers We went online and requested flight tickets with one month's notice from three popular travel agencies. An average return ticket between OR Tambo and Cape Town International costs R3 400 pp. The Smiths will therefore have to pay R13 600 for four of these. Next up were three vehicle rental companies, and for a rented Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD6 4×4, the Smiths will pay an average of R21 000 per week. Also remember that they have to…

Most bright blue vehicles stand out from the crowd. Now add a matching blue caravan and the combination turns into a beacon of blue in a sea of ordinary. Enter Tojem, Etienne van Zyl's caravan. In camping circles, Etienne and his son, Jean-Pierre, are known for the unique Tonga caravan, and it is one of them that father and son livened up. The Tonga's standard colour is creamy white, but the blue caravan lets others know: you can order a Tonga in any colour. Of course, prospective buyers will consider a similar colour to their tow vehicle. Adaptations and innovations are Etienne's lifeblood. He set up his own panel-beater business 30 years ago, but it wasn't long before fibreglass became part of his world (the Tonga is made of this…