The Toyota Hilux is a popular vehicle in South Africa for several reasons: Affordability Brand Reputation Durability Resale Value Versatility Affordability: The Toyota Hilux is priced competitively in South Africa, making it an affordable option for many South Africans. Its maintenance costs are also relatively low, making it an attractive option for those who want a reliable vehicle without breaking the bank. The Toyota Hilux is an affordable option in South Africa for several reasons: Local production: Toyota produces the Hilux locally in South Africa, which helps to keep costs down. Loca ..read more

Safety should always be your top priority when off-road driving, not only for yourself and your passengers, but also for the sake of spectators and the environment.  Proper training will ensure that you do not get into uncomfortable situations where another driver must rescue you, because you will know what to avoid and how to approach any obstacle. If you feel unsure about how to navigate over challenging terrain, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek professional training or guidance. 4×4 driver training can be very useful, especially for those who are new to off-roa ..read more

Sunny South Africa has many perks, but a “white Christmas” is not one of them. Even in the middle of our winters, one has to know where to go to see some snow.  There are a few places where you can see snow during the winter months (June to August including these on our list: Drakensberg Mountains: The Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape are the most reliable areas for snow in South Africa. This mountain range reaches over 3000m in height and is the highest peak in Southern Africa. In winter, snowfall is a common occurrence on the peaks, and you can go skiing, sno ..read more

“The Richtersveld park is only accessible by 4×4” is music to our ears, but before you pack your 4X4 and head to the northwestern part of South Africa, let us tell you more about the UNESCO Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape in the Northern Cape. Dr. Richter of the Rhenish Mission Society visited the area in 1830 and established a mission station at Kuboes, so the region was named after him. He was not related to Charles Francis Richter, the American seismologist and physicist best known for developing the Richter magnitude scale, which quantified earthquake size. The Richtersveld i ..read more

Valentine’s Day is different from other holidays. You know what to expect on New Year’s Day, Heritage Day or maybe even Mandela Day, because if all else fails there is always The Braai, but Valentine’s Day is more a roll of the dice thing. There isn’t any sort of natural gathering of friends and family and you always have to figure out what you’re going to do. Even if you are single, you have to plan your strategy for how you’re going to ignore it all. There are plenty of ways to distract yourself from the fact that the 14th of February will make you even more acutely aware of your singleness ..read more

Let’s get away from it all! A 2022 study revealed that a whopping 43% of singles consider Valentine’s Day to be the most pressure-filled holiday, with many people wishing that it was dumped entirely (pun intended). The research showed that singles prefer low-pressure dating situations, and are tired of the unrealistic expectations that society and social media place on them. The study revealed that Gen Z (60%) and Millennials (52%) feel the most heat leading up to Valentine’s Day, while the pressure trends downwards as singles age. Commercialization and non-stop advertising as well a ..read more

The Thabaphaswa Mountain Sanctuary is well worth a visit, not only for its wonderful rock formations and vegetation but because it is quite conveniently located between the fork of the N1 and the N11 north of Makopane (Potgietersrus). This makes it a popular sleepover destination for travellers on their way to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kruger Park, and Mapungubwe. Thaba means mountain, and Phaswa refers to the Nguni cattle that are well-known in this area where the landscape features mountains, hills, and koppies, with scattered thickets and clumps of vegetation that, when seen from afar, form patte ..read more

Before rookie off-road enthusiasts brave the wild frontier, they not only need to learn how to adapt to driving on challenging terrain, but they also have to expand their vocabulary. Here are a few of the most commonly used words and terms, and their meanings: When climbing a hill, the approach angle is the maximum angle of clearance that your vehicle has when approaching the obstacle, and is defined as the angle between the ground and the line drawn between the front tire and the front bumper. If your vehicle has a high approach angle, your vehicle will be able to climb a steeper slope, but t ..read more

The word “suspension” first appears in English in the 1520s. The verb suspend was first recorded in the 1200s and is derived from the Latin verb suspendere, which means “to hang up.” Leaf springs have been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Initially, ancient military engineers used leaf springs in the shape of bows to power their siege engines, with limited success. Years later, the use of leaf springs in catapults was refined and made to work. Springs were not only made of metal; a sturdy tree branch, such as with a bow, could also be used as a spring. This system was used in ho ..read more

South Africa’s first custom electric game drive Land Cruisers have been released into the wild! After automotive pioneers opened the doors to electronic vehicles, several others joined the race to produce electric vehicles, in the drive to reduce operating costs and apply new technologies to keep the environment healthy. Due to the almost quiet engines, electric safari vehicles have the potential to make eco-tourism more effective, as tourists and photographers can move closer to animals. Some game reserves have already introduced custom electric game-drive vehicles, intending to offer a zero ..read more