WHACKY WHEELS

To be able to travel and enjoy nature makes Frikkie and Marthie Blom from Germiston feel very grateful. And they express their gratitude with, and in, a 1993 Mitsubishi L300 Express.

When we initially purchased ‘Skilpad’ it was still finished in its original white, but that was looking a little tired so we asked Marthie’s brother Johan ‘Johnny’ Nortje to paint something special for us. We enjoy being away in the great outdoors and visiting the seaside and getting close to wildlife.

We believe that we are watched over and kept safe wherever we go, so we had Johnny reflect that in the designs on Skilpad’s exterior panels. There are some animals, angels, and other aspects of nature featured.

We have owned Skilpad for four years already and have covered a collective 48 000 km worth of travel mileage, with no major issues – something that’s very impressive for a vehicle this old. It consumes around 11,7 ℓ/100 km when fully loaded.

On one trip to Namibia we decided that an extra spare wheel mounted up front would come in handy considering the state of the road in some areas. We have also altered the interior slightly to suit our own individual tastes and to give us a space to work while we’re away, whether we’re inside or outside. But that’s the extent of the modifications.

Every single experience with Skilpad has been special and we have enjoyed our time in Namibia, to places like Brandberg, Etosha, Spitzkoppe, Twyfelfontein, as well as to Ghanzi and the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Back home our favourites include Klein Kariba, Oribi Gorge in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Augrabies Falls and the Kruger.

Skilpad has made our camping life so much easier. It feels like home. When we’re on the road we just pull into a garage and take a short break when we’re tired. At a campsite we park, hook up to a power source and enjoy our surroundings after a long drive.