A gravel road looks empty until it isn’t. Around the next blind rise there might be a farmer’s bakkie, a herd of goats, a cyclist, or a convoy of campers heading the other way. There are no road markings out here and no one to sort out who goes first,…
Continue Reading....Campsite Etiquette: What Campers Wish Their Neighbours Knew
Nobody goes camping to fall out with a stranger over a gazebo peg. Yet every camper has a story about the late-night generator, the shortcut through their site, or the dog that adopted their braai. Most of it isn’t malice. It’s just that nobody ever spelled out the unwritten rules.…
Continue Reading....Overlanding the Great Debate
Ask ten people at a fuel stop what they’re doing and you’ll get ten answers. “Just a road trip.” “We’re touring the Garden Route.” “Overlanding, ja.” And then, from the guy with the roof tent, the snorkel and the spotless recovery tracks: “We’re going on safari.” They might all be…
Continue Reading....Go (Away) Canvas? The 5-Star Craft and 1-Star Service Divide
Go Canvas on Jones Street in Parow East holds a 3.7-star rating on Google from 25 reviews. That average hides how divided those reviews are. There are no 2, 3 or 4-star ratings at all, only the top mark and the bottom one. Customers don’t describe an average experience at…
Continue Reading....South Africa’s longest 4×4 Route
Some journeys are measured in kilometres. This one is measured in landscapes. The Namakwa-Richtersveld 4×4 Eco Trail is South Africa’s longest official 4×4 route. It runs for roughly 600 km, from the dusty N14 town of Pofadder in the east to Alexander Bay, where the Orange River empties into the…
Continue Reading....WTG to Launch TravelPod in 2027
Great news! We have now finalised the development of our Reciprocal Concierge Service in South Africa and will be recruiting and training a group of Remote Operators in South Africa. The first Training Course starts on 31 October 2026. This Personal Development Program consists of 8 modules and covers everything…
Continue Reading....The KT8900 Mobile Radio: A Practical Guide to a Compact Dual-Band Workhorse
If you’ve ever wanted a proper radio in your vehicle without giving up dash space, the KT8900 is worth a look. It’s a compact dual-band mobile transceiver, and the manual shows it packs in more than its size suggests. Here’s what it offers and how to get started. The headline…
Continue Reading....The History and Development of Hartbeespoort, South Africa
Hartbeespoort, commonly referred to as Hartbees, is a picturesque town situated in the North West Province of South Africa. Renowned for its scenic dam and natural beauty, this region possesses a rich history that extends back many decades. The Origins of Hartbeespoort Hartbeespoort was officially established in the late 19th…
Continue Reading....Winelands Light Railway: Lovely Idea, But Don’t Plan Your Trip Around It
What The Gravel advisory for travellers A miniature railway in the Cape Winelands sounds like an easy win for a road trip. The Winelands Light Railway, a small steam and electric park near Stellenbosch, opened in December 2019 and is promoted as a family destination. Its own listings describe a…
Continue Reading....Travelling with Pets in South Africa: What to Expect from Our New Series
For a lot of us, the road trip doesn’t feel right without the whole family in the vehicle, and that includes the ones with fur, feathers and whiskers. Over the coming weeks, What The Gravel is launching a series on travelling with pets, written for South Africans who would rather…
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