Innehållsförteckning för October - November 2021 från Go! Drive & Camp

“Cyril has been arguing for the inclusion of some motorcycle content since he started here. So, we finally caved and let him put together an entire magazine…” It’s been exactly one year since Drive & Camp’s frequency changed to appear on shelf every second month. Back then, I explained here (and in a very awkward editorial meeting) it was a far-reaching decision that had been difficult to make. That is why it’s so gratifying to be able to state a year later that this was undoubtedly the right direction to take. My heart overflows with gratitude to you for supporting our magazine, to the advertisers for still being with us, and all my colleagues for taking this strange bull by the horns, and, with positive attitudes and heaps of work…

Following Mic van Zyl’s column “My issue with electric vehicles” in your previous issue, I would like to express my opinion. I’ve been following the development of electric vehicles for the past 10 years with great interest, and I’ve also tested the Jaguar I Pace, BMW i3, and Volkswagen e-Golf. Electric vehicles may not give you the same driving feel as one with an internal combustion engine, but the astonishing power and acceleration more than compensate. As I understand it, electric vehicles are “greener” than internal combustion engine vehicles (if you consider how the initial electricity is generated, whether through coal, solar, or wind). That’s because the energy transfer from the battery to the eventual movement of the vehicle is highly efficient. According to the Australian Energy Council, you are…

“I do have a camera with lenses, but obviously don’t always have it on me. My phone is usually at hand, though, and that’s why I use it to take a lot of pictures. My preference is photos of nature, but I also like close-ups. You need to zoom in because there is always something beautiful to see when you look closer. The world is so dark, and we tend to take everyday things for granted. You just must stop for a moment and pay attention. It’s important to decide on the subject’s placement in the frame. Maybe you should turn the camera on its side or come from another angle? That way you might get an even better photo. Here are some of the ‘everyday’ from my garden.” Photos…

Ford South Africa announced on 31 August this year that it will be offering a Ford Ranger Raptor Special Edition. This version will be available in limited numbers to ensure exclusivity, though Ford didn’t specify the number. The Raptor SE gets striking matte black decals with red pin stripes on the bonnet, roof, tailgate, and doors. The two tow loops in the front bumper are now red, while the bumpers, door handles, and wheel arches are matte black. The Raptor SE also gets a sports bar behind the cab courtesy of the Wildtrak, as well as a lockable roller cover that is offered as an optional extra on the Ranger Thunder. Mechanically speaking, there are no differences between the SE and regular Raptor, and this Raptor retains its unique Fox…

It’s not every day that you can have a campsite all to yourself. But when you book at the brand-new Oorvloed campsite, the owners will only book someone else in after you’ve already left. Oorvloed lies, as the crow flies, about 25 km south of Swellendam, just halfway between this town and the Indian Ocean. You camp on a working farm, where Rossouw and Adéle Swart farm with sheep and mixed crops. The Breede River forms the horseshoe western border of their 500 ha of land, and the campsite is laid out right next to the water at the far end. So, you camp next to the river on a neat stretch of lawn. The ablution block is as you enter the campsite, and it blends into the environment as…

R494 500* INFANTA ENKULU 3 GVM 1 900 kg R465 900* Okto Villa En-Suite GVM 1 700 kg Gravellor Has a high-grade steel chassis with an aluminium and fibreglass body. R487 215 Stealth EVO GVM 1600 kg X-Country 592 ES Has a high-grade steel chassis with a body of sandwich panels and fibreglass. R 344 652 * Sprite Tourer SP GVM 1 370 kg Has a reinforced steel chassis and a body of sandwich panels and aluminium. *Standard price…

1 Spook Drift In the past, a glowing orb had apparently been seen floating here. 2 Skans Drift Road workers built berms along the river to divert flooding. 3 Dam Drift A large waterhole where ox carts – and later motorised vehicles – often got stuck. 4 Boesmans Drift According to tradition, Bushmen lived here in crevices. 5 Skelmkloof Drift According to Petrus Meiring, cattle thieves sometimes hid in a ravine here. 6 Aalwyn Drift Named after the beautiful mountain aloes that grow on the slopes. 7 Nooiensboom Drift Two large kiepersol trees (also known as a nooiensboom in Afrikaans), once stood on either side of the road. 8 Dubbele Drift Two drifts were replaced with one longer raised section during the construction of the new road. 9 Perskeboom Drift…

Maximum number of vehicles? None Do I get a map? No, but you won’t get lost here. Will I scratch my vehicle? There’s a strong possibility, yes. Do I need to take a compressor? Yes. Can I braai along the way? No, there are demarcated spots only on one side of the road, at the campsite. Can I turn around halfway? Yes. Is there cellphone signal? Yes Best time to go? Year-round Can I take my family along? Yes Just for the day or the weekend Why not go for a couple of days? How long does it take? You can get through everything in around four or five hours if you rush. But why would you? Are there ablution facilities? Not on the game trail Directions From Pretoria, take…

“In anticipation of the new Amarok, we drive the latest 190 kW model – launched earlier this year – for one last time” The Volkswagen Amarok was launched on 6 May 2010 at the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville. In terms of sales, it was never a runaway success, but it nevertheless made headlines and changed the bakkie industry irrevocably when the “small” turbocharged 2 ℓ engine landed. The existing Amarok has been around for quite some time now. In April last year, it was announced that its replacement, the second-generation Amarok, would be built on local soil at Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria. Ford and Volkswagen will soon share a common platform, and “our” Amarok will be exported to more than a hundred countries. In anticipation of the new…

The new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series wagon is here. I, for one, have been awaiting its arrival with much anticipation. There are so many iconic vehicles with name plates that hark back decades without interruption in their history. Most of them tend to be sports cars – like the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, and the BMW M3 – that remain instantly recognisable, even for non-enthusiasts. Off-roaders also have a couple of names that have a rich history and an almost fanatical following. While vehicles like the Range Rover and Discovery, Jeep Wrangler, and Mitsubishi Pajero have proven popular for several decades, the two names that are arguably top of the list with off-road enthusiasts are the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Land Rover Defender. I’ve been involved in many…

FINCHLEY FARM, WILLOWMORE There is a stand underneath thorn trees with electricity, a braai area, flush toilet, and hot shower. If you don’t want to camp, they have three self-catering units. Price R100 pppn to camp. R350 pppn in the units. Contact 044 923 1801 (Joanne) finchleyfarm@baviaans.co.za finchleyfarm.co.za FONTEIN GUEST FARM, GAMKASKLOOF Six stands underneath thorn trees with braai area, three flush toilets and three showers, and four self-catering chalets. The restaurant offers dinner and breakfast. Price R250 pn per stand. Chalets are R400 pppn. Contact 087 808 5730 (Marinette) info@gamkaskloof.co.za diehel.com GAMKAPOORT DAM COTTAGES The campsite is no more, and you have to overnight in one of the five self-catering cottages. The units have no electricity, but do have a bathroom, lounge and kitchen. Price R250 pppn. Contact 072…

Campsite 369 demarcated and even stands, mostly on soil between a number of shade trees. Ablution facilities 7 bathroom buildings scattered throughout the resort. Some of them are closed in quieter times. Price Depending on the season, R250 pppn per stand up to R1 040 for 8 people. Arrival and departure 15:00 and 11:00. Contact 015 539 0634 forevertshipise.co.za tshipise@foreversa.co.za Nearest town Musina, 36 km. Road condition Tar up to Tshipise. GPS S22.604153 E30.173648 Drive & Camp says Keep everything shut – there are monkeys and baboons about.…

Campsite 10 stands, predominantly with grass and under deciduous trees. Ablution facilities Separate facilities for men and women and 2 family bathrooms that are wheelchair-friendly. Price R500 per stand for 4 people, children included. Each additional camper (up to 10 per pitch) pays R100 pppn. Contact 078 817 1624 (preferably WhatsApp) buyskop.co.za reservations@buyskop.co.za Arrival and departure 14:00 and 10:00. Nearest town Bela-Bela, 4 km Road condition Tar up to the gate. GPS S24.863684 E28.327566 Drive & Camp says Although there is no camp shop here, Bela-Bela is no more than a five-minute drive away. So, if you forget something at home, you can rectify it quickly.…

Fish Black bass, catfish, kurper, bluegill, and eel. Campsite 17 stands divided into three groups: two are next to the dam and one group by the river. Ablution facilities 3 different buildings with showers, toilets, and dish-washing facilities. Price R450 pn per stand for 4 adults and 2 children. Maximum 6 per stand. Arrival and departure No set times. Contact 079 314 5853 or 082 200 8594 fleckvieh.co.za fleckviehboerdery@gmail.com Nearest town Heidelberg, 21 km. Road conditions From Suurbraak’s side it’s tar to Fleckvieh. GPS S34.007734 E20.752679 Drive & Camp says Fleckvieh is the German name for the cattle breed Simmentaler. The farm, together with the surrounding farms and the Grootvadersbosch reserve, is part of the Grootvadersbosch conservancy.…

Volkswagen makes four minibuses: Caravelle, California, a panel van, and Kombi. Three versions are available in the latter model, all with a 2 ℓ diesel engine, and all have a tow bar – and trailer sway control comes standard. The Kombi’s virtues are, of course, well known. We hitched a caravan to the Transporter 6.1 to see how it fares. Weighty matters Volkswagen doesn’t joke around when it comes to the Kombi’s towing capacity. It ranges from 2 200 kg for the basic Trendline (manual) to 2 500 kg for the other two models, both automatic. But according to South African law, these figures are actually 1 892 kg and 2 043 kg respectively for the automatic models. That’s because the towing weight limit is determined according to the vehicle’s…

CHICKEN AND CREAMED CORN IN A PAN Classic combo For extra flavour, add a splash of wine to the chicken while cooking. Just make sure the alcohol cooks away completely. Ingredients (serves 4) 8 chicken drumsticks 2 tablespoons of your favourite braai spices (we used NOMU chicken rub) 1 tablespoon oil A lump of butter 4 spring onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely crushed 1 red chilli, finely chopped 1 heaped tablespoon cake flour 1 cup cream ½ cup chicken stock 2 cups frozen corn kernels 1 teaspoon dry mixed herbs 2 teaspoons honey Here’s how 1 Score three deep notches in each chicken leg and season well with the spices. 2 Heat the oil and fry the chicken until it is half cooked, but nicely golden brown all over.…

Not too long ago, my friend Vaatjie told me a tale that left me dumbfounded. He managed to lose his caravan’s “papers”, and before he could sell the caravan privately, he needed to apply for replacement documents. His first mistake was to queue at a licencing office to get the forms (DRC, an application for a duplicate for a vehicle registration document, and DCT, a declaration regarding a lost document). He needed to complete these forms and submit them in person with certified copies of his identity document and proof of residence at the licencing office. Vaatjie didn’t know he could download the forms for free on the NATIS website. It took him three hours to get to the front of the queue, and, by then, they’d run out of…

Gideon wins a cooler bag worth R220. Whether you’re a camper, fisherman, or sports fan next to a cricket pitch, this cooler bag has room for a lunch box and a 1,5 ℓ cooldrink bottle. The lid also has space for a coffee flask. The interior is lined with PVC, which makes it easy to keep this bag clean and hygienic. The bag has a short strap that reaches over the top and attaches with a Velcro strip, as well as a longer shoulder strap if you’re going to carry it over longer distances. It’s an ideal picnic accessory or a padkos bag for a road trip. winkel.weg.co.za…

We discovered a lovely waterfall right near our house, and we realised again, you don’t always have to travel an eternity to reach a beautiful destination. If you take the N3 from Durban and take the Shongweni exit, drive towards the Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market. About 5 km later, there’s a faded sign for the Delville Wood train station. Turn in here and stay on the dirt road past the old, abandoned station to a train tunnel. (By the way, I have a particular interest in tunnels, because I’ve blasted a few train tunnels myself in the past.) On the other side of the tunnel, you emerge at Kirk Falls, also known as the Wekeweke Falls. It’s the perfect place to have a delicious picnic, and you can also…

Volkswagen’s South African plant was first opened on 31 August 1951 in Uitenhage in the then Cape Province to satisfy the growing local car industry. Over the years, Volkswagen’s Uitenhage plant (today Kariega) has built Volkswagen Beetles, the Type 2 Kombi, the Golf (also the Citi Golf), the Polo range, and several Audis. Over the past seven decades, more than four million vehicles were driven off the floor at this plant, giving a 21,7% market share in South Africa. Drive & Camp says congratulations, Volkswagen South Africa! The first self-propelled motorcar in South Africa was a Benz Velo, imported in 1896 by Johannesburg businessman John Percy Hess. The Velo was displayed in Berea Park to President Paul Kruger and the public. South Africa’s first mass-production car plant was opened in…

Can I drive on my own? Yes, the roads are good and you’ll rarely, if ever, need to engage four-wheel drive. How long? The route is 850 km long and lasts three days. What should I drive? Your vehicle must have good ground clearance, but four-wheel drive is not necessary – unless you want to tackle the optional 4x4 trails or when it is snowing. How much fuel do I need? There are several towns along the route. The longest distance between filling stations is a 180 km. What emergency equipment do I need? Always a tyre-repair kit – nothing else. Can I tow? Rather not. An ordinary road caravan is out of the question, and although a smaller off-road trailer could work, you’ll have to keep your wits about…

Campsite 300 unmarked level stands on soil among mopane trees. Ablution facilities 5 modern bathroom buildings spread throughout the resort. Price Standard sites cost, depending on the specific day, R180-R835 pn per stand (ATKV members pay R135-R750). The paved stands cost R200-R845 (R155-R770 for members). Arrival and departure 14:00 and 10:00. Contact 015 386 8000 eilandspa. co.za eilandspa@atkv.org.za Nearest town? Tzaneen, 66 km. Road condition Tar to the resort, but there are road works just in front of the gate with a dirt road of 250 m. GPS S23.656521 E30.671027 Drive & Camp says There’s free WiFi, but only close to the pools.…

TOMATO RICE WITH PRAWNS Rising to the occasion Braai the shelled prawns over the coals or fry them in a separate pan while the rice simmers. Ingredients (serves 4) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2 celery stalks, finely chopped ½ cup of dry white wine (or use beer) 1 cup jasmine rice A large lump of garlic butter 1 tin (400 g) chopped tomatoes 200 g cooked prawns, deshelled Here’s how 1 Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion, carrot, and celery. Pour the wine into the pan and cook it dry until the onion starts to get a bit of colour. 2 Add the rice and butter and stir-fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes. Rinse the tomato…

“For this model’s price, the interior finish is pretty basic and the pedals are a tad too high – it could get uncomfortable on the long haul. But if you look at driving and towing, you could hardly get more comfortable. You don’t even feel the caravan and the Kombi drives as easily as a sedan. At 120 km/h and on the long road, it tows without difficulty and always keeps its speed. The engine isn’t that strong; I attribute its good performance to the DSG gearbox. You just can’t complain about it – if you put your foot down, there’s an immediate reaction. Do keep your eye on the speedometer, as it’ll be easy to tow too fast. Unfortunately, the pillar just to the right of my shoulder bothered…