Innehållsförteckning för June/July 2024 från Go! Drive & Camp

EDITOR'S LETTER I thoroughly enjoyed the column Pieter Redelinghuys wrote for this edition. He possesses a unique talent for crafting a sentence, a skill that has made me somewhat envious over the years. In the nostalgic journey he takes us on page 120, he outdoes himself. His recounting of the Redelinghuys family's camping holiday by the sea evoked many memories of my own family's vacations. The setting up of the tent with a struggling dad, the cookies baked long in advance, the silent agreements among siblings about things parents shouldn't know, the camp beds in the tent, the adults mingling… he might as well have been writing about my own family. I always smile when I reminisce about our camping adventures when my siblings and I still lived at home.…

The Orange River serves as a splendid stopover between Gauteng and the Western Cape, and with the completion of the Waschbank campsite, you now have another superb option. Waschbank is located on the Free State side of the river, situated on the eponymous farm of 1 800 ha, which borders 8 km of the river (from the N1 to the R701 between the towns Norvalspont and Gariep Dam). The farm is owned by the Bloem family. Zelmari Bloem, who leads guest operations, mentions that the campsite was previously just a patch of grass. Guests visiting their lodge suggested they establish a campsite there. Zelmari and her team didn't let the grass grow under their feet, and they set up nine stands on various terraces, each equipped with power (standard and…

Opel recently announced the new Opel Frontera in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and it's coming to South Africa – we can expect it in early 2025. The Frontera boasts the manufacturer's new lightning bolt emblem, which is quite fitting as the Frontera will be available from the outset in a full electric version as well as a 48V hybrid model. “With its combination of rugged design, spaciousness, clever solutions and efficient drivetrains, our new Opel Frontera will appeal to a wide range of customers who want to stand out from the crowd. It is ideally suited to the urban and sub-urban environment while simultaneously offering a recharging experience to our customers,”said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. Opel describes the Frontera as a true sport utility vehicle, but what we can gather from Huettl's…

Ponta Membene is located in the Maputo National Park, approximately 60 km south of Maputo and 50 km north of Ponta do Ouro. The reserve covers about 2 000 km2 of protected coastal, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. Park officials call it the “jewel in the crown,” but there's more to it than that. According to their website, this is also the top spot in the world for sea turtle breeding. If you're coming from Maputo and Ponta do Ouro, it's tar to the park, and the park's Futi gate is respectively 68 km and 41 km from the two towns. There's also a second gate, Gala, further south, but it's temporarily closed. We drove from eSwatini over the Easter weekend to dip our feet in the warm waters of Mozambique.…

MY WHEELS Wessel had owned a Land Rover Defender 300 TDi for many years, but that changed 12 years ago when he spotted the bakkie he had been searching for so long at a shopping centre in Rustenburg. Look, you don't easily find a Defender 130 TD5, and Wessel decided on the spot to ask the owner if he might want to sell his bakkie. Of course, the owner had no desire to part with his bakkie, but that's where the story begins, Wessel says, because he made the man an offer anyway. “At the time, I'd been looking for a double-cab bakkie for a while, although I knew the 130 Defender model wouldn't be easy to find. I managed with my 1998 Defender TDi 300, but it was a…

4×4 PROFESSOR In unfamiliar lands, your vehicle and tent are your home, and it's crucial to create a safe and comfortable dwelling. Yes, the starry sky is enchanting, but you don't want to stumble over tent pegs in pitch darkness or struggle to repair a flat tyre. In this article, we discuss lumens (abbreviated lm), candlepower (cp), and Kelvin (K). A lumen is a unit of light, with 1 candlepower equivalent to 12,57 lm. Kelvin is a unit of temperature, and when it comes to light, a low Kelvin number means the light appears redder (or warmer), while a high number indicates bluer (or cooler) light. Here are eight types of portable lights you might consider for overland trips. We're not saying you need them all, but at least a…

This year's Ironman challenge, in collaboration with Isuzu South Africa, raised R158 000 for their charities, the Isuzu Foundation and Ironman 4 the Kidz. Participants in this challenging race must complete a 3,8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and a marathon (42 km) all within one day. It has been held since 2000 and features divisions for men and women. The funds raised will be used for refurbishing charity homes, transport costs, nutritional support, sports activities and medical expenses. This support ensures that the registered charity organisations continue their crucial work, providing essential services and opportunities for children facing various challenges. “We remain committed to the wellbeing and development of children in the Eastern Cape. Through this collaboration, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of…

When campers flock to a site on an ordinary weekend – and out of season at that – you know there's something special about the place beyond mere camping. Here in Greyton, you're just an hour and a half's drive from Cape Town, yet the setting is dramatically different. You exchange the city and your four and a half million neighbours for fewer than 3 000 residents who have found their retreat here. Upon arriving at the campsite, it's just you and a few other campers seeking serenity. At Kleine Eike, 12 km past Greyton, a group of sheep by the gate serves as the informal welcome committee. From this hill, you look down on the campsite, which emerges as a pure oasis with its green lawn stretching into the…

READER'S STORY The idea was for the group of close Western Cape friends to travel alone once again, and it just so happened to coincide with Women's Day. The men jokingly remarked that their absence – and the resulting peace and quiet at home – would be a delightful gift for the women. Fortunately, the women agreed and had no issue with the trip the men had planned. The guys often socialise and camp together ever since they met at the Strand's squash club. A few of them had also ventured to Richtersveld three years ago and had all returned in one piece. With their partners' blessing, Willie thus began planning the trip with Wilhelm Richard, Hein Jonker, Etienne du Toit, Frikkie Veldsman, and Vincent Hattingh. Willie tells us more…

Stealth's new Cub Overlander is specifically aimed at those who don't hesitate to venture off the tar road to reach their campsite. It's a compact caravan designed for a couple, but still boasts ample space inside because the bed folds away entirely to create a large social area. It also features 15-inch wheels, a geyser and a gas cylinder, a 220 V/12 V power system with a 15 A charger, a 100 Ah lithium battery, and an 8 ℓ/minute water pump. You're allowed to tow the other Stealth models with a regular driver's license, but the Overlander's gross vehicle mass (GVM) tips the scales at 1 500 kg, meaning you need a towing license to tow it. Its payload capacity (the difference between the caravan's tare weight and GVM) is…

GEAR Tips for the road • Keep your car window open if possible. Rover will enjoy the drive much more if he can sniffthe scenes flashing by. • Stop about once every hour and give your woof enough time to sniff the marks of all the dogs that have stretched their legs here before. • Be careful when you stop at a roadside picnic spot, as rotten food or sharp bones will ruin Rex's holiday (and yours!). • It's better for Coco to ride in the • backseat than on your lap. It might feel cruel, but she's safer there. • BringTrixie's favourite blanket or toy along. It's particularly comforting, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. • Use the time at a motorway service area's lawn to play with Buddy, thereby dispelling…

TOURS JOIN US ON TOUR! In Namibia, it often feels like you're the first person to travel through a landscape, that you've been transported to another, wilder era. If exploring the distant parts of our neighbouring country has always been on your bucket list, then this Kunene Region Photography Tour is for you. Expert guide DouweVlok from Heuningland Tours will take a group of 16 people on a self-drive, 4×4 trip of the region. Toast Coetzer will act as your photography guide, offering advice and tips on how to improve your photography skills (all cameras welcome, even smartphones). You're guaranteed to take more than a few pics that will impress the people back home. The adventure kicks off at Spitzkoppe – home of the famous Rock Arch – and from…

The new Ford Territory was launched on 4 May this year. It is powered by a 1,8 litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 138 kW and 318 Nm of torque and also features new start-stop technology that reduces fuel consumption. The engine is coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission with a wet dual-clutch system, although there is also a rotary knob on the centre console for manual gear shifting. The Territory offers four driving modes: eco, normal, sport, and mountain. The body design has been revamped and boasts a new grille, daytime running lights, and LED headlights that have been moved to a lower position, giving the Ford a more powerful appearance. Inside upgrades include a wireless induction charger for your phone, a 12-inch colour touchscreen, and electronic dual-zone air-con with…

JOURNEY For some inexplicable reason, there exists the perception that the Free State is dull, flat, and boring, but that's a misconception, one that leads some South Africans to simply breeze through the province without truly experiencing it. For instance, if you're a Gautenger, you probably drive straight through the Free State on your way to your seaside holiday destination without even stopping for fuel. Let's set aside a few days to get to know its people and attractions. We start about 160 km east of Bloemfontein at Koranna Getaway (S28.88194 E27.31793). This 4×4 destination is on the farm Verlangdedeel, offering camping spots for a multitude of adventurers. Johan and Isa Eksteen is a couple who are part of an extensive Eksteen family tree that has been farming in the…

MY SPOT “We try to camp at least every two months and have a list of camping sites within a three-hour drive from home. So, it doesn't take much to convince us to load our Howling Moon tent into the Renault Duster and hit the road for a weekend. We were recently at Ruah for the first time and enjoyed it so much that we're planning to return soon. WHERE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT RUAH? We started noticing that Ruah was being mentioned increasingly in camping communities on social media. The feedback from almost everyone was that it's a lovely place that comes highly recommended. This convinced us to go there for a weekend. DID RUAH MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS? Yes, absolutely. We enjoy campsites where you can camp on grass…

DRIVING IMPRESSION For this issue, we're deviating from the usual driving impression format because we tested multiple vehicles on one occasion. This also serves as a peek behind the scenes at what often happens at vehicle launches. But let's start at the beginning: Who is Stellantis? This multinational company was founded in 2021 when the Italian-American company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged with the French PSA group – comprising mainly Peugeot, Citroën and Opel. Based in Amsterdam, Stellantis is the world's fourth-largest vehicle manufacturer after Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai, with 14 brands under its wing. Available locally are Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS (a variant of Citroën), Fiat, Abarth (a variant of Fiat) Jeep, Maserati, Opel and Peugeot. Then there are also Lancia, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler and Vauxhall, which are not available…

PIETER'S STORY Igrew up in a home where holidays − especially the big ones in December and January − meant renting the cumbersome two-tone Jurgens 640 with its blue-and-white striped tent from Uncle Tjoep du Toit. To this day, I don't know how Uncle Tjoep got his name. It probably had something to do with the Castle beer belly that annually burst through four sets of braces. Or maybe because his father, Tyres du Toit, owned the local tyre shop. Be that as it may, Uncle Tjoep and his wife, Aunt Annatjie (also known as Moeder Melktert), were childless and thus didn't need to entertain a brood of kids during the summer holidays. That meant we could camp in their caravan, complete with its musty smell and faded WP tent.…