Innehållsförteckning för August 2020 från Go! Drive & Camp

They say two things in life are certain: death and taxes. I believe change also belongs with these two certainties, especially in these uncertain times. The only constant, as a wise person once said, is change. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the printed media which Drive & Camp is a part of. By now, you’ve probably read the announcement regarding the closures and changes to Media24’s publications. The good news is that Drive & Camp has escaped the proverbial guillotine, although our frequency will change from a monthly magazine to one that appears every two months. The first bimonthly magazine will be our October-November issue; so you can still expect your September issue next month. Although there’ll only be a new issue every second month, we’ll still be…

Bright spark “It hardly ever rains in Sutherland, and we’d been here for about a year when these dark clouds convened. My daughter, Xanté, and I were on our way to the shops, and as I stopped at a stop sign and looked to the side, the shiny blades of a windpump caught my attention. I got my phone out, wiped the lens and started shooting.” The clever composition immediately draws you in, and aside from the distinct blades of the windpump, the lines of composition lead your eye to the focal point: the tops of the three trees to the left of the windpump forming a diagonal line toward the blades; the grass (starting sparsely on the right) running in the direction of the windpump; and the dark bushes…

Once you’ve felt the Kgalagadi’s red sand between your toes, a longing stirs in you that doesn’t let go. You simply know you must return to this part of the world. This would be the case for my husband, Joop, and me too. And so, in September, we had the chance to return, three years after our last visit. We met our friends Johan and Lynette Morkel at a petrol station in Vryburg. Their son Lewellyn and his best friend, Willie, were joining us on the trip, and we were all equally excited about what lay ahead. Our plan was to tour for 10 days, and one of the highlights of our tour was to be the Polentswa 4x4 route. Before our departure, we made padkos and a flask of…

Campsite 21 stands with varying degrees of shade – some are in full sun. Of these, 7 were demarcated, but these spots are far from the fence. Ablution facilities Neat and sparkling clean, but no shelves in the shower cubicles. There are wheelchair-friendly facilities. Price Depending on the season, R360-R400 per stand for the first 2 people. Then R94-R100 pp (R47-R50 for kids). A maximum of 6 people are allowed per site. Also, remember the conservation fee of R96 pppd (R48 for kids) if you don’t have a Wild Card. Arrival and departure 14:00 and 10:00. Contact 054 561 0907 (Mata Mata), 012 428 9111 or 082 233 9111 (central reservations) sanparks.org reservations@sanparks.org Distance to Twee Rivieren 117 km (a 3,5- hour drive). GPS S25.766975 E20.000160 Drive & Camp says There’s…

Campsite 20 ordinary stands far apart on a plain with shade trees, and 10 luxury stands, each with its own bathroom and a canopy for shade. Ablution facilities Neat amenities next to the first camp with its 20 stands, and private facilities at the luxury stands. Price Depending on the season and whether you choose an ordinary or luxury stand, R360-R715 pn for the first 2 people. Then R94-R170 pp (R47-R85 for kids). Campers without aWild Card also pay a conservation fee of R96 pppd (R48 for kids). A maximum of 6 people per site. Arrival and departure 14:00 and 10:00. Contact 054 561 0903 (Nossob), 012 428 9111 or 082 233 9111 (central reservations) sanparks.org reservations@sanparks.org Distance to Twee Rivieren 158 km (a 4,5-hour drive). GPS S25.421411 E20.597278 Drive &…

Tyres with an aggressive tread pattern are, of course, invaluable. Off-road tyres have a huge advantage over road tyres, so whatever you do, don’t fit Pirelli P Zero’s if you’re planning to visit Lesotho, the Free State, Karoo or Boland during the snow season. Reduce your tyre pressure for deep snow almost like you would for sand. Snow, especially when it’s been lying for a while, can unseat tyres far easier than sand, which is why you need to start with stiffer tyres and work your way down as required. In short: you need to struggle a little before you deflate them further. For low-profile tyres, Waldo suggests a relatively high 1,8 bar on Matroosberg’s route, while off-road tyres rarely have to be deflated below 1,5 bar (you can go…

A camping chair is one of the most important pieces of camping equipment ever – this is one of those items you will use often when you’re chilling on holiday. There are, however, a whole host of choices when it comes time to buy one, and you have to make sure you get the chair that suits your needs. We have an abundance of seasoned campers on our Facebook page and they’ve shared some of their wisdom. Keep these five tips top of mind when buying a camping chair, and you shouldn’t have any regrets. “Steer clear of the cheap chairs. They don’t last. Buy something that will last longer than five years.” – Marietjie Miles 1 Check it out thoroughly Test drive a number of chairs before you buy…

I may not look it, but I have a quick grasp of things. Occasionally you may have to explain it slowly, and if I’m still not sure, it helps if you draw a picture. The honourable Minister of Tourism therefore needs to explain to me – very slowly – why she disagrees with President Cyril Ramaphosa after he told us on 17 June that all forms of commercially accredited tourism accommodation may resume economic activities. The immediate interpretation was that all types of accommodation, with the exception of home-sharing, may open their doors (or gates, in the case of resorts and campsites) in level 3 lockdown. The entire tourism industry also understands that ‘intra’ means within your home province and that ‘inter’ refers to trips across provincial borders. Nine days…

and we might publish them here. We’re not looking for traditional “prize winners”, just regular pics that you love. Think of the type of pic you’d use as your Facebook cover photo; or something charming,such as kids warming their hands over a campfire. Whether the pic was taken with an expensive DSLR camera or a run-of-the-mill cellphone, if it’s good enough for your family photo album it’s good enough for us. CHANTÉL FOURIE wins a Drive & Camp camera bag worth R520 with her photo – congratulations, Chantél. Send your photos and contact details to leon.botha@media24.com…

Nossob R360-R715 pn per site for first 2 people, thereafter R94-R170 pp. Polentswa, Sesatswe and Lang Rambuka Price on request Gharagab and Bitterpan R1 990-R2 125 pn per unit (maximum 2 people). Mata Mata R360-R400 pn per site for first 2 people, thereafter R94-R100 pp. A conservation fee of R96 pppd (R48 for children) is also payable unless you have a Wild Card. Contact Kgalagdi Transfrontier Park 054 561 2000 kgalagadi@sanparks. org Polentswa, Sesatswe en Lang Rambuka 067 391 0848 inter-tourismgroup.com campsites@inter-tourismgroup.com…

Campsite 24 stands with electricity and 7 without. There aren’t many shade trees, but a few stands have a canopy. Ablution facilities Good with wheelchair-friendly amenities, as well as a laundry room with a washing machine and tumble dryer. Price Depending on the season and whether you get a stand with or without power, R305-R400 per pitch for the first 2 people. Then R94-R100 pp (R47-R50 for kids). A maximum of 6 people per site. If you don’t have a Wild Card, you will also need pay R96 pppd (R48 for kids). Arrival and departure 14:00 and 10:00. Contact 054 561 2000 (Twee Rivieren), 012 428 9111 or 082 233 9111 (central reservations) sanparks.org reservations@sanparks.org Distance to other camps Mata Mata, 117 km (a 3,5-hour drive); Nossob, 158 km (a 4,5-hour…

There are no fewer than 70 off-road vehicles parked in knee-deep snow on the Matroosberg. Small groups of people cluster around the back of the open canopies of their respective bakkies, and coffee gets poured from flasks and handed out. The sun is shining brightly, and to one side a family is perched on a rock. They’re the only ones who managed to get their gas stove going and are grilling boeries – when the mercury drops to around 3 °C, cooking gas often won’t ignite that easily. We’re in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and people are keeping a polite distance from one another – there’s no shaking of hands and voices need to be raised when you talk to aneighbour. Occasionally a kid or a dog carelessly…

Maximum number of vehicles? Unlimited. Do I get a map? Yes, and download one from the SANParks website. Will I scratch my vehicle? Unlikely. Should I take a compressor? No. Can I braai along the way? No. Can I turn around halfway? Yes. Is there cellphone signal? Yes, but spotty service. Best time to go? August and September. Can I take my family along? Certainly. Just for the day or for the weekend? Set aside a few days for the park. How long does it take? Four hours for this leg; at least six hours for the entire route. Are there ablution facilities? At the Groen River mouth and the Skilpad office. What about fuel? Fill up in Garies, Kamieskroon and Springbok. Petrol and diesel is also available in Koiingnaas…

FISHING RESORT WONDERLAND 45 FISH FOR DAYS It’s not often that you find a campsite where all the stands have been laid out around a fishing dam. This means, of course, that each and every camper has their own piece of the shoreline to cast in their lines. But here at Wonderland 45, a short distance from Pretoria, you’re not only spoilt like that; here you can actually walk around and choose between five dams – all close together. What makes this particular angling campsite even more unique is the variety of freshwater fish you can catch. There’s black bass, catfish, tilapia and carp and, believe it or not, even trout. When was the last time you saw so many diverse fish at one resort? It’s pretty much the freshwater…

LAMB CURRY POTJIE WITH COCONUT RICE One-pot wonder With an all-in-one potjie like this, dishing up is ridiculously easy. Ingredients (serves 6) 2 tablespoons oil 1 kg lamb, cut into 3 x 3 cm cubes 1 onion, finely chopped 2 celery stalks, finely chopped 2 carrots, finely chopped 25 g Rogan Josh curry paste (we used the one from Woolworths) 1 tin (400 g) chopped tomato 2 cups meat stock 1 cup long-grain rice 1 teaspoon mustard seeds some curry leaves (optional) 1 small tin (165 ml) coconut milk 1 tin (400 g) chickpeas, drained Here’s how 1 Heat the oil in a flat-bottomed potjie and fry the meat in batches till nicely browned. Remove the meat once all the cubes are well caramelised, then fry the vegetables until shiny.…

Thomas and Engela Watson and sons, Tennant (far right) and Adrian, are from Benoni. They camped with their grandparents Thomas and Marietjie Watson. “We’ve camped in the Kgalagadi over the past four Decembers, but this year we’re only at Twee Rivieren. It’s pretty peaceful here. Even though we’ve seen lions, cheetahs and jackals so far, we still want to see the brown hyena, badger and leopard. I towed my 2008 Conqueror Conquest with my 2003 Mitsubishi Colt 2.8 and my parents arrived with their two dome tents and a 2007 Ford Bantam.”…

What should I drive? Your own vehicle, but it must have good ground clearance, low-range and four-wheel drive. What do I need to bring along? Sunglasses, sunblock, a jacket, hat, gloves, water-resistant boots and an extra pair of dry socks. Also bring a boogie board for sliding down the slopes, a picnic basket and blanket, and a gas braai to cook a warm meal – bear in mind that some gas braais don’t work at low temperatures. Can I stay over? There are campsites and chalets at the foot of the mountain (if lockdown allows it). Times You may drive up the mountain between 07:00 and 11:00. Those at the top must wait until 13:00 to drive back down again, and everyone must be off the mountain by 17:00. Price…

Campsite 6 level stands (undemarcated) with oodles of shade. Ablution facilities Neat and your very own. Price R350 pn per site (for up to 6 people). Arrival and departure No scheduled times. Contact 082 825 1105 hippowaterfront.com hippowaterfront@absamail.co.za Nearest town Nelspruit, 14 km. Road condition The last 3,6 km is a dirt road with a steep section that is rocky in one spot, but it is good enough to tow an ordinary road caravan. GPS S25.435911 E30.868657 Drive & Camp says The N4 is only about a kilometre from the campsite. You hear the traffic at night, but it’s not too bothersome.…

The law regarding headlights is not as clearcut as you might think – there are a number of regulations to consider. Regulation 159 of the National Road Traffic Act states that a vehicle’s headlight may not be higher than 1,4 m above the road surface and not lower than 450 mm. A headlight must also be within 400 mm of the side of the vehicle. (This excludes motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles, of course.) A vehicle may have one main light on each side at the front, and it may alternate between a main beam and adimmed beam. (See illustration 1.) A vehicle may also have on each side at the front one main light that casts a main beam plus one light that only casts a dimmed beam. (See illustration…

I have started to notice a fair bit of anti-Chinese sentiment on a number of occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I have mixed feelings about this. In my opinion, the Chinese government could and should have handled the outbreak better than they did. There is overwhelming evidence that they tried to cover it up until things got out of hand. But let’s face it folks, governments all over the world do this all the time. I had a prospective customer visit our store recently to purchase one of our products. The customer seemed happy with his choice and asked me about the country of manufacture. I replied that it was made in China. The customer expressed his dismay for two reasons. Firstly, this pandemic started in China and,…