Adventure Afrika

While checking the final pages of this issue, before going to print I realised that there are two underlying themes here: compactness and rains. Well, actually there are three as adventure is another one, but as a reader of this magazine you know that already. Adventure means different things to different people, but for us it’s about trying new things, visiting destinations near and far, sharing fantastic tales of great experiences and inspiring you to find your adventure. Sure, not everyone wants – or can afford – to pack an overland vehicle, leave the hussle and bustle of city life behind and head into the great unknown for weeks on end. Some people prefer weekend breakaways, short camping trips, spending valuable time with loved ones or exploring our beautiful country, one…

Letters to the Editor Johann Murray writes: I picked up your Issue 14 during a recent visit to my doctor’s consulting room and really enjoyed the reading material in it. Congratulations and thank you for giving us some great adventures! I drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d and will soon leave on a three-week drive from Stellenbosch to Pretoria, the Kruger National Park, KwaZulu-Natal and from there back to the Cape. I worked in Lesotho’s Highlands for three years and although I had to drive so-called bridal paths to get to my projects with my then Mercedes Benz ML, I never drove up or down Sani Pass. I do not have specific driver training for hard 4x4 trails, but consider myself responsible and competent, even though I am 78 years old! What is the…

We approached Cornel Jonker from Dastek for advice. Here’s what he had to say: We all feel the pain of these never-ending increases. Optimally tuning an engine should always improve your consumption but the question always remains: how far from perfect is your engine’s settings? Improving on it should help but spending money on tuning when there is a three per cent gain might not pay for itself. A big improvement could pay for itself rather quickly. For this reason, we fit and tune the Unichip on a dynamometer whilst monitoring power and emissions (and offer a three-month money-back guarantee). Also remember that many vehicles are used for typical day to day driving, doing the short school or work run. If this is the case, the vehicle will never run optimally as…

Find the names and terms of sightseenig spots in South Africa in the wordblock. Words can appear horizontal, vertical or diagonal and can be in any direction. Diaeresis and circumflex are not used. Words in brackets per explanation. AFRO (CHIC INTERIOR HOTELS) BASS(LAKE 4X4 TRIAL) BLOUKRANS BUNGEE (JOHANNES)BURG CLARENS DOLPHIN (COAST) EVITA SE PERRON GOLD REEF (CITY) HARTBEESHOEK (SATELITE SITE) HOUTBAY JOCK (OF THE BUSHVELD) KAAPSE KLOPSE KALABAS (LOUNGE) KANDUM KAROO KNYSNA KWV (CELLARS) LONG (TOM PASS) MAROPENG MODJADJI NAVY MUSEUM PELLA QUNU (MANDELA MUSEUM) ROUTE (62) SEWEWEEKS(POORT) SUDWALA (CAVES AND PRE HISTORIC PARK) SWARTBERG PASS TULBACH TWELVE APOSTLES V&A WATERFRONT WALTER (SISULU BOTANICAL GARDENS) AMPHI THEATER (IN DRAKENSBERGE) BAVIAANS(KLOOF) BLYDERIVER (CANYON) CAPE TOWN CLIFTON DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAIN FLATS (CAPE) GOLDEN (GATE) HECTOR PETERSON MUSEUM INDWE JUNK (PARK) KANGO (CAVES) KGALAGADI KOK(STAD) LOUNGE) (ST) LUCIA LYKSO MATJIES(FONTEIN) MOSSEL (BAY) NOUS PILANES (BERG PARK) RICHTERSVELD SABIE SKUKUZA TAAL (MONUMENT IN PAARL) TUNNEL (OF THE NZASM IN WATERVAL BOVEN) TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM VAAL (DAM) BALLITO BIG HOLE (KIMBERLEY) BO KAAP CATHEDRAL PEAK DANA (BAAI) DURBAN GAMKAS(KLOOF) GROENPUNT LIGHT HOUSE HOGGS (BACK) JANE (GOODALL CHIMPANZEE EDEN INSTITUTE) KAAP (PUNT) KALAHARI KANON (EILAND) KIMBERLEY KOUP LANG (STREET) MABANA (CULTURE CENTRE) MEIRINGSPOORT NAMAQUA (FLOWERS) ORIBI (GORGE) PONT (ON RIVER) ROBBEN ISLAND ROCK (PAINTINGS) SALT (ROCK) SPA (ALIWAL) SUID…

The winners of the South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition were recently announced, and Toyota has reigned supreme. The manufacturer scooped up four of the seven category awards, as well as the overall Car of the Year title for the The Corolla Cross was also the winner of the Compact Family category, while the hybrid model (as featured elsewhere in this issue) walked off with the silverware in the New-energy category. The popular Urban Cruiser won the Compact category and the mighty Landcruiser 300 dominated in the category for Adventure SUVs. The Nissan Navara was crowned as South Africa’s best double cab 4x4. Other category winners were the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the Midsize category and the Volkswagen Golf GTI in the Performance category. The C-Class was also announced as the…

Volkswagen has extended its local SUV range with the launch of the Taigo, which slots in between the T-Cross and the T-Roc in Volkswagen’s T SUV model range. There are now six vehicles on offer in the T SUV line-up namely, the T-Cross, Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and the Touareg. There are three Taigo models, all with the same engine and transmission, but with varying specification levels. The Taigo is a real looker and exterior highlights include an individualised front section with a chrome-look crossbar, projection light from the exterior mirrors and black roof rails. Standard features of the baseline Taigo Life 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG include LED headlights and taillights, a digital cockpit, 6.5-inch infotainment system, App-Connect, We Connect Go, front centre armrest with a USB-C interface, multi-function leather…