Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

Winning letter Don't knock the Kruger I read the Alex Stuart article with a total sense of wonder and awe (Caravan & Outdoor Life, Issue 661, April 2017). I could not believe that a camper and wildlife-lover would put pen to paper and come up with this. I have been going to Kruger for 62 years, at least once almost every year, and lately, as time and finances improved, up to 4 times a year on occasion. I was there when the camps had no electricity, and there was communal paraffin fridge and storm lanterns for light at night. I was there when there were no en-suite facilities at all, and all the roads were dirt roads. Campers usually had ex-military-issue tents and there were no caravans. Everyone used the…

Sky's the liit for Mobi Lodge If you want to hitch up and head out with one of the hottest products on the caravan market, the Mobi Lodge , you had better place your order RIGHT NOW! After successful showings at the recent outdoor shows – including Malmesbury, Beeld Holiday Show, and Cape Getaway Show (where they yet again won the Award of Excellence for Best Overlander 2017) – the orders are rolling in. Marius Ras , the owner of Mobi Lodge says that sales has jumped through the roof and has more than doubled from last year . With the increased popularity of this excellent caravan, if you order a Mobi Lodge today , you would have to wait almost a year for delivery. Don’t worry, Marius says they…

Court House & Jail This is where the notorious Commandant Gideon Scheepers, who was charged with war crimes in 1901, was held after his capture in 1901. Scheepers received the death sentence and was later shot, at Graaff Reinet, by firing squad. The Railway Station The original station opened on 1 February 1878. The present elegant Victorian building opened in December 1890. The Old Bank Building The African Banking Corporation (predecessor to Standard Bank) opened chambers here in June 1897. The original teller's counter and banking equipment are still on display. Flourmill & Mineral Waterworks Matjiesfontein’s ‘Water World in the Desert’ opened with pomp, ceremony and a game of cricket, in 1889. A windmill was used to harness the winds across the Karoo plains, generating electricity – a first for…

I would love to share our camping experience with readers of Caravan & Outdoor Life. We started camping on a semi-permanent basis in July 2016. Since this is winter in South Africa, and we come from Hendrina, Mpumahlanga, we decided to head north for a bit of warmth. We started camping at Seekoeigat (on the N11) close to Groblersdal. This is a new hobby we recently started. We had beautiful sunny days at the campsite next to the Olifants River. There are four camping areas to choose from and we wanted to stay in the bush camp for the month of July. The peacefulness next to the river, and being silent when sitting reading or walking, was wonderful. We saw 45 species of birds. The ablution block is something special:…

Glad to escape the heat in Bot River, I aimed my old Honda Africa Twin motorcycle north by west and made for the West Coast. During the journey, the heat sat as tightly clamped on the undulating landscape as the lid of a pressure cooker, and I was very relieved to feel the air freshen as I neared the coast outside Elands Bay. My plan was to catch my breath and hole up for a couple of days in the revitalised old-style country hostelry, the Elands Bay Hotel, before seeking out a campsite a little further up the coast. After trawling the net in-between long strolls on the beach and bouts of reading-induced head-lolling in my armchair, I settled on Malkoppan. Sure, there were a number of other good options…

I first conceived the idea of building a Tear Drop caravan, after my son, who was busy converting a Kombi into a camper and knew of my wish to get back into the outdoors, suggested that I visit the website of an American teardrop-caravan manufacturer. This I did, and was greatly impressed by these light little teardrops which are easy to tow and manoeuvre into tight caravan sites. I had built many marine plywood boats, so it followed that I chose the medium of construction for my teardrop to be marine plywood. My experience had taught me that if one cleaned, washed and dried a marine plywood boat after use, it would last a lifetime. The American teardrops, so named because the shape resembles a teardrop, were a little over…

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, and then not been able to go back to sleep?You lie in your bed, wide awake, lights still off, thoughts racing, restlessly letting the slow seconds tick by. Maybe you finally decide to switch on the bedside lamp and read a book. Perhaps you turn on the TV (if you have one in the bedroom), or you power up the laptop or tablet to browse the internet, or play some Solitaire. I tend to have one of these “lying awake”nights about once a week. So there I am, wishing I were in dreamland, but knowing that sleep won’t come easy. I don’t always mind this… watching a movie in the middle of the night is great. If I have…

In the heart of the Karoo, in die western Roggeveld Mountains, lies the small town of Sutherland. With a population of less than 3000, this rural little town in the Northern Cape will steal the heart of anyone who visits. Sutherland was founded in 1723 as a church and market town to serve the area’s sheep farmers. Over the next 150 years, little further development took place, and by 1872, only 138 registered citizens were living there. The Karoo town does feature in South African history as a place where British and Boer forces clashed. The church, which was built in 1899, was used as a fort by British soldiers years later in the Anglo Boer War. The ruins of a fort can still be found on Rebelskop on the…

STERLAND CARAVAN PARK Sterland lies just one kilometre outside Sutherland. Camping under the night skies and the stars is a once-in-a-life-time experience. The stargazing spot is right by the caravan park! The Caravan Park has seven stands with electricity and an ablution block with two electric geysers. Contact: Jurg & Rita Wagener Tel: 023 5711 481 Cell: 082 556 9589 Website: www.sutherlandinfo.co.za GPS: S 32° 24’ 29” E 20° 39’ 33” VERLATENKLOOF GUEST FARM Verlatenkloof is a working farm where visitors can experience the wonder of a ewe lambing, and watch the geese, springbok and tortoise in the animal pen. You can walk on the farm, following the sheep trail right to the top of the mountain for incredible views of rolling hills. The campsite can accommodate up to…

The moment you turn off from the N7 and drive through the big white walls of Rondeberg Holiday Resort, you know that you are in for a good time. The road down to the campsite is lined with palm trees, behind which vineyards are spread to left and right. In the distance below, you get your first look at the Bulshoek Dam. Even at the entrance to the resort (situated on a private nature reserve), it’s clear that Rondeberg is expertly managed. Outside, the extensive grass is neatly mown; and inside the reception, the shop is neatly stocked. Exiting the car at the reception gate, I could already hear the sound of children having the time of their lives, echoing up from the dam about 50m away. Between squeals of…

Whether you are caravanning, camping, or tackling a 4x4 trial, there is one thing you have to have with you… and no, we’re not talking about the braai grid. What we are referring to is something that many people often forget, and only realise that they need when it’s too late. The item that we are talking about is a first aid kit. Whether you are at home or on the move, a small injury can sometimes have very serious consequences. And, whether it’s the scraped knee of one of the kids who has fallen while riding a bicycle in the resort, or something more serious while you are out hiking, it is best always to be prepared. Some emergencies require medical attention, but for the less severe injuries, immediate…

Marinated Steak Flatbread Ingredients – flatbread • 2 cups flour• Olive oil• 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped• 2 tbsp mixed herbs• A pinch of salt• 1 ½ - 2 cups of lukewarm water Ingredients – steak • 300g – 400g sirloin or fillet• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce• ½ handful fresh thyme• 2 tbsp fennel seeds• 2 tbsp honey• 2 tbsp mustard• Salt and pepper, to taste• Rocket or basil for garnish• Balsamic reduction for garnish Method 1. Mix flour, salt, mixed herbs and water together until a dough forms. 2. Separate the dough into balls and roll out until thin. Brush with olive oil and garlic. 3. Over medium-heat coals, place flatbread on grid (or stone, if available). Cook until golden brown. 4. Let steak marinate for as long as possible. 5. Grill steak over high heat till medium rare, and set aside to…

Pack it Tight The Ironman 4x4 Maxi Case is a handy carrying case for your recovery equipment, camping gear and tools. The case has a 48L carrying capacity and is made from tough LLDPE that is UV resistant. It comes standard with large, heavy-duty latches with strong moulded hinges. The walls are 3.6mm thick, providing adequate protection for all your camping gear. R1 800 Available from Ironman 4x4. For more information, visit www.ironman4x4.co.za Natural Anchor So the only recovery anchor you have is a tree, but you don’t want to do any damage to the plant… no problem. The Off-grid Tree Trunk Protector made from polyethylene weave comes with a leather cover to protect the tree trunk. The anchor strap (3.5m long and 75mm wide) can hold up to 10…

It’s not often that you have a stowaway when travelling with a caravan, especially not a dog called Stoffel. Then there was also a cast iron pot: a Best Duty No 10 from the local Koöperasie. Added to the recipe was a deboned leg of lamb and skaapskenkels (lamb shanks) from Paulsen’s Butchery. And as always, there was a beautiful gal! We christened her“Lady in Red”. I suppose you are wondering what I am talking about. Allow me to clarify: I was with my lifelong pal and fellow-photographer, Brian Ashley, on a stargazing voyage to Sutherland in the Karoo, and“Lady in Red” was the gleaming, fire-engine-red Chevy Trailblazer which was towing our Sprite Tourer SW caravan for the adventure. Along the way, we picked up a lesson in astrophotography, survived…

Some 10km from Matjiesfontein, traveling from Cape Town to Beaufort West, is the historic Monument Cemetry. There are two obelisks on the hillside: One in memory of Major-General Andrew Wauchope, a Scottish hero, who was killed in the Anglo Boer War at the Battle of Magersfontein. The second obelisk is in memory of George Maxwell Grant, who was killed in a railroad accident. There is a neat little cemetery below the koppie with its white obelisks. The founder of Matjiesfontein, James Logan, his wife Emma, and other family members are also buried in the sacred little spot in the Karoo. Another fascinating character buried here is the English cricketer, Edward Alfred Lohman. He was rated to be one of the world’s greatest all round cricketers in the game’s history From…

The new range of caravans from Jurgens Ci has everybody talking, and really turned heads at the Beeld Holiday Show earlier this year. So, it will come as no surprise that we were the “talk of the resort” when we took the Classique away to the Dube Private Game Reserve in Brits for a long weekend. Fellow campers and caravanners were intrigued, and popped in to chat about the Classique, and several wanted a guided tour of the caravan. A few even contacted their local Campworld dealerships the very next day to enquire about availability! JURGENS CLASSIQUE Hitching up and towing was a breeze. You would expect a caravan of this size to feel heavy when towing, but our Nissan Navara 4x4 bakkie (you need a towing vehicle with a…

Over the past couple of years I have visited My Bush Camp quite often, and every time I visit I am amazed at how the camp just keeps improving. The beautiful camp, situated on a pristine 21.5ha bushveld farm, is an idyllic place to enjoy a rich bird life and untouched nature. Situated in the bushveld of South Africa’s beautiful Limpopo province, the camp lies approximately 15km west of popular Bela-Bela. Access to the resort is via a tar road, directly south next to the R516 main Thabazimbi Road. ACCOMODATION The camping site and “Honeymoon Chalet” have been in existence since 2000, and have seen a total of four owners. In November 2017, the current owner acquired the property to consolidate the resort with the adjacent farm involved with exotic-game…

Fendt Service In the March issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life, you have an article on page 38 by Adrian Morison. I am writing because I, too, have a Fendt caravan – mine is the 465 model. I would like to find out where he gets his caravan serviced, and where I can find spares, if required. My shower tray was cracked and I managed with great difficulty to purchase one in Austria. I had to bring it back on an Emirates flight to Cape Town. Now my toilet (Thetford) has stopped flushing. Franz Reichhart Godfrey: I would think that most competent caravan dealerships could service your caravan and repair the Thetford toilet. Jurgens CI are the South African agents for Thetford, so they should be able to get…