Go! Drive & Camp January/February 2016

You know that feeling of “oh bugger, what now?!” when something goes pear-shaped somewhere in the sticks. If not, well, then you obviously haven’t travelled enough. I was once a passenger in a Hilux on a trip from north of Askham to Upington. When we drove straight past the Askham turn-off I looked at the bakkie’s fuel gauge out of the corner of my eye and saw that it hovered roughly at the halfway mark. This, while we were doing 130 km/h and towing a heavy trailer behind us. I also knew that Upington was at least 180 km away, and I couldn’t fathom why the driver drove past Askham’s fuel pumps because there was absolutely nothing between where we were and Upington. At some stage I gently nudged the…

Before we kick the bucket… Even if you travel for a living, there is always another place that you just have to visit. These are the Drive Out team’s dream destinations for 2016. Jaco Kirsten I feel embarrassed to admit it, but since my conscription days in 1988, I haven’t been back to Kaokoland. I’m really keen to drive the road up to Swartbooisdrift (just not in the back of a Buffel again). When we were there, we also swam in the Kunene, despite serious warnings about crocodiles. When you’re 19, you don’t pay attention to warnings! I also want to visit the old base at Ehomba. On Google Earth it looks like a little settlement with a kraal, and I’d ask if I could camp…

WHAT CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF? Marthella’s letter “Good Samaritans in Namibia” (Drive Out #93) is interesting. The most important question for Drive Out-ers, is: What caused the wheel to come off and roll away? It sounds and looks (based on the photo) like someone put the wheel on and forgot to fasten the bolts properly. If this is so, it could have been a dangerous mistake. Namibians are renowned for their helpfulness, but Gobabis Toyota’s emergency number probably rings all the time. CONNIE MARAIS Pretoria CAN’T FOREIGNERS GET 4X4 TRAINING? I don’t mind that visitors from around the world travel across our country. But there is a large group of them that come here to drive 4x4s. They hire fully packed (and kitted out) vehicles and then take…

We were recently at Jongensfontein near Stillbaai in the Western Cape. During one of our afternoon walks, we came across a rat that was sitting dead still in the path in front of us. It was only on closer inspection that we became aware of the puff adder lying motionless next to the path. The rat was still alive, but couldn’t move, and was most likely bitten by the snake shortly before we got there. After about 10 minutes, the puff adder slowly moved to the back end of the rat, pushed at it with its nose and licked its quarry with its tongue, probably to check that the rat could no longer bite it. After this the snake moved toward the front-end and began to swallow the rat. The…

In April, I bought the 2015 Amarok 4x2 diesel model with 8-speed automatic gearbox. The article “Our 8-speed Amarok” (Drive Out #94) about the 4-motion diesel model, creates the impression that it’s actually a “soft” 4x4. I say this, because I previously owned a 2007 BMW X3 diesel 3 litre. The model had a 6 cylinder engine and 6 speed automatic gearbox, that could develop 160 kW and 500 Nm torque. In comparison, the Amarok delivers 132 kW and 420 Nm torque. Just look at how technology improves! Now, with a 2 litre engine you can get almost the same amount of power as with an old 3 litre engine. I just want to add, and maybe I’ll get klapped for saying this, but the BMW delivered its power in…

New passports and ID cards now available at banks South Africans can now apply for their new ID cards and passports at banks. The department of Home Affairs says this initiative was launched in order to shorten the waiting period for the issuing of ID documents, and also to make it easier for the public to apply for them. The department hopes that it will quicken the phasing-out of the older green ID books, which are apparently easy to falsify. The application process remains the same as at any Home Affairs office. The service is available at Standard Bank, FNB and Nedbank and will soon be available at Absa. You can collect your new document at the same bank. Come for a ride with Drive Out…