Innehållsförteckning för Apr/May 2022 från Go! Drive & Camp

“Many prophets of doom were prepared – seemed almost eager – to start writing obituaries, but this year’s show proved them all wrong” At this year’s caravan show in Midrand, I once again realised how much it’s possible to miss something. Although the show was cancelled in 2021, its absence felt much longer. Remember, the last show – in 2020 – was held a few weeks before we all had to look at the president’s morose face as he said, “My fellow South Africans…” This year, among the more than 20 000 camp enthusiasts who flocked through the doors over those three days, there was a clear desire to see what’s going on in the market. And boy, did the caravan and camping-equipment manufacturers show off. Every new product was…

My husband Mike has always been a keen camper. Me… not so much. But, I was prepared to try. So, when our kids, Andrew and Amy, were two and four years old, we bought a bulky eight-person tent and everything else we needed. It was wonderful, but pitching camp tested our marriage and patience. We sold the tent shortly thereafter. Through the years, we’ve tried many different camping setups: more tents, various caravans (from the 1980s to the 2016 Jurgens Xcape), as well as all the camping trailers, fitted with everything you need in every nook and cranny. After 12 different options over 16 years, we finally believe we have the best and easiest: a Land Rover Forward Control camper from the seventies. I’ll admit it’s not the most attractive…

The annual caravan show at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand is an institution and the highlight on the industry’s calendar, as you get to see all the latest models under one roof. In addition to existing ranges, more than 20 new models were on display. Two new manufacturers also made their debut. Here’s a look at the very latest in the caravan market. OUTBOUND CAMPERS Outbound is a new manufacturer entering the market with a solid offering: there are three off-road camping trailers – Thunder, Breeze, and Blizzard – and two off-road caravans – Cyclone and Hurricane. The range is available at Kempton Caravans. Initially, only the Thunder was imported from Australia, but these days all the caravans except the Thunder and Hurricane are manufactured locally. The Thunder has…

Jurgens, Gypsey, Sprite, and Safari caravans will henceforth be manufactured by a new company, Leefek. This follows the liquidation of Jurgens Campworld. Tian Muller takes over the reins as managing director. According to Ina Dreyer, spokesperson for Leefek, production has not been affected by the liquidation. “Currently, there are three months’ worth of orders in the production line.” Gravel roaders are still the most popular, and Leefek has added a new model to its Tourer range. (Read more about this on p 23. – Ed) In addition to the Tourer, other new caravan models will be introduced soon. In the past, some of the Jurgens dealers belonged to the manufacturer, but this is no longer the case. There are currently 13 accredited dealers: • Silver Lakes Caravans, Pretoria • Pro Quick Leisure,…

The Ineos Grenadier, a vehicle inspired by the previous generation Land Rover Defender, is almost on its way to South Africa. Three prototypes were brought to Cape Town earlier this year and Drive & Camp had a look. The vehicles are indeed strongly reminiscent of the old Land Rover Defender and boast higher-grade parts by, among others, Magna Steyr, ZF Friedrichshafen, Carraro, and Bosch. There are two engine options: a 3 ℓ petrol and a 3 ℓ diesel, both from BMW. While it’s too early to share our driving impression here – the vehicles were early prototypes – we can confirm the interior is much larger than that of the old Defender. All buttons and switches are waterproof and mud-resistant, so you can literally wash the interior using a garden…

It’s common knowledge that Mokala, Marakele, and Mapungubwe all have white and black rhinos. For the sake of their safety, we have not said here where we saw them – and yes, we know rhinos roam everywhere in a park, but we don’t want to give poachers even the tiniest bit of information. According to a 2015 census conducted by SANParks’ scientific services, the rhino population is slowly increasing, despite ongoing poaching. If you come across rhinos in one of these parks, there’s usually a camouflaged ranger lurking with a rifle in the talll grass. It’s thanks to these committed protectors that our rhino numbers are slowly recovering. Thank you, guys!…

We did things a bit differently this time, and, for much longer. Instead of just a few hours behind the wheel, we embarked on a 10-day journey. We headed inland, detoured along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, and then crossed the Drakensberg – all while towing a Tuff Cats Dindingwe – not a small caravan by any means. Our family of four visited several campsites, spent many a long hour in the vehicle, and braved one rainstorm after the other. This all put the Hilux through its paces, and here’s our report back. Packing some power Double-cab bakkies appear heavier than they actually are. You quickly realise this when you want to tow a caravan with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 2 000 kg. What this means is that the empty…

There are not many things in life whose value increase as they age. Sure, shares, real estate, and rare works of art do – possibly even a good wine – but certainly not your car. You won’t be selling or trading in your car without losing a bunch of money. But what you paid for your caravan – new or used – you will probably see again on the day you sell it. We take a look at the prices of new caravans 10 years ago and how they compare to their second-hand value today. But first, let’s go back to the car market. Take three 2012 models as an example: a Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D-4D (4x4, auto), Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT (4x4, auto, double cab), and a Suzuki Jimny…

My wife, Johanna, and I were on our daily walk one day when an old Jurgens 500 caravan made its entry into the Gouritsmond Caravan Park. We both just stood there, admiring the work of art slowly driving past. Some days later, I finally gathered the courage to go and say hello to the owners, Gys and Adrie van Vuuren. Everything spoke of neatness and precision. Gys literally swapped his reliable trailer for the shell of a 1966 Jurgens 500. Only the floor and chassis were original and in good condition. Gys is knowledgeable and practical enough to undertake this huge task himself, thus ensuring everything was perfect. "Gys even installed a power inverter in the cupboard should it be required,, He sanded off the old weathered coat of paint…

I’d like to share this ode to our gazebo. In 2007, we camped at Weesgerus, just outside Modimolle, but there was hardly any shade on our stand. So, we decided to look for a gazebo in town. After an exhaustive search, we found the last one in stock at the local co-op: a 3x3 m Bushtec with an aluminium frame. At that time, we’d camp with a tent. Later, it would be a caravan, which we then sold when our youngest daughter Danika left home to study – at which time we returned to tents. Seeing as she recently completed her studies, we bought a caravan again – and the gazebo is still going strong. This gazebo can tell a number of tales: in 2011, we attended the Innibosveld music…

We toured the West Coast for five weeks in September and October last year – as far south as Chapmans Peak outside Hout Bay, north to Strandfontein, and inland to the Cederberg. As pensioners from Bloemfontein, we really enjoyed our West Coast tour and its endearing people. One Sunday afternoon, we followed a twin-track from just outside Dwarskersbos in the direction of Laaiplek. We didn’t even consider the possibility of getting stuck, because there were ordinary sedans on the road. Later, the track turned sandy, and I started looking for places to turn around. And then, we did get stuck. And this, of course, without any recovery equipment – not even a pump for the tyres should I want to deflate them. I called a friend for help, but the…

Alu-Star is known for its aluminium trailers and horse carriers, but now the company has introduced its first full-fledged off-road camping trailer. It took about two years to get from the first sketches and ideas to the construction of the prototype, says Reinard Stapelberg, co-owner of Alu-Star. The XK6 Camper has a typical off-road trailer layout – think a nose cone on the A-frame, a kitchen on the left, and clothes compartments on the right – but there are some innovations, too. Instead of a lid or two side doors, the front of the nose cone opens upwards. So, you get to everything easily and never have to dig around. This is also where the inline gas geyser and gas cylinder go, but there’s plenty of room for items such…

A year after Chris Scorer bought the well-known Corian’s Caravan Resort on the KZN coast, the campsite has undergone several changes. Besides the new fence, a gravity-fed water system, a fresh coat of paint, and renovations to the rental home, it also has a new name: Characters Garden Park. The games room is now next to the pool, which means all the entertainment is together, right near the resort’s gate. And then three of the 60 stands each boasts a permanent tent. They’re called Rent-A-Tent – for those who don’t own their own camping equipment but still want to enjoy a camping experience. These campers are spoilt with a double bed, plus their own braai area, kitchenware, lighting, chairs, and a table. The rest of the stands have been left…

There are many reasons why the Drakensberg continues to astound. This mountain range stretches more than 1 000 km from north to south and forms various official borders – for Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and Mpumalanga, among others. Plus, you’ll find Southern Africa’s highest peak here. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park in South Africa and the Sehlathebe in Lesotho are collectively known as the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are not only endangered bird species here, but also a large concentration of San rock art. Underberg is a bustling business centre close to the southern section of the park. A mere five-minute drive after leaving the town, you can set up camp at Khotso, where you will find a mixture of farm and mountain,…

Each of these three national parks boasts 4x4 trails – some are ridiculously easy and you could master them in a normal two-wheel drive bakkie or SUV, while others require four-wheel drive and a bit more effort. The route starts 50 km south of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, next to the Riet River in the Mokala National Park, where the 4x4 roads are relatively tame. From there, we drive to the Marakele National Park, where the roads are a bit more challenging but aren’t anything to worry about. Finally, we make our way through the bushveld to the Mapungubwe National Park. Here, there are a few 4x4 trails where you have to know your stuff. MOKALA NATIONAL PARK The smell of rain... It rained frequently during our visit to…

The route starts at the holiday town of Graskop at the upper edge of the Lowveld. Take Main Street – or the R533 regional road – out of town in the direction of the Kowyns Pass and Bushbuckridge. Kowyns Pass takes you through what is commonly referred to as an avalanche tunnel – the kind that has one side open and the roof supported by pillars. At the foot of the pass is a broad valley, which is, in fact, the shallow southern outlet of the Blydepoort Canyon – the Blyde River Canyon’s less dramatic neighbour. 15 km outside Graskop, at the broad end of the canyon, is a turn-off to your left (S24.94836 E30.94507). The turn-off isn’t well marked, and the only signage is one by Sappi warning you…

I bought my current towing vehicle, a 2020 Mahindra Scorpio S10 (4x4) out of the box, and it still has relatively few kilometres on the clock today: 28 000 km. There’s also no cause for complaint when it comes to fuel consumption. Recently, on a trip to KwaZulu-Natal and back, the worst we got was 16 ℓ/100 km, with 12 ℓ/100 km being the best. I tow Double Trouble, a self-built double-axle caravan. Empty, it weighs 1 460 kg, with a gross vehicle mass of 1 800 kg. My first towing vehicle was a Toyota Corolla Avante 1600, with which I towed a Sprite Sport. Koppisol was the first campsite we visited. I towed a Jurgens Fleetline, but the list of caravans I’ve towed in my life so far is…

It’s the professor’s humble opinion that the basic plank is a criminally underrated tool. In this article, we mention a mere 12 uses for it. You could, of course, do a lot more. Viva the plank! Ab rollout Fancy recovery boards are based on ordinary wooden planks. Instead of spending R6 000 on a set of Maxtrax, you could simply chuck a piece of wood under a wheel for increased grip. Sure, properly engineered sandboards offer superior traction, but if you know how to use your plank correctly, you won’t need anything else. Bench press The Achilles heel of a jack – be it the scissors, bottle, or high-lift kind – is sand and mud. You need a plank as a base to prevent the jack from sinking into the…

Jabula in the Dinokeng Reserve north of Pretoria is known for its luxury tented camp, but now this popular holiday resort has also added five separate bush camps. While the luxury tents are fenced, there’s no barrier between the campsites and nature. This means any of the Big 5 can unexpectedly walk through your campsite, although there’s enough of a clearing around you so you won’t be caught unawares. Each of the five bush camps is a cleared spot in the natural vegetation and is set a good few hundred metres apart. Most of the stands have some shade. The camps all have their own bathroom with a basin, toilet, and an indoor and outdoor shower. A gas geyser provides the hot water and a solar panel the light. There’s…

Loftus Caravan City has been doing business for the past 34 years, belonging to the Loftus family right from the start. But now, Nicole Ostrom has stepped in as a co-owner. Nicole joined Loftus in 2010, looking after accounts, after which she took over the financial and administration management. Since then, she’s also become involved in marketing and caravan imports, and among other things also sees to the homologation of new caravans. The three Loftus brothers, Woody, Neil, and Joel, along with their father, also Joel, started the business. Joel (senior) retired in 1994. “Nicole shares our passion for the industry and camping lifestyle, as well as our focus on top customer service,” says Woody. “She’s very active behind the scenes and full of ideas.”…

Toyota’s first motor vehicle was the Model AA, which left the factory in April 1936 – and a year later the company was founded. That means this motoring giant is 85 years old today. It is, however, 71 years since Toyota’s first off-road vehicle, the BJ, was launched. Toyota would have had a party to celebrate the big 70 at the end of last year, but COVID-19’s Omicron variant put paid to that. Toyota chose the Land Cruiser 79 to wear the 70th Anniversary crown, perhaps because the 70 series has 70 in its name, although the LC70 made its first appearance in 1984. What do we have here? The Toyota Land Cruiser 79 4.5D V8 70th Anniversary Edition – that’s its official full name – is available in two…

Lilydale Rest Camp, Mokala National Park This rest camp has four free-standing double-storey self-catering chalets, each sleeping five, and four single-storey townhouses (making a total of eight self-catering units next to one another) each sleeping two to three guests. Each of the 12 self-catering units has a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, 220 V power supply, air con, and a braai area next to a balcony with wooden furniture. You park your bakkie next to your house, but it’s not under cover. Cleaners arrive around 10:00 to make your bed, they also wipe the floor, provide toilet paper, and clean the braai area, but you wash your own dishes. There’s a swimming pool and café at reception, plus a pool table, bar, and restaurant – the latter was closed during our…

FISHING RESORT KINGFISHER LODGE FISH LIKE A KING The Kingfisher Lodge is on the alternative N4 route between Machadodorp and Mbombela that runs through Schoemanskloof. The lodge added a campsite, and the owner, Gary Roberts, added a bathroom for every stand. As you enter the grounds of the lodge, you’ll spot some blesbok, sheep, donkeys, and mules. The four trout dams are on your left, with the pool close by. The two camping terraces are just in front of you and farther to the right. You get a welcome drink, and then it’s time to unwind. On one terrace are six wooden buildings, while the other terrace has nine in a row. These are the bathrooms. Each 9 x 15 m stand has grass. The bathroom of four stands on…

R574 900 GWM P-Series 4x4 LT It’s a great bakkie, and judging by how many of them you see on the road these days, others agree. R644 600 Toyota Hilux 2.4 GD6 4x4 Raider The standard by which other bakkies are measured is still the top seller – we don’t see that changing any time soon. R687 300 Ford Ranger 2.0 single turbo XLT 4x4 This one leaves the others in the dust, especially the dual-turbo version, and is right behind the Hilux when it comes to sales.…

The Mobi Lodge was launched in early 2015 – at the time we described it as the “caravan of the future”. We don’t want to toot our own horn, but we were clearly prescient: the manufacturer can barely keep up with orders. Previously, buyers could choose from four models – the Custom, Expedition, Deluxe, and the Ultimate – but now, owner Marius Ras has combined all four into one new model: the Continental. What have we here? It’s important that the jockey wheel of an off-road caravan is removable, as this is often what ploughs into the ground first when you hit a large bump. The one on the Mobi Lodge stays on but swings out of the way. There’s a handle by the clamp; pull that and the wheel…

I have a fear of tents. There, I said it, and it is no small admission. For much of my life, I have projected an image of outdoorsy competence. I am not sure that I had much choice in the matter. My father is a former infantryman, capable of rolling a sleeping bag up tighter than a geometric tortoise. On my mother’s side, I’m directly descended from the Edenburg trekkers. I’m to the manner born, as they say, except that my track record tells a very different story. Once, I was eaten alive by sand fleas on an Eastern Cape beach because I failed to put down a groundsheet. Another time, in Mpumalanga, a large red centipede stung my toe after I failed to shake out my shoes. Clearly, I’m…