Go! Drive & Camp June/July 2024

EDITOR'S LETTER I thoroughly enjoyed the column Pieter Redelinghuys wrote for this edition. He possesses a unique talent for crafting a sentence, a skill that has made me somewhat envious over the years. In the nostalgic journey he takes us on page 120, he outdoes himself. His recounting of the Redelinghuys family's camping holiday by the sea evoked many memories of my own family's vacations. The setting up of the tent with a struggling dad, the cookies baked long in advance, the silent agreements among siblings about things parents shouldn't know, the camp beds in the tent, the adults mingling… he might as well have been writing about my own family. I always smile when I reminisce about our camping adventures when my siblings and I still lived at home.…

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. My wife, Heike, and I operate African Footprints Tour Facilitator in Namibia, and for nearly two decades, I've been exploring Botswana. This includes visiting spectacular places like the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, and Savuti in-between the protected areas. It's always fascinating to observe the wildlife, birds, and stunning natural landscapes. This year, I embarked on a journey with five friends from Germany, starting from Windhoek. Our first night in the wild was spent at the Third Bridge campsite in Moremi. This area…

TRAILPOD One of the fresh faces at the expo was Danie Rossouw with his TrailPod. Even though Danie had never been a camper before, he showcased no less than three new Cricket models for the very first time. Danie based his design on the classic tear drop. Initially, he built one for himself during the COVID-19 pandemic – this trailer, named Tintin, was the precursor to the production models that would follow. It took Danie six months to build Tintin entirely by hand. A second version was built using a CNC machine, a project that took only two and a half months. And now, the TrailPod series is ready. While mainstream teardrop caravan manufacturers mainly use fibreglass or marine plywood as building materials, Danie opted for plastic sandwich panels with…

The Orange River serves as a splendid stopover between Gauteng and the Western Cape, and with the completion of the Waschbank campsite, you now have another superb option. Waschbank is located on the Free State side of the river, situated on the eponymous farm of 1 800 ha, which borders 8 km of the river (from the N1 to the R701 between the towns Norvalspont and Gariep Dam). The farm is owned by the Bloem family. Zelmari Bloem, who leads guest operations, mentions that the campsite was previously just a patch of grass. Guests visiting their lodge suggested they establish a campsite there. Zelmari and her team didn't let the grass grow under their feet, and they set up nine stands on various terraces, each equipped with power (standard and…

This year's Ironman challenge, in collaboration with Isuzu South Africa, raised R158 000 for their charities, the Isuzu Foundation and Ironman 4 the Kidz. Participants in this challenging race must complete a 3,8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and a marathon (42 km) all within one day. It has been held since 2000 and features divisions for men and women. The funds raised will be used for refurbishing charity homes, transport costs, nutritional support, sports activities and medical expenses. This support ensures that the registered charity organisations continue their crucial work, providing essential services and opportunities for children facing various challenges. “We remain committed to the wellbeing and development of children in the Eastern Cape. Through this collaboration, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of…

The new Ford Territory was launched on 4 May this year. It is powered by a 1,8 litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 138 kW and 318 Nm of torque and also features new start-stop technology that reduces fuel consumption. The engine is coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission with a wet dual-clutch system, although there is also a rotary knob on the centre console for manual gear shifting. The Territory offers four driving modes: eco, normal, sport, and mountain. The body design has been revamped and boasts a new grille, daytime running lights, and LED headlights that have been moved to a lower position, giving the Ford a more powerful appearance. Inside upgrades include a wireless induction charger for your phone, a 12-inch colour touchscreen, and electronic dual-zone air-con with…