Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

One of my hobbies is fuel consumption; specifically, how to reduce it. In the US, they call it hypermiling, and there are whole bunches of folks over there, and indeed all over the globe, who devote a great deal of time and ingenuity to improving their vehicles’gas mileage. We all know the ordinary ways to save fuel: make sure your car is in a good state of tune; have your tyres aligned, balanced and inflated to the correct pressures; don’t haul unnecessary weight; and, don’t drive around with your roof rack on if it’s not in use. But it’s driving techniques which are likely to earn you the biggest savings. And the top technique of them all is to conserve momentum.You see, your car uses the least amount of fuel…

Swallowtail Country Estate, Hogsback As you reach the top of the pass and enter Hogsback, the estate is on your right hand side. The caravan sites are on terraced slopes with some of the best camping- and caravan-park ablutions that I have seen. Most of the sites are on soft lawn with partial shade. There are power points at selected sites and a scullery at the back of the neat, unobtrusive ablution blocks.You’ll also find swings and a jungle gym for the kids. Like so many of the venues in Hogsback, the gardens are a showpiece. Swallowtail is within walking distance of a whole range of shops, restaurants and places of interest. Fritz and Ansie fell in love with Hogsback, and, as avid caravanners with 25 years with their local…

THE ADDAX An addax is part of the antelope family, and it’s one which is fast becoming an endangered species in North Africa. The addax, which stands about 1.5 metres tall, is found mainly in the Sahara desert. This pale antelope has long, twisted horns which are typically 55 – 80 cm long in females and 70 – 85 cm in males. The addax doesn’t need to take in large quantities of water as it gets most of its water from the dew on local flora. How do you tell the difference between a male and female addax? THE DAMA GAZELLE The dama gazelle has long, thin legs, a graceful neck and small stature; the average gazelle stands under 1.7 metres tall and weighs about 63 kg. One of the…

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR We are retired and have been full-timing since the beginning of February last year. One of the difficulties we’ve encountered is finding a caravan park which offers affordable peak-season prices to pensioners. In March last year, when we looked for accommodation for the Easter period and the December holidays, most of the well-known places were either booked up or almost full, and had very high rates. Eventually we came across a little caravan park called Ietsie Plaas, in George (at the off-ramp to Glentana), which offered extremely reasonable rates during peak season. We subsequently booked and paid our deposit, thus ensuring ourselves a place to stay over the festive season. We’ve just spent almost two months at this resort, and what a breath of fresh…

In this month’s Blast from the Past we take a look at the September 1964 issue which features an article on the Cederberg. These mountains are named after the Cedar trees found in the area, and which are now very rare, although there are programs in place to replant them. ‘The Cedarberg is a place for climbers, adventurers and nature lovers, and is as yet unspoiled by trippers, beer cans and campers’ rubbish. May it remain so; there are not many places like this left nowadays’. A strong statement made in 1964, and there are surely many more who share these views today. As travelling long distance in cars (with caravans) became more popular, German authorities began to focus on safety, as seen in an article on the subject. And…

GRAVEL RASH PRECAUTIONS Together with friends, we’re off to Namibia in May. We’ll each be towing an Xcape off-road caravan and will tour Damaraland, the Skeleton Coast, Kaokoland, Ovamboland and Kavango. Should we be taking steps to protect the front of the caravan from gravel rash? Others have advised that this would be a good idea. Has anyone used such protection on an Xcape before and would they be prepared to share their design? Being a retired civil engineer, I have started to look at a possible design for such protection. Ray Mandy Godfrey Castle: I wish we could join you; it sounds like it will be an awesome trip! But you will need to protect the front of your caravan against stone damage: on our last trip…

HOT OR COLD Buying both a winter sleeping bag and a summer sleeping bag can be pricey. Why not try the new Cape Union Mart Sapphire Cowl sleeping bag? It’s good for the summer months, but when things get a little more chilly, you can keep the heat in by using the cowl. This sleeping bag is said to be both lightweight and durable. What’s more, it comes with zips on either side; so that, if you buy two, you can connect them as a double. R550 Available from Cape Union Mart stores (www.capeunionmart.co.za) FOR THE BEACH BUMS Yoga on the beach is fast becoming a popular activity, and if you’re keen to give it a try, get yourself an Ocean Wave Beach Mat. This cool, multi-purpose mat is suitable…

A FREE SERVICE FOR YOU! HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FREE TEXT AD Besides the description of the item you want to sell, your email must contain your name, contact number and the province in which you reside. Then, simply email all this information to classifieds@caravansa.co.za. If you wish to display an image with your ad, your text is limited to 40 words, and such an ad will cost you R456 - email the address above for more details on how to go about placing such an ad. We reserve the right to withhold any ad, or to edit the text supplied to fit the space available. Free text ads are published on a first-come-first-served basis, and must be re-submitted every month that your item remains unsold. CARAVANS & TRAILERS 1998…

BIRDLASSER APP MAKES EVERY BIRDER A CONSERVATIONIST As keen birders know, birds are exceptionally good indicators of a healthy ecosystem. So, when species become endangered, there is good reason to take note and make a special effort to aid conservation. This is where an easy-to-use free app enters the frame. Created by keen birders, conservationists and app developers, the BirdLasser app brings the recording of bird sightings (especially those of endangered species) to the palm of your hand. The user-friendly app makes the geolocational recording of birds as simple as selecting the bird on the screen. More importantly, the app allows birders to make a valuable contribution to conservation efforts by providing an easy method by which to submit their sightings to a central database (SABAP2). An added benefit is…