overlanding Archives - Page 2 of 3

TIPS ON HOW TO NEGOTIATE AFRICAN ROADS

This post is mostly for the inexperienced first-time visitor/driver to the African continent. Always remember that Africa is quite different than any other continent. So be aware that you sometimes need to come out of your comfort zone to survive the continent. Things that seems abnormal on other continents is sometimes quite normal in Africa! Check your tyres before you drive off. It sounds a bit foolish, but this can safe you some embarrassment if you just walk around your vehicle once to check if all your tyres are still okay and inflated to the correct pressure. Now you are ready to hit the road and enjoy the rest of your trip. Tyre compressors and gauges at garages, especially in remote locations, are not always correct. Be aware of that. We have a habit of using our own tyre pressure gauge that we carry in our cubbyhole. Part of… Read more >

10 ESSENTIALS TO PACK FOR A VISIT TO KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK

At first glance the Kalahari is harsh and hot, but once it gets under your skin it is hard to forget the beautiful scenery that was etched into your memory on your first visit. To make a visit to the Kalahari easier and more enjoyable I am sharing a short packing list for your visit: 1. The number one slot is filled by a good body lotion. The air is dry in the Kalahari and the water do not treat your skin gently either. Unless you want to look like the dry riverbed of the Nossob river, pack enough of it. You will certainly need it. 2. And while on the lotion and potions pack the sunscreen, especially during the summer. You will spend most of your time in your vehicle, but even then make sure you cover up with suntan lotion to protect you from the African sun. 3. … Read more >

THE AFRICAN SUN IS NOT FOR SISSIES!

The summer is once again upon us and most of us love the sun, whether we are going to the beach or the bush, but remember Africa is not for sissies. Be a sissie and slap on the sunscreen, put on your hat and slip on some long sleeves. Always be prepared for the unexpected when you take on mama Africa’s sun. THE HOT AND THE SHORT We all know that we should not embark on a walking trail without a bottle of water in your backpack, but this also applies when you are in your vehicle searching for those elusive birds or animals to tick the checklist. As soon as you start feeling thirsty you are becoming dehydrated. Remember to consume enough fluids even if you are not very active. I always have to keep an eye on myself to consume enough fluids, especially when we are travelling, as… Read more >

10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

I am quite sure everyone can do with some extra cash when on holiday for the simple reason that you can experience more at your destination and take more memories home to feed the soul until the next trip. The key issue for me is that saving starts the moment you start planning your trip while still at home. Setting up a budget For me this is the number one in the planning process. This normally determines where I can go in the world, what to do, what to see, etcetera. For me as a South African certain countries are just too expensive to visit due to the FX rates and travel times, visas, etcetera. Setting the budget eliminates those countries immediately, although it is on my wish list and I religiously check them out every single time in the hope that something changed from the previous planning session. 2. … Read more >

MEET WALLACE

Wallace is our newly acquired, but already loved 2003 Td5 Land Rover. Not so young in years, but still going strong! Since Wallace arrived in our family there was some minor changes to it. First of all we had to change the number plates that it does not read “GP” anymore. Second major thing that needed to be done was to fix the oil leak (of course!). Then we started to fit some smaller things from our previous vehicles – an awning to one side for some protection against the harsh African sun and the unpredictable rain when we travel. Wallace’s story starts under the post: The Life of a Landy Wife First things first. A list of “essentials” was drawn up versus a list of “nice to haves” as our budget is not unlimited at the moment. Now everyone has a different “essentials” list and a different “nice to… Read more >

WHICH ONE? ROOFTOP VERSUS GROUND TENT

It is quite difficult to decide which is best: a rooftop tent or a ground tent. The truth is that both have advantages and disadvantages and there are a few factors that will determine which one will work best for YOU. So let us have a look at the broader picture. A rooftop tent is the easiest way to sleep off the ground. You will have to decide why this is important for you and your family. We as a family prefer to go for a ground tent as we do not want to carry all the weight on Wallace’s roof as it becomes a bit top heavy then. Top heavy in a Landy spells danger going down slopes – it always feel like Wallace is going to topple over. The pro’s and con’s One of the pro’s of a rooftop tent is it helps when your campsite is uneven… Read more >

COOKING IN THE BUSH

This surely is my favourite pastime when we are camping in a group – to watch how innovative people can get when preparing a meal with what you have at hand, especially when it is week two of a serious off-road trip. I myself like to keep things very simple! I prefer to travel as light as possible and keep the kitchen equipment/ utensils to the minimum. Fancy cooking is something that I will attempt when I am at home with all the crockery and cutlery at hand. After all, this is why we come to the bush – to get back to basics again and appreciate nature. I can proudly say that I have had a braai in countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast and Zambia! When camping there are basically two ways to cook – either with a gas cooker… Read more >

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