Superyacht captain Anton Henry takes his clients to idyllic Mediterranean destinations that include Italy, France, Spain, Corsica, Sardinia and Croatia. All this time at sea he’s thinking of being back home in SA, where he could either be burning rubber in his Subaru STI, Angie, going slowly in Boris the FJ 62 Land Cruiser, or living out of his overland rig, Beige and Confused.
The Rig: Beige and Confused
The Beige and Confused build began two years ago, a slow but deliberate process that culminated in a vehicle designed to handle the toughest terrains while offering the comforts of home. The rig boasts a Land Cruiser ModCAP Camper, Tough Dog suspension with 600kg blades, a Powerbrake big brake upgrade, a DeGraaf exhaust, and a winch for those sticky situations. Inside, the cab is fully soundproofed and equipped with a powerful Rockford Fosgate sound system, while Escape Gear covers protect every surface.
“I have always loved camping.” says Anton. “I had a VW Transporter 4Motion before this and loved living the van life. I was camping almost every weekend. But this new rig is almost unfair to camping. It’s glamping! And it’s like taking your mini home into nature at any given opportunity. It’s not only made it easier to get away, but much more luxurious and comfortable too.”
Adventures Close to Home (For Now)
So far, Beige and Confused has yet to leave South Africa, but Anton has already put it through its paces in some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. One of his favourite destinations is the Baviaanskloof, a rugged region that offers the perfect mix of challenge and beauty.
However, Anton’s ambitions stretch far beyond South Africa and he plans to ship Beige and Confused to Morocco and drive it back to Cape Town. “I’m heading to Marrakesh soon to scout out the possibilities of sending her over.”
An Unwanted Xmas Gift
Even the most seasoned overlanders have their moments of misadventure. For Anton, one such moment came on Xmas morning. “I definitely should have had a coffee before moving the vehicle,” he says. With his family in the car and the canopy door left open for airflow, Anton drove straight into a gate, damaging the ModCAP’s gullwing door. “The gate came off worse, I took it straight off its hinges… I will say, considering the amount of force exerted on the door, the Alu-Cab ModCAP is extremely strong!”
Family, Nature, and the Importance of Grounding
As a young father, Anton is passionate about creating lasting memories with his family. “I believe being in nature is as important as seeing a psychologist. It’s grounding for children, adults and families. The life lessons learned are invaluable.”
One of his most memorable trips was with fellow overlander Ducky Staples and his family. The journey began in St. Francis, camping in Ducky’s driveway, followed by a trek through Baviaanskloof, Buffelsbaai, and Wilderness. Despite a close call with a wheel hub issue, the trip was a success, and the group is already planning a Kalagadi adventure for 2025.
Self-Sufficiency in the Wild
Anton’s rig is designed to keep him self-sufficient in even the most remote areas. “We have a lithium power pack that runs a two-compartment fridge, which is supplemented by a second fridge for longer trips. A 120-watt solar panel provides enough power during the day, and the battery keeps both fridges running for two days without any charge. The ModCAP and Canopy Camper Water Tank Kit mounted on the inside of the canopy is for drinking water only. Then we have additional tanks for the Alu-Cab Shower Cube that’s powered by a 12v portable shower. All of our cooking is gas, and with the ModCAP Kitchen it’s easy to get meals going in no time. Sleeping in the rooftop tent makes me feel secure at night, as we can lock the door entering the cab. And if the weather is horrendous, we can close the doors, lift up the bed and create enough space for a small two person party. The Alu-Cab 270 Awning creates enough shade for us on those cooking hot days. As far as the toilet goes, this is something that I still need to improve, but for now my spade is working fine…”
Advice for Aspiring Overlanders
For those looking to live the overlanding lifestyle, Anton’s advice is simple: seek guidance from those who are more experienced than you are. “It’s not a cheap hobby, but at least it’s not a boat… Still, it took me two-and-a-half years to save up the cash to do all the upgrades on my rig, and my mistake was doing what I thought was best. I had to redo a few things, like flow of workspaces and placing things in the correct areas. I learnt a lot by making mistakes that were all avoidable.”
Anton’s most useful tip, however, is his practical approach to packing. “We went camping and put everything we didn’t use in a box. The next time we went camping we left that box at home and did the same thing on that trip. We repeated this until we’d halved what was originally in the car. What we carry with us now is perfect.”