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28 Articles

While putting together this issue, I couldn't help but think of an old TV ad for a well-known local beer. I reckon it aired about 25 years ago. In the advert, a group of friends arrives at a seemingly remote location where a man and his border collie are already waiting, with a fire burning, a South African flag planted and fluttering in the wind, and the opening notes of Boston's “More than a Feeling” begin to play. As the men offload and carry their coolers and camp chairs over, one asks, “Why here?” That's when the one who has been waiting connects a television to his bakkie's battery, and images of the final between the Springboks and the All Blacks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup appear on the…

The gas stove revolution!

We love hearing what's on 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. My wife Elsa and I are avid campers and have been searching for a decent gas stove that can withstand the wind for years. We've bought and tested most of the stoves on the market but are always disappointed because the wind blows out the flame, and the quality is sometimes not great. At a recent gathering for ex-military members, I ran into an ex-colonel with an extraordinary Cadac gas stove they used in the military in the 1960s. I am from the older…

The gas stove revolution!

Scenes at the campsite

I'd like to share a sketch – it's like a checklist for birds, but one for campers. My husband Christo and I have been camping for 25 years, nowadays with a Land Rover Forward Control. The other day at the Ezemvelo campsite beyond Bronkhorstspruit, Christo wanted to show me a lilac-breasted roller in a tree, but my attention was diverted by a jogger with a peculiar running style, and I missed the bird in the tree. You could say I prefer watching the campers. That's how I came up with the idea to compile a camper list. I'm a graphic designer at a magazine and work on the computer all day, but I loved getting the chance to use my pen and brush again. First, I drew the basic sketch…

Scenes at the campsite

My husband and I love camping at different spots, and he always buys Drive & Camp. Then I get a bit annoyed because he reads it in one evening and completes the crossword. And then he can't wait for the next issue… We are part of a group of friends who always travel and camp together. My husband always does the bookings and planning. I asked our friends whether one of them would do it, but they refused because only my husband has the necessary knowledge, according to them. As we discussed our travel plans, including the list of necessities and menus for delicious camp food that can be cooked over the coals, I of course, wanted to know where all this information supposedly came from: “Drive & Camp,” was…

Mariental gets a new campsite

NEWS Namibia's plains stretch far and wide, so it is always a good idea to plan your trip there carefully. Campers wanting a stopover near Mariental now have an additional choice. Die Skuur campsite is just outside the town, on the farm Kachas where the owners Kokkie and Elzeth Adriaanse farm with maize, wheat and other crops. The campsite was built two years ago with a few stands, each with a private bathroom. Today, campers can choose from six stands with communal bathrooms, three with private facilities, and three slightly more luxurious ones, also with private facilities. There are dishwashing facilities at both groups with the private facilities. A donkey at each bathroom provides hot water. Elzeth and her team supply the wood and light the fire once a day.…

Mariental gets a new campsite

Short and sweet

With 80 colourful summers behind him – more than 60 of which were in the caravan industry – you cannot help but tip your hat to Robbie Kerkhof. Alongside his youngest son, Reinhart, Robbie owns Skipper Tent Trailers in Park Rynie on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Their focus is on lightweight caravans. In the early years, Skipper belonged to Robbie and his brother, Tom, until that came to an end in 1975. Robbie took over the manufacturing of Gazelle caravans from André du Plooy and even built a model with three axles – the first and only. In 1989, Robbie sold Gazelle, then moved from the Rand to Pennington two years later. Robbie then decided to breathe new life into Skipper and brought Reinhart on board as a partner. In…

Short and sweet

NEW CARAVAN Wood has almost become anathema in caravan manufacturing, especially because wood rot is such a curse. But that was mostly in older road caravans – today, manufacturers use various substitute materials instead of wood. The Red Gecko, however, doesn't just use wood in sections of its panels; the entire hull is made of wood. It's not just any wood, though, but imported birch and spruce plywood, which is sealed both inside and outside. There's no chance of wood rot here, and you get all the good qualities of wood instead. Firstly, wood is an excellent insulator and, in the form of a capsule as a unit, as strong as can be. And it doesn't weigh a tonne, which is crucial in this case as the gross vehicle mass…

And, in first place

LAND CRUISER PRADO The Prado was introduced 34 years ago (incidentally, “prado” means“meadow”in Portuguese and Spanish) and now the fifth generation has made its appearance. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is built in three plants, respectively Tahara and Hamura in Japan, and the Chengdu plant in China. As you can see in the images alongside, the new model somewhat resembles the very first Prado, the 1990 model, especially when it comes to the angular bodywork. “This is more than a tribute, ”says Yoshito Watanabe, the man who designed the latest Prado. “The original elements in this modern design pay homage to the essence of Land Cruiser.” What do we have here? The new Land Cruiser Prado is powered by the same 2,8 ℓ diesel engine that was available in its…

And, in first place

En route to the Sun

It is no exaggeration when we say we live in a big country. After all, South Africa is larger than France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic… combined! Embarking on a road trip through South Africa is no small feat, yet such a journey is not unusual for us. Instead of the busy N1, we'll take the back roads on this trip – from the oldest government building in Johannesburg, the Old Fort, to the oldest government building in Cape Town, the Castle of Good Hope. The distance between the two is 1 262 km as the crow flies, and we take the most direct route between these two cities, but using back roads where possible. To make things even more interesting, we imagine the journey…

En route to the Sun

What happened to pluto?

At school, we learnt that there are nine planets in our Solar System and that Pluto is the farthest from the sun. Pluto orbits within a zone called the Kuiper Belt, which is similar to the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars in that both are rings of rocks that orbit the sun. Over time, astronomers have found other planet-like objects similar to Pluto, such as Ceres within the asteroid belt and Eris in the Kuiper Belt. These objects were reclassified as dwarf planets in 2006 – astronomers currently know of five dwarf planets in our solar system: Ceres, with a diameter of 939 km, Pluto (2 376 km, smaller than Earth's moon), Haumea (1 632 km), Makemake (1 430 km), and Eris (2 326 km, larger than Pluto). Incidentally,…

What happened to pluto?

WHERE WE STAYED

Motswedi camp, Mokala National Park There are six campsites, each with its own ablution facilities. The outdoor kitchen has a counter with a sink, but there is no electricity. Solar panels provide hot water. There is a waterhole adjacent to the campsite where animals regularly visit. An electric fence (also solar-powered) keeps the wild animals out. Pets are not allowed. Price R571 per night per campsite for two (maximum six). All bookings are handled through SANParks’ website. A conservation fee of R57 per person is also charged, as well as a community fee of 1% of the total cost. Contact 012 428 9111 sanparks.org reservations@sanparks.org Pear Tree camp, Loxton Two spacious campsites, each with private ablution facilities including a hot shower, toilet and basin. The outdoor kitchen has a counter…

WHERE WE STAYED

Kosi encounters of the tusk kind

Elephants aren't often mentioned in the same sentence as Kosi Bay. This popular destination is, after all, known for its many lakes and fish traps, something you must see at least once in your life. On the way there, just over 40 km before the coast, you pass the modest entrance of the Tembe Elephant Park, the Ezemvelo KZN park that borders Mozambique. Even though it's a Big Five park, the name suggests the elephant is the honorary citizen here. More specifically, the park is known for its tuskers. These are elephants whose tusks exceed 45,5 kg. Isilo, an example of one of Tembe's large tuskers, was one of the biggest in Southern Africa, but he died 10 years ago at about 50 years old. Isilo's tusks were estimated to…

Kosi encounters of the tusk kind

Just an hour and a half from Cape Town, you'll find a unique gem nestled on the banks of the Berg River. Surrounded by working wheat and export grape farms, Kleine Paradys shows what can be achieved when owners take a beautiful footprint of land and apply the industriousness and ingenuity of farming culture, creating the perfect family-centric camping resort. It's a blend of the beauty of this natural oasis, with sweeping river and farmland views punctuated by the low-slung Piketberg Mountain Range in the distance, combined with an almost overwhelming choice of activities and amenities to enjoy. While the more rustically inclined might initially resist the sheer amount of facilities on offer, it's quickly obvious that these are added with the relationship to the surrounding natural environment firmly in…

Kicking up Kalahari dust

TRAIL GUIDE Fill up your rig's tank at MataMata before you leave South Africa, because the next petrol station is at Gochas, about 180 km from here, and you're going to tackle dunes at the Kalahari Game Lodge. You'll need to open the entrance gate to the lodge's reserve yourself, as it's unmanned. Then, check in at reception. Day visitors who spent the previous night in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and are actually en route to another destination in Namibia are welcome to drive this 4x4 route, but they pay N$500 per vehicle. Guests who overnight may drive the route for free. The lodge staff provide a paper map and give directions to the start of the 4x4 trail. They also advise lowering tyre pressure to 1,3 bar and maintaining…

Kicking up Kalahari dust

A fishing venture with a difference

Last year Charles embarked on climbing one of the highest mountain peaks near the Oudtshoorn end of the Langkloof, colloquially termed ‘Spitskop’. There were some serious physical challenges, but he conquered the beast and rather boldly planted the SA flag on the summit in true Edmund Hillary fashion. Mission complete and book of life enhanced! So, what about this year? Charles tells us more. “My next adventure would be a fishing challenge with a difference, one that contained a survivor element. Rock and surf fishing has been part of my life both socially and competitively ever since 1968! The love of fishing started with my first exploits catching platanna frogs under the N6 national road bridge that traversed our farm. So, this year I decided to take a threeday fishing…

A fishing venture with a difference

Destination: South

READER'S STORY Rodrigo is married to Melissa and their Comfort often becomes the primary dwelling for them and their two children, Sofia (10) and Marcelo (5). They embarked on a 17-day trip all the way to the southernmost tip of Africa and back, taking breaks at a few campsites along the way. According to their plan, they did not drive much more than 600 km a day and stayed over for at least two nights. This allowed for extra time to explore each area. Their pre-trip nerves soon kicked in. Had they forgotten something, would they have mechanical problems, would somebody fall ill, and ultimately, would they have fun? Day One arrived, and Forever Gariep Dam was in their sights. Rodrigo takes us on their journey. “The 600 km on…

Destination: South

Spot is joining!

We've been compiling a comprehensive list of pet-friendly resorts in the country, which resulted in our special pet edition of the 2023 Resort Guide. This guide listed 155 resorts that make up about half of the total, and on these pages we're adding 11 more resorts. This is the first instalment of a new section in the magazine where we will list at least eight resorts per issue until we cross the 300 mark. Bear in mind that we have not visited all the resorts ourselves and rely, in good faith, on information we receive from resorts. If we did visit the place, we'll tell you in which of our previous issues you can find it. For each listing, we check the resorts’ pet terms and summarise it in brief.…

Spot is joining!

X marks the spot

TOW TEST In South Africa, your double-cab bakkie is often your city car, Sunday car, garden refuse car, and, of course, towing vehicle. Isuzu is a manufacturer that understands this very well. South Africans have 16 double-cab bakkies with the Isuzu badge to choose from, and anyone should be able to find one that suits their preferences, needs and budget. We take a look at the latest X-Rider with its 1,9 ℓ engine, automatic transmission and 4x4 drive, which will cost you R750 200. A solid towbar Our test vehicle is one of three X-Rider models, with the other two having 4x2 drive and either a manual or automatic transmission. All are equipped with a 1,9 ℓ engine, delivering 110 kW and 350 Nm – not too shabby compared to…

X marks the spot

Twostep into the bush

ONE4ODYSSEY BUSH CHAMELEON 2 One4Odyssey is a new manufacturer with a model that sleeps two or four. The Bush Chameleon 2 has one bed that slides out over the A-frame, while the Chameleon 4 boasts an extra bed. We took the Chameleon 2 for a camping trip. More and more manufacturers incorporate slide-out beds in their caravans instead of foldout ones. Most fold-out beds are surrounded by canvas panels, and depending on the environment where you're camping, many campers feel more secure with solid panels around them. For this reason, some manufacturers offer an off-road caravan variant with an inside bed instead of a fold-out one. One4Odyssey uses a combination of the two – you sleep partly inside the caravan, and the section that slides out is like a cocoon…

Twostep into the bush

The light bulb bows out

Without us realising it, the light bulb has all but disappeared from our everyday lives. New legislation that prohibits its sale for “general use” was the final nail in the coffin. Now, there are mandatory specifications regarding efficient energy use and functional performance. Of course, there are some exceptions, and according to the regulations published on 24 May 2023* in the Government Gazette (notice 1825 of 2023), camping lights are one of them. Before you turn off the lights The demise of the light bulb is simply the result of progress. Kids today don't even know what a light bulb is exactly, except when Thomas Edison's name pops up in science class. The writing had been on the wall for a while – this is a light that converts less…

The light bulb bows out

Give your rig the green light

Before undertaking a long road trip, a thorough and proper pre-trip inspection is crucial. You can't just kick your tyres and fill your fuel tank and think you're ready to go. Here are the main elements that must be checked. Test the battery The easiest way to test a battery is by using a multimeter. It doesn't need to be an expensive one; Builders Warehouse, for example, sells one for R140. Insert the red plug into the multimeter's red V socket – not the A socket – and the black plug into the socket marked “COM”. Turn the dial to 20 V DC, switch on your vehicle's headlights (but keep the engine off), and then after two minutes, hold the multimeter's black probe against your vehicle battery's negative terminal (black)…

Give your rig the green light

A plan of action

GEAR GET YOURS HERE ormsdirect.co.za incredible.co.za leroymerlin.co.za outdoorwarehouse.co.za AKASO V50 X Affordable, but… This action camera is excellent value for money, as it comes with a waterproof case and various mounting options, including one for a bicycle handlebar, a chest harness, your helmet, and yes, even one for your rig. The 4K video at 30 fps (frames per second) is quite acceptable, but unfortunately, you won't be able to edit slow-motion videos unless you film at the lower resolution of 1080p (pixels). You can take still photos with it, but it's not really intended for this and therefore, for example, doesn't autofocus. The price is great, but many smartphones deliver better results. DJI OSMO ACTION 4 After action, satisfaction! The Action 4 is a traditional action camera in a similar…

A plan of action

CAMP FOOD SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH FETA, GARLIC AND OLIVES Butterfly effect Fragrant garlic, creamy feta and salty olives are spread under the chicken's skin before it goes on the braai between two heavy cast-iron pans. This technique shortens the cooking time, but you can slowly braai it in a grid. Ingredients (serves 4-6, depending on the amount of side dishes) • 1 whole medium-sized chicken, spatchcocked • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 150 g creamy feta • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest • 3 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 teaspoon honey • A pinch of chilli flakes (optional) • 12 olives, pitted and finely chopped Here's how 1 Rub the chicken all over with olive oil and season it well with salt and pepper. 2 Mix the feta, lemon zest,…

Colour in 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 off as 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 FORMULA 1 TEAMS Ferrari Mercedes McLaren Red Bull Williams Renault Team Lotus Force India Brabham Benetton Tyrrell Lotus F1 Sauber Toro Rosso Cooper-Climax Ligier BMW Sauber Alfa Romeo Spot the differences Maze Animal facts ELECTRIC EEL ELECTROPHORUS ELECTRICUS •Despite its misleading name, the electric eel is actually a South American species of knifefish. •Unlike…

Mapping a diesel engine

The question of mapping is not one that I am qualified to answer with authority or confidence. I can only go on my own experience and share my opinion formed by speaking to diesel-powered 4x4 owners for close to three decades. Simply put, an ECU remap of your turbo diesel 4x4 will move you into a new realm of vehicle ownership, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. The facts are that any motor company design engineer has a vast list of requirements when designing a new vehicle. Top of the list is cost of development versus profitability for the company in selling the vehicle. Another consideration near the top of the list would be vehicle emissions as compliance to emission targets is mandated by law in most parts…

Mapping a diesel engine

Defending the off-road trailer

The number of advertisements and articles about off-road trailers and caravans in Drive & Camp is a definite indication of how popular these vehicles are among South African campers. I studied the wording of advertisements, travel articles and caravan tests in the previous issue to get an idea of how manufacturers position their products and how outdoor journalists describe the camping experience and product features. A number of themes jumped out at me: off-road capability, the possibility of wood rot, an outdoor kitchen, dust resistance, adventure and versatility. Other than the versatility of off-road trailers, the long list of unique product features manufacturers offer indicates that locals incorporate inventive and well-thought-out technology and utility benefits into their products. I compared my analysis with the results of unpublished research reports. Although…

Defending the off-road trailer

Trust your instruments

I've always been an advocate of oldschool navigation techniques – not today's modern technology where a strict, tinny voice instructs you where to go. No, I'm talking about that feeling of excitement when you reach your destination without any help, with a map and compass, as we were taught in the army. Even if it's just a rocky hill, large tree or remote campsite… I honed my navigation skills – and simultaneously my 4x4 abilities – when I did land surveying and mapping for the then Department of Agricultural Technical Services. With the help of the then “GenadeGawes” or GraceGifts (so named because of the GG number plates standing for Government Garage), we were able to explore remote, inhospitable areas. My first 4x4 GraceGift was an old Datsun Tracker 1800,…

Trust your instruments

Have you spotted any whacky wheels on your travels? Tell us about it and send a photo to go! Drive & Camp, PO Box 740, Cape Town 8000 or drivecamp@gomag.co.za You may remember that the Hummer H series from GMC, a division of General Motors, had notoriously heavy fuel consumption – the H1 could barely achieve 4 km/ℓ (that's 25 ℓ/100 km!) and that was on tarred roads. American environmentalists were so upset about the uneconomical vehicle that they literally set Hummers on fire − which ultimately got the FBI involved. In a surprising twist, General Motors would come up with an electric Hummer 20 years later, but in typical Hummer style, it is one of the most inefficient electric vehicles in the world. The GMC Hummer EV3x, as it…

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