Be king of the great outdoors

“The caravan industry has grown by 12 per cent in the last financial year and this despite all the economic challenges,” says Rene van Eijk, owner of Campworld, Mbombela. “Caravanning is definitely a lifestyle and becoming more popular. And, having your own chalet wherever you go – even in some of the most remote areas – is more cost-effective, especially considering that one will be able to recover your initial outlay within five years.”

The current trend is to buy off-road and/or gravel suitable caravans rather than just the standard tar-road compatible derivatives. This is probably because caravanners want to get further away from, not just the rat race, but also fellow campers. Of course when one decides to invest in a caravan, you should do your homework. Consult with an accredited dealer and most importantly make an in- depth analyses of your requirements.

Buyers with families’ requirements can be vastly different from those of a semi-retired couple or a couple who still only plans to have children. The older couple may prefer to have a shower/toilet/air conditioner – to name but a few – in the caravan whereas the young ones do not.  Another consideration is the suitability of your current vehicle. It may in fact be powerful enough to tow the caravan but still be illegal in terms of the legal requirements which determine the weight ratio of the your vehicle against that of a your fully loaded caravan. The tarra of your “dry” vehicle must be more than that of your fully loaded caravan.

And here’s another very important element: even if the above is correct but you do not have an EB license, you may not tow a caravan. Therefor, it would be advisable for youngsters who grow up in a caravanning family to get an EB licence from the start just in case they may also want to follow in dad’s footsteps later.
Browsing through the various models of caravans and the awesome range of accessories that can be added to enhance the bush luxury elements to your remote and off-the-grid caravan holiday is quiet an eye-opener.

Yes, it is expensive but the fact that your caravan appreciates in value, makes for a very good argument against sky-rocketing holiday budgets.
“It is very important that caravans also be serviced at least once a year and more often when it sees regular use. It is also wise for newbie’s to get a checklist of what to carry and how to pack their caravans,” concludes Rene.

Sunset in the Kalahari from under a caravan patio and surrounded by the silence (nature is never quite), can be an invigorating and soul-refreshing experience. Want to try it – speak to the professionals at Campworld.