PRETENDER DEFENDER

TWO LAND ROVER DEFENDERS TAKEN ON A 2500KM TRIP THROUGH  BOTSWANA. WHICH ONE IS BEST SUITED FOR BUSH TRAVEL?

- PATRICK CRUYWAGEN

I CAN just about smell Johannesburg, around 300 clicks to go. We have been up since 5am, and our plan was to drive from Kasane, on the banks of the charming Chobe River in northern Botswana, to Johannesburg, 1200km away. We are breaking my first rule of African travel, don’t drive at night. Why? Drunk drivers, animals on the road and people running out of driving talent. All three can kill you.

I am behind the wheel of the big 130. I love this old girl; she is fitted with every Front Runner accessory ever made and she has been our chef, shower and cold beer provider on this trip.

The truck approaching from the front has its high beams on. I try to look away, but they still blind me. I realise that it is in my lane and about to crash into us. I don’t want to die here. I pull hard left on the steering wheel; there is no time to look out for pedestrians, donkeys or, God forbid, a young child. I wait for the impact of the truck. It does not come, we are doing 120km/h through the dry and dusty bushveld. I dare not brake for fear of rolling - old Defenders are notorious for just that. I allow the Defender to gradually roll to a halt. St Peter is nowhere to be seen. I am still alive. I bloody love old Defenders.

What about my friends behind us in the new 110? It has all the technology and driving aids in the world but there is no special red button to deal with a truck driver who has fallen asleep. Did the truck get them? Once the dust settles, I see that they too took the off-road alternative to definite death. Africa is most certainly not for the faint-hearted.

NEW VS OLD