Tag: window

Overlanding Africa Travel – Eco Tips

Overlanding Africa Travel – Eco Tips

Why Africa Overland Travel is Eco Friendly Vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained therefore running cleaner and more efficiently whilst keeping emissions to a minimum.

One vehicle = 12 to 30 travellers. The carbon footprint is divided across all travellers as opposed to having numerous vehicles on the road. (The saving youmake on sharing fuel loads and costs is also worth mentioning!

Companies have recognised Green or Eco policies in place that crew and passengers must adhere to.One return long-haul flight is less of a carbon burning nightmare than your long-haul flight plus lots of little, short, local ones.

Fresh food and produce is purchased locally at local markets thereby supporting local businesses and economies. Curios and souvenirs purchased direct from the manufacturer (often a person with a roadside stall selling their wares) ensure that the full cost is paid to the local manufacturer and therefore community. Overland vehicles and drivers stick to public, marked roads and dont condone off-roading limiting the environmental impact in eco-sensitive areas. Rubbish is disposed of properly and recycled where possible.
Many overland companies support a local charity, NGO or community based charitable
association and in some cases these beneficiaries only exist due to the input from Overland companies, their crew and their passengers.
The use of local guides not only gives you on-the-ground knowledge but supports
the communities that live in the places you visit.

The theories of “Tread lightly and travel politely” and “take
only photos – leave only footprints” definitely apply to Overland travel.
Thinking Green On Safari
Plastic bags – don’t use them.
Pillow case or recycled bag for laundry and shopping.
When buying water buy 5L and decant it – you will use less bottles.
No cigarette butts out window, dispose of them properly.
Use bio degradable products where possible.
Share transport or walk, lessens your carbon footprint.
Minimise water usage.
Buy local – its cheaper and you support local communities.
Toilet paper – burn, bury or bring it back to the bin.

Car Accessories to Entertain Kids

Car Accessories to Entertain Kids

Traveling with children, especially long distance may require one to give them a lot of attention. You always have to ensure that they are comfortable and safe. This is why it is necessary to purchase certain accessories that will make life easier with the toddlers and children. There are quite a number of car accessories that are child friendly. These will ensure that the child is safe and comfortable all through the journey.

Seat saver mats are good for protecting your car from litter. They are securely fitted on the seats such that the children will not make the seats dirty or tear them as they play in the car. Baby mirrors are also appropriate car accessories for children. They can be fixed in the back seat or on the back head rest. It allows mum and dad to keep an eye on the baby throughout the journey. What is more, the baby also has fun looking at himself through the journey. This accessory is easy to keep clean as it one only needs to wipe it using a cloth.

Windows shades are also important accessories for children. They are fixed on the car window so as to protect the baby from ultraviolet rays that may be harmful. Since even weak sun rays can easily reach the baby in the car, this accessory offers protection so that baby stays comfortable on the road. Further still there are car seat covers which are necessary to protect the baby’s seat from harsh weather.

Car seat covers have sun shields which ensure that the temperature is lowered so that the baby’s seat does not heat up due to the strong sun. What is more, this accessory also ensures that the temperature within the baby’s area is comfortable. One may also consider purchasing a kids travel pillow. This is especially important when traveling long distance. The pillow provides support for the child’s   head and neck when he is sleeping. It s made with soft fabric therefore keeps the baby comfortable. A back seat organizer also comes in handy when traveling. The baby’s essentials can be neatly arranged in this accessory. It has two bottle pockets as well as a removable travel pouch. This is important as it helps one to keep baby’s essentials in one place therefore easy to reach. Apart from that, this allows one to keep the car neat since baby’s stuff will be neatly organized in one place.

On the same note, one can still purchase a baby neck supporter for the infants. This is important as it helps in keeping the baby’s head upright and straight. This ensures that the baby is comfortable when sleeping. What is more, it is made from soft cloth keeping the baby cozy all through the journey. It is important to load your car with these accessories so as to ensure that baby is always safe and comfortable. What is more, once the baby is comfortable, you can concentrate more on your driving without having to constantly check up on him.

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Winter Driving Tips

Winter Driving Tips

With the winter weather closing in and coating the UK in a nice fresh layer of snow here are some tips on safe driving in icy and snowy conditions. Winter conditions are probably the most hazardous that a driver can experience in the UK, with a mix of ice, snow and limited visibility it’s essential to ensure that your car is well maintained and that you are prepared for your journey.

Before winter hits:

There are a few things that you should check on your car before the winter months close in:

Antifreeze

The important thing to remember with the antifreeze in your car is to check your levels and to check the manual provided with the vehicle for the type of antifreeze that is required. Some antifreezes do not mix well together and can form a “sludge” that can clog up your engine and can lead to irreparable damage.

Tyre Tread

Ensuring that your tyre tread is of a reasonable depth will ensure that you maintain as much grip on the road as possible, reducing the chances of losing control of the car.

Lights

Visibility is an important part of safe and sensible driving, making sure that your lights are in good working order will improve your chances of seeing any potential hazards.

Before setting off in wintry conditions:

Check traffic and weather reports by checking with the latest reports you can allow additional time for driving and see whether there are any potential accident black spots or roads to avoid.

Warm your car up

Quite simply, there’s nothing worse than sitting shivering in your car.

Clear windows and mirrors

Scraping the ice and snow from your windscreen and mirrors frees up your view, enables you to see other traffic behind you and with the increased visibility improves your chance of reacting to any problems that can happen.

Check your washer levels

Your washers help clear your windows from spray being kicked up from other traffic, this will usually contain parts of the grit and salt that are laid

Whilst driving:

Allow additional room for braking When driving in snow it is almost impossible to stop at the same rate that you would need to on a road under normal conditions, so allow up to 10 times as much room as you would normally allow for bringing your car to a stop.

Smooth driving

Sharp, sudden movements in your car on slippery surfaces is always ill advised, even more so when the road is icy. By keeping your driving smooth and changing your speed steadily you will maintain control of your car and severely reduce the chances of you being involved in an accident.

One final point is to make sure that you have a winter emergency kit in your car boot (containing a shovel, a tow rope, jump leads, spare tyre and a warning triangle) just in case you do end having to park your car up and wait until the conditions clear. It may also be a good idea to take a blanket, wellington boots (or other suitable outdoor footwear) and a torch. If you follow these instructions then hopefully you can look forwards to safe driving throughout the winter.

If you are using car hire then it is always best to make sure that you are aware of local laws for using appropriate tyres and any requirements that your hire company have.