SA4x4

By Koos Pieters Many people with a limited interest in birds probably know about three or four different species – like finches, doves, sparrows and falcons – and most of the birds that they come across probably fall into one of their known categorie

Words & pictures Zac Graham “He’s stalking you.” “No, he isn’t – he just wants that solid shade under the A-frame.” “Look how he’s staring at you.” “He’s just curious – he’s never seen a naked human before.” “No – he’s stalking you.” “What do you mea

Why a Warn winch? This is the question I recently ran into when kitting out my new Hilux Revo. In the “good old days” you had a choice between Warn and Ramsey, and if you were lucky, one or two others. Now we have a regular smorgasbord of choices, wi

By Mic van Zyl Whether you are banging about in the bush over rough terrain, clambering over rocks up a mountain pass, fording through a rocky water crossing, or travelling on a rural road at night with your eyes peeled for that Kudu that suddenly ap

Born out of a deep love for engineering and thousands of kilometres’ worth of off-road experience, RATAU Hard Canopies has emerged as one of Mpumalanga’s premier vehicle metalwork manufacturers. Operating out of Middelburg, the company is directed by

Words & pictures Calum Buckmaster “Eish!” “What are you Mzungus doing?” “From there? To here? In this?” “Barefoot?” “Ah, no, man!” A fairly typical greeting from people we met – including policemen. Friendly, but puzzled and amazed. Fair enough. It’s

Whether or not you have obvious damage like a puncture, it is always important to inspect your tyre after every 4x4 trip to check for cuts, chipping and sidewall damage. Heat damage: Driving for extended periods at low pressures, such as on a long du

Date: 1-11 July 2018 Venue: Mana Pools National Park & Lake Kariba Cost: R11 500 per person sharing Includes: Camping & Park fees, Dinner & 2 breakfasts Excludes: Fuel, Lunch, Drinks, VHF radio hire This unique park is a WORLD HERITAGE SITE, based o

By Paul Donovan Fire-lighting is one of the most essential skills in any camping, wilderness, or survival situation. And, depending on the type of tinder you use, there are many ways in which a fire can be lit. But first let’s get one thing straight;

“Impala are amongst the most graceful and beautiful of antelope. Yet they are rarely given a second glance” This month, I would like to start a series of articles focusing on animals that are frequently overlooked because they are so often seen. Oxym

BMW Group South Africa has finally started production of the new X3 at its Rosslyn plant in Gauteng. The cars will supplement those being built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, creating and maintaining the livelihoods of thousands of workers. Bac

Words & pictures Andrew Middleton Having installed Pedders TrakRyder suspension (SA4x4 May edition), we return to the Avis Safari Rental factory. The next step is finicky, and many small tasks (like installing brackets or drilling holes) must be comp

All over South Africa, and especially in Namibia, sand is a vital part of any 4x4 adventure. Once the skills to conquer it have been mastered, sand driving is possibly the most fun you can have in a 4x4. In this chapter, we delve into some of the tip

Do you have a magic shot in your photo collection that captures the essence of overland travel? SA4x4 is keen to promote adventure travel the world over, and to share those amazing memories with all our readers.Trawl your image banks and share those

We’ve driven the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and we can confirm: it’s more than a van. Mercedes has followed through on its promise of a large van that has the feel of one of its luxury vehicles, especially on the top-end variants. The new MBUX infot

Bass Lake is sited in an old Dolomite quarry filled with clean spring water. The venue, started 22 years ago and run by Alan and Karen Pepper, has twice been a venue for the Bridgestone 4x4 Club Challenge series. The waterfront has 16 grass lapas tha

Words Angus Boswell Photography Uli Sonntag “This is the new ship of the desert,” exclaims the Omani driver, giving the door panel of his 4.0-litre V6 Land Cruiser 70 Series a solid thump. “We no longer have to rely on camels like we did 30 years ago

As they do every year, Jeep and Mopar team up to surprise us with new concepts built on various models in their line-up, demonstrating adventurous design and improved capabilities. An assortment of prototype and Jeep Performance Parts are used to cre

By Andrew Middleton Images Paul Donovan & Supplied Water is the elixir of life and a priority on any overland journey. We need at least two litres per day just for drinking, before we can even consider washing grime off our skin, brushing our teeth o

SmartStraps’ Bungee X straps are extra wide and are perfect for securing smaller cargo like cooler boxes and jerry cans. They’re adjustable from 55cm to 120cm and feature signature steel-core rotating hooks that absorb any bumps and shakes on your tr

Words & pictures Jacques Marais This is one of those journeys that started quite some time ago. I’ve always been keen to get on board one of Peter Van Kets’ amazing adventures, but when we started chatting about a possible adventure collaboration ear