Caravan vs trailer tent vs rooftop tent — what SA overlanders actually prefer
Back from 2 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Johannesburg.
The spot: First-come-first-served on weekends so we arrived Thursday to secure a site.
Facilities: Basic pit toilets and cold shower only — bring a solar shower bag for comfort.
Wildlife: Elephant at the waterhole every morning at 06:30 without fail.
What worked: The Dometic fridge ran the full trip on 181Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 253W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
5 Replies
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 189Ah battery with 131W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 21 months.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 189Ah battery with 131W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 21 months.
— steef_pretorius
Did you see any large wildlife in camp? We had an elephant push over a tree about 22m from our rooftop tent at 02:00. Incredible to experience — absolutely terrifying in the moment.
The campsite you mentioned matches what we found when we went. The game viewing in the early morning before other visitors are out is exceptional.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 194Ah battery with 221W solar keeps a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 19 months.
On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.