Go! Drive & Camp Apr/May 2024

EDITOR'S LETTER I'm continually amazed at the pace at which time seems to slip away these days. Is it me, or did we just exchange new year's greetings the other day, and now we're already facing the first official school holiday of the year? If you were clever and did a bit of forward planning, you probably took full advantage of the holiday season at this time of year, managing to craft a two-week break with just five days of leave. So, a big well done if you're currently lounging under your patio cover, catching your breath. You deserve it. I've been pondering quite a bit about why it feels as though each year leaves us with a bit less time. In my search for an explanation, I came across…

My husband Even and I were chatting to friends at a yoga class discussing how a caravan would be a great way to enhance retirement. Behind us, someone said, “My neighbour is trying to sell his camper van…” And so it started. We got Fanie van der Linde's details and set a date to view the vehicle in Parys. The first thing we noticed was how spacious it was inside. There's no sense of claustrophobia, and there's oodles of storage options. Fanie insisted we take it for a test drive to “see” for ourselves – I think he meant ‘to hear,’ because that Lexus engine gives a throaty roar that is most satisfying. Even took the wheel and as we drove, what played in my mind was the song “I…

Every year, various friends and I camp for four weeks during the December holidays at Tieties Bay. I fondly refer to my camping spot as The Train Station because these friends come and go during this time. Each year, I bring along Christmas decorations, but I've never brought a Christmas tree. Last year, however, I set one up. Not just any tree: one made of dried sea bamboo I collected around the campsite. I fastened the dried bamboo together with cable ties and finished it off with decorations. For cooking, we use a braai fire, not a gas stove. One of my friends brought along 1 600 pieces of blue gum wood from Moorreesburg; my brother, James Laurence, dove for crayfish and black mussels to eat; and we gathered limpets…

Follow @wegrysleep on Instagram and tag your photos with #wegrysleep, and we might repost them on our stream or feature them here. COMMENT OF THE MONTH! We wanted to know from our Facebook followers what their most peaceful camping spot is. Here are some of the suggestions: Boulder Bay (south of Hondeklip Bay) and Koringkorrel Bay (a bit further south); Die Mond (north of Ceres); Polentswa (on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park); Soutpoort near Loxton; Suikerbossie Guest Farm (between Ceres and Citrusdal); Almega (close to Dinokeng); Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway (Rawsonville) and Jongensfontein Caravan Park.…

CARAVAN SHOW T he Caravan Show at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand has established itself over the years as the top event where new caravans are unveiled. According to show director, Hampie de Kock, this year's event was the largest yet in terms of manufacturers’ participation, with more than 40 of the country's 60 or so manufacturers showing their models. A third hall had to be added to accommodate a total exhibition area of 17 000 m². This year's showcase attracted 27 000 visitors – significantly more than the average 22 000 of previous years. A major benefit for manufacturers is seeing first-hand the public's reaction to their new products. One model that caught our eye was Berg Off-Road's unique off-road caravan, the CX6, which sleeps up to six…

NEWS BMW X2 Available since March this year, the X2 line-up includes four brand new models: the all-electric iX2, the flagship M35i xDrive, the sDrive 19i, and the diesel-powered sDrive 18d. The iX2 won't be sold in South Africa, and according to BMW's website, neither will the diesel model. Citroën C3 Aircross The new C3 Aircross is expected to launch by the end of 2024. Official photos of this newcomer are still under wraps; the image here is of the standard C3, which is also en route. Rumours suggest the C3 Aircross will be slightly longer than its sibling for extra cargo space. Mitsubishi Triton The sixth-generation Triton has been on sale in the Philippines since January this year, and we should receive it soon, conditions permitting – Mitsubishi might…