Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Go! Drive & Camp

Years ago, when I was relatively young and inexperienced, I joined a group of F1 fans to go and watch the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, outside Kuala Lumpur. It was quite a diverse bunch of people who had to catch a series of complicated flights to get there. I will always remember our tour leader calling us together and telling us at O.R. Tambo (I think it was still called Johannesburg International then) how you should go about to know what goes on at an airport and exactly where the important information is to be found. “Remember Psalm 121! I lift my eyes up to the mountains – where does my help come from?” he enthusiastically declared. “Because it’s up there people, that is where you’ll find all the…

Until now, most of us have accepted that compared to all other vehicles, with a bakkie you’re in for a bumpy ride, even if it’s one with a so-called “nice ride”. The reason for this is because they’re built to carry a substantial load. And to do that, they are sprung hard. Well, that’s half of the story. The other half of the story is that they are equipped with leaf springs. Partly due to their load-carrying capacity and partly due to their mechanical simplicity and robustness. But Nissan followed a completely different approach with the new Navara and equipped it with coil springs at the back. The result is a bakkie with hands down – and I mean hands down – the best ride quality on the market. Many…

“I feel like a pilot who has to perform a pre-flight check with a host of buttons, lights and beeping sounds before every dune.” I had only just returned from a trip through the Namib Desert. In that unforgiving part of the world I thought I’d learnt what searing heat and challenging dunes were, but as I stand here deep in the Northern Cape, I realise I should probably re-evaluate my conclusions. Firstly, it’s a lot warmer. It’s a sharp heat that makes you squint, even behind sunglasses. Secondly, the rust red dunes here are mostly hidden beneath grassy patches and thorn bushes, but it doesn’t make them any less challenging. While I watch the third 4x4 in a row running out of steam on a steep dune and giving…

It has only been 60 years since the last residents left Kolmanskop and since the desert has been doing its best to reclaim the land on which the once-thriving mining town was built. Walking around the buildings early on a crisp morning I can almost hear the sound of falling pins in the bowling alley, hurried footsteps down the hospital corridor, or the windows of the Quatermaster’s house slide open. Instead, the wind is my only companion, an elusive whisper of bygone days in empty rooms that now contain piles of sand, bits of decaying furniture and peeling paint on walls. It’s an apt starting point for my trip through the Namib-Naukluft National Park to Walvis Bay, because I’ll soon leave civilisation behind and head north for six days, through…

1 Moolmanshoek, Ficksburg, Free State Few places are as suitable for a weekend away as Moolmanshoek. Visitors can choose between a nice campsite or one of their luxury en-suite rooms, as well as three different 4x4 trails: Visierskerf (20 km, 4–5 hours), Langesnek (10 km, 2–3 hours) or Kiepersol (8 km, 2–3 hours). While you’re there you can also enjoy activities like horse riding, hiking trails, fly-fishing, mountain biking and even abseiling. And if you feel like a game drive, guides can show you species such as black wildebeest, zebra, springbok, blesbok, mountain reedbuck, steenbok, duiker, red hartebeest, eland, gemsbok and ostrich. Or, if you feel like it, you can just unpack and chill out the whole weekend, doing zilch! Moolmanshoek serves great breakfasts and dinner, although you have to…

K-WAY PONGO/LESULA FLEECE JACKETS SHEEPSKIN FOR THE 21ST CENTURY A fleece jacket in your travel luggage is just as valuable as a knife in your kitchen ammo case. Fleece has many of the characteristics of wool, most importantly that it’s very warm. However, because it’s a synthetic polyester-type material, it is not only lighter than wool, but also dries a lot quicker. K-Way’s Pongo fleece jacket for men and Lesula fleece for women, both part of K-Way’s new winter range, are designed for campers and travellers. K-Way describes these jackets as “mid-weight fleece”, so they aren’t necessarily designed for those who want to climb Kilimanjaro, but the Sherpa fleece – a thick synthetic polyester on the insides – makes them ideal for cold evenings in the African bush. Available in…

Except for braaied meat, my Kalahari gemsbok pie is one of my favourite dishes to cook over the coals. It’s after all a dish I always make during hunting trips, shortly after the first gemsbok has been shot. It’s basically my version of the good old steak-and-kidney pie, but with a delicious batter crust that makes it possible to prepare it in a flat-bottom potjie over the coals. My friend Carmen Boltman from Gochas in Namibia is known as the pie queen of the desert because she makes such mouthwatering pies. Everything in her pies, even the pastry, is made and prepared on the farm. Needless to say her husband (and sometimes she too) hunts the buck for the pies himself. So, you can describe it as “craft pies”. Below…

My farm boy heart is not happy. I don’t know what the intention was with placing Jan Steenkamp’s reader storie “Truant in Namaqualand” (Drive Out #110). The article shows bad judgement. We live in South Africa. Our farmers are being murdered. They lock gates. They put notices up: STAY OUT! But Jan Steenkamp decides that his obedient wife must bring a spanner to break open the farmer’s gate. He tells her to start thinking of an excuse in case the farmer comes. And for his sick behaviour, Drive Out gives him a prize! No, come on. Somewhere someone slipped up. How many more notices must be placed on the gate? Look at the photo in the article. It’s actually a pity the farmer wasn’t home because 10 .303 slugs through…

By this time you’ve probably heard that spots in the Bull Run – which takes place this year at Van Wyksvlei – are filled up. Well, that’s for paticipants. But there are literally still hundreds of spaces for adventurous spectators! As an official spectator you can see and experience what the participants experience, except partaking in the Bull Run activities. And what’s more, as an official spectator you can hang out, braai, laugh and camp with the Bull Run people! So what are you waiting for? Fill in an application and be part of the fantastic spirit of Bull Run 2017 at Van Wyksvlei. Spoil yourself and have your tent organised and pitched for you. We have the following options available Basic tent (3 m x 3 m): R1300 for…

When the Ford Everest was introduced a few years ago a lot of people believed there would finally be a worthy competitor for Toyota’s über-successful Fortuner. But Ford made a few tactical mistakes. To start with, the new Everest was too expensive and Ford declared that they saw it as the Prado’s counterpart. That didn’t make sense at all because the Everest is based on the Ranger and that’s why consumers would never buy that story. Secondly, there were very few models – all 3.2 litre – available. And if you want to take on the Fortuner, you have to do it in all sub segments because part of its success is the large amount of 4x2 models and the smaller 2.4 litre GD-6 model (or the 2.5 D-4D in…

Tommie Watkin Centurion Yster, as Tommie’s vehicle is known, has an enormous Chevrolet 427 7-litre V8 engine that is not to be trifled with. HOW MUCH POWER DOES THE ENGINE PROVIDE? The engine generates 427 kW and 750 Nm torque at sea level. Every now and then we inject nitrous oxide and then we get 555 kW and 1100 Nm and more. Then it moves! WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON THIS VEHICLE? I knew the Patrol’s drivetrain, its differentials and gearbox were strong enough for the big guy we wanted to put in. Out of what’s available in our country, it’s the best. IS IT A VEHICLE TO PLAY OR TOUR IN? It’s both. We don’t use it often at home but we also play and overland with it. It…

It did, after all, have a great impact on the future of the area. But the story actually begins with my dad. In the early eighties he was an army doctor in Walvis Bay. The fact that he willingly applied for the post caused great consternation among the powers that be, but after he managed to convince the presiding officer that there was nothing suspicious about his application, it was approved. And so he and my mom set off for Walvis Bay in their white 1980 Land Rover Series III. I’ve been wanting to visit the north of Namibia for years, specifically the old Caprivi and Etosha. Apart from its natural beauty, the area has a rich history. As an enthusiastic consumer of literature of the South African Border War…

Q My dual-battery isn’t charging. I had a solenoid system installed in my 4x4 just over a year ago. The setup seemed to work fine the first time, but now there’s very little power in my auxiliary battery when I get to camp. On my most recent trip, I spent three to four hours driving between camps, but by the following morning the battery was flat and my fridge wasn’t running. I’ve heard reports that a solenoid-based dual-battery system doesn’t work with some vehicles, and that I should switch to a DC-DC system. But before I fork out thousands of rands on a second system, can you offer some advice? A We hear these complaints daily, and the answer is surprisingly simple: You need a 220V maintenance charger. Some time…

With some new adventures dreamed up, we headed to Mozambique to relax and have some fun in our FJ Cruiser. Being keen to try out new routes, we came across a Land Cruiser stuck in the mud. We then proceeded to help out Graeme Cumming, the owner of the Land Cruiser, who promised to buy us a few beers in return. While enjoying some icy cold 2Ms later on, Graeme told us about a spot where we’d be allowed to drive in the dunes with a 4x4. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity and met up with Graeme again the next day. Having looked at the few options we had, a route was chosen and off we went. We had great such fun testing the capabilities of the…

Your camp is your home in the bush. It’s your kitchen, bedroom, braai lapa and – most importantly – your protection against the elements and the dangers out in nature. Pitching a decent camp is the difference between eating, sleeping and having a good time in the bush and a holiday that leaves you even more exhausted at the end than when you set off. You don’t know the first time you go camping exactly what your setup will need, and who has time to camp for years and years to figure that out? That’s why we spoke to a few well-known travellers, readers and forum friends about their best camping hacks. Come see what they say, because once you’re done with this article, you’ll be camping like a pro.…

NEW MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER A NEW LEASE ON LIFE Mitsubishi’s popular Outlander has undergone a makeover, giving it a fresh new look along with some interior upgrades, using their new design language, which they refer to as ‘Dynamic Shield’. The facelifted Outlander is powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine that develops 123 kW and 222 Nm. Average fuel consumption is 8.2 litres/100 km. Power is delivered to all four wheels through Mitsubishi’s next-generation, all-new INVECS-III Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with a 6-step Sports Mode shift control. The CVT gearbox adapts to varying road conditions and power demands, allowing for a smoother ride than traditional automatic transmissions. The Multi Select Four Wheel Drive has three modes to choose from: 4WD Eco: In Eco the vehicle monitors the terrain and driver input and…

Faan du Plessis of Die Wilgers in Pretoria has basically travelled everywhere in southern Africa, but he has a real soft spot for Namibia’s dunes. His work title is also as long as the list of places he has visited. “I am shareholder and CEO of the Omega group of companies, shareholder and chairman of Quatro Holdings, and shareholder and director of Quartic Holdings,” he proclaims. He’s a busy man, but one who still finds time to travel as much as possible. And for that he needs a proper vehicle. Where do you like to travel to and what is your next destination? This Patrol has been to many places in South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana, but my favourite destination is Namibia. I’ve done the Namib Desert 16 times…

WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE DO I NEED? A 4x4 with good ground clearance and suspension, low range, diff lock and good off-road tyres. Take off your running boards in the dunes to avoid it getting damaged and remember that a low front bumper can also get damaged. WHAT ELSE MUST I TAKE TO THE DUNES? A compressor, tyre pressure gauge, and a good set of recovery equipment. Also pack a grass seed net, for sections with tall grass. WHERE IS THE CAMPSITE? The Trans-Boegoe 4x4 Eco-Resort is on the northern shore of the Orange River, about 50 km outside Groblershoop. Groblershoop is roughly 800 km from both Johannesburg and Cape Town. WHAT DOES THE CAMPSITE’S FACILITIES LOOK LIKE? Almost all the campsites are under shade trees and some have grass.…

If you’re still clinging to your old army sleeping bag, or the one your dad used way back when he was a Boy Scout, we have news for you: You are not only getting unnecessarily cold but you are also lugging around an unnecessarily heavy thing. MORE THAN JUST A BAG The technology used in sleeping bags improved in leaps and bounds the past 10 years. Because sleeping bags long ago stopped being only a rectangular piece of material with a zip. An important thing to remember is that a sleeping bag doesn’t warm you up, it only retains the existing heat of your body while you sleep. These days some sleeping bags have a “mummy” shape. It’s called that because they are narrower at the head and feet and…

WHERE IS GROUND CLEARANCE MEASURED? The logical way would be to measure from a vehicle’s lowest point to the ground, but it doesn’t always work like that. Take a Land Cruiser 79 Series bakkie. According to the official numbers its ground clearance is 235 mm. But if you look properly you’ll see that the mounting points for its rear shock absorbers and the leaf springs are much lower than 235 mm. That’s why the ground clearance is technically quite a bit lower and the 235 mm number probably refers to the height of its rear diff housing. Another vehicle with a confusing ground clearance is the Volkswagen Amarok. According to the official numbers it has two ground clearances – 192 mm underneath the front axle and 244 mm underneath the…