Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

Last month’s magazine was its 60th birthday, a fact we did not realise until Geoff Courtis from Natal Caravans and Marine called to say,“Hey, it’s your 60th!” Caravan and Outdoor Life shares the same birth year as Natal Caravans and Marine making them – and us – the oldest in the industry, still owned by the same families. Both companies are run by third-generation Courtises and Castles, and this issue marks the 696th issue we have published. No other media company can beat us on experience or industry knowledge. Today we reach no fewer than 121 040 people through our print, digital, and social media. For some perspective, in February 1960, when the first issue went on sale South Africa was a Union – a self-governing dominion of the British…

FROM OUR FORUM Every month we publish the most interesting online Forum posts in the magazine. If you want your question, destination review, or letter to be published, make sure to post it on the Forum on our website. CAMPING IN MALAWI I have been wading through my collection of Caravan & Outdoor Life magazines, collected over many years as a member of the CCSA. I have kept these magazines through the years and I have been trying to find information on caravanning to and in Malawi. I have found many articles and reviews on Namibia (which I have done several times), and even one on Angola which I don’t particularly fancy... but nothing on Malawi. Have you ever published any articles on Malawi? Your help would be much appreciated.…

I last experienced wonderful Namibia during my military service in the early 80s and that stay was confined to the northern towns of Oshakati and Ondangwa. Besides firing numerous 12.7 anti-aircraft rounds at nothing in particular from the elevated vantage point of the water tower I was confined to, there was little opportunity to take in the beautiful landscape that is the beating heart of this incredible country. When the offer came in from Marko Paape, manager of Accessory Fitment Centre and supplier of Ironman 4X4 products, to undertake a 4X4 camping trip, I jumped at the chance. After a short flight from Cape Town to Windhoek, I met the participants and dealers that made up the trip complement and had a quick introduction from the event organiser and a…

Tents are used for the outdoors and are put up on gravel, sand, grass, and a variety of other surfaces, and this means they do get dirty. Yes, birds will poop on the tent, mud will make its way indoors, mildew will form in spots left damp, and grubby paws will leave marks on the tent fabric. Expect your tent to get dirty – there is no avoiding it. But, fret not, there are easy methods to clean your tent, as leaving it dirty will and can lead to the complete degradation of your prized outdoor home. Here are our top tips for getting your tent in ship shape: 1. If you have the space, pitch the tent in your back garden or an open area. Now sweep out any…

WINNING IMAGE I would love to enter this picture my wife, Charlotte, took during our last holiday in the Pilanesberg National Park. From a distance, we saw a crocodile with something in its mouth and decided to drive closer to inspect the scene, but it disappeared under the water and a smaller crocodile climbed out with a fish in its mouth. We thought we may not see the bigger croc again and would have to be satisfied with a photo of this smaller one. Then just as we were about to leave, the first croc climbed out with a catfish in his mouth! The camera was ready and in position, when the crocodile began to tear the catfish apart and seconds later swallowed it. We were in the right place…

Margate Caravan Park Kwazulu-Natal Pensioner special at R1 500 PER MONTH. R500 refundable electricity deposit. Payable 3 months in advance. This rate is applicable to all seasons. No unexpected tariff spike over mid/peak seasons. BIG enough to accommodate you. Small enough to APPRECIATE you. T: 093 312 0852 E: info@margatecaravanpark.co.za W: www.margatecaravanpark.co.za Drie Berge Caravan Park North West Midweek specials for 10-12 May 2020. Pay only R150 per night when you stay for 5 nights in a row. T: 083 608 3409 W: www.driebergekaravaanpark.co.za Areena Riverside Resort Eastern Cape Camping pensioner special: From May to September at R1 950 for the month, excluding electricity. T: 043 734 3055 E info@areenaresort.co.za W: www.areenaresort.com Dibiki Holiday resort Western Cape Specials from March-May 2020: Camping pensioner special: Monthly packages at special rates, including during school…

USE A FLINT On a recent trip to the Ceres area, I completely forgot to take along a lighter or matches to light my gas stove. With no shop around, or at least within 10km of the campsite, I was stuck without hot coffee or the ability to make food. It was then I remembered I had purchased a flint striker and after regurgitating information from the recesses of my brain to try and remember where I had put the flint striker, I located its whereabouts, tucked neatly into the front pocket of my picnic haversack. I had never used the flint before and was not even sure if I would be able to light my gas cooker with it. Well, one quick strike of the flint next to my…

Level Up! These best-selling level ramps in the range are equipped with a ridged surface for added grip to the vehicle's tyres and it consists of three levels. It is lightweight and made from rust-proof materials, it is easy to clean and is UV resistant. This is a two-piece package and is finished in grey. Price: R472.32 incl. VAT For more information, contact Fiamma on 011 395 1020 / 021 577 3683, email admin@fiamma.co.za, or visit their website www.fiamma.co.za for this and other great products. Good looking cooking Roadque’s Mobile Camping Kitchen with gas cooker is made of durable aluminium, ensuring it stays corrosion-free. This robust unit includes: • Single plate gas stove• 16 piece melamine dinner set• 16 piece cutlery set• 4 glasses• Braai tongs• Spatula• Serving spoon• Bottle/can…

In this issue, we feature Drie Berge Caravan Resort as one of our resorts of the month. They have just formed a club so as to give guests the best possible camping experience. The finer details were not available at the time of preparing the article so here is more information: • You will need to be nominated by a previous camper or an existing club member to join the club. • The name of the club is in Afrikaans: Drie Berge Dagbesoekers Club. • Joining fee is R500, thereafter the yearly fee is R100 per annum (subject to change). • Every member can nominate up to five people to accompany them on a stay, under his/her membership. • Day visitor fees are still payable, as normal. “We want to…

Ever since I saw the new prototype, Jurgens Penta, late last year, I have been eager to get one for review. The older model has been a firm favourite for what seems like decades but, to be fair, this is possibly because it had very limited opposition capable of challenging it for the number-one spot. In fact, the original Penta has been around so long that it must surely be the yardstick on which all future Penta’s will be judged? You could correct me here, but in between the original and the 138, the Penta 135 GS was launched, with GS referring to the grey and silver colour. The 135 GS was not well received and was replaced at the end of 2019 with the new Penta 138 GS. And,…

Every visitor to Namibia needs to visit the historic town of Swakopmund for a couple of days. For caravanners and campers, the very best campsite in Swakopmund is the Alte Brücke Holiday Resort. Situated in the old part of town – and a mere 200m for the beach – the resort is safe, comfortable, and exceedingly well-run. Over the years I have stayed numerous times at this first-class resort. Alte Brücke has 36 private campsites, all with their own roomy, well-tended, grass campsite. Each and every campsite has its own private bathroom and a built-in braai with washbasin close at hand. The resort also has Wi-Fi available for both campers and visitors staying in the chalets. Safety and security are a top priority at the camp; there is an entrance…

Having a balanced caravan when towing is incredibly important for safety and it offers a more comfortable ride. At Caravan & Outdoor Life magazine we have received numerous enquiries in the past relating to unbalanced towing. Readers have said that when they are towing, their tow car seems to be pushed by the caravan creating instability in the tow vehicle or they experience fishtailing. This loss of stability in the tow vehicle is the cause of serious accidents and nearly always has its foundation in uneven weight distribution in the caravan. Weight distribution in the caravan should be as follows: • Heavier items should be placed just before or over the caravan’s axle. • Medium weight items can be distributed evenly throughout the caravan, but in general, should not be…

On the recent Cape Town launch of the new Isuzu D-MAX automatic extended and double cab range, we spent two days getting to know what has become a durable and capable stalwart in the bakkie and double cab segment of the market. Now with the introduction of four new 250 automatics in their mid-range D-MAX 250 LE and their D-MAX 250 Hi-Rider models, Isuzu has certainly bolstered their range and added a much needed element to their lineup, giving the public that much more buying scope. The capability of the Isuzu range has always been a drawcard for the brand, ask any farmer, contractor or brand loyal private buyer, but now with the new automatic D-MAX range, so many more opportunities exist for Isuzu to further increase their market share.…

Wildlife conservationists and enthusiasts around the world have been celebrating an apparent silver lining in the latest coronavirus epidemic since the Xinhua News Agency in China reported earlier this month that researchers had found a 99% genetic match between a virus found in pangolins and the new human coronavirus. The hope of this finding is that humans, frightened of coronavirus infection, would reduce their demand for pangolin meat and scales, whose populations are in rapid decline due to wildlife poaching and trafficking to satisfy bushmeat and traditional medicine markets predominantly in Asia. It may, however, be premature to celebrate 'the revenge of the pangolin' since the link to coronavirus may turn out not to have the positive outcome for pangolins that we’ve all been hoping for. Several interesting and worrying…

Caravan and Outdoor Life and Coenie Moll, of Cederberg 4x4, join forces to offer an affordable adventure suited to the whole family. Seasoned outdoor enthusiast and guide, Coenie Moll, with our very own photojournalist, Richard van Ryneveld, will be heading off to Botswana and the Caprivi. The 14-day trip falls within the June/July school holidays making it accessible to the whole family. The adventure starts in Ghanzi on 15 June 2020 and ends at Khama Rhino Sanctuary near Serowe on 28 June 2020. The same team will continue on, after a two-day break, with an equally exciting 18-day trip to Zimbabwe (30 June - 17 July). BOTWANA 14-day trip 15 June - 28 June Includes Ghanzi, Okavango Delta, Tsodilo Hills, Chobe, and Victoria Falls. The Botswana trip starts in Ghanzi…

BABY RHINO BORN AT AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE AND SPA Visitors to the Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa might be in for a beautiful safari surprise, with the possibility of a new rhino calf sighting. The anti-poaching unit sighted the calf with its mother on the reserve, on Valentine’s Day this year. Aquila is proud to have been able to bring the first rhino to the Western Cape in 250 years, and in February 2005 announced the birth of the first rhino in the Western Cape. 15 years later, the reserve conservation teams are absolutely delighted to, once again, be able to confirm the birth of another baby rhino on the 10 000-hectare Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa – situated just under two hours from Cape Town. During…

Camping when the wind is gusting around you is not all bad. Yes, it’s a minor irritation, but if your tent does not succumb to the relentless forces the wind generates, then there is still a lot of indoor fun to be had. There are certain factors though, that will ensure your tent stays intact and lasts until the wind dies down once again. Here are our top 10 tips to ensure you beat the wind: 1. The first thing to do is to check the weather forecast. Nobody wants to have to survive a hurricane if they don’t need to. If the weather forecast predicts severe weather, at least you can prepare for such conditions beforehand or postpone the trip. 2. The more robust your tent the better. On…

Ivan’s Delicious Lamb Pot One of the great joys of camping is the people you meet along the way. On a recent trip, Caravan and Outdoor Life met Ivan Arnold, a bush camp chef extraordinaire, who grew up cooking on an open fire from the age of six. As youngsters, he and his brother were given a couple of chops and a piece of boerewors by their father and told to cook for themselves on the campfire – under his watchful eye, of course. Over time, and with many influences from other campers, Arnold developed a love for cooking over an open fire and recently took charge of preparing meals for many at Afrika Burn, one of the biggest outdoor events in southern Africa. Here he shares his very special…

Route 62 ‘I need to feed the rat?’A term used by mountaineers, usually said by their wives and partners, when they start getting cantankerous and edgy after too much mooching around enclosed by four walls. They need to get out into the wild and‘feed the rat’. I certainly get cabin fever. My partner now says,“…for goodness sake, get out and feed the bloody rat!” Well, I have just relieved this painful internal gnawing by going out for an incredible trip along Route 62. I was supposed to eventually circle back to Cape Town after camping and off-roading in the Baviaanskloof. I ended up meeting so many wonderful characters and campers along the way. They told me about such fascinating campsites in their neck of the woods that I never reached…