Safari Debuts in the UK

In January, the International Centre in Telford, England was the site of the largest indoor RV exhibition ever held in the United Kingdom. Hosted by Travelworld, attendance was ‘invitation only,’ and during the three-day event fifteen hundred RV enthusiasts were given a prized opportunity to get up close and personal with England’s newest immigrant. In its debut, the Safari Trek garnered so much attention throughout the show that the line of eager viewers often stretched out the doorway.

Our neighbors in the United Kingdom are well schooled in the importance of class, but far too polite to talk about it. Sorting out recreational vehicle types through titles of Class A, B and C is not practiced, simply because common assumption is that if you have the good fortune to own a luxury RV, you are in a class by itself. Instead, members of the AERV (the United Kingdom motorhome club, aka Happy Campers) sorts out recreational types a bit differently. A van-type camper, the type we picture surfing enthusiasts calling home, is considered a ‘caravanette.’ Travel trailers are known as ‘caravans.’ For the high end RVs, such as the Safari Trek, the appropriate label is ‘travel home.’

Aside from the emphasis of sitting down for a spot of tea each afternoon, the 2003 USRV Show was remarkably similar to RV rallies we hold here in the states. Word of mouth is still the most reliable form of communication and attendees to this private event enthusiastically greeted one another, eager to share their RVing adventures of the prior year. Married couples strolled hand in hand, the majority wearing matching logo jackets. Unanticipated separation was swiftly handled by the use of 2-way radios, known in the UK as ‘walk abouts.’ Coaches were displayed throughout the hall with sales and service personnel always standing by ready to answer inquiries. The dreary rain and fog of winter took a few days off and many RV owners were guests of a nearby campground owner, grateful for the spurt of off-season business.

Although we all speak English, some sayings differ. For the language enthusiast, an afternoon in the presence of the lively world of United Kingdom RVers can be music to the ears. “Like chalk and cheese,” is a common remark when discussing polar differences. “Spending a penny,” signals your mate that you are headed to the restroom, this statement derived from an old practice of paying a pence to gain entrance to a bathroom stall. Chips are French fries, and a pub is a quaint little restaurant sporting walls filled with historical photos. Haggis & Tatties is a Scottish dish, and if you can put aside your aversion to the ingredients, you will find the taste to be pretty darn good.

Small campgrounds, narrow roads and the high price of European petrol make the Safari Trek a perfect match for our friends across the Atlantic. England appreciates history, but is fascinated by modernization. The excitement at the Safari Trek debut during the 2003 USRV Show in Telford, England makes it clear this smart little RV will be the wave of the United Kingdom’s camping future.