A horse of a different colour
When you hitch the Nayela Okapi, you take a hotel room to the bush.
Caravan design is a specialist field. Then there are also seasoned architects like Bennie Cilliers from Bethlehem who come up with a caravan that’s quite simply in a league of its own.
Although Bennie is the mastermind behind the Okapi, the business in the meantime has been sold to the owners of Van Zyl steelworks in Reitz in the Free State. But, for such a new product, there is already a lot of interest if you look at the waiting list.
With its round nose, the Okapi looks quite different from other caravans, and inside, the layout and luxurious finishes are as original.
The hull is made of fibreglass, which means the caravan is virtually maintenance-free. What’s more, the Okapi is up to taking on Africa’s worst roads.
Press all the buttons
The crank-handle for the Okapi’s corner steadies is neatly fitted to the inside of the cupboard door on the right. The 3 kg gas cylinder is in the same cupboard and fastened with a strap.
Stuff won’t easily open while you’re towing, as the caravan is equipped with a number of double clips. So, as you put the crank-handle back in its place, open the two clips in the right panel so long. This section of the righthand panel looks like a large door and this is where the bed pulls out from the hull. Now walk around and loosen each of the clips on the corners of the pop-up roof. Stand by the door to lift the roof and loosen the bed from the inside.
The switch for the roof sits to the left of the door, just above the power box. The roof lifts within 48 seconds almost 50 cm and comes to rest 2,085 m above the floor.
Before the bed is pushed outwards, there is a small corridor of about 30 cm at the narrowest point to the back of the caravan where you can pack bulky upright items while towing.
At the bottom of the bed base is another switch that retracts the telescopic arms that keep the bed inside on its sliding frame – they allow you to push the bed door tightly against the hull when you tow and are the perfect answer for keeping out water and dust.
Now get out to extend the bed. First thread the flysheet that fits over the bed onto the hull, otherwise you need a ladder if the bed is already pulled out. Lastly secure the two metal wedges near the telescopic arms so that the bed stays put.
With the bed base extended, the base on which the mattress rests inside stands upright against the right-hand panel and swings down over a storage space. Now unfold the mattress over the base.
There’s a reading light on both sides of the bed with USB sockets plus two windows that can open, and a narrow surface length wise also on both sides on which you can place some items you might need at night. The window has a mesh that can also be zipped open plus a canvas blind. Inside, the ceiling is 67 cm above the bed, which means you won’t be able to sit upright.
Hop inside
Once the bed is in place, there are two sections to the interior of the Okapi. The lounge area is in front of the door and the bathroom sits in the rear.
The door is nice and wide, and when you’re inside, the lounge is in a U-shape to the left. A big plus is the upright fridge to the right of the door, especially as off-road caravans usually have a chest fridge/freezer. The fridge hinges are designed that you can also access it from the outside.
In the lounge is a narrow worktop
that flattens out. It works well for coffee and rusks, but it’s a bit small for a threecourse meal.
The Okapi’s round nose has the panel behind the benches arch up to the roof. Above the benches are two rounded windows – they don’t open, but do have curtains. Between the two windows, there’s an upholstered strip that runs up to the roof with three lights. This motif is repeated against the roof, and you can even choose a blue atmospheric light.
The rest of the interior
The foot of the bed forms an island, and there’s more than enough space to move past the cupboards. To the left of the bed, which is just slightly narrower than a double bed, are two cupboards with the vanity corner to the right, at the end of the bed. Behind it is a mirror with cupboards at the bottom and a larger one on top. The mirror is a little bit low, and you’ll need to bend down to comb your hair. There are also four 220 V sockets.
Opposite the end of the bed are three cupboard doors and two sliding doors. The sliding doors and the two smaller ones open into the back of the outdoor kitchen. The large cupboard on the left has three built-in shelves, with the hanging wardrobe in the lower section.
The bathroom has a separate flush cassette toilet and shower cubicle, but it is not completely separate from the living space. The toilet, with a hand basin next to it, is at least behind a panel that has a mirror.
The spacious shower cubicle has a door that’s chest heigh, while a shower curtain prevents you from getting everything wet. The shower head is not permanently mounted, but part of an hand held extension.
Kitchen tales
Above the wheels in the panel on the left are two identical cupboard doors. One pops up and the other becomes a worktop. Each cupboard has a bottom and a top shelf, and the microwave is on the right at the bottom. In addition to all the groceries that can fit inside, each cupboard also has sponge cut-outs: The glasses and cups stay on top, and the plates and bowls are at the bottom. To the left of the worktop is a multi-socket and above you is a light.
To the right of the two cupboards is a third door that houses a two-plate gas stove and sink. (The two-plate stove has meanwhile been replaced by a three-plate one. – Ed) When not in use, swing each of the glass covers down over the stove and sink to create another worktop. The sink has a swivel tap with hot and cold water.
Inside the hull, from where the worktop folds down, are shallow shelves for items such as spices and sauces – there are also pouches for items such as serving spoons, tongs and a tin opener. A rally tent covers the entire left-hand side. The Okapi does not have a nose cone, but there’s a flat section on the A-frame that extends partly under the curvature of the nose. A bag or two of braai wood can go here.
The spare wheel is at the back at the chassis.
What comes standard?
Standard items include a 130 Ah gel battery, a gas/electric geyser, 12 V standing fridge, 105 ℓ water tank, three-plate gas stove and sink, 220 V-12 V power box with a Victron smart charger, Dometic flush cassette toilet, full bathroom, microwave oven, cutlery and the spare wheel.
Among the extras are the rally tent with sides (R17 000), a full tent (R36 000), spare wheel rack (R6 000), extra 70 ℓ water tank (R3 500), extra sink with extension (R3 000) and extra bed for children (R4 000).
Drive & Camp says The twin axle gives peace of mind. The caravan tows easily, especially on bad roads, and you don’t have to rely on a single wheel per side when you encounter trouble at a high speed. Of course, manoeuvring it by hand is not easy. That is why a mover (R22 000) is a must.