Nathi and Noli Pholoba’s dreams of experiencing the marvels of Africa were realised when they purchased a new Suzuki Jimny. Now they enjoy the adventurous lifestyle they have always craved.
The Pholobas have always loved taking road trips and exploring the gems South Africa has to offer. However, with their ordinary day-to-day car, they found that they were limited in the choice of adventures they could embark on due to accessibility and road conditions.
They grew increasingly tired of having to stick to tarred roads and constantly having to research the road conditions to ensure they would be suitable for a normal sedan.
In 2020 they decided to bite the bullet and buy a Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AT. They had their hearts set on a Chiffon Ivory Metallic or Jungle Green Jimny, but back then getting on the list for the next shipment of Jimnys was the priority. So, when they finally received the call that their vehicle had arrived, but not in either of the colours they wanted, they didn’t think twice to take the Brisk Blue Metallic. As it turned out it was the perfect colour for the, perfectly matching their blue tent, camp chairs and table!
After their first proper overland trip – to Zimbabwe – they decided to invest in a Frontrunner Slimline II roof rack. The additional storage capacity this gives comes in handy and has made a huge difference to how they pack for their adventures. As the saying goes… live and learn!
Their next outing was a 20-day trip to Namibia, where they ticked off many of the items on their bucket list. This included standing on the edge of the Fish River Canyon, exploring the eerily beautiful ghost town of Kolmanskop, hiking up the famous Big Daddy Dune in the Sossusvlei area and enjoying a slice of the famous apple pie in the quaint town of Solitaire.
As their confidence grew, they continued to venture across South Africa’s border to places they could only dream of in the past… from the Gonarezhou National Park in the south of Zimbabwe, all the way to Victoria Falls in the northwestern part of that country. In fact, it was on this memorable trip that they named their Jimny Mupanguri, which means ‘explorer’ in Shona, one of Zimbabwe’s official languages.
They absolutely adore their ride, and seeing the surprise on the faces of other overlanders when they pull up in their little tyke provides a real kick. The first question is always: “How did this get here?” Their response is usually just to smile… if you know, you know.
Their top tip for aspiring overlanders and adventurers would be not to rush. Allow yourself ample travel time to reach your destinations and to spend as much time as possible there. Savour every single moment – these are the things you will remember and cherish for years to come.
They also remind others to remember that not all road trips need to be massive multi-day adventures. Sometimes all that is needed to cleanse the soul is just a day visit for a picnic and some fishing.
*Follow Nathi and Noli’s adventures with Mupanguri on social media: roadtripwith_npholobas
