Innehållsförteckning för Feb/Mar 2025 från Go! Drive & Camp

The owner of Lethabo Lodge, 10 km outside Modimolle, has expanded his offerings for campers from one to two camping areas. According to owner Conrad Meyer, the bush camp with its five campsites and communal ablution facilities was established in 2023. Each site has a paved platform with a roofed section. Now, a second campsite has been added, called Waterhole. It features seven sites, each named after an antelope: Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Reedbuck and Tsessebe. Thanks to the trees in the new camp, there's no need for a roof over your campsite. Each site has a 6 × 9 m paved platform, one side of which is enclosed next to a fire pit. Facilities include a tap at your stand, a braai area and a power outlet. Lethabo…

Volkswagen recently announced a partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) to encourage more women and girls to participate in the sport. The sponsorship includes all national women's teams: Banyana Banyana (the senior national team), Basetsana (the U-20 team), and Bantwana (U-15s). Volkswagen donated a Caddy Kombi Maxi, a Crafter 50 (seating 23), a Tiguan Allspace and a T-Cross to SAFA. In the photo are, from left: Job Mchunu (SAFA committee member), Desiree Ellis (Banyana Banyana coach), Buti Mathathe (SAFA committee member), Princess Ndlhovu (Volkswagen brand head), Linda Zwane (SAFA deputy president), Mama Joy, Danny Jordaan (SAFA president), Bridget Harpur (Volkswagen marketing head), Pius Nqandela (SAFA committee member) and Lydia Monyepao (SAFA CEO).…

Tuff Cats builds off-road caravans with the grit of Eben Etzebeth: rugged giants that back down for nothing and no one. If, however, you prefer something more versatile but with the same tough genes – think Pieter-Steph du Toit – you'll want to take a closer look at the company's new Katsi model. Straight to the point The Katsi is designed to be customised from the get-go to suit your needs. The trailer has a flat lid that lifts on the left-hand side and is held open by two gas struts. Inside, the trailer's sides and the underside of the lid are lined with 25 mm thick high-density foam and carpeting. The base features a rubber mat. The body includes three doors: one in front of each wheel plus a…

Campsites in KwaZulu-Natal generally fall into two categories: coastal resorts or mountain retreats. Gautengers flock there in summer, but even in winter, you'll find no better climate anywhere in the country. Add the unique charm of the Drakensberg, where you can pitch your tent near the Lesotho border in some of South Africa's most breathtaking landscapes. Another group of campsites also deserves special mention: those between the Midlands and the eSwatini border. These offer the ultimate relaxation. In the past, we've visited wonderful spots like the hot springs of Natal Spa and Thangami. This time, we're casting our net wider, exploring two delightful campsites we haven't been to before. The campsite at Bivane Dam near Vryheid and Nyalazi, next to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, differ vastly in character and atmosphere. What…

Eighty-year-old Kobus Boshoff and his son Jakkie (50) recently decided the time was right for an extensive tour using Kobus's Land Rover Discovery 4 and Jakkie's Jurgens Explorer off-road caravan. Eventually, they decided to travel all around South Africa, staying as close as possible to the country's border at all times. They set off from their hometown of Modimolle to see what they could accomplish – and 24 days (and thousands of dusty-road kilometres) later, they were back home with plenty of stories to share. Kobus recounts… “The two of us set off from Modimolle in September 2023, turned right and headed through the beautiful Bushveld towards Lephalale. With our towing combination, we could take dirt roads, so we travelled along the Limpopo River past Swartwater, Du Plessis and Zanzibar,…

The Western Cape branch of Conqueror was recently named the favourite business in Die Burger's readers' choice awards in the camping and/or trailers category. Jòvan Pienaar, owner and CEO of Conqueror Western Cape, bought the business in 2023. He describes himself as an entrepreneur with a master's degree in law and interests in various enterprises. For now, he has stepped away from the corporate legal world to pursue his passion. Previously, Jòvan restored Conqueror trailers as a hobby, but the bug bit, leading to this full-time career change. He says that where there were once five or six trailers on display, there are now 35–40, of which 40% are new models. Contact 082 470 6699 info@conquerorwc.co.za conquerorwc.co.za…

The Defender, previously part of Land Rover but now a standalone brand of JLR following the discontinuation of the Land Rover name, is set to compete in the 2026 Dakar Rally. Fans of the world-renowned rally might have noticed the Defender at the 2025 Dakar, but not as a competitor. It was the official vehicle for rally officials and special guests in January. Under the partnership agreement, Defender will supply a fleet of support vehicles for Dakar rally officials and VIP media until 2028, plus six highly specialised recce vehicles. The last JLR vehicle to win the Dakar Rally was a Range Rover in 1981. JLR's factory team is hard at work preparing a rally version of their Defender for next year's event.…

The Mitsubishi Triton turns 47 this year and is now in its sixth generation. Originally called the L200, it was later renamed the Colt before adopting the Triton name in 2005. Incidentally, in Greek mythology, Triton is a demigod often depicted as a muscular merman blowing on a conch shell. Exterior The bakkie's design is entirely new, with a grille intentionally styled to look as little like a regular sedan as possible. That's because Mitsubishi markets the Triton as pure bakkie, equally capable of hard work and play. The high load bed of the previous model raised some eyebrows, so it's a relief to see that the new version is not only larger but also has a floor lowered by 4,5 cm. Every bit helps when loading heavy bags of…

Guided tour groups are great, but sometimes you want to go your own way at your own pace. Our route covers 3 000 km, and ensures early, stress-free arrivals at your campsites each day. We depart early morning from Pretoria, following the N14 to Upington – a distance of 800 km – where we stop at the Kalahari Lifestyle Lodge. This is the longest driving day of the tour; from here on, you'll only spend about four hours a day behind the wheel. Holidays are for relaxing, after all. Kalahari Lifestyle is located next to the N14 as you enter Upington and offers 12 grassed stands with private ablution facilities and a fully equipped kitchen. Get a good night's sleep on the first night of your journey because tomorrow, we…

DE BOS Pet conditions All pets are welcome. Have we been here? No. Campsite 15 grassed stands under pecan, oak and karee trees. Each stand has its own braai area, but there are no power points. Ablution facilities Two buildings with five showers and five toilets. There is also a toilet for wheelchair users. The kitchen is equipped with gas stoves, fridges and freezers, and washing-up facilities. Arrival and departure 14:00-19:00 and 11:00. Contact 071 462 8812 info@debos.co.za debos.co.za Nearest town In Montagu. Road conditions Tarred road all the way. GPS S33.788427 E20.113276 WELVANPAS Pet conditions Preferably no more than two dogs. They must be under the owner's control as there are animals including sheep, cattle and alpacas on the farm. Have we been here? No. Campsite An open grassy…

The South African camping industry is one of the most innovative in the world. Compare local trends to those overseas, and it quickly becomes clear we don't need to take a backseat to any other country. According to an article on the website of the German company Ipso, which hosts one of the world's largest trade fairs for sports goods, the outdoor industry is booming globally. The article also states that the market for people who prefer camping or outdoor holidays looks entirely different today thanks to new trends and changing consumer preferences than it did a few years ago. In a forecast of how the outdoor industry will evolve up to 2029, the article identifies five key trends. We briefly discuss each one and then look at how South…

Bergkoninkryk, outside Modimolle, now has a campsite. New owners Joop and Sulita de Kock bought the farm in early 2023 and opened the campsite in October 2024. Joop and Sulita are experienced campers, and their dream of owning a campsite has finally become a reality. Bergkoninkryk is part of the farm Kloof en Dal. Sulita says guests started enquiring early on about alternative accommodation, such as camping. Today, there are four private campsites: Vaalboom, Sekelbos, Wildesering and Raasblaar. The campsites are grouped close together, and depending on where you set up, you'll camp on grass with varying amounts of shade. You can move your stainless-steel braai (with a grid) to wherever you like. Your power outlet is a blue caravan plug, and your bathroom has a shower, a hand basin…

People aged 25-39 are involved in 41% of all fatal accidents, and according to statistics, this is the age group with the most deaths on our public roads. A survey of local motorists conducted by Volvo South Africa revealed that drivers aged 18-24 have the most confidence in their abilities behind the wheel, yet 52% of them either do not wear seatbelts or only occasionally do. As for the 25-39 age group, 75% buckle up on long trips, but 29% unfasten their seatbelts when close to home. Worryingly, 40% of this age group admit to wearing seatbelts solely because the law requires it. Peer pressure appears to contribute to this issue. A total of 14% of South Africans – mostly in the above age groups – believe it's “cool” to…

The Bushy's first ancestor, the OT Bushy, made its debut just over a decade ago as a modest camping trailer. It was a lightweight trailer designed for vehicles requiring only an ordinary driver's licence. Since then, it has evolved and you now have various options. Behind every trailer The Bushy Rhino Ranger XL is built by Trailer & Mega Custom Steelworx in Silverton, Pretoria. They still manufacture the variant aimed at campers with an ordinary code B licence, but the range is no longer exclusively targeted at this market. The standard trailer has a GVM of 1 500 kg and is braked, but for those without a code EB licence, there's a model without brakes that weighs 750 kg. If you own a sturdy towing vehicle and want your trailer…

The R355 starts 40 km east of Ceres in the Cape Bokkeveld, where the tarred R46 regional road veers right towards the N1 highway (S33.23135 E19.67690). The R355 follows the dry bed of the Doring River, which runs between the Kwarrieberg (1 437 m high) to your right and the Saalberg (1 322 m) to your left. This ravine is known as Karoopoort, and the road was laid out by the renowned Cape road engineer Andrew Bain, with construction handled by his son-in-law, Adam de Smidt. In the middle of the ravine is a short section of tar road and a farmstead dating back to the 18th century. The tar road turns back into gravel as soon as you pass through the ravine and enter the southern edge of the…

The Viking's gross vehicle mass (GVM) is just 750 kg, meaning you don't need a towing licence to tow it. Moreover, the axle is braked, so it can be towed by most regular cars. Although the axle is rated at 1,6 t and the Viking boasts decent ground clearance, it's better suited for dirt roads rather than full off-road escapades. This caravan clearly targets a wide market: from young couples upgrading from a tent to seasoned campers scaling down after conquering every rugged route imaginable. The Viking is perfect if you want something that's easy to tow and quick to set up. It doesn't come with an extensive list of standard equipment, appealing to those who don't care much for some of the luxuries available these days. Many campers already…

When travelling in Botswana, there are various ways to stay in touch with your family and friends in South Africa and Namibia. The easiest way is to wait until you arrive at your lodge's campsite in the evening and use the WiFi to send a WhatsApp message. However, when trouble strikes and you're stranded in the middle of nowhere, the lodge's WiFi won't help you at all. It's better to familiarise yourself with the options for contacting people back home before you leave. (For this article, we assume you're a South African travelling in Botswana; our Namibian readers will have a similar experience, although the networks and currency will differ, of course.) IMEI and IMSI Before we discuss the different methods, we need to get technical and cover two important…