Tiny But Tough

[ OFF-ROAD CARAVAN REVIEW ] BUSH LAPA GEITJIE

- Francois Huysamen

Bush Lapa relaunched their little Geitjie off-road caravan earlier this year after an almost seven-year break.

The new variant comes with a host of upgrades and improvements, providing ample sleeping space inside, a characteristic Bush Lapa exterior kitchen, off-road capabilities, and easy set-up.

The Geitjie is the smallest in Bush Lapa’s range of ‘Goggas’ and, with a GVM of 750 kg, it is legally allowed to be towed with a B license.

Bush Lapa promotes this “tiny but tough” caravan as “ideal for the light traveller or adventurous couple”. That said, earlier this year at the Caravan, Camp & Destination Show, Bush Lapa told me that much interest in the Geitjie comes from older campers who are looking for a caravan to use on weekend getaways.

I picked up the Geitjie at Bush Lapa’s showroom outside Paarl, and took the little off-road caravan out for a day behind a new Renault Duster 4x4.

SETUP

The Geitjie I reviewed is the Arctic Edition – the range features purely cosmetic changes with the white exterior and black decals, and grey canvas throughout the caravan instead of the standard khaki.

Setting up the little two-sleeper takes just a few minutes. After putting down the corner steadies, you unlatch the roof (two clips on the front and two at the back) and lift it on the unique lever system with gas struts.

The original Geitjie had a hinged roof, but the new version lifts the entire roof, creating much more space inside.

The roof opens to 2,55 m high, so if you want the Bush Wing awning (optional extra) set up as well, you have to do this while the roof is still closed.