Another warmest thank-you to both Suzuki Pinetown (“the
best dealership in town”) and Travis from Shift Group <
line-height: 21px;">for a spectacular 4x4 adventure at Nkonka Lodge
this past Sunday, 27 July, 2014.
10x Jimnys, 3x Grand Vitaras, 1x Sx4 and
the 1 x unmentionable – at least the
chaps at Suzuki see it as a challenge to convert the so called “traitor” – all
met at the Pinetown dealership for coffee and muffins first thing, and in convoy
made our way to the farm. Almost every 10 minutes, just after taking the
Richmond turnoff, I longed to stop and capture the beauty in panoramic form;
however, I also couldn’t wait to venture off road and explore the unknown.
After about an hour’s drive, 20 minutes on
gravel, beneath the perfect blue African sky, the sun heating up by the minute,
we reached the extensive land surrounding Nkonka Lodge. Land that could not
deliver more stunning vistas set in the virgin terrain of the Umkomaas Valley
in KwaZulu-Natal, just outside Richmond, en route to Pietermaritzburg.
After a pit-stop to quench thirsts and
absorb the stunning beauty near the river, we set off deeper in to the bushveld
to, of course, put our vehicles to the test over rugged landscape – a sense of
freedom that’s hard to beat. Yellow vegetation, so dry Travis advised to be
careful when stopping with hot exhaust pipes acting like instant tinder. Can
you imagine this place in the lush green of summer months?
Hours later, we reached the main lodge
where we further enjoyed the scenery, while the boerewors was braaied, overlooking
another section of the meandering river gushing over the black, glinting boulders.
All-day of 4x4ing through bushveld,
surrounded by wildlife (and not so wild cattle), heat and inspiring vistas and
brilliant company equates to a simple question, “What more could I want?”
#OnlyInAfrica
View images here: blog/resistanceisfutile-4x4
