Private jets, a luxury self-drive safari and a summit of one of the highest peaks of the northern Drakensberg were just a few highlights from an epic few days spent with Ford South Africa and their IMG group.
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Kapama Private Game Reserve sprawls 15000 hectares through Hoedspruit. It is beautiful, it is immense, and it is what Ford South Africa decided to make home base for an epic few days, as we drove the next-Gen Everests through the bush and up to one of the highest points in the northern Drakensberg.
I was lucky enough to visit New Zealand in 2023 to attend the Ford IMG Everest and Ranger drive. This year, it was Ford South Africa’s turn to host media from around the world in a trip to showcase the capabilities of the Everest. Ford’s seven-seater SUV is a vehicle built to go anywhere, but refined to make sure the journey is comfortable. The itinerary planned for our three days in Hoedspruit made sure to speak to this intersection of luxury and adventure.
I was flown up from Cape Town to Johannesburg and transferred to Wonderboom Airport to be greeted by some familiar faces from New Zealand, plenty of new people from the various IMG countries (of which there are 11) and three private charters ready to fly us straight into the bush. Rattling around in a private jet was a first for me, and being able to watch the lights and dials of the cockpit come alive for take-off was a unique experience. The jets also turned a five-hour drive into a one-hour flight.
We arrived at Kapama’s airstrip to a glimmering fleet of Ford Everest Wildtraks, Platinums and Sports. All the models at the event were 4x4s, with easily selectable drive modes for different terrains, a low-range transfer case and an electronic rear differential lock for stickier situations. The herd of Everests was split into two groups of five, and we set off in separate convoys along Kapama’s dirt tracks. As exciting as it is to see one of the famed Big Five, the beauty of the bush comes also in the quiet moments in between events. An immediate serenity set in, floating comfortably over gravel and brush, spotting impala and zebra here and there and moving, in no rush, towards the lodge. This is not to say that the first drive through the reserve was uneventful; A Lion lounging on his hill was the spot of the day, while elephant herds drifted, somewhat mystically, deeper into the bush.
A break in the gravel path gave everyone a turn to carve up a stretch of soft sand as an introduction to a bit of off-roading fun. Some minor rock crawling followed before we hopped back on the road and headed for the the lodge. More trying conditions were to come the next day.
Kapama is home to over 40 mammal species – including all of the big five – as well as over 350 different species of bird. It is also home to a wonderful bar, restaurant, wellness centre and spa.
The entrance to the lodge is striking, and the impressive architecture continues throughout. High ceilings, open spaces and the integration of natural materials make for an enchanting aesthetic, and the organic design language offers a unique take on luxury. I was lucky enough to be allocated a luxury suite, with a bed big enough for three and a bathroom made for five.
Day two’s drive was where we got to put the Everests through a bit more of a rigorous off-road regime. Mariepskop Pass sits nearly 2000m above sea level, as one of the highest peaks of the northern Drakensberg and the highest point of the Blyde River Canyon.
Our surroundings quickly turned from bushveld to shale and red sedimentary rock, the tar road becoming dirt tracks as we began the ascent. With low-range engaged, the convoy took on a steep drop into a river crossing, showcasing the Everest’s wading abilities. At higher altitudes the scenery changes again; forest becomes jungle and after a final, steep climb, the flatter plains of the peak reveal a sheet of local fynbos.
The cloud cover meant that we were not afforded the intended view of the Blyde River Canyon, but the frosty, fogged-over conditions created an eerie charm. On our way down, the mist cleared to reveal a panoramic view of the Drakensberg’s sprawling slopes, spiritual in their sheer expanse.
With lungs full of glacial air, we cruised back to the lodge, where I would be greeted by giraffes enjoying an early dinner just outside my room. The integrated architecture is a wonderful aspect of Kapama’s design. I enjoyed a beer in the company of those wonderfully bizarre animals, before heading to the bar to sip a few cocktails and witness the Australians’ excitement over a baboon sighting. I suppose I would share the enthusiasm had I seen a Kangaroo. Dinner was an epic display of red meat served straight off the braai, accompanied by a buffet that started with mushroom risotto, meaning I looked no further than the first dish.
Two days at Kapama is only enough to tease the beauty of the bush and the luxuries of the lodge, and I will make sure to be back soon. Equally, those Klein Drakensberg mountains need to be driven, walked and explored some more.
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