Navigation, T4A product news

Tracks4Africa now on Ford’s navigation systems

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Exciting news for overland travellers is that Tracks4Africa maps are now included as a standard map in the new Ford South Africa range of vehicles which are fitted with the SYNC 3 navigation system. The Ford Ranger (one of SA’s top selling vehicles) and Everest models were recently upgraded with the SYNC 3 system.

Johann Groenewald, Managing Director of T4A, is very excited about this development since it has been in the pipeline for some time. “Ford approached us two years ago about the possibility of including our maps into their in-car navigation system and early last year I was involved in testing our map on their system. After a few small tweaks from our side Ford went ahead with production and they have now included our map in their SYNC 3 system.” Continue reading Tracks4Africa now on Ford’s navigation systems →

Destinations, South Africa

Discover Steinkopf, jewel of the Northern Cape 

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Travelling north from Cape Town, Steinkopf is the last village on the N7 before reaching the Namibian border at Vioolsdrift. Normally travellers are in a hurry to get to Namibia and don’t pay any attention to this small and apparently rather insignificant town in the Northern Cape. Lizette Swart spent some time on a recent overland trip and discovered that it has a fascinating history… Continue reading Discover Steinkopf, jewel of the Northern Cape  →

Equipment

Shelter while overlanding

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By Peter Barber

Your peaceful morning game drive in the cool of the new day was idyllic and your party returns to camp, anticipating their delicious breakfast. By the time that’s over the day warms up and before long you are into another scorcher!

This is the typical pattern for overland travellers in Africa, and on our return from our overland trip to Ethiopia the neighbouring countries of Zambia and Namibia reminded us just how much hotter it can be in Southern Africa than in East Africa. In fact, apart from the our visit to the Danakil Depression, which has the highest average temperatures year round on Earth, nothing compared to the heat in the Caprivi Strip, where even the most sun loving traveller was hunting for shade.

When you camp you are exposed to the elements and the longer your overland trip, the more important it is that you prepare well for shelter. Shade is not the only kind of shelter that an overlander needs. For those who frequently move onwards, shelter must be quick to erect and flexible enough to handle sun, wind and rain. It should cover the cooking, seating and eating area. Continue reading Shelter while overlanding →

Overland travel in Africa