NAMPO 2026
From a 4 a.m. start and an epic, dusty traffic jam fueled by a Hilux world record attempt, to massive outdoor displays and incredible bargains, my first time at NAMPO was unforgettable. With 80 acres to explore, four hours just wasn’t enough!
We woke up at 04h00 in the morning of the 13th of May 2026 to get ready to hit the road by 06h00, as we wanted to get to Nampo nice and early. I was very excited as this would be my first visit to Nampo. It took us 1 ½ hours to Parys in the Freestate where we had a short break. We ventured on and reached Viljoenskroon ½ hour later and Bothaville another 15 to 20 minutes later. From there on traffic got slow and it took us an additional 3 hours to reach Gate 2 at Nampo.
We later found out that the traffic was so slow due to Toyota attempting to break the Guiness World Record for the most Hilux’s gathered in one spot. A lot of the Toyota’s came speeding past us on the left-hand side of our car, and regularly we would be covered in dust as they came too fast for us to respond in time to close our windows.
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We finally managed to get to the gate at 11h55 and knew that our time would be limited to spend visiting all the stalls we wanted to.
We entered the premises and made our way to the Media Centre, where we were greeted by very friendly ladies who assisted us immediately. We were gifted back packs with promotional goodies, and they offered us free drinks and an early lunch. After a quick lunch we started our rounds.
We first went to the Big Boy stand where I met the team, and we spent a bit of time chatting about the show. Everyone was friendly and afforded us an opportunity to take photos and videos of their displays.
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Then we went to Volkswagen who own Ducati motorcycles, and I met the team there too. They were all very friendly. We took videos and photos of their stand as well.
We then moved on to KTM and wandered around their stand taking videos and photos of their bikes that they had on display. I could not believe how huge the grounds were at Nampo and the amount of people that were attending the show. There were endless rows of exhibitions and endless halls that you could also visit. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to visit any of the halls at Nampo.
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Then we went to the agricultural side, and I was pleasantly surprised to see old trucks and tractors on display. Then we saw new tractors and combine harvesters. You don’t realise how big they are until you stand next to one.
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We also found Tork Craft at Nampo and had a look at all the nice tools they were selling. You can get real bargains when you buy the specials at Nampo. Then we went to Honda to look at their motorbikes, quads and side by sides. We also met the very friendly team from Honda SA and one or two dealerships.
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Suzuki was next in line and had an impressive line-up of motorbikes, cars, and boats on display. It is always interesting to see the latest models that are available on the market. I also met the Jaco and Belinda all the way from Richards bay at the stand who were very jovial.
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Our last visit was to Yamaha who had motorbikes, jet skis, and boats on display. They had exceptionally good sales at Nampo as most of their stock was already sold.
And just like that, 4 hours had passed and it was time to hit the road back home. I have suggested that we should camp at Nampo in 2027 so that we can spend 4 days there and see all there is to see. Nampo takes up 80 acres and there is no way that one could see it in a day.
I am looking forward to Nampo 2027 and will hopefully see far more than what I saw this year.
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Words and Photographs by:
Ronel Motor IQ
Technical Expert & Automotive Connoisseur.
With over four decades of saddle time and a lifetime spent under the hood, Ronel Hendley brings a rare blend of mechanical grit and corporate precision to the Motor IQ team.
Her journey began in her pre-teens, evolving from an early enthusiast to a hands-on mechanic when she rebuilt her first motorcycle engine from scratch in her early twenties, replacing everything from pistons and rings to valves and bearings with fierce independence.
Ronel’s expertise is built on a foundation of diverse experience and high-level professional scrutiny:
Mechanical Heritage: An avid rider for over 40 years, Ronel has mastered everything from custom café racers and choppers to high-performance superbikes, rugged adventure bikes, and ATVs.
Technical Precision: Spending 17 years as a Technical Production Planner, she served as a vital consultant to engineers and technicians on the application and fitment of complex fluid control products.
Procurement Discipline: With over a decade as a Senior Procurement Officer at ABI, she possesses an "eagle eye" for value. She instinctively separates genuine quality from overpriced or inferior alternatives, ensuring every vehicle is judged by its longevity and build integrity.
Aesthetic Vision: As a skilled and talented artist, Ronel balances her technical "engineer’s eye" with a deep appreciation for automotive design, ergonomics, and aesthetic soul.
Whether she is evaluating the weld quality on a new frame or the cost-to-benefit ratio of a modern commuter, Ronel’s reviews are backed by 40 years of asphalt, dirt, and grease.