- All-new Grabber MT and Grabber successfully completed 7 314 km 18-day African Adventure through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
- 10-vehicle convoy conquered wide variety of terrain from tough 4x4 trails to treacherous potholes
- Two main community projects in Zambia – rural school in Maamba Coal Mine receives donation of essential supplies, plus ongoing support for Malambu school near Monze
18 days, six countries, 7 300 km, 29
people and 10 vehicles equipped with the all-new General Grabber MT and the
proven Grabber AT – the 2013 General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure has been
successfully wrapped up after travelling through some of Southern Africa’s most
spectacular scenery, and a wide range of its most challenging conditions.
From the soft sand of Botswana to the rocky 4x4 trails of Zambia and the treacherous potholes of Mozambique, this year’s African Adventure had it all, and once again proved the exceptional performance of the General Tyre product range while revealing the beauty and splendour of this fantastic region.
“Last year’s General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure with the Grabber AT was a great success, and we decided to step it up this year with an even more challenging route to prove the performance of the all-new Grabber MT,” explains Russel Stewart, marketing manager for Continental Tyre South Africa.
“The decision to import the new Grabber MT was taken after we took the Grabber AT to the Rust de Winter 4x4 Jamboree directly after the 2012 African Adventure, and we had lots of interest in a dedicated hard-core off-road tyre to suit the real off-road enthusiasts.”
The MT is produced in America, where it was specially developed for an off-road racing series. One of its key features is the three-ply sidewall construction, which provides exceptional strength and resistance to sidewall damage.
“After more than 7 000 km of Africa’s best and worst driving conditions, we have proven that the MT is a truly brilliant tyre,” Stewart says. “Besides its exceptional performance off-road, what really sets it apart from its competitors is the superb road holding in the dry and wet, its remarkable braking performance, and the fact that it’s very quiet and comfortable at high speed.”
Four vehicles were fitted with the new Grabber MT and the remaining six used the Grabber AT, and both tyres excelled. In all, the vehicles covered a cumulative distance of over 71 000 km without a single puncture or any damage. Surprisingly, despite the punishing conditions and hectic schedule, they also showed very little sign of wear.
Stewart says it was great to have several manufacturers involved in the in the 2013 African Adventure as vehicle sponsors, and their support is really appreciated. “It has been fantastic to see the South African-built vehicles, comprising the Toyota Hilux and Fortuner, three Ford Rangers and two brand-new Isuzu KBs participate in the adventure and emerge unscathed.”
The 2013 General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, which was put together by Continental Tyre South Africa and Adventure Junkies Eastern Cape, set off from the Continental plant in Port Elizabeth on 20 March, and entered Botswana through the Grobler’s Bridge border post. The first off-road foray was the route north along the cut line that forms the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe, and featured both soft sand and sticky mud.
The convoy crossed the mighty Zambezi River by pontoon at the Kazangula Border Post into Zambia on day five. The following day the group of 29 participants visited the spectacular Victoria Falls in Livingstone, and then departed on a long and exclusive 4x4 route through the Maamba Coal Mine. The rocky and mountainous maintenance trail for the mine’s cableway system provided an extreme 4x4 test for the vehicles and tyres alike, and all emerged with flying colours.
It also signalled the arrival at the 2013 African Adventure’s main community project. The small rural school at the top of a hill within the Maamba mine area relies on one small mud building to provide basic education for some 215 children, between the ages of seven and 15, from the surrounding community. The school received a large donation from General Tyre, comprising desperately needed stationery, Stop Hunger Now food parcels, shirts and caps, as well as soccer balls.
Several other smaller communities in Botswana and Zambia were also handed school supplies, food and clothing.
The following two days were spent soaking up the beauty of Lake Kariba and one its many islands, after which the group returned to its community project from last year at the Malambu Middle School near Monze.
It was encouraging to see the huge amount of work the school had done with the funds and supplies donated in 2012. They are busy completing a brand-new classroom block that will include a computer centre, science laboratory and a library for the first time – and there was clearly a new sense of vibrancy and colour to the school in general.
Additional stationery was handed over to ensure the ongoing sustainability for this project, which will continue to receive support from the General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, including the donation of computers as soon as the classrooms are finished and the government has completed the supply of electricity to the school.
After a visit to the spectacular Lake Kariba dam wall, and a night spent camping at a beautiful nearby resort, the African Adventure headed off the beaten track once again. The route included pushing through a tunnel of thick bush on a trail that hasn’t been used in years, then climbing up a steep mountain range that gave the tyres yet another harsh workout.
On day 11 the group crossed over into Malawi via the Mwami border post. Two fabulous days were spent at Senga Bay on Lake Malawi – the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa – which included travelling to a small island for spectacular snorkelling, and catching majestic fish eagles in action.
Then it was on to Cape Maclear, the trip’s southern-most stop on Lake Malawi, before heading to the town of Zomba with its breathtaking views of the Zomba Plateau stretching off to Mount Mulanje and the Mozambique border on the horizon.
On day 15 the convoy crossed into Mozambique at the Mwanza border. Zambia’s less-than-perfect roads and Malawi’s endless stream of bicycle taxis and commuters were nothing in comparison to Mozambique’s treacherous potholes. The atrocious driving conditions meant that even though the speed limit was 100 km/h, the group only managed an average of 50 km/h en route to Tete for the night.
Next up was Zimbabwe, which was possibly the biggest disappointment of the entire trip. Despite an initial good impression at the border post (other than the frustrating process of vehicle documentation) and some great scenery with stunning boulder-strewn mountains and dense baobab forests, there was simply no suitable accommodation or camping facility to be found anywhere along the route south from Mutare.
So the convoy pushed through the night and managed to cross over the Beit Bridge border post and eventually set up camp back in South Africa in the early hours of the following morning.
The General tyre 4x4 African finally arrived back at Continental Tyre SA in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 6 April, 18 days after departing on this epic adventure. The total distance covered amounted to 7 314 km, with a cumulative distance of over 71 000 km with all 10 vehicles taken into consideration.
That the tyres had coped with the extreme and punishing route without any damage was simply remarkable, and they provided sure-footed driving confidence, regardless of the diverse range of terrain encountered.
Indeed, the new Grabber MT proved that, despite its heavily biased off-road design, it is equally adept at everyday use, without the drawbacks typically associated with hard-core mud-terrain tyres. The Grabber AT, too, reaffirmed its status as one of the most accomplished all-terrain tyres on the market.
It was a truly amazing General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, with the perfect mix of planning and organisation, routes, superb camping venues, camaraderie, fun and leisure. It was also very satisfying and heart-warming to give something back to Africa with the school projects that will enhance the lives of these children, and assist in providing a better education and a brighter future.
From the soft sand of Botswana to the rocky 4x4 trails of Zambia and the treacherous potholes of Mozambique, this year’s African Adventure had it all, and once again proved the exceptional performance of the General Tyre product range while revealing the beauty and splendour of this fantastic region.
“Last year’s General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure with the Grabber AT was a great success, and we decided to step it up this year with an even more challenging route to prove the performance of the all-new Grabber MT,” explains Russel Stewart, marketing manager for Continental Tyre South Africa.
“The decision to import the new Grabber MT was taken after we took the Grabber AT to the Rust de Winter 4x4 Jamboree directly after the 2012 African Adventure, and we had lots of interest in a dedicated hard-core off-road tyre to suit the real off-road enthusiasts.”
The MT is produced in America, where it was specially developed for an off-road racing series. One of its key features is the three-ply sidewall construction, which provides exceptional strength and resistance to sidewall damage.
“After more than 7 000 km of Africa’s best and worst driving conditions, we have proven that the MT is a truly brilliant tyre,” Stewart says. “Besides its exceptional performance off-road, what really sets it apart from its competitors is the superb road holding in the dry and wet, its remarkable braking performance, and the fact that it’s very quiet and comfortable at high speed.”
Four vehicles were fitted with the new Grabber MT and the remaining six used the Grabber AT, and both tyres excelled. In all, the vehicles covered a cumulative distance of over 71 000 km without a single puncture or any damage. Surprisingly, despite the punishing conditions and hectic schedule, they also showed very little sign of wear.
Stewart says it was great to have several manufacturers involved in the in the 2013 African Adventure as vehicle sponsors, and their support is really appreciated. “It has been fantastic to see the South African-built vehicles, comprising the Toyota Hilux and Fortuner, three Ford Rangers and two brand-new Isuzu KBs participate in the adventure and emerge unscathed.”
The 2013 General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, which was put together by Continental Tyre South Africa and Adventure Junkies Eastern Cape, set off from the Continental plant in Port Elizabeth on 20 March, and entered Botswana through the Grobler’s Bridge border post. The first off-road foray was the route north along the cut line that forms the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe, and featured both soft sand and sticky mud.
The convoy crossed the mighty Zambezi River by pontoon at the Kazangula Border Post into Zambia on day five. The following day the group of 29 participants visited the spectacular Victoria Falls in Livingstone, and then departed on a long and exclusive 4x4 route through the Maamba Coal Mine. The rocky and mountainous maintenance trail for the mine’s cableway system provided an extreme 4x4 test for the vehicles and tyres alike, and all emerged with flying colours.
It also signalled the arrival at the 2013 African Adventure’s main community project. The small rural school at the top of a hill within the Maamba mine area relies on one small mud building to provide basic education for some 215 children, between the ages of seven and 15, from the surrounding community. The school received a large donation from General Tyre, comprising desperately needed stationery, Stop Hunger Now food parcels, shirts and caps, as well as soccer balls.
Several other smaller communities in Botswana and Zambia were also handed school supplies, food and clothing.
The following two days were spent soaking up the beauty of Lake Kariba and one its many islands, after which the group returned to its community project from last year at the Malambu Middle School near Monze.
It was encouraging to see the huge amount of work the school had done with the funds and supplies donated in 2012. They are busy completing a brand-new classroom block that will include a computer centre, science laboratory and a library for the first time – and there was clearly a new sense of vibrancy and colour to the school in general.
Additional stationery was handed over to ensure the ongoing sustainability for this project, which will continue to receive support from the General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, including the donation of computers as soon as the classrooms are finished and the government has completed the supply of electricity to the school.
After a visit to the spectacular Lake Kariba dam wall, and a night spent camping at a beautiful nearby resort, the African Adventure headed off the beaten track once again. The route included pushing through a tunnel of thick bush on a trail that hasn’t been used in years, then climbing up a steep mountain range that gave the tyres yet another harsh workout.
On day 11 the group crossed over into Malawi via the Mwami border post. Two fabulous days were spent at Senga Bay on Lake Malawi – the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa – which included travelling to a small island for spectacular snorkelling, and catching majestic fish eagles in action.
Then it was on to Cape Maclear, the trip’s southern-most stop on Lake Malawi, before heading to the town of Zomba with its breathtaking views of the Zomba Plateau stretching off to Mount Mulanje and the Mozambique border on the horizon.
On day 15 the convoy crossed into Mozambique at the Mwanza border. Zambia’s less-than-perfect roads and Malawi’s endless stream of bicycle taxis and commuters were nothing in comparison to Mozambique’s treacherous potholes. The atrocious driving conditions meant that even though the speed limit was 100 km/h, the group only managed an average of 50 km/h en route to Tete for the night.
Next up was Zimbabwe, which was possibly the biggest disappointment of the entire trip. Despite an initial good impression at the border post (other than the frustrating process of vehicle documentation) and some great scenery with stunning boulder-strewn mountains and dense baobab forests, there was simply no suitable accommodation or camping facility to be found anywhere along the route south from Mutare.
So the convoy pushed through the night and managed to cross over the Beit Bridge border post and eventually set up camp back in South Africa in the early hours of the following morning.
The General tyre 4x4 African finally arrived back at Continental Tyre SA in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 6 April, 18 days after departing on this epic adventure. The total distance covered amounted to 7 314 km, with a cumulative distance of over 71 000 km with all 10 vehicles taken into consideration.
That the tyres had coped with the extreme and punishing route without any damage was simply remarkable, and they provided sure-footed driving confidence, regardless of the diverse range of terrain encountered.
Indeed, the new Grabber MT proved that, despite its heavily biased off-road design, it is equally adept at everyday use, without the drawbacks typically associated with hard-core mud-terrain tyres. The Grabber AT, too, reaffirmed its status as one of the most accomplished all-terrain tyres on the market.
It was a truly amazing General Tyre 4x4 African Adventure, with the perfect mix of planning and organisation, routes, superb camping venues, camaraderie, fun and leisure. It was also very satisfying and heart-warming to give something back to Africa with the school projects that will enhance the lives of these children, and assist in providing a better education and a brighter future.
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