A South African Odyssey
Kenneth Bailey, TankSafe® SA’s managing director, completed a 17 day, 5040km trip across South Africa earlier this month. Here, he shares his story:
“My mission was threefold – to personally engage with existing and potential clients, see TankSafe® products in the field, and for my wife and I to enjoy the breath-taking beauty and culture of South Africa.”
1st Stop : Bloemfontein - 1 night
”Our adventure began in Bloemfontein, where we met with Daleen Pretorius, Diesel Manager at Hestony Transport. Hestony has a 1000+ strong fleet and fits TankSafe® Optimum.
We then travelled to a Mercedes Benz dealer and discussed fuel security with their Dealer Principal and Sales manager.
Daimler fits TankSafe® Optimum and SenderSafe® as standard equipment on all of their Mercedes Benz Actros trucks.”
Limited edition Mercedes Actros fitted with TankSafe® and SenderSafe®
2nd Stop: Beaufort West - 1 night
”Beaufort West is an overnight truckstop for many trucks travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
We noticed every service station has a different diesel price. Diesel price is unregulated in South Africa so filling stations can charge what they want. Diesel prices are around 10% cheaper on the back streets, away from the main roads.”
3rd Stop: Cape Town (2 nights)
”Cape Town awaited with its stunning beaches and sunsets. Here we visited our two resellers and installers in Cape Town: Trucking Good Spares and Serco Body Builders.
After lunch on the beach, we visited UD Trucks, who have started fitting TankSafe® Optimum and SenderSafe® as standard on all of their articulated trucks.”
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town
Sunset Table Mountain
4th Stop: Franschhoek Valley (3 nights)
”This place is home to some of South Africa’s best wine farms, and is a huge tourist attraction. Hopping on and off the wine tram, we enjoyed a day of wine tasting with friends from Durban.”
Last vineyard visit of the day and all still standing
5th Stop: Paternoster (4 nights)
”Paternoster is a quaint fishing village on the West Coast. It’s well known for its rock lobster, which are caught by small scale fishermen. At just £2 each, these had to go on the night’s menu.”
6th Stop: Somerset West (3 nights)
”Another little trip to the heart of the wine country - very friendly and welcoming.”
Helderberg Mountain, Somerset West
7th Stop: Port Elizabeth (1 night)
”Here we met our reseller and installer in East Cape: Serco Body Builders. Then on to meet the team at UD Trucks, Port Elizabeth. It was a privilege to see the first UD Trucks with TankSafe® fitments as standard.”
“When you think you’ve seen it all. On our way out of Port Elizabeth we spotted this - fuel security at its finest…”
8th Stop: Port Alfred (2 nights)
”Our final stop - a Valentines treat for my wife. Another quaint town, based on a river mouth with a small craft harbour. And home to the oldest licensed pub in South Africa - the historic Pig and Whistle Inn, which opened in 1832. Cheers!”
