Our New Caravan
Readers: Mike and Donovan Thompson
Caravan: Sprite Swing
Bought from: Tygerberg Caravans & Campworld
What type and model caravan did you purchase?
When we first considered purchasing a caravan, the idea was to get an older van initially to see if we liked camping life, and then upgrade at a later stage if we did. So, I started looking around for caravans, but kept coming back to the Sprite Swing. It ticked all the boxes for me – and, after a little persuading on my part, we decided that this was the van for us. We particularly like the light interior, the outdoor kitchen, large fridge/deep-freeze and the island bed.
What made you choose this particular caravan?
Besides having all the features that we were looking for, the Swing is also light enough to be towed by my current car. This was an important consideration, as I wasn’t ready to trade my car in at that stage. So, I looked around for someone to fit a tow bar to an Alfa 159, and eventually had it done. I’m no expert, but, in my opinion, the Alfa has actually turned out to be a surprisingly good tow vehicle. It certainly makes for one of the more unusual combinations on the road.
Have you owned other caravans before? If so, what models?
This is our first caravan and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The bug has bitten! Have you customised your new caravan at all, to make it right for you? If so, what have you done? We’ve kept the van pretty much standard, except for the reading lights that we installed above the bed. I am also considering installing a small TV and DVD player for the quieter evenings when the weather isn’t playing along. Otherwise, the van had most of what we were looking for, so not much customising was required.
What are your must-have items when caravanning?
We made quite a long list of items to get after our first trip and have been stocking the caravan and building up our camping gear since. For us, the must-have items are comfy chairs, the bluetooth speaker for the French café style music we enjoy, and a good book or two. Gumboots also come in handy in the winter.
What luxury item can’t you do without in your caravan?
Good coffee is essential and we also never travel without our iPads. I also think that once we’ve had our first summer of caravanning, I might consider a portable air conditioner to be a luxury item that I can’t do without. We’ll have to wait and see.
Have you travelled with your new caravan yet? If so, where have you been?
We’ve only travelled locally in the Western Cape, with our longest trip being to Skurwekop in Robertson. We’ve also visited Fynbos in Tulbagh, Mountain Breeze in Stellenbosch, Chapman’s Peak Caravan Park and Ganzekraal a few times.
