Adventure Afrika

“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”– Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher In the vastness of nature, where the whisper of the wind blends with the rustle of leaves, lies a serene simplicity that calls out to the adventurous soul in me. For some people, the dream of living as a nomad – wandering through the wilderness with only a 4x4 and a rooftop tent for shelter – stays a dream. For me, it has become a way of life, and as such, I want to take you with me into the beauty of embracing minimalism and simplicity while traversing the bush in search of new horizons. Living out of a 4x4 vehicle with a rooftop tent epitomises the essence of minimalism. With limited…

You ask - we answer I am a longtime 4x4 owner but want to do my first cross-border overlanding trip. What are the five most important things you need in your recovery kit? – Wessel Odendaal. Having completed numerous overlanding trips in various vehicles, our publisher Anton Willemse shares his opinion. Your recovery kit can be as extensive as you want it to be, but over the years, I have found that with the basics, you will be able to get out of almost any sticky situation the African bush has up its sleeve. I have also travelled with people with all the gadgets but no idea how to use them, which is almost worse than having an inadequate recovery kit – so whatever you take with you, be sure to…

ACCOMMODATION BOEREWORS BUY CARAVAN CHOP DURBAN REE GRID HOTEL LAZY LIFE NSRI READING RESTAURANT WATER ROWING SPEND SUITE SWIMMING POOL TOWEL WAVES ADVENTURE BOOGYBORD CAMPING CATAMARAN COAST END OF YEAR FRISBEE GUESTHOUSE ICE CREAM LIFE SAVERS OCEAN READING RIVERS THE SALAD STALL SUNBURN TANING TRAVEL WEST BEACH BRAAI CANO CELEBRATIONS COFFEE FARM FROST HAMBURGER JBAY MEAL PIER RELAX ROAD SHIP STAND SUNDOWNER TENT VACATION WIND BEACHES BRAAIWOOD CAPE CHIPS COLD FIRE FUDG HAT JOURNEY MUSIC PITCHING CAMP LATE RESORT ROAD SAFETY SHOPPING STAY SUNTAN LOTION TIME VOYAGE YACHT BIKINI BREEZE CAR CHARCOAL COSTUME FIRELIGHTERS GRID GAMES HOLIDAYS KAROO REST NATAL PLEASURE REST ROADWORTHY SLEEPING LATE STRECHER SWIMMING TOES IN THE SAND WATER…

Getting caught in the rain The song says: “If you love pina colada’s and getting caught in the rain…” I can live with the first, the last – not so much. That’s why I love the K-Way Backpack Rain Poncho. Made from 100 percent 190T polyester with a PVC rubberised coating and a seam-sealed design, it provides comfortable and reliable protection against strong winds and heavy downpours. It’s long and has ample space to accommodate a backpack, while a hood adds an extra layer of defence in unpredictable weather conditions. It comes in a carry-on bag for convenience on the go. *Available from R525: www.capeunionmart.co.za Forget the fumble There’s nothing worse than trying to find the zipper pull on your tent when it’s the middle of the night and you…

Major vulture conservation milestone celebrated The first phase of a project to secure the future of wild vulture populations in southern Africa has been successfully completed with 160 Cape and African White-backed vultures having settled into their new home at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The birds are the vanguard of a two-year project to establish a breeding facility, VulPro at Shamwari, for sick or injured vultures that have been rehabilitated and are able to breed but are non-releasable. In what is the largest relocation of vultures ever undertaken, the birds were transported the 1 042km from VulPro’s facility in Hartbeespoort to enclosures at Shamwari. The move involved over 50 people and took 18 hours, with all 160 birds loaded in just three hours. Logistics…

First launched in Japan in 1984, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary Land Cruiser 70. It is crazy to think that over 10 000 000 of these vehicles have been sold worldwide since then. That’s an astounding 250 000 per year! From its humble beginnings in 1951 as a mobility vehicle for Japan’s National Police Reserve, and then through over 70 years of continuous production, 14 model lines and thousands of variations, the Land Cruiser is the longest produced vehicle in Toyota’s history. During that time, it gained cult status within the four-wheel drive sector, consistently setting the benchmark for durability, ruggedness, reliability and flexibility. It is the world’s most customer-trusted vehicle and marked the foundation of Toyota’s development target of quality, durability, and reliability. Now, fast-forward…