Indholdsfortegnelse for Dec 2025/Jan 2026 i Go! Drive & Camp

Wolwehok is a new campsite on the 150 ha Mineral Springs wine farm outside Paarl, where owners Pieter and Helene Beyers farm with citrus and olives. The campsite sits along the banks of the Wildeperdejag River, which rises in the nearby Limietberg Nature Reserve before joining the Berg River close to town. Of the 10 stands, eight are placed alongside one another, with the remaining two set opposite them near the ablution block. Buffalo grass has been planted on each stand and low wooden markers indicate the boundaries. Freestanding drum braais are provided – just remember to bring your own grid. The ablution block is positioned closest to the central stands and comprises three spacious family bathrooms, each with an open shower, basin, mirror and toilet. A gas geyser supplies…

SLIPPERY SMOOTH Honda’s latest electric models fall under the new 0-Series banner, and the crossover shown here is the Honda Series 0 α, or 0 Alpha. The vehicle revealed at the show is still a prototype, and some cosmetic tweaks are expected before production begins in 2027. The 0 α will initially be sold only in Japan and India (where it will be built), but it’s likely destined for other markets too. Honda aims to sell only electric vehicles by 2040 – the rest of the world will need to catch up or be left behind. QUITE GRAND The Nissan Elgrand will go on sale from mid-2026 in Asia, Australia and Europe. This large peoplecarrier pairs a 1.5 ℓ petrol engine with an electric motor driving all four wheels. Inside,…

"The park’s remarkable mix of species is thanks to its unique position" Few protected areas can boast a wildlife list that spans land giants like elephants, buffalo and giraffe, as well as extraordinary marine life including mantas, whale sharks and sea turtles. And that’s before we even get to the birds… have you ticked a collared pratincole off your list yet? You’ll find all this and more in Maputo National Park, just a stone’s throw beyond the Kosi Bay border post. The park’s remarkable mix of species is thanks to its unique position. The southern boundary lies only 40 km from the South African border, while the northern edge reaches right up against Maputo Bay. To the west, the park follows the Futi River, and to the east, it meets…

It becomes clear early on that Ronel Geldenhuys, who runs 3 Provinces 4×4 Adventures, knows exactly what she’s doing. She replies to your enquiry right away with a set of PDF documents outlining the rules, regulations, terms and conditions, and other important notes. She’ll even keep you updated on the weather and temperatures in Volksrust, where the farm is located. The pay-to-play trail is less than three hours’ drive from Johannesburg. The trail explores Langkrans, 2 253 m above sea level, on the farm Waterval. The turn-off to Waterval is located on the R534 regional road at S27.36795 E29.74512 – a roadside sign reads, “Waterval Hiking Trail & 3 Provinces 4×4”. From there, a 5 km gravel road leads you past fields and kraals to the Geldenhuys homestead (S27.40856 E29.75270),…

The most common bed fitted to caravans is the double bed, and in some cases, it’s replaced by two singles. But is a double in one caravan the same size as the double in another brand’s model? In theory, yes… but manufacturers don’t all follow a single rulebook. They shape bed sizes to suit the layout of each model. We compared a selection of caravan beds to see how they stack up. More or less the same Where do mattress sizes even come from? The Americans were the first to standardise bed sizes; although, a US double bed isn’t necessarily the same size as one in Europe or in South Africa. Converted to centimetres (they use inches), a US double measures 190.5 × 137 cm, while the European version is…

Global automotive giant Stellantis announced in October that production of the latest Jeep Compass has begun. It’s being built in Melfi, Italy, and will be sold in 60 countries, including South Africa. The Compass remains a top seller for Stellantis, with more than 2.5 million units sold worldwide. The United States will still build its own version of the new Compass (to avoid the Trump administration’s import tariffs), while the rest of the world gets the Italian-made model. President Donald Trump publicly opposes green energy, favouring coal-powered generation over renewables – which makes it rather ironic that a Jeep, one of America’s most iconic vehicles, is now being manufactured in a plant powered by solar, wind and biogas. Three versions will be offered globally: fully electric, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid…

The Jetour T2 SUV was launched in Cape Town this October. Jetour, a subsidiary of Chinese motoring giant Chery, entered the South African market early in 2024, and the T2 is its fourth model on local soil. There are three versions in the line-up: the front-wheel-drive Aspire (R569 900), and two all-wheel-drive models (without low-range) called the Xplora and Odyssey, priced at R639 900 and R679 900 respectively. The Aspire features a 1.5 ℓ turbodiesel producing 125 kW and 270 Nm, while the Xplora and Odyssey upgrade to a 2.0 ℓ turbodiesel with 180 kW and 375 Nm. Jetour was rather tight-lipped with specifications at the launch - and the media releases don't reveal much either - but some digging unearthed that the F4J20 engine used in the Xplora and…

The Falcon River Reserve lies halfway between Cape Town and Mossel Bay, about a two-hour drive from either side close enough for Western Cape campers to slip away for a peaceful weekend in this scenic part of the country. If you’re travelling from farther afield and your Cape holiday includes both the Mother City and the Garden Route, this is an ideal stopover for a night or three. The reserve’s entrance is conveniently right off the N2. About 300 m before you cross the Breede River from the Cape Town side, turn left at Falcon’s gate. The 25 ha property belongs to Izak and flse-Belle Louw, with 900 m of river frontage. Ilse-Belle handles bookings and sends an information WhatsApp message ahead of your stay, including how to let yourself…

This year’s Bull Run once again proved why this gathering has no equal in South Africa. Over the final weekend of the short school holiday, Vanwyksvlei was bursting at the seams as more than 600 participants, spectators and marshals rolled in with their old rides to show off, have some fun and celebrate - the Bull Run way. As always, the teams delivered: bright themes, bold costumes and unstoppable spirit. And just when you think you’ve seen it all… the next crew rolls in and ups the game again. Thursday’s arrival day saw every vehicle inspected to ensure it met the rules: older than 1985 and valued at no more than R50 000. Then it was time for old friends and new rivals to gather for the weekend’s big social.…

At around R700 000, the XL is the most affordable 4x4 model in Ford's Ranger lineup. We climbed into this modest workhorse - the only 4x4 in the family with a manual gearbox and single turbo - to see how it performs with a caravan in tow. With 405 Nm of torque, this entry-level model has enough muscle for towing duty. Its 2 220 kg tare weight also means that, on paper, it's rated to tow some of the heaviest caravans in the country. So that's exactly what we did: we hitched up Infanta's latest model, the Enkulu 4, with a gross vehicle mass of 2 100 kg. Built for it Every Ranger double-cab model is rated to tow 3 500 kg, and a tow bar is standard. On the…

THE FUTURE The Lexus LS is a bus-like concept that looks straight out of a sci-fi film. Its most striking exterior feature? Four smaller wheels at the back and two larger ones up front. Why? Because Lexus can. The “LS” stands for Luxury Space – and the cabin lives up to the name. You’ll find traditional Japanese bamboo used throughout, and the four seats look supremely comfortable. The steering wheel and instrument cluster can shift from left to right, allowing the LS to be driven in any country, although the long-term goal is to eliminate the driver altogether and hand full control to artificial intelligence. MOVING UP The Mitsubishi Elevance is an all-electric SUV still in the concept phase. Whether Mitsubishi will ever put it into production is anyone’s guess;…

“On this outing, however, we'll be using our own wheels to explore the areas around Hartenbos” Hartenbos was established in 1933 by the South African Railways and Harbours (today Transnet) as a holiday resort for its lower-rank employees. The Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (ATKV) has managed the resort from the beginning - and although access was originally limited to Afrikaners, Hartenbos now welcomes everyone. Apart from relaxing under your awning and greeting fellow campers on their way to the ablution block, you can go fishing or take a dip in the ocean. Hartenbos is one of South Africa’s 44 Blue Flag beaches, which means clean water, a safe and well-maintained shoreline, and unrestricted access. Other must-do holiday rituals include grabbing an ice cream from Milky Lane on your way…

A popular halfway stop between the Okavango Delta and Chobe, Khwai draws travellers to stay at least three nights, thanks to exceptional wildlife and pristine wilderness campsites. As Peter Rau recently shared: “Khwai has always been our special place. Next time, we’ll stay there for 14 days and skip Moremi altogether.” What’s the game viewing like during summer months? Wildlife concentrations are more dispersed in summer because of the abundance of water in the surrounding veld. Yet, as client and fellow overlanding enthusiast Heinrich Richter notes: “It makes every sighting all the more rewarding.” That sounds like a festive feast of the senses… The vibrance of the green season is ever-present, with even the birds displaying the dazzling plumage of their breeding season. Contrasts of thunderous sky and luminescent landscape…

Building on the success of its Continental model, the Quattro introduces a dual-axle setup, a king-size bed that slides out from the body, an additional double bed that converts from the lounge area, and a larger, more stylish bathroom with a separate shower cubicle. The chassis features a double-frame design, while the body is constructed from homogeneous fibreglass with 25 mm honeycomb insulation panels within the walls. You'll need a seriously capable tow vehicle for the Quattro; its gross vehicle mass tips the scale at 2 250 kg. (That puts it in line with other twin-axle off-road caravans like the Conqueror UEV-25 (2 200 kg), the BorderX Expedition (2 000-2 200 kg) and the Nayela Sahara (2 230 kg).) Let's step inside and take a closer look. Bathroom bound Mobi…

My dad didn’t believe in camping, so as a school kid, I always tagged along with friends and their parents. I even once went on a bicycle tour with a mate, pedalling from Boksburg to Badplaas with just R20 in my Post Office savings book. At university, I camped often enough, but mostly because it offered a fresh location in which to sit and drink beer. Whenever my mates and I went hiking, we always made sure to stay in overnight huts; nobody was willing to carry a tent. During my national service, the army’s idea of camping served more as a deterrent. Usually on a Saturday, we’d be made to pitch those 4×4 or 4×6 tents while the rest of the unit relaxed. Getting each one perfectly in line…