Winding through rocky, rough roads, splashing through muddy puddles, cruising in and out without being stuck, or needing a push is exactly what the NZiRA team experienced as they drove the new Isuzu D-Max while exploring the Lake Chivero game park. It is not every day you have a chance to test drive a vehicle and also write a review on its performance and capabilities. Its performance shines through when driven off-road because it is surprisingly easy and fun to drive in almost any situation. An interesting feature of the D-Max is its keyless aspect, all one needs to start the car is to press the drive button. Arriving at our destination, we signed into the game park and met Tonderai, our guide for the day. Starting our game drive adventure, we spotted a herd of impala running carefree in the bush. The seats in the car were high, which allowed us to view the animals from a distance as we could see zebras and warthogs far off. One of our favourite encounters was seeing a tower of giraffes, they looked unbothered, grazing the top leaves while the calves ran along the paths. Off-roading is challenging to non-experienced drivers, but the Isuzu D-Max comes with driver-assist features such as hill descent control which makes it easier to go down steep hills and traction control for slippery roads.
With the current heavy rains, driving through the wilderness would normally be difficult, not for the Isuzu D-Max which moved with ease as if we were driving on a highway. To fully experiment its capabilities, we dived into a muddy puddle and drove through it with thrilling ease that left us excited and screaming for joy. The midday sun was blazing and the air conditioning system came as a welcome relief. We arrived at the Bushman rock point and saw different cave paintings that illustrated the presence of elephants and lions once found within the game park. Here we also saw a variety of small wildlife, from monkeys, to even one of the famous small 5, the rolling beetle. After driving for a while, we took a scenic river route where we could see the beauty and breath-taking view of Lake Chivero close up. The grand finale to a memorable game drive was a rhino sighting. The rhino moved casually as if it knew it was time to strike a pose for us to take more vivid and close up pictures. We were all left in awe and it was a moment we continually spoke of as we made our way back to the city. The vehicle strikes the perfect balance between a lifestyle vehicle and a workhorse. Comfortable and smooth on bumpy roads with a bonus of a double cab, it means one can put their luggage in the load tray to make more space for the passengers.
Article: Michelle Matswayi & Juliet Mashiri
Image: Juliet Mashiri