MAKHADO - The Olivier family, consisting of dad Willem, his wife Elzeth and their two teenage daughters, Lizaan (17) and Corlia (14) won the first ever Nissan LA Sport 4x4 Family of the Year competition and drove away with a brand new Nissan Hardbody 2.4 double-cab 4x4 bakkie and a Conqueror Supra off-road trailer, both sponsored for the competition.

The Oliviers, who were one of six families that participated in the final of the competition and arrived back in Pretoria on Saturday after a nine-day safari through Botswana and remote parts of Zambia, scored the highest number of points during the final while certain projects between the semi-finals and the finals also counted towards the points. The competition was, however, very stiff and only 10% separated the first five families from each other.

The Oliviers drove away in their vehicle, sponsored by NISSAN SA and fitted with all the necessary off-road equipment, including XGS shocks, a TJM bull bar fitted with a 9000LB Premier winch and KC spotlights, an Airtech TJM snorkel, Takla seat covers, two Front Run-ner roof racks fitted with a highlift jack, a gas bottle holder with a gas bottle, jerry cans in jerry can holders and a Garmin GPS fitted in the vehicle as well as a Secure Tech recovery kit. And to top it all off, the vehicle and the trailer are ensured for a year, courtesy Leisuresure. The Conqueror Supra off-road trailer has a tent, a dual battery system and some more holders for jerry cans and gas bottles. Both the trailer and the 4x4 are fitted with new Bridgestone tyres.

The Nel family from Richard’s Bay was second and will be able to kit their trusty Land Rover Discovery with 4x4 accessories from various sponsors to the value of R30 000 while the Engelbrecht family from Pretoria finished third overall and won 4x4 accessories to the value of R20 000.

The final safari was trying, not only for the members of the families, but also for the vehicles. Thinus Kruger and his wife, Manré, together with their two daughters, Edine (14) and Charné (9) from Richard’s Bay had to go from Katima Mulilo in Namibia straight to Livingstone when they experienced some problems with their Mitsubishi Colt Rodeo on the third day. They were very disappointed, but spent four days of holiday at Livingstone while they waited to join the rest of the convoy on their return trip.

Other families also experienced some problems – the Nissan Patrol of the Engelbrechts from Pretoria, as well as the Toyota Hilux of the Olivier family from Makhado, had alternator problems early during the trip while the air-suspension of the Discovery of the Nel family from Richard’s Bay gave some trouble just before Livingstone on the return trip. The families found quick solutions for every problem and made a plan so that the convoy could keep going and not too much time was lost.

It was an unforgettable trip for everyone as none of the families has been to the Barotsi Plains in Zambia. The weather was extremely hot, but fortunately most of the vehicles were fitted with airconditioners. Although it was a competition, good and lasting friendships were formed between the families and the children.

The trip went all the way from South Africa through to Botswana where the convoy slept over at Kubu Island. The next day, they stayed at Mankwe Lodge and after that, at Kabula Tiger Lodge where they visited the local schools and met with the Indunas. They donated school writing books and stationery to the Kalobolwla School and religious books to the local church community.

On their way to the next overnight stop, they visited the beautiful Sioma Falls and passed the Barotsi Plains before they turned and went by ferry over the Zambezi River to Mongu. There they had to deal with their first crisis in that the town of Mongu was out of fuel.

After another night in the field, they were on their way to Livingstone. They spent their last night in Botswana just before the South Afircan border at Limpopo River Lodge and arrived back in South Africa on Saturday morning.

The families were judged during the trip and scored – or lost – points in a variety of areas. Communication between family members as well as the various types of interaction between them and between the families counted towards the final score, while their general knowledge was also tested on the route where they drove more than 4 000km during the nine days.