Toyota Fortuner #TellBetterStories: Historical travel-mate

By: CAR magazine

WITHIN the great expanse of the South African bush there are battlefields aplenty, which contribute to the rich history of South Africa. The right person to show you these places is Ken Gillings, and the vehicle to get you there is his 2008 Toyota Fortuner. This battlefield specialist takes tourists through bush to some of the remotest locations in the country.

When the time came to switch from a bakkie – a Hilux, to be exact – to an SUV, Ken said the decision to buy a Fortuner made sense. “The parts are local and easy to find, and the widely available service network is excellent.”

Ken’s very first trip with the Fortuner was to the location of the Battle of Hlobane, close to Vryheid in the north of KwaZulu-Natal. In March 1879, the Anglo-Zulu war was well into its third month.

Ken writes about the battle: As a result of the setbacks suffered by the central and coastal columns, Lord Chelmsford’s invasion of Zululand came to a halt, and it became necessary to redeploy his forces.

The flying column, commanded by Colonel Evelyn Wood, was ordered to the White Mfolozi River, near Vryheid. One of the major obstacles to Wood’s operations was a Zulu-speaking community from the area, the abaQulusi, of whom 1 000 members occupied a large, flat-topped mountain known as Hlobane, upon which the abaQuluzi grazed their cattle, and a lower plateau known as Tendeka.

On the 28 March, Wood’s force attacked Hlobane from two directions. Lieutenant-Colonel Russell advanced towards Tendeka while Lieutenant-Colonel Buller led his force to the summit of Hlobane from the east. As they reached the summit they came under fire from the abaQulusi, resulting in a portion of Buller’s force riding across the summit to the top of a narrow defile known as the Devil’s Pass. Wood rode out later to check on Buller’s progress, losing two officers in the process.

He then observed the main Zulu army snaking its way towards his severely depleted camp at Khambula, and decided to return to Khambula.  The Zulu commanders detached a section of this force and they headed towards where the remainder of Buller’s force was situated below the summit of Hlobane at Ntshenteka Nek. A fierce battle ensued, resulting in the virtual decimation of this British force.

Ken says he is still amazed at where his Fortuner has taken him – over 195 000 km – from rural KwaZulu-Natal, the great expanses of Botswana to the Kgalagadi – and his stock-standard Fortuner has never left him stranded or stuck.

Even Ken’s wife, Heather, likes getting behind the wheel of the Fortuner, because of its easy drive and comfortable ride.

Some months ago, the Gillings – along with four friends of whom one drives a Fortuner – towed their caravan to Twee Rivieren, where they left it and embarked on the five-day Polentswa 4×4 trail. “We had to be totally self-sufficient and showered under the stars every night,” Ken said. The trail’s sandy tracks necessitated continuous use of low range 4×4. “The thick sand resulted in us having to make three or four attempts to ascend a couple of dunes.” Yet the group persevered.

By the trail’s end, the group’s adventure continued to Bitterpan – a much more challenging route, says Ken.

“Because it was so heavily rutted with thick corrugated sand, our wives had to buckle themselves into their seats to stop them from being thrown about!”

Nevertheless, the group enjoyed the challenge because of the inherent confidence Fortuners instil in their owners.

“When we arrived at Bitterpan, another couple (from Pretoria) arrived also driving a Fortuner,” Ken said. “We chatted about our experiences over a sundowner or two. I asked the owner if he liked his Fortuner and he said ‘No; I am addicted to it.’

“That sums up Fortuner ownership.”

WIN with SanParks and Toyota Fortuner.

Three lucky readers will each win a family trip to a SANParks destination of their choice and Toyota will provide a Toyota Fortuner to get there in comfort. Prize includes accommodation for a family of four, an adventure  activity if offered at the Park and conservation fees. Click here for details.

Related Articles
R8

After Nearly Two Decades, The Audi R8 is No More