The N14 barrels headlong through the Green Kalahari, barely changing its heading. Quiver trees hold vigil on pale yellow grasslands while hot tar hums under your rig’s tyres as you cross ephemeral rivers. Signs stating their peculiar names flash by: Hartbees,Yas se Laagte, Kaboep… Snow white daisies rise out of the red sand, as if they’re grateful for the recent rains.
YESTERDAYYOU DROVE nearly 900 km from Gauteng to Kakamas in the Northern Cape. It was quite a trek and no wonder you decided to check in at the Kakamas Hotel rather than pitch your tent.
We’ll definitely be camping on this trip, but that comfy hotel room allowed you to charge your camera’s batteries (and your own) and format its memory cards in preparation for what is to come. The hotel’s restaurant served slow-roasted lamb tails (R69 per serving), a Karoo delicacy known as skaapstertjies that probably wrought havoc with your cholesterol, but so be it, they were delicious and you’re on holiday.
And now we’re on our way to Namaqualand. The first town after Kakamas is Pofadder where the wildflowers on the side of the road are increasing in number. It’s time to dig out your wildflower guide book because you’re itching to know what species they are.
The petals of one specimen are golden yellow with black spots in a ring near the centre.Your guide book identifies it as Gazania lichtensteinii, or botterblom (butter flower) in the common vernacular. Next to it is a type of succulent; it has pale yellow flowers with delicate strands for petals.You flip through your book until you find it: Malephora crassa, or golden fingers. The common names are adorable!
Denne historien er fra April/May 2023-utgaven av Go! Camp & Drive.
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 April/May 2023-utgaven av Go! Camp & Drive.
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
The pinch of the pump
In a time where every penny counts, you should be cautious about where to spend it, says Neels van Heerden.
Is the Jimny suitable for overlanding?
He has a theory on whether the Suzuki Jimny is suitable for overlanding, but he is also about to find out for himself, says Mic van Zyl.
Klein-Kariba chronicles
His family has camped so often at ATKV Klein-Kariba that they now consider this popular resort their holiday home, says Roelof van Eeden of Witbank.
So ugly it's cute
Longing for the good old days when vehicles took inspiration from aircraft? Citroën has the compact mobile home just for you.
WHO'S THE BAKKIE KING?
Eight brands, seven categories... and one overall winner. We find out which double-cab bakkie performs best when towing a caravan and off-roading.
Viva, Amarokoroko!
We take a spin through the Western Cape's Cederberg to See if the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok retains its poshness.
Hook, line and tune
That exhilarating rush you feel when something tugs at your hook and races away with your line is what perpetually draws him back to the angler's paradise, says singer Bok van Blerk.
Discover Dinokeng: beyond the Big Five
The Dinokeng Big Five Reserve is a favourite for weekend getaways, but just past its borders lies an untapped haven waiting to be explored.
Life's a farm in Bonnievale!
Bonnievale presents a unique setting where kids, camping and church come together for a unique family holiday.
Into the heart of the Cederberg
From Duiwelsgat to Heuningvlei, from Wupperthal to the Biedouw Valley. Drive through a world where poet Boerneef's mountain goose sheds a feather and author Jan Rabie's dreamland begins.