Enjoy the great 4x4 life from the comfort of your favourite lock-down chair! 

This month we drive a stock Nissan Navara on Botswana’s infamous Hunter’s Road in the wet season, cross the Kalahari in a repeat of a rather different journey of a half-century ago, and follow in the footsteps of a group of four mates from Knysna driving from South Africa to Rwanda in a creaky 1969 Land Rover Forward Control. We also review Garmin’s Overlander GPS, test a Tentco ice-box and drive Jeep’s Trail-Rated Compass. Look out for our new off-road driving column as well…

Get down and dusty in Zim, Bots and SA as you join the Defender Trophy, feel the pain as overlander Dan Grec trashes his Jeep in Uganda, and marvel at the luxuries on Dreamcatcher – an SA-built motorhome destined for the icy wastes of Russia. While you’re about it, get to grips with shackle selection for recoveries, and check out our tests on the new Mahindra Pik Up Auto and the Amarok Dark Label.

This month in  SA4x4 you can strike traveller’s gold at Songimvelo Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, join a Kaokoland adventure tour of Van Zyl’s Pass and the Marienfluss, drive Angola’s dangerous Doodsakker, and test an off-grid solar system in Botswana. Also, learn to use kinetic ropes and tow straps, run-in a new engine, and check out a great Defender Camper build.

SA4x4 is a dedicated four-wheel-drive magazine focused on the needs of Overlanding enthusiasts interested in ethical, light-footprint travel to remote locations all over southern Africa (and international destinations of interest). Field testing of vehicles, vehicle accessories and camping equipment is a key component of monthly content.

Drive SA’s longest 4x4 route, the Namakwa Eco Trail;  16 All-Terrain tyre footprints compared; Learn to use Recovery Tracks; Build your own off-grid solar system; What is better – coil or leaf springs?

SA4x4 is a dedicated four-wheel-drive magazine focused on the needs of Overlanding enthusiasts interested in ethical, light-footprint travel to remote locations all over southern Africa (and international destinations of interest). Field testing of vehicles, vehicle accessories and camping equipment is a key component of monthly content.

December 2019
Join an offbeat adventure tour through Swaziland and savour the tropical wonders of Inhaca Island in southern Mozambique, then head further north in Mozambique’s to Gorongosa and Gile national parks on a conservation drive, and feel the tension as an African adventurer braves a remote border post in the Congo. Get into the muddy fun of the Mystery Rally, learn why tyres are the first line of defence when it comes to recoveries, and figure out how to pack your overlander with more precision.

General description
SA4x4 is a dedicated four-wheel-drive magazine focused on the needs of Overlanding enthusiasts interested in ethical, light-footprint travel to remote locations all over southern Africa (and international destinations of interest). Field testing of vehicles, vehicle accessories and camping equipment is a key component of monthly content.

November 2019 content
Travel to the Eastern Cape highlands, follow the East-West Australia Expedition, drive three Cape World Heritage Sites. Read our bumper rooftop tent guide, learn to pack lighter and better, score the Ranger Wildtrak against the XLT, and get the lowdown on essential recovery equipment.

SPECIAL FEATURE:
Poacher’s Moon Patrol
A chance to join an anti-poaching
patrol at Mapesu Private Game
Reserve in northern Limpopo gives
a crew of 4x4 enthusiasts, from
Opposite Lock and Front Runner,
the chance to see the sharp end of
conservation efforts, OFF-ROAD TEST:
Ford Ranger Raptor
Everyone has seen the Ranger
Raptor carving up sand dunes
and bouncing over humps. Can
the race-bred suspension and
157kW bi-turbo engine deal with
the rigours of a rocky trail? We
put it to the test at Tierkloof...

OVERLAND: Khaudum National Park, Namibia: On a fast-flying mission through Khaudum in Namibia’s far
north-eastern corner, the crew from Rolbos Overland, Simon vd Merwe and Minouw Coetzee, tackle the thick sand tracks of this unspoilt park, 4X4 ICON:
Discovery Birthday: We visit the Zinkwazi home of
Kingsley Holgate to celebrate the 30th birthday of another great African traveller: the Land
Rover Discovery. Of course, the Holgates are intimately linked to each of the five generations of
this off-roader that changed the company’s fortunes...

RAINFOREST CHALLENGE: Malaysia The Challenge is on, and it involves rivers of red mud, scorpions and insane fellow drivers in equally insane 4x4s.
Chris Collard winches us through the mire, ADVENTURE:
Lesotho LR Xtreme The annual gathering of Pretoria-based service centre LR Xtreme gets more than anyone bargained for when torrential rain floods the planned tour through Lesotho...

DRIVING EXPERIENCE: Namibia Would you ramp your BMW X3
up and down a couple of dunes in Namibia? As Micky Baker
finds out, with a few mods this streetwise SUV can do double duty as an adventure tourer, ULTIMATE ADVENTURES:
Zambian migrations It’s that time of year again when two
of Africa’s great migrations are set to run: the wildebeest in Liuwa Plain in Western Zambia and the bats in Kasanka in Northern Zambia. This is a spectacular tour; don’t miss out!...

AFRICA TRAVEL: Zambia - Dan Grec is by now almost famous for making the most of his travels, and his journey through Zambia proves no exception. Apart from the friendly people, he is fascinated by the sheer breadth of natural beauty, from giant waterfalls to great game sightings.

ULTIMATE ADVENTURES: Mana Pools - One of the great African safaris is a visit to Mana Pools, a series of oxbow lakes sited on the Zambezi River. The abundance of game is just one of the reasons to visit these pools, which have been declared a World Heritage site.

LUXURY RAMBLE: Southern Mozambique - Stuart Reichardt joins an Isuzu-run tour of southern Mozambique’s towns and the myriad sandy tracks of the Maputo Special Reserve, while cosseted in the mu-X SUV. The digs? These guys went five-star.

ULTIMATE ADVENTURES: Lesotho - Drive up Sani Pass before it becomes a doddle – the preparation for tarring proceeds at pace – and meander the highlands and on to Katse Dam’s delights. A tour that makes a gentle introduction to the Mountain Kingdom...

OVERLAND IMAGES: Snap, post and win - Our year-long Overland Images competition, which runs on Instagram, is almost wrapped up. Be sure to get in your entries to qualify for the great monthly and final prizes on offer.

BUSINESS PROFILE: Melvill & Moon - Safari legends of old inspired the company that started making premium seat covers in 1998, with an attention to detail and truth to original materials that shows craftsmanship is still alive and thriving..

READER STORY: The Zim Lottery - A family tour to Zimbabwe
planned by photographers and eco-tourists Anneke and Johan van Rensburg doesn’t go all according to plan, but on the swings
and roundabouts scale, there are some great experiences. You just need to take it easy and think on your feet.

EVENT: Battle of the Beasts - A fund-raiser for a local school held at the Dirt & Dust venue in Durbanville turned out to be a roaring success, combining a 16-obstacle challenge with loads of family fun stuff...

COOPER DUST SERIES: 2018 done & dusted Finalists travelled to the dustiest place on earth, Vanywksvlei
in the Northern Cape, for two days of gruelling challenges to determine the winners of what
organiser Gerrie van Eeden describes as “a thinking man’s event”, OVERLAND IMAGES: Snap, post and win
Our year-long Overland Images competition, which runs on Instagram, is in full swing with a great monthly prize to be won and super drawcards for the finalists. Submit your entry now...

GAMKABERG NATIONAL PARK: X-Class adventure Micky Baker finds his X250d is a perfect companion as he takes in the stillness, off-grid accommodation and scenic 4x4 tracks at this award-winning SANParks escape, VEHICLE TEST: Nissan NP300 It’s back to the Nineties with this workhorse, and
that little matter of the NCAP re-test to consider, ULTIMATE ADVENTURES: Best of Botswana Pressed for time? Join this 10-day tour that covers the unfenced splendour of the Okavango Delta, Savuti and Chobe national parks, and
includes a flight over the Delta...

SEVENTIES OVERLAND: A Kombi through Africa Way back then a Swiss couple embarked on an epic road trip
through a very different Africa in a dodgy VW bus. This is the final leg of their adventure,
heading north to Morocco and back to Europe, TRAIL REVIEW: Sneeukop, Rawsonville Looking for a two-hour out and back where you can use low-range
and take in some stunning views of the Breedekloof Valley? This is it...

SEVENTIES OVERLAND: A Kombi through Africa Way back then a Swiss couple embarked on an epic road trip through a very different Africa in a dodgy VW bus. This is Part 2 of their adventure, heading west from Kenya, TECH BRIEF: Managing fire risk
When driving through grassy areas, there are some precautions to take that can potentially save your vehicle from turning into a blazing wreck. Pieter de Waal points you towards some basic tools that need to be on hand...

SEVENTIES OVERLAND: A Kombi through Africa Way back then a Swiss couple embarked on an epic road trip through a very different Africa in a dodgy VW bus.
This is Part 1 of their adventure, TECH BRIEF:
Heat insulation Before the heat gets extreme on your trip to the Kalahari and Botswana, it’s time to
pull out the foam and start insulating your
vehicle, says reader Pieter de Waal, OVERLAND IMAGES:
Snap, post and win Our year-long Overland Images competition, which runs on Instagram, is in full swing with great monthly prize to be won and a
super drawcard for the finalist. Submit your
entry now and be in with a shout...

TOUR: African Migrations - Book now if you want to get the last spots on the Ultimate Adventures tour to Zambia to witness two of Africa’s wonders of nature: the bats at Kasanka and the Wildebeest of Liuwa Plains.

LONG-TERM TEST: Waeco CFX-65 - It’s been rebranded a Dometic, and improved in critical areas, but our trusty CFX-65 fridgefreezer has not missed a beat...

Glorious Gabon - Some countries just deliver natural wonders and good cheer in spades – Dan Grec finds this in Gabon, where he has an epic encounter with gorillas.

OVERLAND IMAGES: Snap, post and win - We’ve had some brilliant entries for our Overland Images competition. Check out this month’s winner and some of the hot contenders…

AFRICA OVERLAND: Cameroon caper Dan Grec avoids the Chinesebuilt highway, and, after teaming up with a fellow adventurer, takes the (very obscure) back track to Cameroon via Nigeria.

70th ANNIVERSARY OF LAND ROVER To celebrate Landy’s latest milestone, Kingsley Holgate and friends explore some remote reaches of KZN in veteran Series models (and a few new ‘uns)..

AFRICA EXPEDITION: 18 000km in a Tuk-Tuk Crazy barefoot adventurers Calum Buckmaster and Willie Badenhorst decide that a Tuk-Tuk CAN make the massive journey to Kenya and back. It is faster than walking, but only just…

OMAN: Amarok V6 adventure We get to drive the latest and greatest 190kW Amarok, pitting its considerable skills against the mountains, dunes and highways of Oman.

PUT MABUASEHUBE ON YOUR RADAR - These amazing pans on the Botswana Namibia border are a must-see part of your overland bucket list. Join Simon Steadman’s Ultimate Adventures tour.

OVERLAND IMAGES: Our new photo competition Post your favourite travel images on Instagram and stand to win a host of great monthly and final prizes. We’ve made it super easy…

AFRICA OVERLAND: Guinea - Dan Grec braves slushy roads during Guinea’s wet season and discovers a land of mountains that is right off the standard overland tourist route.

LONG-TERMER: Tyre fitment - We fit a set of Dunlop Grandtrek AT3G three-ply all-terrain tyres to our Mazda BT-50 long-termer. There are some solid reasons for choosing this rubber...

WEEKEND ESCAPE: Alfa Romeo Stelvio - How will Alfa Romeo’s new SUV cope with South Africa’s gravel byways? Only one way to find out. Jacqui Ikin packs a weekend full of luxury lodges, a ballooning experience and great game drives.

WINCH WISDOM: Tech briefing - Leonard Chester of Black Diamond Vehicle Components nails down the basic questions you need to ask when buying a winch...

Wild Botswana Part 1 - An SA4x4 expedition forges an unusual route from Lake Xau, through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and up to Lake Ngami in our kitted Hilux and Fortuner convoy led by Pieter Oosthuizen.

LANDY FESTIVAL: Enthusiasts on wheels - Andrew Stone goes snap-happy when he joins nearly 200 Land Rover nutters on a charity drive in Norwich.

TRAVEL: Sudan Portrayed as a dangerous, unfriendly place, Rene Bauer proves that a trip through this red-desert country with its ancient monuments can be a life-changing experience.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Red Paddle SUPs You know you want to join the SUP craze, and we prove it can be done by rank amateurs with zero balancing skills...

BUSH CRAFT: Making natural rope - Five steps when you need to make rope in a hurry and all you have on hand are some roots.

COVER STORY: Tour of Legends - Johan Klopper leads a nine-day tour of the Soutpansberg and Waterberg that shows Richard van Ryneveld and his Nissan Navara a slice of heaven..

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Have you ever thought about just jumping into your car and driving off into the deep blue yonder? If you have, chances are you'll enjoy reading SA4x4 magazine. This monthly title is focused on overlanding, the practice of self-contained vehicular wilderness travel - that's where the 4x4 comes in! So every issue is packed with travel features, equipment guides, 4x4 reviews and technical features; in short, everything you need to be become an accomplished overlander, no matter what your current level of experience.

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SA4x4 - May / June 2020

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