SA4x4

There are quite a few people out there who would question the wisdom of most 4x4 adventures. They are sure to ask what motivates the desire to travel for days on bumpy gravel roads and, after hours of inhaling dust, to set up a flimsy tent on a winds

In today’s day and age, with access to all the information we have ever wanted at the click of a button, it is scary to see how uninformed people really are. As a result of this, we often hear about how things go horribly wrong when it comes to recov

As an avid reader of SA4x4, I sometimes wonder at how nit-picky some people can be. I refer to the article in the Forum of the February edition, titled “Bakkie Oversights” on page 6. One sometimes has mishaps that you cannot avoid. For argument’s sak

Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) are the most widespread of the African monkeys; occurring from the Ethiopian Rift Valley, highlands east of the Rift, and southern Somalia, through the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Za

We all love the sound of an old Rover V8 or the scream of a four-litre Lexus-powered Cruiser blasting up a dune. These large capacity eight-cylinder drinkers sure are good to hear and even better to drive – if you’re not paying the fuel bill. Nowaday

Halo, the world leader in specialised LED strip lighting, has the perfect solution for lighting up the great outdoors. This handy lighting comes in 220V AC or 12V DC, and in lengths of 2.5m, 5m, and 10m. Individual lengths can be joined together when

It’s hard to argue against a brand new, top-spec double cab with all the latest bells and whistles for the same price as a five-year-old Hilux with 100 000km on the clock. That’s precisely where Mahindra fits into the picture. This company, which now

The venerable and legendary 200 Series has received a few extra tech features for the 2020 range. The top-spec VX-R derivative receives a 14-speaker JBL sound system and rear-seat entertainment featuring 11.6-inch screens. Six exterior colours are no

I now live in England but African blood runs through my veins. In nearly 20 years as a 4x4 journalist, I have attended over 10 Defender Trophy events. They are always held in southern Africa, and, as the name suggests, they are for Defenders only. La

A very important distinction needs to be made between the offroader and the overland traveller; often the two are thought to be the same. An offroader uses his vehicle, usually highly modified and not his daily driver, for recreational purposes and p

The French eat them in great numbers but few other people are quite as adventurous. What am I talking about eating? Snails, of course. I have written a few articles extolling the virtues of bush tucker because it’s plentiful and easy to find. But not

Travelling and exploring what lies beyond the horizon has been in my DNA for as long as I can remember. These adventures have taken me to many wild and wonderful places on the four continents where I have worked and lived. Off-roading was an early at

Call it the Mountain Kingdom, or the Switzerland of Africa. These are all well-earned nicknames for Lesotho, as its dramatic peaks and remote highlands are difficult to traverse on foot, let alone by wheeled transport. So it’s no surprise Lesotho off

I’m out solo, exploring an isolated gravel track in Uganda when the stunning Lake Albert comes into view over the crest of a hill. I strategically park the Jeep to get the best photo possible and walk away with camera in hand. As I climb the rock ban

When it comes to overland exploration, there are several ways to go about it. You can go the lightweight route with a bakkie and a tent, you could tow an equipped off-road trailer, or you could opt to travel in your home-on-wheels. The Dreamcatcher i

With a brand new Amarok co-developed with Ford on the horizon for 2022, or thereabouts, VW is rolling out a few special editions based on the existing technology. It’s a sure way to ensure consumer appeal against some of the contemporary rivals who a

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are an essential piece of kit when travelling and they are becoming more common on new vehicles. But what if you want to fit a pressure monitor to your older 4x4 that has taken you all over the world? The probl

A Forester is not your conventional overlanding vehicle, but Neill’s Scooby is fitted with a 1-inch lift kit, BF Goodrich AT tyres, Gorilla mud flaps, upgraded aluminium radiator and a sump guard. A Front Runner roof rack carries a second spare wheel