Caravan and Outdoor Life Magazine

Why settle for fast food while on the road when you can feed your soul as well as your tummy? Break your journey at one of these farm stalls.

Have tough turbo-diesel – will tow! Not so fast, it’s not that straightforward. There’s a host of variables and restrictions that must be factored into your towing combination equation. But never fear, all will become clear …

No matter your choice of vehicle, heading out camping just became a whole lot simpler – assuming you’re equipped with a new Overcamp rooftop tent, that is. And then there’s also the view ...

It’s big, it looks good, and it’s a VW. But it’s only a 2.0-litre diesel. Should you be seriously considering an Amarok as your next brawny towcar? We drove it, towed with it, and drew our own conclusions.

Shunned by South Africans for many years because of political issues, Zimbabwe is slowly re-emerging as an enticing and vibrant holiday destination for off-road travellers. With an Echo Kavango off-road caravan in tow behind his Land Rover Defender, editor Mark Samuel heads back to Zimbabwe, to Gonarezhou National Park, to see if more South Africans should consider a holiday across our northern border.

This year we’re running a towing tutorial series that deals with the fundamentals of towing, all in the name of safer and easier towing for everyone. So whether you’re an avid caravaner who tows regularly, a serious bush adventure type who’s never without their sturdy off-road trailer, someone who just tows a basic luggage trailer, or even a boating fanatic, we’re confident that our Towing Safely series will benefit you in some way. This month we address hitching up and reversing – something everyone who tows needs to do regularly, whether you like it or not. For the sake of simplicity, when we refer to the towable in question, we’ll simply call it a caravan. We trust that trailer and boat towers out there will understand.

A custom-made camper on the back of his bakkie is a win-win camping solution for iconic rally driver Serge Damseaux, who in his racing days also knew only one way to end a rally: as the winner.

Arno Joubert and his wife Deidre have been running their own business for the past 12 years, and during that time have felt the need to get out regularly to keep the work-life balance in check. They love animals, travelling, scuba-diving and the outdoors. The highlight of the year for them is heading out on the Kruger National Park’s hiking trails, where they’re able to get far away from the rat race and everything else – including cell reception! Six of their closest friends often join them, and together they immerse themselves in the bush and the way of life that goes with it. They find it’s a great way to rekindle old friendships, and generally catch up on old times. If you want see more of what Arno and Dedré have been up to, visit their website www.africaskyblue.com.

Echo 4x4 Centre boasts one of the most comprehensive ranges of capable off-road towable products. At the top of the range is the Kavango, the company’s flagship all-terrain caravan. We towed it, camped with it, slept in it – and were definitely impressed by it.

Evita Bezuidenhout, the most famous white woman in Africa, is a strong believer in the reconciliatory powers of truth and love – and also sugar, carbohydrates and saturated fats. She’s a busy woman but, like many busy women, she manages to do so many things: stay looking really good, keep her manicure immaculate, and whip up dishes of delight in the kitchen. But she believes that food, well cooked with love, is an essential ingredient of World Peace, so she made time to share some of her most pacifying recipes with us. Cook them with love and eat them in peace and harmony.