We were travelling in a 1972 Volkswagen Fleetline minibus, which we’d hired from a former student called Piet Vis.We were also towing a trailer. The plan was to drive to Badplaas (now eManzana), where we’d sleep for two nights. The driver wore a yellow motorcycle helmet and had two co-drivers on the front bench with him. The other four of us sat in the back, around a little table that we used to play bridge. (Little did we know that we’d be playing a lot of bridge in the days to come…) In the trailer were two cases of Swartland dessert wine.
We cruised north as one vehicle after another overtook us. We were very excited when we reached 110km/h on a downhill.
It was smooth sailing to Warden in the Eastern Free State, but then“Piet Vis se bus” broke down. My friends Rys Matthee and Hawies Fourie went to the local parsonage for help and the dominee referred us to a mechanic. The carburettor had to be replaced and the part had to be ordered from Harrismith.
That night we pitched our six-man tent on the lawn next to the mechanic’s workshop. It was June and bitterly cold – the seven of us slept so close to each other that you could have fitted two more guys in the tent! The carburettor arrived the next morning and we were on our way again.
We arrived at Aventura Resort in Badplaas, where we had one night remaining of our scheduled two-night stay. The next morning, the bus wouldn’t start again. We had to push it for what felt like an hour before the engine showed any sign of life. We bought supplies in Barberton and drove on to the Kruger Park.
Denne historien er fra December 2021/January 2022-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2021/January 2022-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
