SA4x4 February 2020

A few weeks ago I was parked off on a large 10-metre square raft being dragged very, very slowly across the 8km stretch of sea that separates the ghost town on the Isle dos Tigres and the dunes of Angola’s portion of the Namib Desert. The two 50hp outboards on the rubber duck were struggling to make headway against the weight of the raft, fully loaded with a brand-new Namib Edition 79 Series double cab. Precious cargo. This was a high point of an incredible action-packed few days in which we explored south-western Angola in new Land Cruisers, drove the Doodsakker twice in a single day, and even got to experience the Serra da Leba Pass near Lubango. But the best thing about that boat ride, which took the most…

A few weeks ago I was parked off on a large 10-metre square raft being dragged very, very slowly across the 8km stretch of sea that separates the ghost town on the Isle dos Tigres and the dunes of Angola’s portion of the Namib Desert. The two 50hp outboards on the rubber duck were struggling to make headway against the weight of the raft, fully loaded with a brand-new Namib Edition 79 Series double cab. Precious cargo. This was a high point of an incredible action-packed few days in which we explored south-western Angola in new Land Cruisers, drove the Doodsakker twice in a single day, and even got to experience the Serra da Leba Pass near Lubango. But the best thing about that boat ride, which took the most part…

ACTION-PACKED COUNT Wow, wow, wow. I can think of a better way to explain our game count experience in Hwange Game Park, in October. It started in May when I received an invitation from WEZ (Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe) to assist with their 50th annual game census in Hwange, something we had always wanted to experience. I immediately phoned our long-time travelling partners Johan and Ronel, they said they were in and ready to start planning for the October event. We had been to Mana Pools and Gonarezhou in 2018, and Hwange had always been on our bucket list. The afternoon before the game count, we were all sitting around waiting to we had been allocated. Listening to other people’s stories of previous counts, we could only hope that we…

ACTION-PACKED COUNT Wow, wow, wow. I can think of a better way to explain our game count experience in Hwange Game Park, in October. It started in May when I received an invitation from WEZ (Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe) to assist with their 50th annual game census in Hwange, something we had always wanted to experience. I immediately phoned our long-time travelling partners Johan and Ronel, they said they were in and ready to start planning for the October event. We had been to Mana Pools and Gonarezhou in 2018, and Hwange had always been on our bucket list. The afternoon before the game count, we were all sitting around waiting to we had been allocated. Listening to other people’s stories of previous counts, we could only hope that we got an exciting waterhole…

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 to editor@sa4x4.co.za. FIREWOOD Take your firewood in with you; don’t chop down trees or gather dead wood within parks or wilderness areas. KEEP QUIET We go to the bush to appreciate the sights and sounds of the bush. No music, and nothing louder than a spoken conversation. RESPECT LOCALS – LAWS AND PEOPLE Obey the rules of the place you’re travelling through. Respect locals and their traditions; if they don’t like having their photos taken, don’t take photos. SUPPORT LOCAL TRADE Your spending money at the local shops and lodges will…

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 to editor@sa4x4.co.za. FIREWOOD Take your firewood in with you; don’t chop down trees or gather dead wood within parks or wilderness areas. KEEP QUIET We go to the bush to appreciate the sights and sounds of the bush. No music, and nothing louder than a spoken conversation. RESPECT LOCALS – LAWS AND PEOPLE Obey the rules of the place you’re travelling through. Respect locals and their traditions; if they don’t like having their photos taken, don’t take photos. SUPPORT LOCAL TRADE Your spending money at the local…