Indholdsfortegnelse for Apr/May 2024 i Go! Drive & Camp

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…

Camping in a tent has its challenges, especially with more than two people. Pitching several tents and adding a gazebo takes up a lot of space and requires a lot of equipment, which fills up your luggage compartment real quick. Some campsites might also frown upon your extensive set-up. The answer is simple: an all-in-one tent. Falkson's Family Camper features two separate, enclosed rooms with a veranda, all fitting easily into the boot of a VW Golf. Your camping gear stays organised and takes up less space compared to seperate tents. The Family Camper measures 6,6m × 3,2m, occupying less than half of a typical 10m × 10m campsite. While similar in length to a midsize caravan, it's a whole metre wider Let'stake a closer look. Roof first Invest around…

DESTINATION There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes, it's great to spoil the kids and check into a resort with towering water slides, intriguing minigolf courses and heated pools. Other times, you're just not in the mood for such exuberance; instead, your heart yearns for a hideaway deep in the bush. It's the perfect remedy, especially when everyday life starts to chip away at you bit by bit. That's the kind of healing you get when you camp on a farm. It's the tranquillity of nature you crave the most, and if there's anything to be done, you do it with your loved ones. At both places we visited, some campers knew each other, and it was clear that spending quality time together was the top priority. Goudkop is…

MY WHEELS Deon recently sold his Suzuki Jimny and is now towing his self-built mini caravan with a Jimny stablemate, the Ignis. He was in search of an economical vehicle suitable for towing without breaking the bank. He admits to initially doubting the Ignis's 1,2 ℓ engine and its ability to match the Jimny's capabilities. However, a weekend trip to Addo Elephant Park from St Francis Bay was enough to convince him that the Ignis and the trailer could handle a longer journey. Even against the wind, the Ignis proved its mettle – Deon believes it surpassed the Jimny on the hills and at the petrol station. He shares his story. “To avoid the holidaymakers in St Francis Bay over the festive period, my wife Caroline and I sought accommodation…

CARAVAN TEST The Enkulu 3 is Infanta's flagship model, designed for couples or a family of four. With the prototype we tested, you can relax in utmost comfort for days on end, far from everything and everyone, pampered with amenities like a hot shower in the off-road caravan, an outdoor kitchen any camper would love, and ample storage space. The dining area that converts into a double bed deserves special mention, as it's a feature you'd want in any caravan. First things first The Enkulu 3 has four drop-down corner steadies, but to make the off-road caravan fully camp-ready, you'll need to lift the roof and pull out the main bed. The roof is raised by four actuators, so there are no external clips to fasten to keep it in…

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…

NEW WHEELS Great Wall Motor Co. – or GWM – is celebrating its 17th anniversary in South Africa this year. This private company is the largest manufacturer of bakkies and SUVs in China and is showing its mettle against state-owned vehicle manufacturers like BAIC and Chery. In fact, GWM was initially prohibited by the Chinese government from manufacturing sedans which is why they focussed on bakkies and SUVs in stead. Nowadays, GWM is the eighth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world, with six brands, four of which are sold in South Africa GWM bakkies, Haval crossovers, ORA electric vehicles and now its Tank SUVs. The first Tank product to arrive is the Tank 300. It's a mid-sized SUV and the little brother of the slightly larger Tank 500, which will…

WEEKEND BREAK Who would've thought an apricot orchard could offer such a delightful stay? Indeed, that's what the Montagu Caravan Park is – or rather, what it was 33 years ago when owner Antonette Kotze purchased a small farm at this picturesque Boland town in an auction and began transforming it into a campsite. Over the course of three decades, two massive floods, long hours and some costly lessons later, Montagu Caravan Park has emerged as one of the Western Cape's most popular destinations. And it's just a two-hour drive from Cape Town. At first glance, the reasons seem obvious. The site is tidy. It's clean, boasts top-notch facilities, the staff are friendly and helpful, and there's a whole host of activities to keep both young and old entertained. Just…

FISHING RESORT STOMPIES RESORT ANGLER'S HAVEN Stompies Resort is located next to the Stompdrift Dam, the largest dam in the Little Karoo with a 25 km shoreline. The dam on the Olifants River was completed in 1965, with the wall standing a mighty 37 m high and 400 m long. Its water is primarily used for irrigation purposes. Resort manager, Dolly du Plessis tells us the dam and its facilities for campers TUNA WITH A SESAME CRUST Buy-and-fry Fresh tuna steak is a delicacy and requires little cooking. If you have a portion or two in the freezer, this recipe is a delicious and versatile way to enjoy it. Thaw it slowly in the fridge and press it dry. Ingredients (serves 4 as a snack) • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds •…

Due to foot-and-mouth disease, pathogenic bird flu and various plant diseases, there are currently restrictions on exporting various South African food types to all our neighbouring countries. South Africa is currently grappling with two types of bird flu: the H5N1 virus, which has been causing trouble for decades, and the H7N6 virus, which has emerged more recently. Foot-and-mouth disease is caused by the Picornaviridae virus, and as for plant diseases, there are too many to list here. Our neighbouring countries accuse the South African government of lackluster efforts in combating these diseases, resulting in a dramatic decrease in South African exports. News24 reports that Botswana imported vegetables worth more than R861 million in 2022, but due to the ban, that figure fell to less than R247 million in 2023. For…

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…

JOURNEY “Gonarezhou is renowned for its substantial elephant population, estimated at around 10 000…” Nestled in the southeastern corner of Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou National Park spans an impressive 5 053 km2. It is second only to Hwange National Park in size (14 650 km2) in Zimbabwe and is part of one of Africa's largest conservation areas, the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. That massive 35 000 km2 area connects the Kruger National Park and Mozambique's Limpopo National Park with Gonarezhou, allowing wildlife to roam freely across the borders of these three countries. Gonarezhou is renowned for its substantial elephant population, estimated at around 10 000 – the name ‘Gonarezhou’ itself means ‘place of the elephants’ in Shona. But it's not just elephants; the rest of the Big Five also call this park…

TRAIL GUIDE The N8 highway between Kimberley and Bloemfontein might be fast, but do take a detour someday onto the Koffiefontein road through settlements like Oppermansgronde and a steel bridge over the upper reaches of the Kalkfontein Dam. You'll find it far more enjoyable. Just 55 km south of Kimberley, along the N12 highway, stands an unassuming signpost (S29.20104 E24.53573) inviting you to turn left towards Heuningkloof. Mielie-laden trucks rumble back and forth between Hopetown and Kimberley as we veer off onto this S121 farm road. Half a kilometre later, we cross a railway track, and at the first T-junction, we turn right towards Luckhoff, but after barely a kilometre, the road forks (S29.23265 E24.58661) and we veer left – there is a signpost, but the letters are so faded…

DRIVING IMPRESSION These kinds of bakkies go by many names: Toyota dubs theirs an Xtra Cab, Isuzu has the Extended Cab, Nissan has a King Cab and Ford's version is called the Super Cab. Naturally, there are perks to a stretched single-cab bakkie. Not only do you get secure indoor space for valuables like camera gear – a double cab also offers this – but there are tax advantages as well, similar to a standard single-cab bakkie. Under the value-added tax law, a double-cab bakkie is considered a“passenger car” and is therefore not tax-deductible. In contrast, the same law views a vehicle of which the rear interior is primarily designed for cargo transport as a“delivery vehicle”, which is indeed tax deductible. So, you can register a posh Ford Ranger Wildtrak…

LINDA'S STORY T o speak and understand Kgalagadi, you need some basic requirements. The most important is that you must camp. Booking into a hotel room or chalet is like trying to speak Afrikaans in Belgium: it might sound okay, but really, it doesn't make much sense. The second requirement is a fondness for the red dust that trails along the dunes, magically changing the colour of the earth around you. That red dust is an important element in your Kgalagadi grammar. It settles in the campsite among the trees, where cheeky fan-tailed meerkats curiously watch you in a begging stance, and it obscures the tracks of the honey badger. It clings to your soles as you walk back from the shower to your tent in your flipflops. In fact,…