SA4x4

Overland Adventure

SA4x42 min read
Overlander’s Code
In response to a growing number of complaints about how we conduct ourselves in the wilderness, we decided to draw up and promote a code of conduct for overlanders. We’d like to include your input, comments and debate, so please send your suggestions
SA4x44 min readAutomotive
Update
How brilliant it is that some manufacturers can stay true to their roots, without softening their off-roaders for mass-market appeal as Land Rover appears to have done. Instead, we have to rely on Jeep, and now Suzuki, it seems, to make the right dec
SA4x42 min read
Shop Talk
Wheel balancing describes the distribution of mass within a 4x4’s tyre and its wheel. A poorly-balanced tyre or wheel will cause a vibration or wobble, which will generally gain severity as speeds increase. When you purchase a set of new tyres, it’s
SA4x42 min readAutomotive
Gear
The Thule Omnistor 5200 raises the standard for other awnings, with its patented tension arms, the Thule quick lock system, and quick-release support legs. The unit can be fitted with a 12V motor for automatic operation, and a variety of accessories
SA4x43 min read
The Wild Guide
“They call me MISTER Pig…” (Pumbaa, The Lion King) Warthogs are African members of the pig family (Suidae), famous for their long, upcurved tusks and facial ‘warts’. The term wart is something of a misnomer, however, as these protuberances are actual
SA4x48 min read
Glorious GABON
Story & Pictures Dan Grec Adventurer Dan Grec is sending us updates from his two-year trip around Africa’s perimeter, covering 30 countries and 130 000km. He is driving a four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. To follow Dan’s ongoing adventure around the e
SA4x41 min read
The Mountain 4x4 Route
Khumula Game Lodge realised there was a great need for a trail suitable for premium SUVs, where owners could test their vehicle on a variety of obstacles and challenges, but all within a safe operating environment with little to no risk of vehicle da
SA4x43 min read
Mud Driving
T he dark and slippery art of mud driving is a difficult subject to tackle, primarily because there are so many different types of mud. Sandy mud, black cotton soil, layered clay and waterlogged mud all have different characteristics and require a di
SA4x410 min read
A Tale Of Two Routes
Words & pictures Nick Yell Baviaans-lite. This is how I had imagined the first of the two routes that my fiancée, Annette and I, were to go on: a 270km dirt track that was to take us off the tarred N9 outside Uniondale and eventually deposit us on th
SA4x43 min readBiology
Ed’s Letter
One of the reasons for owning a four-wheel drive is that it gets places others can’t. Obvious, that. It might be your favourite remote fishing spot. It might be a high mountain trail where you can look out over the world. For many, it is a distant ca
SA4x41 min readAutomotive
Toyota Prado 3.0 D Vx-l
The new generation Prado 3.0D VX-L is a lovely vehicle to drive on the open road or on a 4x4 trail. This top version of the trusty D4-D turbodiesel has a very high specification level (at R979 600, it carries a hefty premium to the R830 400 asked for
SA4x45 min readAutomotive
Posh Pickup’s Got Grunt
By Stuart Reichardt While on the recent Slovenian launch of the new Mercedes X-Class 350d 4Matic, I had ample opportunity to put the vehicle through its paces in the scenic surrounds of the capital city, Ljubljana, and test the new V6 offering on-and
SA4x41 min read
Serengeti Migration Expedition
If there is one place you have to visit in your lifetime it is the Serengeti National Park to experience the annual wildebeest migration. You have all seen it on numerous documentaries on National Geographic but nothing compares to actually experienc
SA4x44 min readAutomotive
SEEN & HEARD
In celebration of 35 years of the Leatherman multi-tool, the company has launched a grant program with an initial funding amount of $100 000 for non-profit organisations which “aim to inspire, prepare, and develop the next generation of problem solve
SA4x43 min readAutomotive
Back-to-back Challenges
The Broject’s first challenge this month was the Wildebeest 4x4 Challenge Event in Robertson. We took Mike’s FJ (Fake Jeep), collected our trailer (sponsored by JP Trailers: www.jptrailers.co.za) and towed the Broject up early on Saturday morning to
SA4x42 min read
Trip Advisor
ROUTE 1: An alternative to Baviaanskloof Start & end points: From 13km outside Uniondale, to the T-Junction with the R334 about 14km south-west of Uitenhage. See map inset for details. Towns en route: None directly, although Patensie will be only 16k
SA4x41 min read
Khumula Lodge
Khumula Game Lodge is a family business, owned and managed by the Pretorius family who all love the great outdoors. The Game Lodge is situated in the old North Eastern Transvaal region, surrounded by the Maroni Mountains and falls under the Limpopo p
SA4x44 min readAutomotive
The Sharp End
Words & pictures Micky Baker The supercar SUV trend is inescapable. Soon, we’ll have the new Lamborghini Urus cruising through Camps Bay and Sandton, and it won’t be long before Ferrari follows suit. All the while, Maserati will have been quietly chu
SA4x48 min read
Forum
The article, Into TSETSE TERRITORY, by Kerry and Michael Fraser in the January 2017 issue, warned us of the expenses involved in a trip to Kafue in Zambia. They found that “… every man and his dog had their hand out to fleece us”. However, a year lat
SA4x46 min read
Interview with Tony Park
Tony Park is an Australian fiction writer whose novels touch on conservation, survival, adventure and conflict. However, there is one common thread running through all 15 of them – Africa. Tony was bitten by the safari bug more than 20 years ago, and
SA4x41 min readAutomotive
ME & MY 4x4
Age: 53 Occupation: Profession storyteller… Lecturer in Tourism at our local University and Tourist Guide Modifications: I own the original Land Rover used by Kingsley Holgate to do the Africa Outside Edge Expedition. Extras include double OME shocks
SA4x43 min read
Tampons
By Paul Donovan In any survival situation, we often have to be creative, and put things to uses for which they were not originally intended. Let’s forget for a few minutes about the personal hygienic properties of a Tampon, and look at it in another
SA4x47 min read
Angola Take#3
Story & Pictures Mark Schubert When my wife, Danelle, and I visited our friends Frans and Denise Eksteen in January 2018, we decided that (for the third time) Angola would be our next travel destination. We have travelled outside South Africa’s borde
SA4x43 min readAutomotive
Rowdy Ranger
Words & pictures Andrew Middleton Founded in 1995, Roush Performance focuses on the improvement of a range of (primarily) Ford vehicles by manufacturing high-performance components for both street and racing applications. Perhaps most famous for thei
SA4x42 min read
Angola Travel Tips
• 4x4 is a definite requirement. • Portuguese is an advantage, not a necessity. • You must be fully self-sufficient. • Have an updated Yellow Fever certificate. • Water is available in the small towns, although it’s a bit salty. (We each carried 55 l
SA4x45 min read
Made To Measure
Words & Pictures Anton Willemse Glacier-white sounded fitting on that icy cold June morning. My wife and I were travelling to the Maroni Mountains with some mates, for a quick weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Joburg. Coupled with relaxin
SA4x416 min readAutomotive
Black Ops Bush Truck Build
By Mic van Zyl Wheels and tyres play an important part in the suspension system of a vehicle and have a direct effect on ride quality. We’re going to look at some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to selecting wheels and tyres for your 4WD. The st
SA4x44 min read
Circle In The Sand
Words & pictures Nick Yell “Okay, so do we take the right or the left fork, boet?” I asked my co-pilot, David Lowe, who was looking as dazed and confused as I was after our previous evening around the campfire. Needless to say, he didn’t know; and it
SA4x43 min read
Trail Info
LOCATION: • Province: Northern Cape • GPS: S 26, 9534220° E 21, 8769310° • Nearest town: Van Zylsrus — 24km • Directions: From Johannesburg — Take the N14 to Kuruman and then the R31 to Van Zylsrus. Just before Van Zylsrus, take the Askham road and
SA4x42 min readAutomotive
Overlander For Hire
As with any overland vehicle, tyres play a vital role in the Avis fleet – but in this case, with poor tyres their entire business model would crumble. For this reason, Avis Safari Rentals have selected the best in the business for their vehicles, to
SA4x42 min read
Instagram Photo Competition
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
SA4x414 min read
BATTERY SYSTEMS & FRIDGE TACTICS
By Pieter de Waal This article is aimed at extended trips in adverse conditions. For a fridge set-up, adverse conditions include high ambient temperatures, short drive times per day, and long stationary periods with the engine switched off. In additi

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