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The S56 Mpongolo Loop: Lions, Ele Umbrellas & 2,000+ Buffalo

The Loop That Teaches Patience The S56 isn’t just a road it’s a mood. One that changes by the hour. On a cool morning, I rolled out early with the INEOS Grenadier idling low and the Three Lads & a Toucan steaming strong. Within minutes, the bush began to wake ground hornbills booming, doves cooing, and a soft pink sky rolling open. The first lions were flat cats, sprawled across the opposite bank like spilled gold. Then came elephants dozens of them calves lying flat under

Branden Meintjes

4 days ago1 min read

Bal-Sak vs Kruger Squirrels: The Indestructible Camp Bag

The Bag That Fights Back Every trip needs a bag that takes a beating. Mine was the Bal-Sak and it faced off with Kruger’s most persistent enemies, the squirrels. Twice they raided my camp, twice they failed. The Bal-Sak held firm, not a thread torn. I’m convinced you could run it over with the INEOS Grenadier and it’d still look smug about it. It’s got this bold, animal-print camo wild dogs, vultures, the works that of course looks at home in the bush. And it’s big , bru. Y

Branden Meintjes

Dec 81 min read

Skitch Overlanding Chair + Cooler Combo: Ice After 48 hrs in 38°C

Cold Drinks & Lazy Afternoons There’s something deeply satisfying about cracking a cold one at camp after a long, dusty drive. Especially when it’s been two days in 38-degree heat and there’s still ice. That’s what the Skitch Overlanding cooler pulled off at Shingwedzi. Inspired by military ammo boxes, it took a full-blown baboon siege and still didn’t pop a latch. I’ve seen those guys break into cars, so that cooler earned my respect. The Skitch camp chair was no less imp

Branden Meintjes

Dec 41 min read

Tigerline Bush Shirt & Vellies: 2 Weeks of Dust, Sweat & Zero Wear

Gear Built for the Grind Some clothes claim to be “made for adventure.” Tigerline proves it.After 3 000 km in the INEOS Grenadier , from Magobaskloof drizzle to Crooks Corner dust, the Tigerline shirt and vellies never missed a beat. The shirt stayed light, breathable, and quick-drying the kind you can sweat through and still wear to the braai. Those little magnetic chest pockets , originally for lures and hooks turned into multitool and beer-can holders. Genius.The vellies

Branden Meintjes

Dec 11 min read

Why Giraffe Staring is Your Best Lion Early-Warning System

Eyes Above the Grass In the bush, you don’t always find the big moments, sometimes, they find you. I was rolling along the S50 when I noticed a giraffe standing dead still, neck stretched, eyes locked on the thicket. That’s your cue! Giraffes don’t stare for fun; they’ve seen something worth staring at. I followed its gaze, and sure enough a male lion cutting through the bush like a moving shadow. Moments later, I found his brother and a lioness in the road, deep in their mat

Branden Meintjes

Nov 271 min read

Crooks Corner: History, Outlaws & Crocodiles at Africa’s Tri-Point

Where Borders Blur At Kruger’s far north tip, the Limpopo curves into a place once famous for smugglers and gun-runners. They called it Crooks Corner , and for good reason, a man could cross one river and escape three governments in a minute. Today, it’s quieter, just crocodiles sliding through muddy water and fish eagles calling from fever trees. Standing there, you can feel history humming underfoot. The INEOS Grenadier stood idling nearby, dust-covered however unbothere

Branden Meintjes

Nov 241 min read

Three Lads & a Toucan Bush Coffee Ritual (with Amarula)

Morning Fuel, Bush-Style Out here, coffee isn’t just caffeine it’s ceremony. Before sunrise, I boil the kettle, breathe in the mopani air, and Three Lads & a Toucan into the mug. Add a teaspoon of hot chocolate, a dash of Amarula, and you’ve got the ranger’s secret recipe. It’s strong enough to wake a giraffe and smooth enough to make you late for your own game drive. At Shingwedzi , I shared it with neighbours and strangers alike. No one ever said no. That’s the beauty of

Branden Meintjes

Nov 191 min read

Copy of INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster 3 000 km of Kruger Corrugations Tested

A Workhorse With Manners From Joburg to Crooks Corner, the INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster carried me through every kind of surface tar, sand, mud, and bone shaking gravel without flinching. The straight-six petrol engine purred smooth and strong; doors closed with that satisfying vault “thunk.” On long days it felt less like driving and more like captaining a ship through the bush steady, solid, and calm. After a couple of weeks, 3 000 km, and a few baboon proof tests, nothin

Branden Meintjes

Nov 121 min read

How to Spot a Leopard in Kruger: The Sandpiper Method

The Secret’s in the Silence They say you never find a leopard it finds you. But there are ways to help your luck along . That afternoon on the S56 , the bush was still and gold when I noticed fresh tracks in the sand, round and confident. The INEOS Grenadier idled quietly while I scanned the riverbank through my SBK Sunglasses . The glare melted away and there he was. A young male, half-hidden in dappled light, rubbing against a leadwood trunk before vanishing like smoke. Th

Branden Meintjes

Nov 61 min read

5 of South Africa’s Spookiest Travel Spots.

There’s something about the South African landscape that makes it perfect for ghost stories: the old stone ruins under the big African sky and abandoned buildings covered in vines. And since it’s that spooky season again, we’re flipping the script here at KhakiBush. Usually, we’re all about hiking trails, heritage routes and conservation conversations… but this October, we’re going off-trail into the eerie corners of Mzansi that most don’t dare to explore. So, fire up the tor