As a young adult starting your career, what were your dreams and aspirations?
For me, I have always dreamt of owning a Land Rover and exploring every corner of the African continent.
I am talking about one of those big solid brutes of a vehicle you see driving around. Kitted to the maximum with all the toys for any epic African adventure. Fancy roof top tent; heavy duty all terrain takkies; a long range fuel tank for those extended journeys; the fancy drawer system complete with fridge in the back; a complex satellite navigation system. And let’s not forget the spade and high lift jack on the roof rack complete with the braai grill tied to the spare wheel.
But the cost of one of these vehicles together with all the extras has never been within reach. Many times my wife and I considered buying an older more experienced model, but unnerving stories of breakdowns and high maintenance costs scarred us off. Often the search for my dream travel wagon would end as fast as it began. The idea of owning a 4×4 and traveling through Africa started becoming a distant dream.
However, in 2010 I took a decision to bring me closer to my dream. I left my 9-to-5 in Johannesburg and headed for Botswana to take a position as a lodge manager in a remote safari camp. Now I was living within the destination. Finally I could experiencing the Africa I had always wished to see.
Living on safari had other advantages too, namely the extended leave cycles. I could enjoy a full 28 days leave every four months. Finally I was getting closer to my aspirations. But I still had one problem – no vehicle.
So we once again turned to the internet in search of my dream car. With the Land Rover still out of financial reach we look for other options. We spent hours browsing forums trying to see what was available. The choices seemed limited and we were still faced with the challenges of high maintenance and running costs.
Then I remembered a travel article about a South African couple who bought a tiny Suzuki Jimny and were using it to travel the country. At first it seemed crazy but could this be the perfect option for our travels?
The look and feel of the vehicle immediately had my attention. I liked its no frills, compact-yet-cheeky styling. I had also heard from numerous sources that it was a brute off road despite its size. There were, however, many concerns about the vehicles perceived shortfalls. Its smaller size meant limited packing space. The 45-litre fuel tank was a challenge for long distances and its 1.3-litre petrol motor had me wondering if we would have enough power under the hood.
In an attempt to answer my questions I went back to forums. What I found surprised me. Everywhere I looked I found Jimny follower’s clubs. Hundreds of happy Jimny owners proudly telling tales of what life in a Jimny is all about. Many shared stories of weekend adventures too far out places. But what interested me more was the number of people who use their vehicle’s for long distance, overland journeys. Reports of trips through Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique had me dreaming of my own future travels through Southern Africa and beyond.
While searching through these forums and after speaking to a few Jimny owners I finally understood. The obvious challenges and restrictions one faces with owning a Jimny is precisely what makes them so appealing. The car is small and packing space limited; so you must pack wisely. Everything you put into the vehicle has to be carefully considered. It’s that ‘If you dont need it, leave it behind’ attitude, which I love. The smaller engine may frighten off the power hungry guys but it does mean better fuel consumption. Sure you may only do 100Km/h on the open road but why go any faster? Sit back, enjoy the journey and take in the surroundings. Isn’t that what travel is all about?
The more I looked into the Jimny as an option, the more I felt that this vehicle suited us perfectly. We wanted a reliable, economic 4×4 that we could enjoy together, wherever we went. The Jimny promised just that. Two weeks later we were the proud owners of our new Silver Jimny.
The Jimny’s first task was to get us back up to Botswana to start our next three month work stint in camp. Adopting the new Jimny way of life we decided to give ourselves a few days to get to Maun. On the way up we enjoyed some blissful time at Nata Lodge and the surrounding salt pans. In was no frills, no fuss kind of traveling. Exactly what we had been looking for.
On the road into Maun I realised that for the first time I was living the life I had always aspired to live. For the next three months we would work in one of the most spectacular wildlife destinations on earth. After that, an epic African journey awaited us. To where? Perhaps Zimbabwe. Maybe Mozambique. Who knows?
If you’re still dreaming of owning your own 4×4, you can still explore Botswana with Getaway Adventures.
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