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THE
SELECTION of VEHICLES
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Of
course, the choice of vehicles depends primarily
on where you want to drive and secondly on for how
many people and luggage you want to transport.
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Selection
criterion
- savety against
the risk of injury
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Almost
everything is feasible for only two people in one
vehicle - including the the luggage transport in
various compact car models...
- however: If the budget is tight, the question
arises: Where do you make the cuts while planning?
When
choosing a vehicle, think about your own safety
and never forget, the risk of injury in an accident
is much lower in a solid vehicle than with a small
car.
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Selection
criterion
- space requirements
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Until a few years ago, most
SUV
vehicles
were built in such a way that there was enough space
for four people and their luggage, even for longer
tours. Now things look different: Even with the
new Nissan X-Trail, you get problems with that.
In
the meantime, the luggage compartment has become
the big problem of almost all so-called SUVs.
Because
of the aerodynamics and to save fuel - most SUV
vehicles are designed in a way you
can no longer accommodate the luggage for four people.
Yes,
possibly: you save some fuel. This might be correct
if there were four of you on the way in just
one vehicle. So now you need two cars, or you take
the category "minibus".
For
example: VW combi, Hyundai H1, Mercedes Vito, Toyota
Quantum, .... etc. - or a big off-road vehicle such
as the Toyota Landcruiser. |
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Selection
criterion
- travel route
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In South Africa you can do almost evrerything with front or rear wheel drive. However, it is a great advantage if your vehicle has sufficient ground clearance. This makes you more mobile and independent - especially in the national parks.
In remote areas, however, things look different and you definitely need a four-wheel drive vehicle on certain routes. Smaller vehicles - such as the Renault Duster 4x4 - are enough for two people. However, if you are really into the wilderness, you need from the Toyota HiLux / Nissan Hardbody 4x4 up to the Toyota Landcruiser with safari equipment.
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...in
a Toyota Quantum in the Etosha Pan...
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...might
be... - but... - better not....
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...in
a 4x4 Volvo XC90 at the Zebra River....
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„Sport Utility Vehicle / SUV“
? - it all depends on your travel route... |
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A short word about the vehicle category of the so-called SUVs: Within South Africa and on the busy routes in Namibia and also Botswana or Zimbabwe - no problem. Even in many remote areas, with an adequate ground clearance, and also because you don't really need four-wheel drive there, you can easily get
to your destination with any SUV. But there is a big problem and these are the tires, or rather the wheel sizes,
which are unusual in remote areas!
In
remote areas, you could get problems if one or two
tires burst. SUVs
are usually - like cars - equipped with only one
spare wheel. Or worse: The car has not even a spare
wheel anymore!
Stay
away from such vehicles if you are driving on remote
routes!
This is especially true if they have a road surface
made of sharp, hard gravel.
The problem: SUVs are usually equipped with special wheel sizes that do not correspond to the dimensions of the usual
off-road tires or the common car tires. Of course there are petrol stations and workshops in remote areas that have new and used tires in stock. Big tires for real off-road vehicles - no problem. Tires for
normal cars? Neither a problem.
Tires for SUV vehicles, which are sometimes even designed as low
section tires - you can only get that in bigger
towns. Nobody drives an SUV in remote areas - so why should the workshop keep such tire sizes in stock?
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Renault
Duster 4x4 in the Kalahari
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on
the way towards Sandwich Harbour
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on
the way to Sossusvlei
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The "Bakkies“
- the kings of all-purpose vehicles! |
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The
following regarding "single
/ double cab"
vehicles - in America "pick
ups"
and in southern Africa called "bakkies":
I
personally do not advise the "single
cabs"
- even if you are only traveling in pairs, because
there is practically no space behind your seats.
On the other hand, in
the "double
cabin",
you can place everything within easy reach on the
rear seats, from drinks to binoculars and the camera
equipment.
Even
with the "double cabins", the car rental
companies usually only have the standard versions
in their range - not the vehicles with an extended
wheelbase. You should now look closely - because:
With
four very tall people, you could get problems,
because at the back seats they have only little
freedom of leg movement. On short trips this may
still work - but on long tours it's unpleasant.
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Vehicles with- or without
camping
equipment |
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Even
with off-road vehicles, the route you have planned
is the most decisive factor for the equipment you
need to take on board.
- camping equipment?
-
long distance tank?
- additional water- and fuel
jerrycans?
- a second, complete spare wheel?
-
tow belts?
- compressor and large tool kit? ...etc.
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Land
Rover - safari with roof tent
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Toyota
HiLux 4x4 with two roof tents
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Toyota
Landcruiser with roof tent
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Toyota
single cab with roof tent
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Safari vehicles |
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Every
thing all.right? Four wheel drive, diff lock,
enough space for equipment and - if necessary -
an off-road trailer. Whether you take a Toyota HiLux
double cab, a Ford Ranger, or the Toyota Landcruiser,
it only matters in terms of space requirements -
because these vehicles are all well suited. Regarding
the equipment, it depends on the route.
- hi-lift
jack?
- winch?
- air induction from above
for deep river crossings?
- water- and / or fuel
jerrycans?
- sand ladders?
- compressors and
tools for repairing tires?
One more thing: There are remote routes that you should only tackle with at least TWO vehicles, at least one of which should also be equipped with a cable winch and sand plates.
Just one example: the Savuti - Nogatsaa route between Savuti Camp and Kasane in Botswana.
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