Landroving 123

Adansonia digitate (Baobab,Kremetart)
Grotesque, comparatively short deciduous tree with hugely swollen trunk; occurring at low altitudes
in hot dry bushveld. Bark smooth, folded.
Seeds edible, and a good coffee substitute when roasted. The white powdery pulp surrounding the
seeds is rich in vitamin C and makes a refreshing drink when mixed with water or milk. Bark and
other parts of the tree used in traditional medicine.

51

Catering for long trips

by Alida Timberlake

Some people are happy to eat bully the bigger towns did not hold much
beef and tinned beans on overland appeal. Real food is the watch word
trips (we of LROC do not judge), of the banting lifestyle.
but in these days of comfort vans
and other luxuries offered by most We were fortunate to have a couple
camping stores, many of us prefer of able fisherman amongst our group
to enjoy home comforts away from and enjoyed one or two delicious fish
home - and this includes our meals. braais along the way. Even if no-one
in your group enjoys fishing, coastal
Preparing healthy, appetising meals trips bring one to villages where fresh
for a long trip is always a challenge, fish can be purchased at a reasonable
and our recent trip to Angola was price. We’re all for supporting local
the longest we’d ever undertaken. business. Fortunately, traveling in
Including a couple of nights’ Africa, one regularly passes through
camping in Botswana and Namibia village markets and in Angola we
en route to Angola, it amounted were not disappointed: fresh produce
to close on a month on the road. was readily available and inexpensive.
Everyone loves a braai, but eating For anyone who enjoys bread, the
chops and wors for 26 nights in a local pau was a real treat and many
row is a bit much! So, although a in our group enjoyed these as a snack
fire was made every night, it was not as they drove. It also freezes well,
necessarily used for cooking on and so did not have to be consumed
most of us had prepared alternative immediately!
meals. 
As lunch stops were often quite
For health reasons Malcolm and I short or not possible due to time
have been following a banting (high constraints, eating on the go
fat, low carb) way of eating for some required some careful planning.
time now and in a nutshell, this We regularly enjoyed good quality
excludes all processed foods and Italian salami, hard cheeses and
snacks (and of course, as we all know olives and/or gherkins, or tinned
by now – sugar is the devil!), so the Portuguese sardines on provitas
presence of Shoprite Checkers in (which are available in handy sealed

52

stay-fresh packs). Snacks along the Plaaskombuis in Gobabis which was
way included dry wors, biltong and collected en route and, for the record,
nuts. (Since neither of us is gluten everyone raved about the quality, so
intolerant nor has a weight problem make a note of this great supplier).
we did not have to worry about the I pre-cooked some meat dishes and
occasional provita; and a home- froze individual portions which were
baked rusk with our morning mug of easily defrosted and reheated on our
filter coffee has always been a part of portable gas cooker (another great
the camping routine!) purchase and highly recommended).
As we all know, many dishes improve
The biggest concern was how to keep in flavour if stored for a day or
fresh foods cool. We finally decided two, and this certainly proved to be
to use our 40l fridge as a deep freeze the case with the Beef Stroganoff,
and our 40l cooler box as a fridge. Italian-style Lamb casserole and
By freezing bottles of water to use Creamy Simmered Chicken with
in the cooler box and daily (in the olives, salami and capers which
cool of the day) replacing 2 of these I prepared in advance. (recipes
with 2 others from the deep freeze, available in Lose it! magazine and
we managed to keep the temperature The Real Meal Revolution.)
in the cooler box fairly consistent
and products like tomatoes, berries, In conclusion, catering for the
cheese, mushrooms, salami etc. lasted family’s various needs – and still
the month. Vegetables like carrots, eating healthily - on long trips can
butternut, sweet potatoes, onions be hugely challenging. If anyone has
and garlic travel very well as long contributions which would be of help
as there is enough airflow (like a to the rest of us, please send your
Landy engine) but even these were recipes, hints and ideas to me and I
available in the mercados along with will be happy to publish them in a
fresh fruit like apples, bananas and regular column! Being on the road is,
pawpaws. Before we embarked on after all, our chosen way of life!
the ride down and back up Lebo
Pass, Martin (our guide) told us
about the bags of dried mini chilli
berries for sale along the Pass and
these added flavour to many dishes
along the way!

Meat was vacuum-packed by
our butcher (some in the group
had pre-ordered meat from Die

53

Bread pudding

(for a group)

Enjoy with apricot jam and/or cinnamon sugar

Ingredients
6 cups white bread / 6 buns crumbed (stale bread is best)
9 cups warm milk (or 300g Nespray milk powder and 2.2

litres warm water)
6 eggs
1½ cups sugar
¾ cup oil (or melted margarine)
1½ teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons vanilla essence
Apricot jam and/or cinnamon sugar

Method
Soak crumbed bread in hot milk and allow to cool.
Mix eggs and sugar separately (shaker works well).
Add the other ingredients to eggs and sugar and mix.
Add to bread and milk mixture.
Pour into greased flat bottomed cast iron pot.
Close lid.
Bake over low heat (a few coals on the lid and below the
pot) for ±1 hour (until pudding is set).

(Adapted from 4x4 Cook book)

54

Living with my 1986 Range Rover

By Nick Jonas

I have been driving my 4 door 5 All of these changes have been done
speed Vogue Rangie for the last 21 with care and consideration to keep
years. Before this one I owned a 2 the vehicle looking standard and not
door Rangy for 11 years, so for the butchered. With each modification,
last 32 years I have been a Range I found a significant improvement
Rover owner. You do not just buy in performance and economy and
a Range Rover, for some strange less effort from the engine. The
reason they come looking for you. I exhaust modification made the
do not do any significant 4x4 work most impression on me as one could
with it and most probably bought it feel that previously the engine was
for the wrong reasons. For my own choking on itself and now it is
pleasure and interest the following breathing more easily.
important changes have been made The next item on my list is to fit anti
over the years: roll bars to compliment the Bilstein
shock absorbers and poly bushes
• The air filters have been already fitted.
replaced with K&N filters in This is truly a vehicle for all seasons
the original filter housing. and any reason.

• A flexible hose was fitted to 55
the filter housing to allow
cold air into the carbs.

• The standard exhaust
manifold was removed and
the extractor branch manifold
from a Discovery series 1 was
fitted with dual downpipes to
specification into a stainless
steel free flow silencer system.

• The main gearbox (LT 77)
5 speed was filled with
synthetic gear oil.

• An extra wire connection has
been fitted from the starter
solenoid to the coil.

The Ben 10 Eco Challenge

In a recent email from Lew highest, and Carlisleshoek Pass the
Campbell of Tiffindell Ski Resort, fifth highest.
came the announcement of
the launch of “The Ben 10 Eco These 5 passes make up “South
Challenge”. Africa’s High 5 Challenge” for those
with a day or two at their disposal.
The 10 biggest, meanest gravel passes
of the Eastern Cape Highlands have The Ben 10 Eco Challenge’s
been re-rated and re-videoed by Mr other 5 passes are: Lundeans Nek,
Trygve Roberts of the Mountain Basterfootpad Pass, Joubert’s pass,
Passes South Africa (MPSA) Team. Barkly Pass & Otto Du Plessis
Pass. You will need an extra day or 2
The “Ben 10” includes the new road for this challenge.
up to the top of Ben McDhui which
MPSA now rates as the highest The extreme altitude and remoteness
pass in the country. At 3001m Ben will turn this into an iconic route for
McDhui is higher than Sani Pass by all 4x4 vehicles, bikers and even some
some margin. Mountain Bikers- something to add
to the bucket list.
Another lesser known route
is the “The TT”, Tiffindell to This area is not called the
Tenahead, the highest traverse in “Highlands” for nothing, as the
South Africa. This rocky mountain scenery is very reminiscent of the
road follows the picturesque Scottish Highlands. The views from
Kloppershoek Valley, eventually the top of Ben Mac 3001 as the sun
coming out at the top of Naude’s sets in the west can be enjoyed along
Nek. These routes were rated two with the traditional sun-downer. Ben
of the best by the Johannesburg Mac also hosts the highest golf Tee
Landrover Club members who went in SA, “Old Ben McGolf ” where,
off the beaten track last Easter. if you are good enough, you can hit
a ball from the top into Tiffindell’s
Naude’s Nek Pass is the third highest dam below - a whopping distance
pass in South Africa,   of 460m guaranteed to give you
bragging rights as your longest shot
56 Volunteershoek Pass the fourth

ever (don’t mention the rarefied air roader’s bible for information, has
and the elevation above the pin). added a small annual subscription
Win a beer in the Tiffindell pub fee for full viewing of all the off-road
and get your name in the Old Ben routes.
McGolf Hall of Fame. Not so good
at golf ? Then just make a wish, hit The websites for SA’s High 5 and
the ball and Old Ben will make your The Ben10 Eco Challenge, have links
wish come true! to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
for your photos and videos.
Accommodation is available from
Tiffindell, Wartrail, Rhodes, Websites:
Tenahead to Lady Grey, Barkly
& Maclear. Organisers have been www.sahigh5.co.za/sahigh5.html
working on this for a year and hope
to have signage up soon around the www.sahigh5.co.za/ben10.html
areas mentioned. 
www.mountainpassessouthafrica.
Visit the MPSA website to sign up co.za/find-a-pass/ben10.html
for the Challenge and to find great
informative videos. This website www.facebook.com/Ben-10-Eco-
which is fast becoming the off- Challenge-1264933056954872/

57

Defender Trophy

Limpopo 2016 By Johan Kriek

Defender Trophy participants Rover Defend-
ers to the ren-
The following question was raised at dezvous point
a Land Rover Defender get-together close to the old
earlier this year: Johan, why don’t Penge Mine,
you give us another Defender Trophy situated on the
based on your original concept? Olifants
River between
Well,….why not? Burgersfort and
Polokwane,
Johan Kriek is, after all, the father After final documentation, the event
of the original Defender Trophy. got underway with participants
This family-orientated “Adventure following the tracks of an ancient
Trail Event” is aimed at all route which crosses the Olifants river
Defender owners - anyone en route to Moshikwane Traditional
can participate in a “stock village. After re-grouping, the
standard” Defender without villagers entertained the participants
damaging their “pride and with some of their exotic traditional
joy”. food- a real smorgasbord of termites
roasted to perfection, fresh wild
On this note Johan
proceeded to arrange the Traditional snacks.
2016 Defender Trophy!
On the morning of 29
September 2016 his Route
58 Notes guided 15 Land

berries, sorghum beer, beans, nuts The talk and banter kept going late
and other delicacies, while the drums into the night despite the chilly
of Africa beat rhythmically in the winds and occasional light drizzle,
background - the Defender Trophy until everyone was fast asleep and
2016 was truly underway! you could almost hear Africa sigh
Still in low range, the group of with contentment!
participants re-entered the tracks
that guided them further up into the Day Two got underway at 08h00.
mountains. They reached an altitude of 1145
This is truly Defender country, and meters (one of the many waypoint
while one constantly feels like an based questions) before they
explorer of old, the heavily laden descended into Limpopo Province’s
vehicles grind their way uphill and Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.
downhill again through tinder dry Surprise, surprise - as the tracks
bush – perhaps expecting to meet guided them into an un-expected
Doctor Livingstone around every Afromontane forest of note. Thick
corner! The old track winds across undergrowth covered by a forest
peaks and through valleys as they canopy so dense that hardly any light
crawl along the scenic Drakensberg is allowed through, and a crystal
escarpment towards the overnight clear mountain stream murmuring
camping destination on Day One. over moss covered rocks. Everyone
Exhausted after a “long day in the agreed that this had to be the
saddle”, the guys and girls pitched original grounds of Tarzan the
camp high-up in the mountains next Ape-man before he moved on to
to the African Ivory Route’s best Central Africa to start his film
kept secret – Mafefe self-catering career! What an absolutely magical
camp. experience!

Recce. The forest then “released” the
Defenders at Makutsi Camp,
boasting wooden chalets perched on
the banks of the Makutsi river - pity
there was not enough time to
properly explore this quaint little
camp before moving on.

And - believe it or not - there was 59
only one flat tyre thus far, - after 6
hours of low-range work, with 60
tyres constantly providing

traction across a varied terrain of bodies of the deceased were stored in
sharp rocks, steep in- and de-clines, the cellar under the Hotel bar as that
and with enough axle twisters was the coldest place in town.…
thrown in to have those merry
Defender men smiling from ear to Leydsdorp - the smallest city in
ear. South Africa, and once the capital of
the Lowveld, was named in honour
Oh yes, of course there were of President Paul Kruger’s secretary
questions that had to be answered of state, Dr William Leyd.
at certain waypoints, with a general
knowledge question thrown in here Having shot his first lion at the age
and there for good measure…. of twelve, Paul Kruger was a keen
hunter and often used to visit his
So, from the Lekgalameetse the hunting house, which can still be
convoy proceeded via Ofcolaco - a seen in Leydsdorp today. In fact, he
tiny village that was formed in 1920 enjoyed it so much, that when he
by demobilized British army officers needed to put his signature on a few
after the First World War, which important documents that protocol
they named after the Officers required to be signed in a city, he
Colonial Land Company. proceeded to proclaim it as such.

The route continued on to the Thus Leydsdorp was proclaimed
historical town of Leydsdorp and the an official city on 1 October 1890.
newly renovated Leydsdorp Hotel However, the history of Leydsdorp
for snacks, refreshments and stories started as early as 1870 with the
galore - how about the fact that the discovery of gold, the extent of which

60
The Big Tree (2000 years+)

was fully recognised in 1887/8, evening…!!
which started the 2nd gold rush in
South Africa. Morning in the bush is almost
magical. It is almost like the calm
After Leydsdorp the Defenders before the storm – and…the coffee
formed a traditional laager around just tastes so much better…. but then
the “Big Tree” - an ancient Baobab that Lowveld sun hits you and you’re
which was used during the gold rush less reluctant to break-up camp
era as - amongst others - a post before it becomes really hot.
office, bar, and jail to name but a
few… - “Gold rush” they say ?? - Lekgalameetse rain forest.
sounds more like “Cowboys and
Crooks”!! The last day of the 2016 Defender
Trophy arrived. Drivers’ briefing
After a quick re-fuel in Gravelotte was followed by departure at 08h00
we headed to the Letaba Ranch sharp.
sector of the Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Park. Letaba Ranch, The convoy wound its way towards
which shares an unfenced
border with Kruger National Park, the Great Letaba River, which forms
can only be accessed by joining the
Luvuvhu 4x4 Trail. This trail winds the divide between North and South
its way through the Park and
offers unfenced camping in wild Big of Letaba Ranch. Deflating tyres,
5 territory - the ideal venue for the
Defender Trophy! river crossing, loads of photos and

While the gripping drought was single file driving to minimize
clear to everyone, we did come across
Elephant, Impala, Giraffe, Kudu and impact, before we cleared the soft
Zebra, and were also surprised to see
a herd of Buffalo, when at 17h00 we sand on the opposite bank.
finally arrived at our camp site on
the banks of the Great Letaba River. Re-inflate tyres, and suddenly it is
What a privilege to camp wild -
knowing that any of the Big 5 could time to explore this unknown
come walking through the camp site
at any time. sector of the more than three

Needless to say the camp fire burnt hundred thousand hectares of land,
rather higher for most of the
which makes up the Great Limpopo

Transfrontier Park - Land Rover

Defender heaven! 61

.Little Letaba river

The tracks loosely followed the alas, to no avail, as we came across

Great Letaba River, before swinging broken fence poles and Elephant all

away to the Little Letaba River. We along the way - it seems that nothing

drove past the exclusively new Klein can stop these 6000 Kg animals from

Letaba camp, before following the feeding and exploring…

Little Letaba, with spectacular views The convoy continued onto the white
across the opposite bank into Kruger. sand of the Little Letaba where it
The Little Letaba River previously swings away and out of Kruger. Once
formed the western boundary of again tyres had to be deflated before
Kruger National Park. continuing on tracks up-river for
approximately one and a half hours
After the only other flat tyre was before we re-grouped for a final
changed (caused by an original fence photo shoot. Thereafter it was on to
pole that was left protruding next to the ancient salt harvesting
the track) we exited Letaba Ranch at Baleni. Up to this day & age
and continued along the banks of the Tsonga women perform this ancient
Little Letaba River. In this area the tradition. Salt is harvested during
the dry winter months and sold by
Kruger fence line is re-enforced by individual producers directly to locals
three thick metal cables to prevent and traditional healers, who revere
Elephant from molesting the its healing properties. Even top chefs
adjacent local communities – but

62

63

Which way to Baleni salt. the Trophy to the land of the Tsonga.
in Michelin-starred restaurants use After the local ladies of the
Baleni Sacred Salt for some of their community served dinner that was
specialty dishes. fit for a king – or rather Land Rover
Our final destination was Baleni enthusiasts, we held the prize giving,
Camp - another of the African accompanied by much laughter, more
Ivory Route camps, where a colourful prize giving and more laughter - and
local dance group waited to welcome so forth until late into the evening!

Winner - Johan Evert. Prize Winners:

1st prize - Johan Evert

2nd prize - Colin Gallop

3rd prize - Brendon Lowe

5 Consolation prizes to Bruce
Richards, Gerwin van der Veen,
Johan Opperman, Winston Ilsley en
“Oom” Ian Theron 

And a final “Thank You” to
Bearmach - Land Rover Parts, 3DX
Motorradical, Outdoor Warehouse,
Front Runner, the African Ivory
Route and Luvuvhu 4x4 Trail for
your support of the Defender Trophy
2016!

Next Defender Trophy:
11- 14 May 2017.

64 2016/08/30 2:00 PM

Moores Auto Sales Ad_horizontal_2016\p.indd 1

Contact details: Marni van den Heever.

Defender Trophy 2017
Johan Kriek - 083 305 8083
[email protected]
www.zatrax.com

African Ivory Route
www.africanivoryroute.co.za

Letaba 4x4 Trail
www.dolimpopo.com

Makutsi Camp
www.golimpopo.com

Klein Letaba Camp
www.zatrax.com

Sponsorship time. 65

KIDS’ COLOURING FUN

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