Next Generation Of Off-Roaders

It's 2019 and the off-road caravan has come of age! Now you can experience the bush in levels of luxury previously not widely found in South Africa, and relax knowing that your accommodation has the capability and durability of providing all the comforts of home... but in the most exciting of places. The new Okapi,manufactured by Nayela and hopefully to enter full production soon, is typical of this new generation of “glamping“ off-roaders.

- Godfrey Castle & Francois Huysamen

Man, oh man, judging by what was launched at this year’s Caravan, Camp & Destination Show in Gauteng, the off-road caravan has well and truly come of age.

Not only are they highly desirable in appearance, they have also reached the next level of technology and sophistication, one that now distinguishes the “haves” from the “have nots”.

It’s the same difference as between dating a model or the girl next door, the difference between making your potjie in a cheap aluminium pot or a proper, seasoned cast iron one.

Sure, they all get the job done, but down at heart you know what you would rather have!

Off-road caravans have become aggressively colorful, some have macho double axles and matt black mag wheels, shock absorbers, air suspension, independent suspension, slide-out bedrooms with windows to watch Mother Nature, insane interior comfort from TV's to air conditioning, hot showers… the list is endless.

The new Okapi is manufactured by Nayela in the little town of Bethlehem in the States – and that’s our very own Free State!

The company is actually known for its steel products and horseboxes. And Bennie Cilliers, the founder of Nayela, is also the guy who won the Design-aCaravan competition with the old Jurgens Ci, with his remodeling of the Elegance.

An architect by trade, his wife tells us he designs anything and everything in Bethlehem, from horseboxes to a combination of horsebox and caravan, houses, steel work, and now he has designed, developed and manufactured the Okapi, an obvious spin-off from his very stylish horseboxes.

We met up with the Bennie and family in Miller's Point Caravan Park in the Cape while they were circumnavigating southern Africa on a “final proving” trip before going into full production with the Okapi.