Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

THE BUG HAS BITTEN We, the Tawana family from Kimberley, decided to invest in a Jurgens XT160 off-road trailer to start camping and to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. The first time we went on camp was over the Heritage Day long weekend, in September. As a family we were very excited packing our trailer. We had clothing, food, lamb chops, lamb ribs, wors, and fish to braai. Then wood, potable water, ice, and everything else under the sun that we could possibly squeeze into any available space the trailer could offer. We hitched our off-road trailer up to our Toyota Land Cruiser bakkie and hit the N12 North, towards the North West ‘dorpie’ of Bloemhof where we had booked at Sandveld Nature Reserve, on the Free State side of the…

MOBI LODGE INTRODUCES 6 NEW FEATURES Mobi Lodge, that innovative brand that introduced the slide-out bedroom to the on-road/off-road caravan, is very excited about their new 2020 spec Mobi Lodge and Mobi X models. Not one to rest their creativity, the factory has introduced extensive upgrades along with a wide range of new creature comforts. The new 2020 specifications now include a new tent range for Mobi Lodge and Mobi X a new rooftop tent for the Mobi X, new kitchen module on all models, new sky roof, new window configurations, and a new white colour option. Things have been going well for this innovative brand, so much so they have had to introduce another new production line. This is now in full swing and Mobi can deliver a caravan…

There are now so many off-road trailers on the market, it reminds me of the world’s biggest ‘caravan’ show, the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany. There, they have over 500 different manufacturers with caravans on display. How anybody makes up their minds on what to buy is a mystery. Remember, every caravan, motorhome, and trailer is based on a box shape, yet there are so many to choose from. Just google adventure trailers and you will see what I mean. So, like there are horses for courses, there are trailers for … well, trailer owners, all offering differing layout options that suit a particular camper’s needs. Individual needs are unique, so what is different about Adventure Extreme’s new offering? For me it was probably the slide-out bed that makes this…

Fynbos Guest Farm & Animal Sanctuary is set at the foot of the Witzenberg Mountains almost equidistant between Ceres and Tulbagh. It’s a short 130km drive from Cape Town, making this an ideal destination for those wanting to get away for a quick weekend break. But, believe me, once you’ve tasted the fruits that Fynbos has to offer, you’ll be prompted to extend your holiday for a few extra days or phone in sick. Flu is rife this time of year. We were met by the friendly Peter Nel and Maurice Lancaster, joint owners of Fynbos, who gave us a pictorial map of the farm and then sent us on our way to select the camping stand of our choice. Fynbos Guest Farm started out 12 years ago as a…

I always felt as though I could talk to a caravan, that it had a soul, that it could hear my greetings and lovingly respond to my care – just as if it were a living thing. And so, like with anything living and aging, I ask the question: what happens when caravans are on the wrong side of age, having spent decades providing shade from an African sun, and giving warmth and shelter from drenching rain? How do you care for something that has given so much pleasure, and been a home-away-from-home? Should old caravans simply be discarded and passed down to decaying scrapyards, their once gleaming aluminium now mere ‘bones’ reflecting the last rays of an autumn sun – just like a person lost in the wilderness and…

My husband and I, together with three other couples, travelled through the Northern Cape recently. We did the Namaqua 4x4 route and also visited the Richtersveld. Two families had trailers and the other two had 4x4s with rooftop tents. Above photo was taken on the way from Sendelingsdrift to De Hoop campsite. Top photo was taken on the Domorogh Pass travelling to the Helskloof Pass. Elise Haber The pool at Dikhololo Holiday Resort. This resort is one of our country’s wonders. Here, set in the bush, you really experience peace and tranquillity. The rock formations portray strength and ruggedness. The bush smells of crushed cinnamon and the long grass sings and sways in the wind. Antionette Schoeman Road to Die Hel. Around every corner is a new adventure and the…

Boerekos, dried fish biltong and fresh Atlantic Ocean seafood, braaied fresh lobster dripping in lemon butter or peri-peri sauce, long walks on the beach and a cool breeze fresh off the sea in the evenings – all this and much, much more from one of the greatest places to go camping. I want to go back! Why do I love the West Coast so much? I shouldn’t though, as I was born high up in the mist-shrouded forests of Kenya. Paradoxically, the older I get, the more the arid and desert-like places tug at my heartstrings. It’s funny the strange pathways that life leads us along. Perhaps my longing for the West Coast was planted at an early age, when I ended up working on my first varsity vac in…

When does altitude have a bearing on your tow vehicle? The moment you start to climb above sea level and the higher you go, the greater the affect on your vehicle. Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of how altitude puts added strain on your tow vehicle’s engine. Higher altitude - lower power Reduced oxygen levels at higher altitudes often leads to sluggish engine performance. This is caused by less oxygen that is able to feed the combustion process within the engine. On average, a combustion engine will lose between three to five percent of its rated power for every 1 000 feet of gained altitude. Higher altitudes mean less oxygen, and the combustion cycle in your vehicle’s engine is heavily reliant on oxygen. Simply, higher elevations equate to…

I was absolutely sure I was being watched. I couldn’t turn around as I had a tent guy rope in my teeth and tent peg in one hand, trying set up the off-road trailer I’d collected some 40 minutes earlier in Pretoria. Happy in the knowledge that there are no Big Five predators at this reserve, I finally turned around. Standing some 70-odd metres away were three giraffe. Infinitely curious, these long-necked spotted beauties of the bush stared down at me as if to say,“For goodness sake mate, get your darn tent set up!” This was back in 2015, my first introduction to the Somabula Nature Reserve close to Pretoria. In life we tend to have our favourites, whether it’s actors, restaurants, sports teams, or campsites. Somabula has become one…

FUEL CELLS FOR CAMPING We have enjoyed off-grid camping for several years now and are moderately kitted out, to allow us some form of comfort whilst doing it. Off-grid camping has allowed us to enjoy campsites and parts of South Africa that most people will never dream of visiting, or ever see. Camping totally off the grid does have its own challenges, especially when it comes to a continuous supply of electricity. Keeping batteries charged to run fridges, water pumps, and lights has proven to be a major challenge over the years, with solar being the only real alternative to a generator. And, as we all know, generators are a big ‘no-no’ in camping circles. Solar does, however, have its own limitations, which can leave batteries depleted, especially on extended…

I’ve admitted my total addiction to the West Coast in last month’s magazine, while on an extended camping trip along the Cape’s West Coast where I discovered fantastic eateries and superb sights – it’s a holiday destination like no other. Then Lambert’s Bay locals told me about three lessor-known campsites I had to visit – Vanputtensvlei, Boegoeberg, and Vensterklip Vanputtensvlei is actually the site of the old trading post, pub, hotel, courthouse, and police station that existed long before the town of Lambert’s Bay existed. I’ll introduce you to Oom Hannes and Tannie Magda Engelbrecht, they have restored much of this rich, historical treasure back to its former glory. Oom Hannes was born on the farm next door.Visiting Vanputtensvlei is taking a walk back into yesteryear. I found a completely…

Over the last few years there has been a remarkable growth in popularity in the Oyster range, from the standard Oyster right through the entire range. The father and son duo, Robbie and Reinhart Kerkhof, are continuously going back to the drawing board in order to improve on their ideas, to add value and quality to their premium product range. Recently they have included additional extras to their comprehensive product list of their Skipper Oyster LXT Max. Currently all the Skipper models are based on a standard product with a list of optional extras to choose from, to suit one’s individual camping and outdoor needs. The Oyster Max, however, is now available standard with all the new additions, as well as our existing optional extras. The Skipper Oyster range, now…

The Armadillio brand has been around for a number of years, but recently received a new lease on life with the introduction of the new Armadillo XTR 302, the latest offering from manufacturer Xtreme Outdoor. This rugged off-road caravan is a two-berth model, suitable for normal jaunts to your local caravan park or more robust off-road travels. The pop-top allows for 2.1 metres of standing room inside the 302 and the double bed offers spacious comfort. Packing space is provided with zipped, canvas ‘doored’ storage lockers inside the 302 for clothes and other travel items. The Armadillo 302 has two doors, one either side of the body and directly opposite each other. The main entrance offers access to the interior and is set just to the right of the slide-out…

I was extremely lucky to get a last minute stand at Bass Lake Lodge outside Pretoria. It was a long weekend and this is an extremely popular venue, less than 30 minutes’ drive from Pretoria. It is pretty much booked out every weekend and holiday of the year. My well-grassed 12 x 12m stand, with its own power point and portable braai, was directly opposite one of the two ablution blocks. In fact, all 34 stands are relatively close to the bathrooms and toilets. And I have to say that these facilities are the best I have experienced so far on my travels. I will get back to the five-star bathrooms later, but first let’s look at the layout of the camp. As you enter the camp, the large reception…

The Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivore and hails from the mongoose family. It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in south western Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a 'mob', 'gang' or 'clan'. A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members. In captivity, meerkats have an average life span of 12-14 years, and about half this in the wild. The meerkat is a small mongoose (Diurnal herpestid) and weighs on average about 0.5 to 2.5kgs. Its long slender body and limbs give it a body length of 35 to 50cm and an added tail length of…

Caravan Cove Resort KwaZulu-Natal December 2019 Special: New camping bookings only. 2 people – R480 per night (minimum 10 nights). Dogs allowed – R100 per dog per night.T’s and C’s apply. Use reference“SLH50D”when booking! T: 039 976 1215 E: caravancove@scottburgh.co.za W: www.caravancove.co.za Richards Bay Caravan Park KwaZulu-Natal Pensioners: R1 212 for 2 people for 2 weeks. Or 2 people for 1 month just R2 385. Low Season: Book 4 nights, pay for 3. Mid Season: Book 8 nights, pay for 7. T: 035 753 1971 E: info@richardsbaycaravanpark.co.za W: www.richardsbaycaravanpark.co.za Paradise Holiday Resort KwaZulu-Natal Campsites, chalets and log cabins: Stay 5 nights, pay for 3. Stay 10 nights, pay for 7. Pensioner 30% off daily rates, excluding December. T: 039 313 0655 E: paradise@megadial.com W: www.paradiseholidayresort.co.za Bushbaby Lodge & Camping KwaZulu-Natal Special for February…