Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

“Let me tell you, the first months of 2018 have been more interesting than we've seen in probably 20 year in the industry... and there's more to come!” There’s an old saying, apparently Chinese, that goes,“May you live in interesting times.”While at first it may sound like a blessing, the expression is commonly used ironically, implying that “uninteresting times”are more peaceful and less filled with disorder. I’m going to shift gears on that and say that I prefer interesting times, they’re just more exciting, especially in the caravan and camping industry! And let me tell you, the first months of 2018 have been more interesting than we’ve seen in probably 20 years in the industry. The recent trade shows have featured a surprising amount of new products being launched onto…

29 March – 01 April Splashy Fen Music Festival The 28th edition of South Africa’s favourite and longest-running music festival promises to be the best one yet, and will see thousands of fun-seekers flock to the KZN Underberg for four days of awesome outdoor vibes. This year’s line-up includes Desmond and the Tutus, Prime Circle, Matthew Mole, Mango Groove, as well as legendary US rockers Bowling for Soup. Both glamping tents and conventional campsites are available, with secure parking for your bakkie and reduced rates for the kids. www.splashyfen.co.za 29 March – 04 April Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees Oudtshoorn, WC Eager for some of South Africa’s finest Afrikaans arts? KKNK turns Outdshoorn into a hive of excellent music, theatre, literary and visual arts, bringing our country’s most talented Afrikaans creatives…

At the end of 2017 I popped into the Trailer and Mega Custom Steelworks (TMCS) factory in Pretoria to get an exclusive first look at a new kid on the block. The name of the multi-purpose trailer with a host of customization options is Rhino Bushy Ranger. The name is apt – it’s a solid, strong trailer with body panels made from 1.6 mm steel plate. At that stage the demo unit had just been built, but now as the trailer is ready to hit the market, we are able to reveal more detail. When buying the basic Rhino Ranger unit, you get the body, a large roomy nose cone compartment, a jockey wheel, extra-strong roof rails and a spare tyre. The tyres are the latest Goodyear Wranglers that come…

Tikka lamb chops When you think about it, a tandoori oven is just a really fancy braai. Using this simple recipe, you can replicate the same spicy, smoky taste one finds at authentic Indian and Pakistani restaurants. Ingredients • Lamb chops • 2 tbsp masala, preferably tikka • 2 cups full cream plain yoghurt • 2 cloves garlic, crushed & chopped • 2 tsp ginger paste • A splash of lemon juice • 2 chillies, finely-chopped (if you’re up for it) Method 1 1. Mix the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. 2. Toss the room-temperature chops in the mixture, coating well. 3. Leave to marinate for a couple of hours, preferably overnight. 4. When the fire is ready, braai until medium, brushing left over marinade on as you go…

CAMPING FIX I love camping in a tent, but my wife doesn’t. We’ve never owned a caravan, so I suggested we buy one so she could come with me more often. But to my horror, she refused, saying it's simply glorified housekeeping in a small space. I’m not a nag, but with continued tenacity, persistence and much wisdom not to overdo my gentle persuasion, my lovely wife one day submitted and agreed to go tent camping with me. I booked a midweek spot at Pilanesberg (with electricity) and off we went for a couple of days. We had a great time and she saw how happily I sweated and strained in the heat to set up and then break camp. She realised that time had marched on and that the…

The Beeld Holiday Show is known as the “launchpad for leading manufacturers in the caravan and camping industry” – and this has never been more true than 2018. Caravan & Outdoor Life popped in at the show in Midrand in February to get a first-hand look at some of the new caravans, trailers and motorhomes on the market. This year, a total of over 30 new caravan and camping products were introduced to South Africa. Here’s a quick look at some of the interesting products we saw. ABBA CAMPERS WEEKENDER Jos Joubert from Abba Campers has unveiled the first of his new Weekender campervan conversions. As a trained and approved installer of the German ReimoVan Concept products, Jos says they decided to start the conversion range with the Weekender concept:…

Some 16 years ago, I mooched around the length and breadth of South Africa for three months in a Land Rover Discovery II. A freelancer at the time, I had been given an assignment: I was to produce a small book called South Africa’s Top 50 4x4 Trails. But time and technology move ahead, and here I was in a gleaming new Firenze Red Land Rover Discovery, on my way to the Cederberg Wilderness. Instead of sleeping in an old battered tent, as I had all those years ago, I now had a Bush Lapa Baobab... and not just any Bush Lapa, but a limited-edition Military Edition. The Bush Lapa I was towing belongs to Jannie Oeschger, the owner and founder of Bush Lapa’s own Baobab off-road caravan, and was…

I have now, unofficially, become a new superhero called Captain Stormer. It has nothing to do with the fact that I support the Cape rugby side of the same name, but because I apparently seem to attract remarkably adverse weather conditions on my travel assignments. My recent trip to the Eastern Cape was no different from my previous venture to Victoria Bay (see the March edition of Caravan & Outdoor Life)... Just day after day filled with rain and more rain. To make matters worse on this trip to East London, my tent leaked like a sieve, and the small stream that ran through my "bedroom" during the night was eagerly lapped up by my highly-absorbent sleeping bag and mattress. No need to say that camping in a leaky tent…

Loftus Caravan City are now importing sleek, sophisticated Swift caravans from the UK, bringing a premium European brand to the South African market. Swift is the largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles in Europe… but why did Woody Loftus and his team decide to take the leap? Caravan & Outdoor Life spoke to them to find out. I thought that there’s a gap in the market for a nice, conventional caravan,” says Woody, explaining his decision to import. “We want to give South Africa some new and fresh designs, and move away from wood in body construction.” With the Swift brand, the Loftus team saw a vehicle that would blow the local market away. They are currently importing two models (a single and double axle caravan), to be sold locally under…

Dolphin Holiday Resort KwaZulu-Natal School holiday special: Book a campsite for 10 nights and only pay for 8! Dates must include Easter Weekend. Terms and conditions apply. T: 032 946 2187 E: info@dolphinholidayresort.co.za  W: www.dolphinholidayresort.co.za Fairhills Caravan Park KwaZulu-Natal Easter special: R2 000 for 4 people for 10 days during April school holidays! Pensioner special until 31 October: Only R1 600pm per month (3 month max) including Easter. T: 039 314 4023 C: 071 228 1814 E: info@fairhillspark.co.za  W: www.fairhillspark.co.za Rondeberg Resort Western Cape Rondeberg Resort was voted as the number 1 resort in the Western Cape in The Great Outdoors Guide. Book a chalet from a Monday till a Wednesday, and get 3 nights for the price of 2! Terms and conditions apply. Contact resort…

Tow by hand Make less trips between the car and your camp with the Tentco trolley, made with tough Oxford nylon. The rubber wheels can handle most surfaces, chugging up to 68kg of gear from place to place. The trolley weighs just 10.5kg and folds up, so it won’t take up too much space. Price: R1 190 For more information, visit www.tentco.co.za, email info@tentco.co.za, or contact 011 397 6451/2. Old school is cool Some things just looked better back in the day, and Snomaster knows there’s no school like the old school. This compressor-cooled 50L Retro Beverage Cooler is a stylish way to keep your drinks cool at home and on the go in your motorhome or caravan. Available at selected outlets! Price: R2 950 For more information, visit www.snomaster.co.za,…

Jannie Oeschger started building his Bush Lapa off-road caravans way back in 2010, and since then more than 1 200 units have rolled off the factory floor. As I tell in my story, I towed a Bush Lapa Miskruier for some 4 000-odd kilometers on a journey mainly on gravel roads almost all the way to the northern border of Namibia. On this trip I got to experience the Baobab, the second-largest caravan in the range. This wasn’t just any Baobab, this unit was one from the upcoming Military Edition series, of which only 30 will be manufactured. This special edition range does not differ in physical design from the normal units, they just get a mean green exterior design and branding. The Baobab model was designed to fill the…

My week’s trip from Cape Town to East London in the Caravelle Comfortline was a great experience. I simply loved the driving position, sitting high up, with good all-round vision. The 7-speed DSG auto gearbox (with Tiptronic function when required) moves effortlessly through the gears, offering an enhanced driving experience. Cup holders, armrests, cubby holes and storage spaces in a variety of forms are plentiful in this vehicle, and this just adds to the joy and ease of the ride. The rear bench seat can be shifted forward on its rails to create extra packing space in the boot, as can the two individual middle seats. There was ample packing-space in the boot for my tents, thermo cooler, pots, pans, clothing, and all the other camping goodies. The rear door…

I remember sitting with my fiancée a few years ago on the south-eastern arm of the Gariep Dam. From a gazebo high above the shore, we watched the sun set, and talked of buying a cheap house there with a bilge-keeler bobbing on its mooring in a bay nearby. These were among the thoughts I had as I walked around the immaculate park-like grounds of the Gariep Forever resort, with a fleet of yachts across the mudflats in the bay tugging restlessly at their moorings in the morning breeze. I had decided to try out one of the luxury stands (which have their own ablution and food-prep areas), and had spent a very good first night there in my easily-popped roof tent on a level, paved stand under the trees.…

TOWBALL WEIGHT Hi Caravan & Outdoor Life, I just want some advice on what weight the caravan should have on the towball? Naas Schutte Godfrey: The compulsory specification for caravans and light trailers states that this may not exceed 100 kg or be less than 25 kg when the caravan/trailer is loaded. The manufacturer must also determine the maximum and minimum static vertical load at the centre of the ball socket on the coupling head. This means that it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to design the caravan or trailer with packing space in the front and the rear – bearing in mind the position of the fridge and stove – that allows the caravan or trailer to be balanced when packed. When the caravan or trailer is packed,…