Innehållsförteckning för Apr/May 2023 från Go! Drive & Camp

Recently, I came across a news article about a Finnish study that found that being out in nature can help counter a range of health issues, including anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure and insomnia. Look, I realise I'm preaching to the choir here, because all of us know all too well that time in the outdoors is not only good for the spirit, but also for the body. However, what caught my eye in the article is that the research goes so far as to say that time in nature can also reduce the need for medication to treat a range of health conditions. It is therefore not only a case of prevention, but clearly also one of cure. The researchers from the Department of Health Security at the…

NEWS Mercedes-Benz is systematically releasing electric versions of all its vehicles, and including the Sprinter panel van, or eSprinter. Vehicle builders who use the Sprinter as a base for custom motorhomes may be scratching their heads over this decision because battery power isn't associated with long-distance touring. But Mercedes-Benz says it has tested its eSprinter according to the WLTP cycle, a method in which a vehicle is driven at four speeds ranging from a snail's pace to high speed – while repeatedly braking and accelerating – to simulate everyday driving conditions. In this test, the eSprinter achieved a range of 400-500 km before the battery had to be recharged. The vehicle will be launched in Europe this year and is expected to come to South Africa in early 2024. Fuel-powered…

FISH DISH Small game fish, scraped clean and minus their entrails, are delicious when cooked whole over the coals – as they are with a little salt, toast, ripe tomatoes and some caper butter. If you want, you can even serve them with a fried egg.You can also remove the bones ahead of time if you like: carefully butterfly the fish and pan-fry them in a little oil as below. I find mackerel, sardines and elf to be equally delicious. Ingredients (serves4) 8 small game fish (1 or 2 per serving, dependingonsize• 2 tablespoons good olive oil for pan-frying ¼ cup butter 1 tablespoon capers 2 red and ripe tomatoes, sliced 4 slices health bread, toasted Here'show Drive & Camp says A squeeze of fresh lemon juice won't go amiss.…

In 1988, at the young age of 29, Jurie Venter was shot in his back during an armed robbery. This left him paralysed from the navel down. Ever since, he's been using a wheelchair to get around. Before his injury, Jurie wasn't into camping and usually stayed in holiday accommodation, but he decided in the year of the shooting to buy his first caravan and start camping. Jurie tows his own caravan and has firsthand experience where resorts fall short when it comes to wheelchair-friendly facilities. Over to Jurie: A man with a plan “I wanted to prove that someone in a wheelchair can still enjoy life and go camping – with certain adjustments, of course. I bought my first caravan, a Sprite Musketeer, from a dealership in Pretoria. They…

COLOUR IN Get your crayons and colouring pencils out and bring life to this line drawing. WORD SEARCH Search for the hidden words in the list and tick them offas you find them. SPOT THE DIFFERENCES There are at least 10 differences between the two illustrations. See if you can find them all! MAZE Show the maze who's boss. Remember to first do it in pencil, just in case you make a mistake. Word search AMERICAN PRESIDENTS BarackObama GeorgeWBush BillClinton RonaldReagan JimmyCarter GeraldFord RichardNixon LyndonBJohnson JohnFKennedy HarrySTruman HerbertHoover CalvinCoolidge WoodrowWilson WarrenGHarding TheodoreRoosevelt WilliamMcKinley GroverCleveland BenjaminHarrison Maze Spot the differences Animal facts TASMANIAN DEVILS SARCOPHILUS HARRISII They in Tasmania, an island just south of Australia. It's the only place where they are found in the wild, having a lifespan of…

The start of the December holidays had me helping my fiancé Frikkie Le Grange pack his Ford Figo to the roof. We were young and enthusiastic about our first camping trip alone, without the comforts of my parents' off-road camper and its luxuries like a stove and fridge. We were practically bubbling with excitement when we left that morning. These few days of camping alone required much planning. We had already purchased a tent, but that was the extent of our list. So we'd gone on a shopping spree to buy the other essential items, things like a fancy new folding table and a gas stove. The car's interior was boiling hot – Frikkie had strict rules about when to use the air-conditioning. But I kept quiet, since the car…

INBOX We love hearing what'son your mind!Write to us at drivecamp@gomag.co.za and please remember to include your full address and contact details. Drive&Camp reserves the right to edit and shorten letters – and publish them in the magazine, on the website and elsewhere. Every year towards the end of January we head to De Bakke Santos in Mossel Bay. Most of us are pensioners and long-term campers – and those who don't camp, stay in the rondavels. It's our annual holiday with old acquaintances. This year has been our fourth year in a row at De Bakke Santos – some friends have been coming here for a long time and for others it's their first time. We have already booked three months for the same time next year, in fact.…

It is interesting to witness a brand name grow in popularity.Whan Mahindra entered South Africa back in 1996 it wasn't accompanied with a huge fanfare, although a few of us did take a chance on the then unknown Mahindra Bolero. Today, however, Mahindra is highly regarded by South Africans and it is currently one of the fastest growing car brands in South Africa.The manufacturer is particularly excited about its latest Scorpio SUV, which now has an added N to the model name.The N stands for to the nth degree – originally a mathematical term indicating something is elevated to a higher level. An apt description of the new Mahindra Scorpio-N. What do we have here? The Scorpio-N is completely new, including the chassis, suspension and bodywork. There are four trim…

BOBOTIE MINCE ONE-PAN DISH Cheat sheet This easy dish has all the flavours of a classic bobotie without the hassle of mastering a golden brown egg custard layer over the campfire. Ingredients (serves 6) 3 slices of white bread, crumbed ¼ cup milk 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 teaspoon crushed fresh garlic 2 tablespoons bobotie masala 2 tablespoons each chutney and apricotjam 1 tablespoon vinegar 2 tablespoons golden sultanas 500 g minced meat 6 eggs If you're feeling generous, ½ cup toasted almonds, chopped Here'show 1 Soak the bread in the milk for a few minutes and then mash finely with a fork. 2 Fry the onion in the oil until glossy. Stir in the garlic, masala, chutney and apricot jam and heat through. Now stir…

Areader recently asked me my thoughts on the Land Cruiser 79 double cab and specifically if I thought that it was the best overlanding vehicle compared to other similar vehicles. The answer to the question is, of course, not as simple as a ‘yes' or ‘no'. Few could argue the ability of the 70 series Land Cruiser – or any Land Cruiser for that matter. An exceptionally tough vehicle with a tried and tested platform. It has evolved over the years to become the vehicle of choice for customers and fleets operating in the harshest of conditions on just about every continent. Applications include mining, military, aid, peacekeeping, farming, forestry – you name it, it can do it. This fact, in my opinion, is the reason that this vehicle hasn't…

Outdoor equipment manufacturer Wild Accessories is not a company that rests on its laurels. In 2021, it revamped its range of bush-ready bakkie canopies, and it has now further strengthened and improved them. Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Wild Accessories had to move to a larger factory – still in Silverton, Pretoria – to keep up with its growing production line. According to owner Christiaan du Toit, his company strives to deliver flawless products, and each update is a step closer to this goal. This is why Christiaan and his team decided to do away with the usual plastic hinges you find on so many canopies and off-road trailers. Wild Accessories now has new hinges consisting of a stainlesssteel pin and ultra-durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In addition to the stronger…

Luxury vehicle manufacturer Range Rover's Velar P400e has just been updated with a larger touchscreen and leather-free seat upholstery made by Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat. The upholstery is apparently a kind of animal-friendly wool that offers unparalleled luxury to occupants. The cabin is quieter than before thanks to noise-cancelling speakers and PM2.5 filters purify the air for your comfort. A larger 19,2 kWh lithium-ion battery allows you to drive 64 km before having to switch to the 3 ℓ straight six-cylinder internal combustion engine. Charging the smallish battery from flat to 80% with a 50 kW fast charger takes about 30 minutes, and if you plug it into a 7 kW charger at home, it should take around two and a half hours to get the battery back up to…

Can I travel solo? Yes, even the back roads are fairly busy (given their remoteness) this time of year because people come from afar. How long? The route as we describe it here is 900 km in length and requires at least three days to experience just a bit of the Namaqualand. What type of vehicle? The roads are quite good, but occasionally, like at Goegab, you'll need to engage fourwheel drive. How much fuel? The longest distance between fuel stops is 300 km (Kamieskroon to Nieuwoudtville) so there's no need to bring jerry cans. Can my dog join me? Goegap Nature Reserve and Namaqualand National Park unfortunately don't allow pets. What emergency equipment? Always a tyre repair kit, and maybe a tow rope and jumper leads. May I ride…

Win a cooler bag worth R220! Wessel Bester from Worcester has won a cooler bag worth R220 for his correct entry in our December 2022-January 2023 issue.You can also win. Complete this crossword puzzle and e-mail a picture to drivecamp@gomag.co.za. It's also at https://bit.ly/3YuBHeP. Last month's solution is on p 108. 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 hygenic. The bag has a short strap that reaches over the top and attaches with a Velcro strip, and also a longer shoulder strap if you're…

Recently, a post on a social media platform caught my attention in which a leading South African hotelier said the current star grading system for hotels has become irrelevant. He believes references by fellow travellers carry far more weight than a certificate on a wall behind a reception desk. He also believes tourists are better equipped to evaluate hotels than a grading officer who ticks boxes off on a form. His hotel group's own research indicates that guests increasingly rely on comments and photos on websites. According to Tripadvisor's ‘Path to Purchase' report, 33% of their guests looked around on travel websites before making a reservation, and 74% read the comments on Tripadvisor to decide where they wanted to book. The hotelier substantiates his opinion about the star grading by…

THE FLOWER POST BOX In the Northern Cape town of Calvinia, you'll find a 6 m tall mailbox with a circumference of 9 m and a volume of 43,6132 m2<sic>. It is a working post box and you can indeed post a letter there. But you don't need a ladder to reach the slot, there is a smaller slot at a more manageable height.The post box was originally a water tower the local chamber of commerce turned into a tourist attraction. It's in Hope Street… not far from Calvinia's post office. GPS S31.47528 E19.77184 Times Always open. Admission Free. Have you spotted anything whacky on your travels?Tell us about it and send a photo to go! Drive & Camp, PO Box 740, CapeTown 8000 or drivecamp@gomag.co.za ROOIBERG CHAIR The Rooiberg…