Innehållsförteckning för February - March 2021 från Go! Drive & Camp

Alien ant farm “I shot these ants at a holiday spot near the Kruger National Park. They made for a great pic with the little dabs of pink. I also cropped the frame a little tighter.” This photo has you feeling as though you’re looking into a packet of sweets. There is no single focal point to catch your attention, but rather a number of them – those yellow bits of the plants. It’s unusual and you can’t help staring at these little mouth-like pieces of the plant. Only then do you see the ants, and all of them are also busy around the ‘mouths’, which give the photo life. Apart from the yellow, the contrasting colours of pink and green ensure balance. If you look closely, you can see…

• In Drive & Camp’s 40th edition we said the Land Rover Defender P400 has four cylinders, but it actually has a six-cylinder engine. • In the same issue, we gave Namibia Wildlife Resorts & Namibia National Parks rates per stands, while they are actually per person. • In our Caravan Buyer’s Guide 2021 we incorrectly listed the Gecko Xtreme among the gravel roaders. The Gecko Xtreme is, in fact, just as comfortable in tough off-road conditions and is a fully fledged off-road caravan. We apologise for these errors.…

There’s good news for our local car industry: the 2021 Nissan Navara will be built in South Africa. Nissan’s plant in Rosslyn, Gauteng, is teaming up with Japan Motors in Accra, Ghana, to build the Nissan Navara for the African continent. Kabelo Robotho, country director of Nissan Sub-Saharan Africa, says the 2021 Navara that will be built on local soil is specifically adapted to African conditions. The Navara will apparently have a stronger focus on off-road driving and carrying capacity. The latter in particular is important to Nissan and their goal is to be a leader in the one-tonne market. Off-roading, however, won’t play second fiddle and the Navara gets electronics that control wheel spin with the brakes (called Active Brake Limited Slip) in order to mimic a mechanically limited…

Since its local launch in 2010, the Amarok has sold a solid 37 000 units – which is only 10% of the Toyota Hilux’s sales over the same period, but nonetheless pretty good for a niche bakkie. Nowadays, the Amarok comes with two engine options: the 2 ℓ that got snide comments a decade ago, but since garnered respect, and the newly improved 3.0 diesel V6. What do we have here? Last year, the 3.0 V6 TDI gave you 165 kW and 550 Nm, but this year’s version offers more horsepower (190 kW in total) and 580 Nm of torque. The previous 3 ℓ Amarok accelerated from 0-100 km/h in an impressive 8 seconds, but thanks to the upgrade, Volkswagen was able to scrape off 0,4 s to 7,6 s.…

Local Nama legends hold that the Wondergat – known locally as Heitsi Ebib or ‘spirit’ – is home to the Grootslang, a mythical entity feared and revered for its ability to kill with its breath. Some believe it to be half snake, half elephant, maintaining that the gods, realising their mistake in creating such powerful creatures, split them in half, scattering them as the two separate animals. However, one survived, and for thousands of years the 15 m-long spirit has made its home in the Wondergat, transforming into a maiden by night and luring unwitting men to the Orange River, where they are drowned.…

At 160 km long, the mighty Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world after the famous Grand Canyon in America. In some places it’s nearly 27 km wide, with the biggest drop measuring 550 m down. It’s also famous for its grueling hiking trail, which measures a whopping 90 km from start to finish, climbing and winding through unforgiving, unsheltered wilderness. It takes around five days to complete and is the most comprehensive way to explore the eroded chasm.…

After a gruelling contest held in the searing Gauteng heat, Capetonian Mark Keeling (21) emerged as the winner of the action-packed 2020 Fortuner Challenge. The pro paddler, who entered the annual competition through Media24, was partnered with obstacle racing legend Hanneke Dannhauser and despite tough competition, managed to amass enough points to win anew Toyota Fortuner. This was the fifth edition of the Fortuner Challenge and the first to be held in Gauteng instead of the traditional backdrop of the Garden Route. Despite the change in scenery, as well as the decision to shorten the event to one day, the competition retained its core mechanics and offered a stern test to both contestants and heroes. As before, four heroes – all related to Toyota in one way or another –…

Doringlaagte is a popular holiday resort about atwohour drive east of Cape Town, with more than enough to do for the whole family. If you tow your caravan with a 4x4 vehicle – or you’re simply looking for a new off-road challenge – the guys there have established a number of new 4x4 routes. The trails take you to spots with beautiful views of the surroundings and will have you feeling at home in nature. Here you can break away from the hustle and bustle of the campsite for a while. You can combine three different routes into one long one, or tackle the three separately. Together, they should keep you busy behind the wheel for about three hours, after which you can treat yourself to a piece of meat…

When his family started growing, Jan Wink reckoned it was time to let go of his Toyota RunX and look for another vehicle. Fortunately, his brother was willing to buy the RunX and his dad had a perfect Condor. He convinced his old man to let it go for around R70 000, which was the trade-in value five years ago. “I drive a 2000 Toyota Condor 3 l diesel RV 4x4 that had about 230 000 km on the clock when I took ownership. It’s a little on the rare side as Condors go, because most of the ones you see on the road are either in Estate or TX specification, the latter of which can also be had in a 4x4 version. We call it The Blue Monster. The…

FISHING RESORT UDOLPHO RIVIERPLAAS CATCH AYELLOW ONE When driving to Parys from Sasolburg, there are quite a few campsites lined up against the Vaal River just before Parys, with the latest addition being the caravan park at Udolpho Rivierplaas. After turning off the tar road, it is a 2,9 km dirt road to the farm gate, and then another 650 m to reception. The river is another 500 m along, and this is where you’ll find the stands on the riverbank. A swimming pool is also close to reception, as well as a mini golf course – the latter costs R10 per game and you pay a R20 deposit for the clubs. A target shooting range is also here and it’s R10 to rent a catty. No deposit is required…

To sell Infanta off-road caravans internationally, Jurie Swart, owner ofInfanta 4x4, has entered into an agreement with caravan manufacturer Black Series in America. While the first shipment of Infanta’s caravan series, the Enkulu, has just been shipped, the Black Series caravans have already landed on our shores. Two models are available locally: the C12 and C15. Jurie tells us there other models are too heavy for the local market. Like the Enkulu, the Black Series also has a galvanised chassis and an aluminium body. As with in the Enkulu 2, the bed also pulls out of the body like a large capsule. But in the Black Series, the capsule slides out from the rear and not the one side. The C12 has one double bed and one single bed, while…

Quantum Leisure, who focuses on fixed-roof caravans, has introduced its seventh model, the Comfort Deluxe. And since its arrival around October last year, it has stolen the limelight from its siblings. Currently the Comfort Deluxe is their most popular model, says owner Jurie Pienaar. You can sum up the winning recipe in just a few words: a luxurious, lightweight single-axle caravan with a full bathroom. What’s different about it? Quantum now has three variants of its Comfort model. All three are essentially the same size with the island bed lying crosswise in the front. The standard model has one bunk bed at the back while the Family model gets an extra one. In the Deluxe, these beds are sacrificed to make room for the bathroom. If you compare the left…

While some overland travellers have already migrated away from lead-acid batteries in favour of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4), others are still on the fence as they’re not yet convinced of the economics. Installing a more expensive LiFePO4 auxiliary battery setup in a vehicle that’s only used a few times a year can be a tough pill to swallow, but the significant recharge benefits it offers may just justify the expense. And it’s not just about economics. The real question is: how much better performing is LiFePO4 when compared to lead-acid batteries? And does that performance validate the higher upfront costs? BATTERY TESTS Boasting a range of DC-DC chargers that are all lithium, AGM and wet-cell compatible, National Luna recently tested three battery options that are commonly used within the leisure…

Oaksrest makes you think of those campsites you just want to keep to yourself. This, of course, creates an internal conflict, because if you tell someone else about the jewel, you may soon no longer have a spot. But you simply cannot keep it to yourself. Fortunately, Oaksrest isn’t likely to get too busy, as it’s slightly out of the way between Oudtshoorn and Laingsburg. So, when you’re here, it’s because you specifically wanted to – the road pretty much comes to an end at Oaksrest. Do make sure you book, though, as there are only five sites. THE LITTLE KAROO isn’t known for its green grasslands; rather, it is a scorched piece of earth where water and shade are intermittent. If you’re heading here from the Cape, you can…

The GWM Poer was introduced at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2019 and in October 2020 daughter company Haval South Africa announced it would be coming to our shores. Haval SA presumably warned GWM in China that South Africans, and particularly Afrikaans speakers, would laugh their heads off if it was marketed here as the Poer, and so they renamed the bakkie the P Series for our market. What do we have here? The GWM P Series bakkie is available as single- or double-cab versions with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. You have a choice of six body paint colours and four trim levels: the base model SX, followed by the DLX, LS and LT flagship models. In South Africa there is only one engine choice: a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, but…

We all jump in line to eat the food once it’s made, but you don’t ever see people queue to wash up the trusty old number 3 potjie once everyone’s had their fill. The last time I opened one of ours before this assignment, I was so disgusted that I simply dropped the lid on it again. It doesn’t even have to be apotjie, because Schalk’s grill pan (also known as a griddle) had a layer of rust that had penetrated the seasoning slightly and after his numerous attempts to scrub it off, it still boasted orange pockmarks on the surface. Bar extreme neglect, dropping your pot from the top of your overlanding rig onto a hard surface or pouring cold water onto the hot cookware, your cast-iron cookware should…

For many campers, being able to take a shower after a long day on the trail – be that a4x4 or hiking one – or simply just the luxury of a bushveld view while you sit on the throne are non-negotiables. We don’t have to go stinky or squat over a hole in the ground when we’re at home, so why would we do that when we go on vacation, a time when we’re supposed to feel our best? Keep yourselves feeling fresh with these ablution essentials when you’re not at a family resort. BOILER BOX Alva portable gas heater Connect this box to a compatible canister from Alva or Cadac, and connect to your chosen source of water (either a direct hose, gravity bag or through a pump that…

In the 1970s, there were all sorts of caravan options available in the USA, but this lesser-known outfit, based in Warrensburg, Missouri, came up with the strange (and ill-fated) idea of mounting a trailer to the roof of your vehicle. Now, a fifth-wheel trailer, which Harmon’s Shadow resembled, was not exactly innovative and was already several decades old by the ’70s. Also, if your bakkie’s load bed was suitably equipped, then you could tow afifthwheel trailer. But the Shadow was aimed at those who drove regular hatchbacks and family sedans. At the heart of its one-size-fits-all concept was a steel plate that housed the hitch, which was in turn bolted to brackets that fitted your car’s gutter rails. It was basically a support platform, and there were three sizes of…

The latest campsite in the Dinokeng reserve is the Njala Bush Camp, a fenced patch of 20 hectares inside this Big Five reserve, and it’s aimed at campers who are self-sufficient. Owner Charl Pretorius says the idea is to provide a safe campsite in the bush without wild animals. Yet it is a bush camp in the true sense of the word, because at present there is no electricity or water. Charl does plan to install water so campers have running water at their stand, plus a gas geyser and flush toilet. In the meantime, campers have to take care of their own water, but there is a composting toilet and a bush shower that you top up yourself. The terrain has been free of elephants for more than 10…

We don’t want to stir the (porridge) pot, but the Toyota Prado is bigger and tougher than the Toyota Fortuner, but smaller and softer than the Land Cruiser 200 – so, just the way Goldilocks likes it. Indeed, it fits in neatly between its two stablemates and has few natural enemies. It’s only the Mitsubishi Pajero – the long-wheelbase version, of course – that is aproper challenger for the Prado. What do we have here? The fourth-generation Land Cruiser Prado (also known as the ‘150’) is 12 years old. The next generation is expected to arrive a year after the upcoming Land Cruiser 300, but for now it gets one last – or perhaps penultimate – update on its exterior and interior. The updated Prado comes in the same three…

The Toyota Fortuner is the champion of bakkie-based SUV sales in South Africa, and it’s not hard to see why. In the 2.4 GD-6 AT 4x4 derivative, it churns out 110 kW of power and a healthy 400 Nm of torque. Coupled with the smooth 6-speed automatic transmission, it’s a functional, grunty machine with plenty of comforts. We drove it through the Richtersveld stock standard, but be sure to take along a full recovery kit, tyre repair kit and a compressor. The sandy roads hide many asharp rock, and it’s vital that you are able to deflate and inflate tyres when necessary. Sand tracks aren’t a must, but they’ll be especially useful if you’re hauling a trailer or caravan.…

Campsites along the KwaZulu-Natal coast – and especially the South Coast – are lined up like sardines in a can, offering a seaside holiday at its best. The province’s Drakensberg resorts are equally sought after, as is the iSimangaliso Wetland Park with its forest stretching like a 170 km long worm to the Mozambican border. But when it comes to camping, there are more than just beaches, mountains and forests in this province. You might get a few odd looks when you say you’re off to camp in Durban, far from the beach. Or when you set off for the seemingly dull Midlands that run west of Durban in a wide strip all the way to the Free State border. The Queensburgh Caravan Park is nicely located in the Durban…

We can admit quite frankly that until mid-year or so, last year’s Drive & Camp Bull Run was still very much hanging in the balance. We were in the middle of a national lockdown and there was great uncertainty about what would and what would not be allowed. A gathering on the scale of the Bull Run requires many logistical factors to be taken into account, including the number of people who are allowed to gather at any one time, the availability of hand sanitisers and how to keep all the participants safe. When our provincial borders were reopened and the national lockdown measures relaxed to such an extent that we were allowed to host a certain number of people, a smaller Bull Run got the green light. And although…

“My wife, Antoinette, and I lowered the corner steadies of our caravan at Weltevrede outside Paris this past Christmas and chilled out for a few days. We’ve probably been there about five times and will keep returning. It is a well-run place on the Fochville Road and the owner keeps it tidy, while ensuring strict adherence to the rules. The final 3 km or so to the resort is a good gravel road that’s fine for towing. TELL US ABOUT THE CAMPSITE. They’ve laid out more than 30 stands next to the Vaal River and all of them are paved and under cover. Each stand also has its own braai area. In the front row of stands there are around 11 stands about 50-60 m from the water. You can…

The first school holidays of 2020 were just around the corner, and Piet and his wife, Chandré, and their three children, Piet (13), Nicolaas (12) and Mieke (10), were ready for the Central Kalahari. It was a short visit, because they had already booked another place in Botswana for the June holidays. By this time, people had started talking about the COVID-19 pandemic. A few days prior, the government had shut the schools and Piet and his family decided to get on their way earlier – perhaps they could see more of the Central Kalahari. They drove into Botswana near Gaborone where they stocked up on their last supplies, filled up their 2009 Land Cruiser VX 200’s fuel tank and filled the 2019 Mobi Lodge’s cupboards with everything they needed.…

There’s a niche market for gravel road caravans in South Africa – there are just over 40 manufacturers in the country, but only a handful of gravel road caravans. These include the four by Stealth, of which the Bush Lodge takes the lead. Going by looks alone, the Bush Lodge already differs from the other Stealth products. White, grey and blue on the outside make way for white with a lower black vinyl layer. Contrary to the stylish clean design of the other three, the Bush Lodge has a “don’t mess with me” appearance. Both side panels boast a muddy off-road tyre design. Similar motifs are repeated on the inside, and it repeats the rugged feel of the exterior, but in a homely way. Storage up front The nose cone’s…

“In this heat that is already close to smouldering just after 10 in the morning, I’m happy I’m not Xander and that I didn’t bring any takkies” I‘m in a Mercedes-Benz 280E that has a hole in the exhaust and a dubious clutch. The Merc sounds like a sports car, but the speedometer stopped working ages ago and the temperature gauge oscillates up and down. So I drive on feeling, sound and grace – and do my best to change gears as little as possible. At least it’s still going. After a week attending the Bull Run, I’m looking forward to getting home, but the guys with the Isuzu next to the road need our help. Following me are Thys and Daniel de Jager in a Hilux and an old…