Table of contents for July 2016 in SA4x4

If you had to compare a Swiss watch and Travel in Africa, they would be on opposite sides of the planet. The one does the same thing all day, every day, with absolute consistency; the other is likely to throw up new challenges and demand much in the way of lateral thought and problem-solving every day. Quite the opposite of clockwork. Ask anyone who has ever taken on an overland journey. The trick is to be flexible, to let go of strict schedules, and to make the most of what does happen – whenever it does. Take Andrew Middleton’s foray into Angola, in this issue. There was meant to be a boat journey in there somewhere: it never happened, for a number of reasons. And campsites were not strictly scheduled,…

From July this year, Ford will offer a six-speed automatic transmission option on the new Ranger 2.2 Duratorq TDCi. The Ranger is one of the first pick-ups in the LCV segment to offer an automatic transmission on the smaller-capacity intermediate derivatives. This automatic option will be made available across all three body styles and specification levels, including the entry-level XL, the mid-range XLS and the top-end XLT. The Single Cab and Super Cab can also be specified in XL and XLS guises for the 2.2 Auto. The six-speed automatic, previously only available on 3.2-litre derivatives, has been specially adapted for the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine to make the most of its power output of 118kW and 385Nm torque peak.…

After claiming the 2016 car of the year crown and numerous international accolades, the striking Volvo XC90 has just received a new flagship. The T8 Twin Engine designation refers to Volvo’s new plug-in hybrid system which combines a 2.0-litre turbo- and supercharged engine as well as an electric motor. While an electric motor (65kW/240Nm) powers the rear wheels, the fronts get a 235kW/400Nm boost from the petrol engine. Costing as little as R20 to charge the XC90 at current electricity prices, the 2.2 ton Volvo can run entirely on electric power at slow speeds, aiding the ridiculous claimed economy of only 2.1l/100km. Regenerative braking aids in recharging the battery when slowing down. Various drive modes are available to drivers, including‘Pure’(fully electric up to 125kmh),‘Hybrid’(default efficiency mode balancing electric and petrol…

“Don’t get blown up by a land mine, Andrew,” was my farewell from a friend as I heaved my laden bags from the boot of his car. What great mates I’ve got, eh? But, in all honesty, I had no idea what to expect. Angola would be my longest trip to date for SA4x4, and the first ‘real African’ country I’d be visiting. You’ll see what I mean by that later. Tedious red tape snarled things earlier because I first lost, then found, the passports; got my visas at the last-minute, and then a dodgy contact in Namibia attempted to scam me out of R2900 - all of which made me nervous. Also, I’d met the man I’d be travelling with only once, in a scorching desert, when he casually…

I’d better get this out of the way from the start. You see, I am totally, irrevocably in love with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in northern KZN. I have been for a long time. And I love Nissan Patrols - finish and klaar! So, forgive me if I seem completely biased in the tale which follows, which is mainly about swanning around the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in a Nissan Patrol GL. I head up to Lake Sibaya on 4x4 tracks, and throw in a couple of sideshows – like the Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park for good measure. But, first, a little ‘information overload’ to give you some hint of what lies ahead on this trip. This is a region of eight interlinking ecosystems, 332 thousand hectares of…

ACCOMMODATION There are three accommodation facilities in the Coastal Forest section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Rocktail Beach Camp has 10 x twin/double en-suite units and 7 x 4-sleeper family units and is situated at Island Rock. Thonga Beach Lodge with its 12 x twin/double en-suite units and the Mabibi Campsite which has 10 campsites (with no plug-points) are situated at the Mabibi Beach. ACTIVITIES Scuba diving at Mabibi and Island Rock Snorkelling and swimming at Mabibi, Island Rock, Lala Nek, Rocktail Bay, Black Rock, Dog Point Kayaking on Lake Sibaya (Thonga Beach Lodge guests only) Birding Walking Salt-water flyfishing and rock- and surf fishing The maximum number of vehicles allowed at day-visitor sites is as follows: (Mabibi 5, Island Rock 5, Lala Nek 5, Rocktail Bay 5, Black Rock…

There’s no reason not to have your own four-wheel drive adventure in the Central Kalahari just because you live thousands of miles away, or because the only Land Rover you own is 1/64th scale. The “self-drive” safari is a surprisingly affordable and accessible way to experience southern Africa. If it’s your first time, or you are arriving from very far away, as we were, it’s useful to plan your trip with one of the many firms that organise self-drive tours. We booked with the amazing staff at Drive Botswana. www.drivebotswana.com/en/ info@drivebotswana.com  +267 492 3416 Drive Botswana spent months working with us on a detailed itinerary for our safari – one that took into account our experience with Africa (none), our desire for adventure (high), our comfort handling a…

We had been living in Australia from 2008, but the global financial crisis had led to many mines being closed or sold in Australia, and many workers were being laid off. Sadly, it hit closer to home than expected. Since Australia is an incredibly expensive country to live in, especially when you don’t have an income, we decided to move back to South Africa at the end of 2014. When we’d arrived in Perth in 2008, we’d bought a 1997 Series 80 Land Cruiser and most of the paraphernalia needed to go bush. We had been on some amazing trips in the Cruiser and we really loved the old girl. Thus, when we had to start packing our stuff to move back to South Africa, the logical question was, ‘What…

PROVINCE Western Cape Nearest town Ladismith – 34km Nearest fuel stop Ladismith – 34km Directions At 295km from Cape Town, the Touwsberg Nature Reserve is accessible by getting onto the R60 via Worcester then the R62 past Ashton. Continue past Ashton on the R62 for 121km before you spot the sign for Touwsberg on the left of the road. From George, continue to Oudtshoorn (63km) then hop on to the picturesque R62 through Zoar and Ladismith for another 135km before reaching the Touwsberg sign on the right. GPS S330 37 49.5 E210 00 39.8 TRAIL DETAILS Terrain Mountains and river crossings Guided/Unguided Unguided Open/Closed Call for a booking Will I get lost? No Difficulty 2 VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS Low-range No Diff-lock No Minimum ground clearance Any modern softroader will handle the…

TEST DATA • R567 900 • Odometer 9085 km ENGINE Cylinders/Capacity I5/3199ccValves 20Bore and stroke 89.9x100.76mmCompression ratio 15.8:1Fuel supply Common railFuel DieselMax power 147kW @ 3000rpmMax torque 470Nm @ 1500-2750rpm TRANSMISSION Shift type AutomaticFirst gear 4.171Second gear 2.312Third gear 1.521Fourth gear 1.143Fifth gear 0.687Sixth gear 0.619Final drive 3.73Reverse 3.403Low range Standard CONTROLS 4WD selection type Electronic rotary dial Steering type Electronic power steeringWheels 17 x 8inch alloy4WD type Part-time CHASSIS/SUSPENSION Chassis type Ladder frameSuspension (front) Independent, coil springsSuspension (rear) Solid axle, leaf springsTurning circle 12.7mTyres Continental Cross Contact 265/65/R17 MEASUREMENTS (MM) Length 5354Width 2163Height 1851Wheelbase 3220Front/rear track 1560/1560 FUEL INDEX (LITRES/100KM) Fuel capacity 80Highway 10.4Urban 10.7Average 10.55Manufacturer index 8.9Calculated range @ average 758km PERFORMANCE 0-100km/h 10.6100-120km/h 4.1Maximum speed 175Rpm @ 120km/h 2000 RECOVERY POINTS Front Yes (x1)Rear Yes (x1) UNDERBODY…

This short article explains how to set up a portable plug-and-play unit that you can use in your car, boat or caravan. This is indeed a fun weekend project, with plenty of uses down the line. By assembling the various components yourself, you are able to make some cost savings compared to buying a complete off-the-shelf unit. A useful aspect of this design is the ease of monitoring the state of battery charge. This is achieved through connecting a Victron Battery Monitor along with a VM Bluetooth Dongle, and using a smartphone app, through which you can keep a record of the voltage, run-time and battery capacity in real time. All the items are purchased from Deltec Energy Solutions. WHAT YOU WILL NEED 4xAndersonplugs(2 red & 2 grey) 1…

There’s no point in driving around with your roofrack/rooftop tent if you’re not on holiday. Save fuel (and wear & tear) by installing a Fredlin hoist. This proudly South African product solves the problem of where to store your roofrack/ rooftop tent, canopy, or even a sports car hardtop: up and out of the way! The Fredlin hoist fastens securely to your garage roof or carport, is easily installed and can be operated by one person. TO ENTER One Fredlin hoist will be given away every month to the lucky reader featured in Me & My 4x4. Simply send a photograph – 1 MB or larger – and the answers to the categories shown above, to editor@sa4x4.co.za. Vehicle and driver must be featured together in an off-road setting. (No driveway…

It’s just three short years since the GL was facelifted (after its initial launch in 2006), so the arrival of the GLS (newly minted as the “S-Class of SUVs”) is really no more than a quick spit and polish and a name change for the old GL. What remains unchanged is that this is one behemoth of a vehicle: 2.5 tons, 5.1m long, just under two metres wide and capable of hauling seven passengers in opulence along most sorts of terrain, from highways to decidedly bumpy off-road tracks. The GLS is a rival for the big brothers of the premium SUV world, heading up against the Range Rover, Infiniti QX80, Lexus LX570/LX450d and Audi Q7. It’s somewhat bigger in silhouette than the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg and BMW X5. Unlike…

Though the 2016 Hilux has just been launched, a Dakar special edition is expected soon - most likely to coincide with the 2017 Dakar Rally. Expect a power boost to the 2.8-litre GD-6 engine as well as some cosmetic upgrades to match. The Dakar edition Hilux will go head to head with other special editions like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. News of Toyota Australia stopping sales of the venerable FJ Cruiser has sparked debate about whether Toyota SA will stop its sale here. Good news for lovers of these rather good off-road toys with their thirsty V6 is that “...the FJ will continue sale in SA for the foreseeable future”. That’s the word from TSA themselves.…

4X4 SHADES BunduAwn Just like a good pair of shades, the BunduAwn Awning from Bundutec provides a generous shade area for you, and protects your vehicle and its contents from the harsh sun. The awning comes in 2.45 and 2.95 square metre size options. It weighs about 20kg and can withstand winds of up to 80kph. This 3600 awning is also constructed with aluminised material that reflects the heat, and is proven to keep your vehicle and its contents 3-5 degrees cooler. R9100 (approx) www.bundutec.co.za CAMPING COOL Motorhome World Fiamma Awning F45 S&L When the sun decides to turn up the heat, it’s time to crank out the shade with this awning from Fiamma. Awning lengths vary between 300 and 550cm. The canvas covering comes in Blue Ocean, Deluxe Grey,…

‘Live the Journey Tours, and specifically our guide, Jakkals, specialises in taking tourists to spots they can’t visit without the help of a guide who has years of experience and knowledge. By ‘can’t visit, I mean that if you got stuck out there, you’d be is serious trouble. For this reason, your choice of guide is as important as keeping your wife happy – either way, the success of the trip depends on that person. Danie Van Ellewee (or ‘Jakkals, as he is known to everyone) has been touring Angola for years and knows the country like the back of his hand. He was one of the first operators to venture into Angola after the war. A trip with Jakkals doesn’t always follow a strict itinerary: constant improvisations are made…

What is considered to be the ultimate way to view wildlife in Africa? Many would say that their favourite 4x4 SUV is the best platform; others prefer an open Land Rover with a personal guide from a top safari lodge. Purists would rather opt for walking in the wilderness, for the chance of encountering the “Big Five” on their own turf. I was recently an observer in a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter from which all the doors had been removed - we were flying low-level for an aerial game census. This must be the ultimate way to view wildlife. With an unobstructed view of the bushveld rolling beneath like a magic carpet, I found it a surreal experience: the only limitation was ensuring that my eyes stayed wide open so…

The Toyota Rust de Winter 4x4 Jamboree remains one of the highlights on the 4x4 calendar. It’s one of those events you must take part in at least once – and 2016 was no different. It is a great place to compete in a safe and controlled environment, or simply to take the chance to put your vehicle through its paces and show off its ability. Some competitors are very serious about wanting to claim the coveted winner’s title, strategising months ahead of time and accessorising their vehicles to the full. Others, like the media contingent attending this year, are simply there to have fun and do crazy things with the stock-standard vehicles provided. And, this year, we were fortunate enough to enjoy this trip in the comfortable and utterly…

With the kids chewing gum wiped all over your leather, and ‘are we there yet’ ringing in from the back seat, you know you need a break, but where? Your wagon is full of kit and there’s a long road ahead but you’re keen on some adventure and respite from the noise. Touwsberg certainly offers the latter, but what about the former - adventure? Well, on a recent trip deeper into the Karoo, we stopped in to check it out. Located just off Route 62, past ‘Ronnie’s Sex Shop’ between Barrydale and Ladismith, and four hours out of Cape Town, Touwsberg offers a wide variety of chalets and accommodation options available to large families and adventure-seekers alike. Resting at the base of the Touwsberg mountain range, in a district known…

Having done a fair amount of research about the MadMan EMS (Engine Monitoring System) and having especially discussed its merits with others who use it, I ordered one to be fitted before the December holidays - I’d planned two long-drive holidays, and was eager to test the system. I was off to the Wild Coast in mid-December, and to the Mabuasehube area, which is on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, in early January. These two trips would be the ideal opportunity to learn how the Madman system works on my 3.2 diesel Pajero, as well as to experiment on how various driving styles affect my engine. Remembering the mantra, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure and you mustn’t measure what you don’t understand,” I was looking…

TEST DATA • R547 900 • Odometer 4208km ENGINE Cylinders/Capacity I4/2755ccValves 16Bore and stroke 93x103.6mmCompression ratio 15.6:1Fuel supply Common railFuel Diesel 50ppmMax power 130kW @ 3400rpmMax torque 450Nm @ 1600-2400rpm TRANSMISSION Shift type AutomaticFirst gear 3.6Second gear 2.090Third gear 1.488Fourth gear 1Fifth gear 0.687Sixth gear 0.580Final drive 3.909Reverse 3.732Low range Standard CONTROLS 4WD selection type Electronic Steering type Hydraulic power assistWheels 265/65R17 Alloy4WD type Part-time CHASSIS/SUSPENSION Chassis type Ladder frameSuspension (front) IndependentSuspension (rear) Solid axle, leaf springsTurning circle 11.8mTyres Bridgestone Dueller A/T 265/65/17 MEASUREMENTS (MM) Length 5355Width 1855Height 1815Wheelbase 3085Front/rear track 1535/1550 FUEL INDEX (LITRES/100KM) Fuel capacity 80Highway 8.7Urban 9.2Average 8.85Manufacturer index 7.98Calculated range @ average 903km PERFORMANCE 0-100km/h 11.0100-120km/h 3.6Maximum speed 200Rpm @ 120km/h 1800 RECOVERY POINTS Front Yes (x2)Rear No UNDERBODY PROTECTION Sump Thick steel plateFront diff YesCentre…

PLACE: NAIROBI ROUTE: LAKE TURKANA, NORTHERN KENYA DATE: CHRISTMAS TIME 1986 With my ‘better half’ in Johannesburg being fattened up for Christmas, I was left in Nairobi to sell the old truck and to ensure that the French shorty, which we’d been asked to deliver to France, was made ready for the desert. Apart from a flimsy aluminium roof rack, the French 88-inch had been left bare. The tyres were bald, there was only one spare, the springs were flat, and the shocks finished. I set about planning how we were going to travel in the little Landy: where to sleep (we hated ground tents), and where to store fuel and water for an extended Sahara trip, along with food, spares, clothes, tools, the cooker, the cool-box… Unlike the French,…

TROTS OP FOTOS Het daardie fotos van julle in SA4x4 Mei 2016 op bladsye 46 en 62 my ou hart nou sommer lekker op loop gejaag en teruggevoer na ‘n “grootmeneer-spog” ervaring waarna ek nou mankoliekerig verlang! Tydens my studentedae, het ek telkemale gehoor dat daar niemand slimmer is as ‘n tweedejaar-student nie. Hierdie ervaring het dit op sy kop gekeer: Daar is niemand slimmer of meer bedrewe as die eienaar van ‘n “my eie” eerste, nuwe motor nie. Lekker dae van jeukerige voortvarendheid, hardkoppigheid - en bowenal ook soms romantiek. As nuweling onderwysers op die klein Vrystaatse dorpie is ons joviaal uitgenooi na ‘n tradisionele boere-verwelkomingsbraai. Warm, droë dae van stofstorm na stofstorm het die grondpaaie in sandpaaie verander, maar dis nie ‘n probleem nie; vervoer is ook gereël.…

Long yearned for in SA, a V6 Amarok is under consideration for mid-2017, when the current line-up of VW bakkies is due for a major update. Current 2.0-litre petrol and diesel mills will most likely be carried over, but the V6 turbodiesel (similar to that used in the Touareg) will be offered in three power outputs, as it is in Europe. A 120kW, 150kW and 165kW/550Nm (up from 132kW and 420Nm in the 2.0 BiTDI) version will make the V6 diesel Amarok one of the most powerful production bakkies currently on sale in SA (giving away only 5kW to the 170kW V6 Nissan Navara). While mated to VW’s renowned eight-speed ZFsourced auto box, the new Amarok claims that its consumption is as little as 7.5l/100km. Permanent 4Motion 4WD will be…

Birds exploit almost every available food source so generously provided by good old Mother Earth. The length of the menu easily exceeds the distance between the front and rear wheels of a long-wheelbase double-cab Defender, and includes rock-hard seeds, juicy ripe fruit and succulent plants, green and dry grass, sweet and soothing nectar, crunchy cockroaches and eerie insects. They also eat copious amounts of red meat - in the form of rodents and other small birds, freshly caught fish, worms, molluscs… and even rotting carrion. Equally impressive and varied is their specialised and ingenious feeding technique. Some birds, like sparrows, hop around humbly on the ground, searching for seeds; others, like falcons, dive down from the sky at incredible speed to exterminate their flying prey in mid-air, using the deadly…

‘‘There are 300 lions in the Kalahari.” So says the poster at the Matswere Gate of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Dirty, wind-blown and bemused, I read this as my husband Steve was signing us out of the park. We’d been bombing around the Kalahari in a Toyota Hilux for three days and our tally of lions seen was precisely… zero. For the rest of the trip, when people inevitably (often immediately) asked, “So, you’ve seen lions?” I couldn’t tell what baffled them more: that we hadn’t, or the smile, shrug, and cheerful “nope” with which we responded. “Ah, too bad. Cheetahs, though?” Eyebrows raised. “Nope; no cheetahs.” “Leopards? Surely you’ve seen a leopard?” At this point the inquirer’s voice would rise, willing us to answer in the affirmative. “No…

Hilux vs Ranger, the Blues vs the Reds – a veritable war on home turf that (if sales are to be believed) the Hilux is winning. Both Toyota and Ford have extremely brand-loyal customers that won’t admit defeat – but surely one must be better than the other. INTERIOR Both released this year in SA, the new Ford and Hilux have received massive interior updates which include new touchscreens, new dashboards, new interfaces and improved materials all round. Of course, under the skin, the Ford isn’t all new - it’s ‘just’ a facelift of the model launched in 2011, but that hasn’t stopped it from producing a truly class-leading product. In the Ford, everything falls to hand without thought, as simple, intuitive design works its magic. The dash layout is…

‘‘Everybody has a world, and that world is completely hidden until we begin to inquire. As soon as we do, that entire world opens to us and yields itself. And you see how full and complex it is.” - David Guterson. In a world of changing technology, automotive lubricants have changed along with motor vehicle technology, and these lubricants have become extremely complex – and more difficult to understand. However, our opening quote shows that it is worth digging deep. In last month’s article, we said that the correct choice of base oil is a major determining factor in the quality and performance of the finished lubricant. We also discussed the confusion created by the oil industry and lubricant marketers who use the term ‘synthetic’ to describe an engine oil…

WINNER GRANT MURPHY Grant’s friend, Rob Gravette, couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture his son’s reactions from the passenger seat of a 2010 Toyota Fortuner as they drove through the Sondela 4x4 trail. Grant’s Fortuner is fitted with OME suspension, a snorkel, roof rack, Rhino 4x4 bumper and new BFG KO2 tekkies. MIKE ROETZ Nothing builds trust like having a stranger drive you across a riverbed in a 4x4. During a teambuilding weekend away, Mike drives his Land Cruiser LX S/W through the Klein Lethaba Riverbed, close to the Kruger Park. CLYDE WELTON Giving a thumbs up to off-roading, Clyde was caught driving up Sani pass in his classic 1984 model Range Rover 3.5-litre V8 in December last year. ZANE AND JO VOLKER Getting creative with photography, Zane and Jo…

ALEX KIOILOS 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 2.7-LITRE V6 Age: 66 Occupation: Engineering equipment valuer Modifications: Suspension lift, uprated rear springs Koni shocks on rear Sump bash plate Stripped out rear seats Purpose-maderoll-outsystemfornine ammo boxes and two Wolf Pack boxes Rollout for Snomaster 66-litre double-door fridge 50-litre drinking water tank 60-litre shower water incl. pump and heat exchanger with radiator water Custom Leisuretech rooftop canvas tent Additional fuel tanks (70 litres) Auxiliary battery and inverter, two solar panels Madman engine monitor Future Modifications: Intake snorkel Dream Vehicle: Land Cruiser 100 Series Most memorable trip: Botswana to Kasane , Senyati camp, Chobe Game Reserve, Namibia (Caprivi) Ngepi Camp (awesome location next to the Okavango River), Maun, Moremi Game Reserve, Nata Planned trips: Kgalagadi (Mabuasehube) through to Namibia and Sossusvlei I…