Innehållsförteckning för April 2017 från Go! Drive & Camp

I’m a dedicated Drive Out reader and was especially looking forward to your article about 2017’s 4x4s of the year. Because I and my sons and friends regularly travel through Africa, I was especially interested in the section “Overland 4X4 of the year”. At first glance the choice of the Toyota Land Cruiser 76 Series V8 as overlander of the year makes sense. But I soon changed my opinion when I considered the “facts” in the article. We know that over many years Toyota has built a reputation of reliability and justifiably has a lot of fans. But it’s not an open-and-shut case as stated in Drive Out (#108). I think that it would be a mistake to discount the Nissan Patrol diesel in this matter. In order to compare…

APRIL DUST SERIES Where: Western Cape, Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga When: April to November Why you should go: The Dust Series is a series of 4x4 challenges that is bigger than ever this year, with 10 qualifying rounds in 4 provinces. The first challenges take place on 1 April in the Western Cape and Gauteng and consecutive rounds are in May, June, July and September before the grand final takes place from 24 to 29 November in the Tankwa Karoo. The series will test your 4x4 skills and ability in a variety of terrains and technical challenges. More information: www.dustmedia.co.za or Dust Media on Face-book. WILDEBEEST 4X4 CHALLENGE SERIES Where: Western Cape When: April to December Why you should go: The Wildebeest Challenge Club is a non-profit organisation that…

Magoebaskloof got its name from King Mamphoku Makgoba, the ruler of the Tlou tribe that lived here and rebelled against the ZAR (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) government in 1894. By the late 1880’s the area saw an influx of gold prospectors. Makgoba became known to the government as the “troublesome chief” for his continued resistance against the invaders. Predictably enough, tensions rose between the local tribe and the newcomers, and before long a commissioner from the local government demanded that King Makgoba be levied with a tax. Makgoba refused and in response requested that all Europeans vacate his land. The two parties could not find common ground and in November of 1888 Makgoba was arrested and his livestock confiscated. He was later released on account of good behaviour. In the years that…

“All the owners of the Lammergeyer Farm, where the trail and obstacles lie, share a love of the outdoors. It’s not really about the money, but rather about creating a place where other outdoor lovers, 4x4 drivers and off-road motorcycle riders can come and have a bit of fun.” Henry Dewitt manages Heidelberg 4x4. Heidelberg 4x4 isn’t a trail you’ll come across very easily if you’re making weekend plans with Google. Even though the trail’s been open for years, the owners have never felt the need for a website. “We just want to be the kind of place where outdoor enthusiasts can escape the city and relax,” says Henry Dewitt, “so people hear about us from other outdoor lovers and driving enthusiasts.” Heidelberg 4x4 is situated only a…

Does your 4x4 have aftermarket suspension? If you’re an off-road enthusiast, there’s a good chance that it does. Why? Because most of us have accepted the fact that aftermarket suspension does a better job at carrying heavy loads. But what about your tyres? Are they designed for heavy loads? Or should they be upgraded, too? Definitely! Depending on the load, it’s recommended that 10 to 50% more air be added to your tyres when your vehicle is heavily loaded. Most of us have accepted this notion when travelling on holiday, or for long distances, but we tend to ignore this fact on shorter journeys. There, the common consensus is: “Ag man, it’s just down the road; I’ll drive slowly and the tyres will be fine.” THAT THING CALLED ‘LOAD INDEX’…

ANDREW JOHNSTONE RICHTERSVELD AND NAMIBIA, P. 56 Andrew spent the festive season on a solo trip through the Richtersveld and into Namibia. He shares his adventure, and a very self-reflecting experience, in a travel feature with us. What is your earliest travel memory? Walking in the Victoria Falls rainforest and playing on the beach in Beira, Mozambique. The best place you’ve ever visited? I can’t say best! That would be unfair. However, the most recent to the Sperrgebiet is right up there! What is your number one travel tip? Leave enough space! Packing too much has diminishing returns. This actually goes for distance, time, kit, places and things to do on your trip. Do you plan your trips in detail or just go with the flow? A few waypoints,…

WHERE: Oudtshoorn WHEN: 8 to 15 April Like previous years, Drive Out will once again host a day trip at the Klein-Karoo National Arts Festival. On 9 April you can bring your vehicle and explore the region with Mpafa Travel and Bhejane 4x4 Adventures. The Swartbergkronkels day trip is suitable for 4x2 vehicles with good ground clearance. The route follows the southern slopes of the Swartberg Mountains from Calitzdorp via the Groenfontein road and on to the tar road near the Cango Caves. It costs R280 per adult and R100 for children under 16. The price includes a picnic lunch and bottled water. The meeting point is at the Bella de Karoo farm stall on the R62, about 28km west of Oudtshoorn on the way to Calitzdorp. It is a…

1 TRY A HAENERTSBURGER There are plenty of quant restaurants in Haenertsburg, but at the Iron Crown Pub there is a meal on the menu made with mouth-watering ingredients from local producers. Picture this: homemade mayonnaise, organic lettuce and cheese from Wegraakbosch, honey-roasted macadamia nuts from Tupelo, berry chutney from Magriet’s in town and locally grown avocado on your choice of one of six different hand made patties. Add a Zwakala beer and the local is delicious package is complete. 2 TRY YOUR HAND AT FLY FISHING One of the most popular things to do in Magoebaskloof and surrounds is fly fishing. There are multiple dams and rivers where you can fish for trout and many of the lodgings have their own fishing waters too. For the most part a…

“The trail and this farm are my passions. I work on it almost every weekend of the year.” Johan Havenga designed the Spookspruit 4x4 trail If you’re in the mood for a technical 4x4 trail that will thoroughly test your driving skills – and send you home with a bunch of new, advanced ones – you should make your way to Spookspruit 4x4 the first weekend you can. This 4x4 trail near Balfour opened last year, thanks to Johan Havenga’s love of off-road driving. Johan has been involved with the Bridgestone Challenge for years and has also been a marshall at this well-known 4x4 competition. Sakkie Coetzee, another familiar face at the Challenge, lent a hand with some of the obstacles. And if you’ve ever driven the Bridgestone Challenge,…

“When people come here for training, the most important thing is that they leave as competent 4x4 drivers.” Johan Klopper is a travel guide, 4x4 instructor and the brain behind Kungwini’s trails and obstacles. This farm outside Bronkhorstspruit is probably one of the most diverse 4x4 destinations you’ll find near Pretoria. There’s a 4x4 track for beginners, an extensive practise course, another obstacle course for more experienced drivers and two eco trails. Johan Klopper, one of the owners and the man behind the obstacles, accompanied us around the trails. He’s serious about proper training and driving.You start on a small 4x4 track where Johan explains some basic driving techniques and technical aspects of a 4x4 on an axle twister and steep hill. Then he takes you to an…

The debate on which system is best (solenoid or DC-to-DC) has been raging for years. Unfortunately, the subject is shrouded in unsubstantiated opinions and an obvious lack of research. To date, there have been no tests that prove that one system is better than the other. One possible reason for this is that there are so many variables that such a definitive statement could never be made. What works in one type of vehicle, may not work as well in another. The other problem is the unchallenged belief that if something is more expensive, it must automatically perform better. This argument is further supported by the fitment industry, in which many 4x4 “experts” recommend expensive DC-to-DC chargers because the profit margins are higher; and they also make the mistake of…

FROM JACKALS TO JACKAL BERRIES WILDLIFE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA EDITED BY VINCENT CARRUTHERS PUBLISHER: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PRICE: R300 This field guide covers just about anything you could come across in nature, from the tiniest flea to the biggest old yellow-wood tree. There are 11 chapters, each covering something completely different: lower invertebrates, spiders and other arachnids, insects, freshwater fishes, frogs, reptiles, birds, mammals, grasses, sedges, ferns and fungi, wild flowers and trees. If you take this field guide on your next trip, there’s probably no plant or animal in Southern Africa that will leave you scratching your head as you try to figure out what it is. Copies of Wildlife of Southern Africa have been travelling in many a Southern African nature enthusiast’s cubby or backpack for years. The…

Not all scenes can be captured in just one photo. Stunning vistas like the view from God’s Window or a sky full of fluffy clouds over the Makgadikgadi Pans look best as panoramas, and to create these you’ll need to stitch a few photos together. A good panorama doesn’t happen behind the computer, however. It starts with taking the right photos at the right settings and then stitching them together. Here are 10 easy steps to make the perfect panorama, from choosing the right lens to putting them together. I use Adobe Light-room, one of the best processing software programs available on the market. STEP 1 : Swop your long zoom lens for a shorter one. Something like your 18-55 mm kit lens or a 24-70 mm is perfect. STEP…

“Rather do it over, than overdo it in the dunes.” Many well-travelled tourists will tell you that there is arguably more to see within our borders than one could possibly hope to see within a lifetime. I would certainly agree with this sentiment. However, it is nice to venture across our borders every now and then and explore what lies beyond. So during the December holidays, I decided to take my family to Namibia and also take the opportunity to catch up with our distributor in Walvis Bay. Too much is never enough I’ve done a fair amount of off-roading, but strangely enough I’ve had few dune driving opportunities over the years. Needless to say, I really looked forward to this trip. With permit in hand, I received some much…

A BRIEF ITINERARY DAY 1: We meet on the Zimbabwe side of the Plumtree Border Post just north of Francistown, Botswana. Our team is on hand to assist with border crossings. We then travel for about 1 hour to our campsite for the next two nights, which overlooks the majestic Matobo Hills. Over dinner we chat about the tour itinerary and get to know one another. DAY 2: A Zimbabwean specialist tour operator and guide takes us into Matobo National Park. We spend the day game viewing, enjoying incredible scenery and visiting the final resting place of Cecil John Rhodes. DAY 3: We make our way via Bulawayo to Masvingo to restock and refuel. Then we spend the afternoon at Great Zimbabwe and camp in the tranquil setting of the…

1 MAGOEBASKLOOF GETAWAY There are 10 campsites (10 m x 10 m) here, each with a braai, tap and electrical outlet. Some are under the cover of trees. Why go? There are two fishing dams below the campsite that are for the exclusive use of residents (no day visitors allowed). More information: www.campingsites.co.za 2 MAGOEBASKLOOF MOUNTAIN LODGE (THE RUSKAMP) There are six campsites here with electrical outlets, shade and shared ablutions. Why go? This resort is just off the main tar pass and with its swimming pool, putt-putt course and restaurant it is a good fit for the whole family. More information: www.magoebaskloofruskamp.co.za 3 ZWAKALA RIVER RETREAT This secluded campsite on the banks of the Broederstroom River can accommodate up to 16 guests. It has an indoor kitchen area with…

Few things can compare to a long 4x4 expedition a few days’ drive from home. But a tour like that requires planning, a good relationship with your bank manager and, above all, plenty of time. That’s why we took some time this month to drive a few great 4x4 trails that are really close to home if you live in Gauteng. Here, you don’t have to drive thousands of kilometres before you can give your low-range gearbox a bit of exercise. The trails are all within about an hour’s reach from the city. But when you’re crawling over their rocks, storming a staunch hill or wiping the mud from your forehead after a challenging water crossing, you’ll quickly remember that you’re actually in the heart of Africa already, with a…

“The trail is full of escape routes around its obstacles so you can drive almost 80% of it in a 4x2 Hi-Rider straight out of the factory.” Hubert de Haas manages the Hennops trail Hennops Off-Road lies only 30 km van Pretoria West. It’s a well-known 4x4 trail in Gauteng, popular for 4x4 competitions and new vehicle launches. That should tell you something about the quality of their obstacles and facilities. The 4x4 trail is a circular route through the koppies outside Pretoria. First it takes you up a hill with two fun obstacles – Axle Twister and Rocky Twister. Then you drive on top through the veld for a few kilometres on a good track, with Pelindaba as your compass in the distance. Then it’s on to…

Few things are as delicious as a fresh lamb chop that’s been braaied over hot coals. But you’ll be forgiven if you’re craving something other than braai meat after your 38th night in the bush. It’s no shame to swap your folding braai grid for a frying pan. And once you’ve tasted the delicious dishes that you can make with some clever gas kit and accessories, you’ll forget about that old lamb chop lying at the bottom of your freezer. YES, GAS CAN BE DANGEROUS Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), or cooking gas, is used around the world to prepare food or provide heat. Here at home it has been used for many years for anything from frying pancakes at church bazaars to gas stoves in houses and caravans. And for…

It was July 1973. I had just started my teaching career when a colleague asked me to travel with him through South-West Africa (Namibia). His dad was a retired geologist from the O’Kiep Copper Company and would help us come up with a good itinerary. So we left Potchefstroom early in July. Our gear consisted of a two-man tent, a gas stove and a box full of tinned food, all loaded into a Toyota Corona 1700 Mk 2. When we went to buy the tinned food, Johan made sure that there was a jar of mayonnaise and a big bottle of Old Brown Sherry (the one with the handle on the side). I didn’t know what we would need it for. With overnight rest stops in Upington and Nababeep we…