Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i Go! Drive & Camp

By now I’ve recovered from the Bull Run. You had to experience it: more than 120 vehicles, over 300 participants and about 200 spectators, with no drama or complaints, just a lot of fun and dust. But the dust wasn’t a problem, it was simply an affirmation of the almost-insane fun people were having with their vehicles in Vosburg. In this issue we’ve devoted a couple of pages to this year’s Bull Run. But whether it really gives you an idea of how fantastic this event was remains to be seen. The only way you’ll ever truly experience the magic and fun of the Bull Run is to enter in time for next year’s event. And no, please don’t start pestering Gerrie yet! He’s been quite busy helping us put…

It’s not just hapless foreign tourists who rub Southern Africa’s wildlife up the wrong way. Animal attacks are a risk for anyone who drives or camps in the wild. And may you never be that person who has a breakdown deep in the bush and has to walk through an area where wild animals roam. Because if you don’t know how to deal with predators, you could end up as a snack. We approached Riaan Haasbroek, owner of Bushward Safaris, for advice on what to do if you encounter wild animals in the bush. He spends up to seven months a year guiding bush trips and running survival courses. And he’s had an encounter or two. “Just the other day, an elephant trampled my tent! People often misjudge animals. Without…

It’s that time of year again, when we decide which 4x4s we consider to be the best in their segment. But unlike other Car of the Year awards, we don’t simply look at new vehicles introduced in the past year. We consider everything that’s currently on sale in every segment, mainly because we believe that’s what you would do when buying a new vehicle. With the exception of a few segments – especially SUV of the Year – off-road capability was heavily-weighted when making our decisions. That’s because our readers don’t really care about a vehicle’s lap time around a race track. Practicality plays a much bigger role and most of our choices have better off-road capability than the other vehicles in their segment. We know that readers always discuss…

At the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Krugersdorp, you can get the best of three worlds. You can drive on the reserve’s main routes to view game, you can take some of the many turn-offs and drive 4x4 trails deeper into the reserve, and you can practice your skills on an obstacle course. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve is situated in the world-famous heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind. It is privately owned and covers an area of 1200 hectare. The main roads in the park are graded so that normal sedans can drive around without getting damaged. But every so often there are tracks that branch off from these roads so that one can drive in other parts of the reserve. These roads are only suitable for…

There are few things that will frustrate a wildlife photographer as much as blurred or out-of-focus pictures. Keep these five things in mind, and your photos should be as sharp as the view through a pair of Swarovski binoculars. 1 CHECK THE LENS Camera lenses have a button that allows you to choose between “auto focus” (A/AF) and “manual focus” (M/MF). In MF you have to adjust the focusing ring yourself, in AF the camera does it for you. First make sure that this button hasn’t accidently toggled to M/MF. 2 CHECK THE MODE When your lens is set to AF, you also have to choose an “auto focus” mode on the camera. For still-standing subjects, make sure that the camera focuses exclusively on the subject and “locks” the focus…

WOUTER LABUSCHAGNE READER STORY, P. 77 Wouter Labuschagne is a medical doctor from Middelburg, Mpumalanga. He has travelled to Kaokoland and Damaraland more than 10 times. What’s your first travel memory? A journey to Kaokoland with an old business partner in a Kombi Syncro. One night, while sleeping under the stars in the Hoanib river bed, I was woken up by a herd of elephants strolling through our camp. That’s how you fall in love with Namibia. Favourite spot in the bush? The Huab and Aba-Huab river beds. There you become part of nature, surrounded by an abundance of animals. Best travel tip? Consider the needs of everyone in your group. Happy travellers are the key to a good trip. Do you plan in detail or go with the…

Something that’s bothered me for a long time is the direction tyres turn when considering the type of tread. Then I saw an answer on a photo from the Koës Pan Rally (Drive Out #93). I compared the tyres on the red Sandmaster in the photo, which are mounted the other way around, with the tread of the Baja Claw MTZ on the advert on page 2 of the same issue. On all the vehicles that I see today, tyres will turn in the same direction as the Baja Claw. So the rubber blocks in the middle of the tyre form an arrow-pattern on the ground, according to their design. Fitted the other way around, as on the Sandmaster, where it would make an inverted V pattern, the blocks would…

A distant relative of mine drives a 4x4 and does quite a bit of touring and off-road driving. His pride and joy has a full replacement bumper and winch fitted to the front and an extra spare wheel mounted to a sturdy replacement rear bumper, making it a prime candidate for a suspension upgrade. But he refuses to do it, claiming that the two-inch increase in ride height will negatively affect the fuel consumption. As much as it pains me to see his vehicle without my suspension product fitted to it, his argument does have some merit. Numbers don’t lie I’ve always kept a meticulous record of my Fortuner D-4D auto’s fuel consumption. The 3.0 diesel engine gave an average of 10,81 litre/100 km over the first four years with…

I’m writing this article from a camp site on the Chobe River. On this road trip, I realised yet again how important access to all kinds of tourist information is when you travel. Maps, navigation and reference guides are all high on up on the list. So then, which electronic gadgets are best for meeting these needs? Gadgets galore On my dashboard, I have a Garmin Montana, an iPad Mini, a smartphone and a SPOT satellite tracker. Underneath, I have a vehicle tracking device which relays my position via GSM networks. I prefer a dedicated GPS for navigation. While navigation options on smartphones are vast, and some work really well, I prefer to use the Garmin Montana. This tough outdoor GPS unit lets you discover more info than a road…

What do you get when you throw together a bunch of canary yellow Jeep Rubicons, a handful of journalists and a lot of rain on the back roads of the Wild Coast? A winning recipe for some decent off-road driving and a new found respect for the soft beds of hotels. I learned these lessons recently when I participated in the General Tire Adventure from Kei Mouth to Mazeppa Bay during the rainy season. Hit the road At the front of our convoy of Jeeps are Rynhardt Stander and Koos Enslin, our tour guides from Extreme Terrain Adventures who regularly take tours on this route. With a knowing smile, Rynhardt explains exactly how tough the trail is that we are expected to do today – muddy roads, large rocky steps…

ON THE TRAIL How long are the routes? The training track is only 3.5 km but you can drive all day on the routes through the reserve. Maximum number of vehicles: 20 Do I get a map? Yes. Will my car get scratched? No. Should I take the running boards off? No. Should I take a compressor? Yes (because you should always have one with you!) Can we have a braai en route? Yes. Will I see game? Most definitely. There are loads of plains game, predators and four of the Big Five. AROUND THE TRAIL Best time to go? All year round. Can I take my family along? Definitely. Just for the day or the weekend? Both. What else can we do there? You can enjoy plenty of animal…

Takla's custom-made seat covers are manufactured in a full synthetic fabric desgned to cope with the harshest environments. These seat covers are 100% waterproof, machine washabe and come with a life-time guarantoo. Takla's seat covers can he customised. Atith the additonal ontions of pockets, embroidery and different coloured top stitching. All products are manufactured according to the international quality standard ISO: 9001. Taka's Takmats are one of a kind. They consist of a 3mm rubber mat stitched to an industrial grade fabric, to ensure all exposed carpets are covered. This means that beach sand, desert sand, mud and the kids' soccer boots are no longer a challenge for your vehicle. If you own an SUV then Takla has an ideal solution for protecting your load-space. Takla's Loadliner protects the majority…

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE YOUR KRUGER NATIONAL PARK GUIDE: WITH STORIES By Frans Rautenbach DISTRIBUTED BY: Tafelberg Publishers Price: R250 When my Scottish family came out from the UK to holiday with us in the Kruger Park, it was hard to explain to them what to expect from an authentic Kruger experience. On the first day, we saw the Big Five, and on the days following, we mostly just saw lots of impala. That’s when Frans Rautenbach’s Your Kruger National Park Guide would have come in handy for them. This book is the ideal beginners guide to Kruger. Frans has been going to the park for over 50 years, which resulted in this book, and it comes with both practical advice and stories from his experiences in Kruger. He…

“Tam! Tam-tam-tam! Tam-tamtaaaaaam! The eye of the tiger...” The jukebox in Wellington’s Station Hotel vibrates with the sounds of the Rocky theme song. I’ve just thrown in a coin and I’m pumping my fist in the air to the opening chords. The other guests in the pub raise their beers in salute and one begins to shadow box. There is actually no one else here to fight with, because it was only our group standing at the hotel’s front doors when they opened that Sunday. It’s three in the afternoon, but the smell of Jeyes fluid on the parquet floors still hangs in the air. We’re sharing a last drink before we all head home after our weekend of gravel travel. Our adventure begins two days before in Melkbosstrand, and…

LOTS OF MONEY FOR FEW FACILITIES IN KHAUDUM Our group of 10 friends from Vredendal undertook a trip to the beautiful Khaudum and Caprivi in Namibia on the 9th of August in 5 vehicles. We began this tour with great enthusiasm and we certainly weren’t disappointed – until we had to overnight on the 13th of August at the northern camp in Khaudum (Khaudum Camp). We were surprised when we arrived and heard that the fee to camp was R300 per person per night, plus R100 per vehicle. And that for a very primitive bush camp. Your camp site consists of a strip of neatly cut bush, a wooden structure and a primitive toilet without a door or roof. There was no water or electricity. We complained but the officials…

You don’t need thousands of things to build a proper recovery gear bag for your vehicle. Just make sure you buy the right items for your 4x4’s weight and intended use, and you’ll be on your way to safe, successful recoveries. Recovery lanyard A lanyard is tied to your tow rope or kinetic strap and your vehicle during a recovery. If the rope snaps, the lanyard will “choke” it, preventing it from flying dangerously through the air. Lanyards come in two lengths, and I keep two of each length in my kit. Recovery link If the stuck vehicle is far from the towing vehicle, the kinetic strap can be lengthened by joining it to a second strap with a recovery link (as long as the two straps share the same…

The sun is already setting by the time we turn off the N2 at Humansdorp to drive inland. A more exciting gravel road to Patensie beckons, but I’m still saddled with my little Ford Figo and its tiny wheels, so I choose to take the tar road into the town instead. The black silhouettes of the mountains rise higher and higher as we drive into the valley. The shoulder of the road disappears, as do the streetlights as the twists and bends become sharper. Lorries loaded with freshly picked and neatly packed fruit pay little heed to the barrier lines on the road and we swerve every time one rumbles past us. When we finally drive into Patensie, the town is cloaked in darkness. It seems that the things I…

Grab your camera equipment, your camp chairs and your sense of adventure and join Drive Out and Mpafa Travel on a photo tour through Botswana! We are teaming up with Bhejane 4x4 Adventures/Mpafa Travel for an epic trip from 8 to 18 April 2016. In addition to experiencing highlights such as the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans, the Caprivi and Victoria Falls, go! photo editor Shelley Christians will be on hand to help you take your photographic skills to the next level. Under Shelley’s expert tuition and Bhejane/Mpafa’s experienced guidance, you’ll experience the country in an unforgettable way. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TOUR DURATION 11 days, 10 nights WHERE AND WHEN? 8 – 18 April 2016, departing from Nata Lodge camp site, Botswana ACCOMMODATION Tents, pitched by Bhejane’s crew TOUR…

STUFFED FLATTIE Across the world, turkey is synonymous with Christmas, but if you take this massive bird along with you in your camp fridge, it’s likely that you won’t have any space left for your beer. This flattened chicken is more practical and more delicious. INGREDIENTS: The biggest farm chicken you can find Olive oil 1 medium-sized onion, finely sliced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tablespoon dried sage ½ cup dry white wine 4 pork sausages (removed from the casing) ½ cup fresh bread crumbs 1 egg, whisked ½ cup feta, finely crumbled 1 lemon Salt and pepper to taste HERE’S HOW: Fry the onion in a bit of olive oil until soft and see-through and add the garlic. Fry this for another minute. Add the sausage meat and…