Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

They say a bad day camping is better than a good day at work. I mull over that statement at least once a month, usually the closer I get to deadline – sitting at my desk for hours on end, my eyes burning from staring at the screen, the next weekend getaway a far-off dream. I was ruminating on the above saying again as I wrote this letter, my last of 2017.You see, I recently had the pleasure of going camping with my oldest friends. What made it such a notable occasion was that it was the first time he and his wife would be taking their three-year-old daughter camping. Coming along for the adventure were their two dogs, the younger being a four-month-old Labrador, as well as my own…

The New Year is here, and with the fresh start comes a fresh cycle of public holidays. Let’s face it – a two-day weekend just isn’t long enough for a proper outdoor adventure. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a guide on how to make the most of your leave days in 2018. And all it takes is a bit of careful planning. If you play your cards right, putting in just 19 days of leave this year could get you a total of 47 days off! HERE ARE THE COMBINATIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Wednesday 21 March Human Rights Day Celebrated on the 10th of December worldwide, South Africans are given the day off in March in remembrance of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre. Take two days off either side of…

Since its launch in 2009, the Suzuki Grand Vitara has appealed to so many because of its chunky, squared-off looks. The last eight years have seen some cosmetic updates, and the look has become even better with the more recent changes to the grille, bumper and air intake. Adding real function to the SUV form are elements like the roof rails, swing-door-mounted spare wheel, decent metal underbelly bash plate, and 200mm ground clearance, thanks in part to 225/60 R17 (Dune spec) or R18 (Summit spec) tyres on stylish spoke alloys. The Grand Vitara is available only in a 2.4-litre VVT (Variable Valve Timing) petrol four-cylinder engine, which puts out 122kW at 6000rpm and 225Nm at 400rpm. It gamely towed the weighty Oracle 17 about the resort, and launched the boat…

If you are looking for adventure on a river, dam or ocean, the Oracle 17 is a versatile craft, created to be fun. Whether you’re taking the kids for a day of watersport, or heading offshore with the boys in search of fresh fish, this craft bridges the gap between having to make the choice. The 17-foot Oracle is the ideal size between easy handling and sufficient deck space. It is small enough to tow easily and to get in and out of the water, but is large enough to accommodate a few passengers. During our weekend at Quaggaskloof, we headed out on the water comfortably with six persons on board, and with a selection of slalom and trick skis. The extra-wide helm seat allows for the skipper plus one,…

TOUR DETAILS A 4-day, 3-night long fully catered, self-drive tour Date: 2 – 5 March 2018 Includes: Hotel accommodation, dinner, bed and breakfast at the hotel, guide fees, border assistance, recovery equipment, 2-way radio’s for each vehicle Highlights: Picnic along Black Mountain Pass, visit to Basotho village, Sani Pass Hotel Cost: R6 820 (per person sharing) Drive up the challenging Sani Pass and spend a long weekend at the newly renovated Sani Pass Hotel in the Drakensberg Mountains The steep, zigzagging pass climbs to an altitude of just under 3 000m and offers official access to the “Roof of Africa”. It is here that you’ll find what people travel all over the world to see – the most incredible panoramic views of the Drakensberg Mountain range,…

Creamy Basil & Pea Gnoccchi If you are looking to impress around the campfire, why not make fresh gnocchi? These potato dumplings are actually easy to make, and will give your campfire cooking a “gourmet” edge. Ingredients •  4 large potatoes (one per person)•  2 cups flour•  2 eggs•  4 tblsp. basil pesto•  Frozen green peas•  Spinach•  400ml cream•  Butter•  Salt & pepper•  Parmesan cheese Method 1. Peel potatoes and boil in water until tender but still firm. Drain and allow to cool a bit. 2. Mash the potatoes until smooth (a ricer actually works best.) Add a bit of salt and pepper. 3. Sift about a cup of flour over the mash. 4. Scramble the eggs well. Make a little well in the middle of the mash, and add…

Insta-bed Tentco’s self-inflating mattresses take all the effort out of setting up your bed, plumping it up in a matter of seconds. Simply pull the tape, and voilà! They’re fitted with anti-slip bottoms and come with a handy compression stuff sack for easy storage. Price: R599 (5cm) R925 (10cm) For more information, email info@tentco.co.za, or go to www.tentco.co.za Hot and cold Atlasware’s stainless steel flasks could be mistaken for stylish water bottles, but they can keep their contents piping hot or freezing cold. With its 2L volume, the largest flask will provide plenty of midday coolers and evening coffees on your adventures, no matter the weather. It comes with a handy handle for comfortable carrying and easy pouring. Price: R899 For more information, call 012 345 3108, email enquiries@atlasware.co.za or…

We crossed the electrified animal grid surrounding the chalets and camping site, and turned right to cross a small stream. Our open-sided vehicle was hemmed in by thick riverine bush. “Cat!” shouted one of my companions, Bernd Timm, from Berlin. “Impossible,” I thought. But to our right, we caught a glimpse of sleek, spotted animals as they melted into the surrounding bush. Only five minutes earlier, our ranger Sinethemba Tiem, or Tim for short, had warned us: “There’s no guarantee of finding cheetah.” He said this as he lifted a directional antenna in the air – the adult female in the Mountain Zebra National Park was collared, and Tim was looking for a signal. Perhaps there was bush magic in the two Tims: the African ‘Tiem’ and the German ‘Timm’.…

When it comes to the Chobe caravan, versatility is key. It is small enough to store in a standard garage, can be built to sleep 2 or 4 adults, and comes with high ground-clearance for those off-road adventures. The Chobe is one of the latest addition to the Echo4x4’s off-road caravan range, and also the smallest, measuring 4,15m x 1,88m x 2.08m (L/W/H). Pop the roof, and you gain about 75cm inside to give you 1,91m of head space. The front of the pop-up roof has an extended piece of canvas that goes over the front bed area. The entrance to the Chobe is at the back ( a removable step ladder is mounted to the rear door), a design that allows for sleeping space for up to four people…

The Jouberts began visualising their dream motorhome ages ago, putting their years of research, observation and travel experience into the build. “We had an Abba camper before this, and an AHA before that, and we also had an Echo Chobe before that,” says Jannie Joubert, a third-generation wine farmer and owner of Skilpadvlei in Stellenbosch. “We visited several manufacturers during that time, and we decided on AC Motorhomes after seeing what they had done with a Land Cruiser 100. We chose the bigger 200 Series because it has coil spring suspension and a much softer ride. “We have just returned from an 18-day trip to the Kunene in Namibia, and the ride is just so comfortable.” Jannie’s wife Bettie adds: “Next year, we want to go to Botswana and Malawi.…

BEARING FAILURE Standing in my driveway, I waved to my neighbour towing his boat up the road, when I heard a mighty crash and screeching of metal. Looking around to see what the problem was, I had to do some fancy footwork to get out of the way of a runaway wheel that crashed into my gate. Yes, the wheel bearing had broken, and on closer inspection we noticed that even though the castle nut (castellated nut) was still in place, the wheel had come off the stub axle. This caused extensive damage to the mudguard as well as the trailer number plate board. I never knew the wheel would actually come off the stub axle with the nut in place! The back of the brake drum and the bearing…

CHECK YOUR TYRES! We had to ride on some pretty bad roads on our latest caravanning trip, so I felt it safest to check the condition of the tyres. The tread wear was minimal, but there were some“wavy ripples”, particularly on the outer edges, which were more pronounced when I ran my fingers over them. I contacted a friend with good knowledge of tyres; he diagnosed that the fault was caused by deterioration as they were over eight years old. This was confirmed by the large dealership where I replaced them. I was advised that nobody would issue a tyre warranty for more than three years, and that the industry standard for the usable life span is five years. I became concerned about the possible effect that this could have…

GOING BIG: DESTINATION CARAVANS There’s a new manufacturer ready to make a big splash in the caravan market... and when we say big, we are talking about 9 METRES BIG. Andre van Helsdingen, the man behind this massive luxury caravan, is no stranger to the industry. Andre is one of the twin brothers from the successful Twin Boats & Trailers. His brother, Riaan, started the famous Sensation Caravans brand which he recently sold. Andre says that he decided to go into caravan manufacturing after the sale of Sensation, when people kept on asking him and his brother for caravans because of the sterling reputation their companies have. He realised that there was a market for caravans that are not manufactured and controlled by big corporates. So, around May 2017, he…

At the foothills of the Klein Karoo’s Swartberg mountains, lies a cave system known worldwide for its eerie beauty. The Cango Caves are a national treasure, and they are officially South Africa’s longest-serving tourist attraction. Over the course of millions of years, this solutional cave was formed by acids eating through a large limestone deposit to create a cave system that stretches for more than four kilometres. Throngs of tourists descend into the caves year-round to explore its halls and tunnels. Heritage tours aim to educate, while adventure tours cater to the adrenaline seekers of the world. HISTORY Rock art and archaeological remains show that the caves were inhabited by our indigenous ancestors at least 80 000 years before a local farmer, Jacobus van Zyl, is reported to have stumbled…

The Quaggaskloof and Brandvlei Dams are known to fishermen as two of the best places in the country for smallmouth bass. Water lovers from the area also flock to the dam to enjoy some time in their boats, on water-skis, and with inflatables. And for those who just like to set up camp near the water, Quaggaskloof Water Ski Club also has a camping site! Our team was geared to get the full Quaggaskloof experience: we had a new Suzuki Grand Vitara, a Chobe 4-sleeper caravan from Echo 4x4, an Oracle 17 boat (fitted with a 4-Stroke Suzuki 150 HP), and some stand-up paddle boards from RED Paddle Co. In fact, everything one needs for a weekend getaway filled with camping, watersport and some rugged driving. QUAGGASKLOOF Quaggaskloof, just 15km…

The popularity of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) has shot through the roof in recent years. So, when we got the opportunity to test a few inflatable boards from the market-leading Red Paddle Co, we jumped on it. Paddling these boards is fun, and really not as difficult as it looks. It’s rather a matter of choosing the right board for you. In the beginning, stability is definitely your friend – the longer and wider the board, the easier it will be to stay standing up. Long and narrow boards mean greater speed; conversely, a short board is generally slower and more manoeuvrable. It’s always best to try before you buy, and chat to an experienced SUP’er, or to the folk at Red Paddle Co. Our test fleet consisted of the 9’4”…

Anew era has Dawned at Sensation Caravans. Excuse the pun... Dawn is the name of the latest model from the prestigious caravan manufacturer. Caravan & Outdoor Life already gave you a sneak peek of the fifth model from Sensation in our December 2017 issue, and as the caravan is now launched at the start of the new year, we bring you some more details and information. The new unit is smaller than the popular Anee and Mia, and even smaller than the Vee. Dawn is the same size and weight as the pop-up Ava that was released early in 2017. Dawn is the brainchild of Andreas Kyriacou, Martin Danhauser and Quinton Nel. Andreas spoke to Caravan & Outdoor Life about the reasoning behind the design: “We needed a smaller, more…

If you’re a landscape photographer, astral photographer, 4x4 enthusiast, or just someone who wants to chill out, relax and listen to your microbes singing in the clear Roggeveld air, then the campsite under the canopy of poplar trees at Skurweberg Guest Farm is the right place. Owned by Witjan and Elsa van der Merwe, Skurweberg Guest Farm is situated in a long valley some 45 kilometres from the town of Sutherland, with the campsite right on the banks of the upper Fish River. Skurweberg is simple but well maintained, with a central electrical point and a neat ablution block with tons of hot water. There are also lapa and braai facilities. I loved being on a working Roggeveld Karoo farm, sleeping with the caravan door wide open, and with the…