Cape Vidal Campsite Review

We had heard so much about Cape Vidal and had never been. Let me say that it doesn't disappoint.

Although expensive, you cannot beat the awesome combination of beach and bush. During the morning you swim, and, in the afternoon you game drive.

The campsite is open to wild animals, although the only thing we really saw were monkeys and a wild pig (fascinatingly ugly creature). I have heard stories of hyena and leopard walking through the camp, but sadly didn't see this ourselves.

Their shop is incredibly well stocked, the campsites are large, sheltered and the beach is a snorkeling paradise.

Upside:

• Big level sites
• Possibility of wild animal sightings in camp
• Cleaning service offered by local ladies for a fee
• Amazing beach
• In a game reserve (big 4 I seem to remember)
• Decent bathrooms
• Well stocked shop
• Good wood onsite
• Plugs and taps onsite
• Card facilities

Downside:

• No braai on sites
• Expensive, expensive, expensive (but worth it)
• Monkeys can be a pain
• Bathrooms can become a muddy mess at busy times
• No kids play area
• Beach is a bit of a walk

Tips:

• When you tow a caravan you get nervous to drive the park to check sites for fear of tricky turning situations - don't be here there is plenty of turning space. The best sites are towards the bottom (26+) nearer to the beach, which we missed.
• Use the wheelchair access bathroom. Much bigger, not as well used and you get it to yourself.
• Take cash for domestic assistant
• Lock food away. The monkeys here are tech savvy and can open a trunk and a cooler box - ask us, we know!
• Take a fishing rod
• Take sand toys for kids - no playground but who needs one when the campsite is a giant sandpit
• Take a braai and grid

Ratings:

Kid friendly - 8/10

Safety - 9/10

Overall Camp Cleanliness - 8/10

Bathroom Cleanliness - 6/10
Sites - 6/10
Tranquility - 7/10
Water, electricity, braai place - 6/10
Location: 7/10

Overall - 7.5/10

Towing the Commander on Beach Sand

After a good few camping trips in-between and a lot more experience under our belts, we took a trip to White Sands in Inhambane, Mozambique (campsite review to follow). Us in the Chev towing the Conqueror Commander, and friends in a Toyota Hilux towing a Bushlapa Ratel.

With the extensive info gained from DriveMoz, we were well prepared for the trip. I cannot recommend the DriveMoz community highly enough for the advice, friendship and assistance provided between members traveling through Mozambique.

The beach sand at White Sands is the softest, thickest sand you could ever wish to tow a heavy hunk of metal like the Commander on. Before I tell you how we managed, let me first say this...we knew that our tire pressure on both car and caravan needed to be 0.8bars for sand driving.

When we arrived, we parked our car and caravan on the firm, wet sand and began the extremely tedious task of letting down not just 4 but 6 tires. When you are doing this the good ol' key-in-valve method, you start thinking maybe 0.8bar is overly cautious, you convince yourself that 1.4bar will be absolutely spot-on! Well, I'm here to tell you that it absolutely isn't! Why? Because you get stuck, that's why.

Oh, it was fine for the first 500m, and then we hit the really soft stuff, the stuff that apparently the last 4 cars before us got stuck in and churned into a horrendous mess. The Chev, by now, is belly down in the sand while our camping neighbours sit in their fold up chairs, watching, drinking beer, silently mocking the newest victims.

There's me lying on the ground, digging with my bare hands ineffectively at the sand bogging us down. There's hubby about ready to throw in the camping towel for good, when, along comes McGuyver. McGuyver, was THAT camper, the dude that has EVERY gadget known to camping, and he knows how to use each one. McGuyver has these two bright orange plastic MaxTrax in his hands, which he starts digging with to clear a path for the tires. He then places the Trax under the tires and indicates for hubby to "put foot" and we are out. Can you Adam and Eve it? I swear, I will never again mock a gadget camper!

What did we learn from this experience? Well, we learned that tire pressure is just so damned important in the sand. You really need the extra surface area and 0.8bar will be my go to the next time we drive on thick, soft sand. We discovered that Trax are an absolute must have, worth-every-red-cent, essential item. We found out that a decent compressor for reinflating tires (preferably two at a time with a long duty cycle) is worth spending money on. We learned that with an automatic car towing in sand, it's better to kick into manual 1st gear and keep momentum going when going.

Would I do it again? Hell yes! It was the most fun I've had in a long time. Would hubby do it again? I think he realised that 4x4ing was more technical than we gave it credit for, but, yes, I believe he would!