In the beginning
Once upon a time, a couple in their mid-thirties thought that they were cool and that they could do anything. So, after some discussion, the thing they decided to do was to buy a bakkie and go camping. That couple was us.
As luck would have it, there was an older model 4x4 Mitsubishi Colt for sale just down the road from our home. Now, we hadn’t dared to think that big but the idea of a 4x4 was enticing. After having a look at this very well-maintained and much-loved Colt, we decided to go for it. And thus, the passion for camping, off-roading, overlanding and being in nature at every possible opportunity, was born.
Getting geared up
It wasn’t long after the purchase of our trusty blue steed, that we found a second-hand roof top tent for sale. A deal was struck and on the day of purchase, we found the price had unexpectedly increased by R500. Undeterred, although unimpressed, the tent was purchased, bolted to the roof and plans were made to start making use of the new equipment. A drawer system, ammo boxes and a camping fridge followed as soon as funds would allow.
A 4x4 course was part of the plan, after all it’s not quite the same as driving on the highway. Armed with some knowledge, and having scared ourselves and each other on the course, we deemed themselves ready and headed off on the first big trip, and then another, and another. There were of course hiccups along the way, but all in all things were going well.
First steps
On a trip to Mapungubwe and a drive along a 4x4 route in the park, we had the pleasure of watching a large herd of elephant strolling along the river which fuelled the desire to see and do more. A longer trip into the Kgalagadi saw us battling an overheating problem as we ploughed through the sand dunes into the Botswana side of the park. We carried on, finding ourselves churning up dust on Namibia’s gravel roads and the excitement of our first roadside puncture repair. Well, in fairness, it was our travel friend’s vehicle that got a stone through the tyre, but still. We were learning.
A bit of poor planning and some small lack of knowledge saw us spend a night on the scrubby dunes of the Namaqua, bogged down by an extremely heavy and overloaded trailer we had agreed to tow for friends. This experience led to another 4x4 course, this time focussed on recovery skills. It also created some hesitation about towing, the roof top tent suits us better, we decided.
A second trip to Mapungubwe came along, and another to the Kgalagadi, although this one confined to Twee Revieren due to the last minute nature of the booking. Trips to Kruger, hidden spots in the mountains, any weekend getaway that promised a bumpy road, or 4x4 access only was irresistible to the two of us.
Embracing the obstacles
A group of fellow Mitsubishi owners set up a weekend away, to do the Three Provinces trail. A mighty challenge, as the rain made for slippery slopes and the bakkie came perilously close to kissing a tree as it slid down a muddy hill – backwards! Good thing we’re learning in a cheaper car, we mused.
It was the inattention of a workman changing shock absorbers just before a trip down to the Eastern Cape that was almost the end of the blue Colt. A bolt not tightened properly, and some bumpy roads (which you now know we actively seek out when travelling) led to the front wheel arm coming away, the tyre canted precariously at a steep angle, albeit still attached to the car. An agonising crawl through the first three passes of Baviaans to the campsite followed, and a New Year’s Day spent bolting everything back together.
The trip continued. More dusty roads, steep hills and an isolated campsite in the Kouga mountains with no one but us, our dog and a gathering of noisy sheep. A small matter of overheating as we slogged up a mountain pass was just part of the trip, the trusty Colt got us home safely.
Note dear reader, make sure to do any work on the vehicle well before a trip, and not the day before. See the longer version of this epic journey titled 2019. Worst. New Year's. Ever.
Finding our bliss
Our journey has taken a few more twists and turns since those early days. A newer bakkie, a Ford this time, a custom-built drawer system and a new roof top tent. Venturing further afield, we travel now with the guidance of a tour group, meeting new friends with similar passions. Who would ever have though that the decision to buy a bakkie would have led this far?
The happy campers, now in our early fifties, keep looking for dirt roads and unfenced campsites. We have come a long way, with many more miles to come. After all, life begins at fifty, doesn’t it?