One of the joys of venturing off the beaten path in this picturesque country of ours  is the people you meet and the tiny gems of small towns and resorts you get to discover. And I love how, through #SAfricansTravelToo, we’ve been able to venture to neighbouring countries and tell our tales. 

The simple  beauty of driving through the Karoo in the early hours of the morning with nothing to keep you company but the dancing stars and a warm breeze. Or drinking wine deep into the night along with the co-owner of a tiny boutique B&B on the  Wild Coast as he regales you with tales as the private chef for the British royal family. Priceless times indeed! 

And its often the road less travelled that holds the secret to memorable times. Take a recent drive I did to a region slightly forgotten for those who like to venture out from the confines of city life – Lesotho. 

The history surrounding this country is limitless – no pun intended – and around each corner there is another piece of scenery that simply takes your breath away and another resort waiting to be explored. One such place is the Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino on the edge of developing capital, Maseru. 

Established in 1979, back then under the Sun International umbrella, this hotel is one of the oldest in the region originally as stopover for pioneers as they headed north. Fortunately, we had the pleasure of travelling to the property in the new Isuzu KB – maybe not as economical but a hell of a lot comfortable for our weekend away.

And while so much has changed since those pioneer days, the beauty of the region remains intact. Sitting on my balcony, and looking past the roads and developments that criss-cross the area, one can drink from the fountain of nature as you savour the perfect back drop of the majestic mountain range. 

Lunch at #shoeshoe with @AVANILesotho ???????? … And @MsLeloB #SAfricansTravelToo pic.twitter.com/Rfs3820bII

— Papi Mabele (@PapiMabele) May 13, 2017

History books come alive as you have the chance to visit the fields where battles between the Boer, English and Basotho unfolded, either through a one-on-one with a guide or through an interactive display in the museum. There’s also horse riding and a traditional feast at the legendary Shoe shoe restaurant . When it comes to Avani, forget about chain-style hotel type accommodation, because the Avani Lesotho staff have managed to make it their own. The hotel itself pulls so much and incorporates Lesotho in its culture. 

if you keep things simple but world class, its fairly easy to do it well

Accommodation wise you have a choice of either the Avani Room (adequate for 2 adults), the Avani Executive Room (which is apparently more popular with guests and to where we resorted for our stay),  Avani Superior Room, Avani Suite and then the luxe and modern  Avani Presidential Suite. 

The staff are genuinely helpful and the food is good, down to earth tucker just like you would expect from any four star retreat. Think of lamb curry, roast beef, steaks that are guaranteed to satisfy the hungriest of appetites. Desserts are equally yummy while breakfasts also prove that if you keep things simple but world class, its fairly easy to do it well. 

Getting to Lesotho:

For #SAfricansTravelToo Lesotho, we partnered with Isuzu, for their all new KB. With cruise control activated for majority of our trip (until you reach the pot-hole struck Senekal area) we returned an excellent consumption figure of just about 7.7l/100km for a total of 501km one way.

Not even the rain can stop the @Isuzusa KB #80YearsOfReal #SAfricansTravelToo pic.twitter.com/76MDl2bhdQ

— Papi Mabele (@PapiMabele) May 12, 2017

The vehicle provides plenty of passenger space, a comfortable cabin along with its matching features one would expect from a bakkie costing in the region of R600 000. There is also excellent ground clearance for those off-road excursions you are bound to make in an area as beautiful as the Kingdom. 

So the next time you decide to take a trip down the Kingdom of Lesotho, add a night  to your journey and experience the Lesotho hospitality and nightlife. You won’t be disappointed.

I’d been excited by the prospect of a refreshed Isuzu KB since it was first announced – finally, an affordable pick-up with real-world range – but I was somewhat nervous as to how it would handle the ice palace climate of Lesotho, where you can use your back porch as a deep freeze during May, June, July and most of August.

Myself and fellow writers, Lelo and George decided that, much like skinny dipping or bare-knuckle boxing, it would be best for us to go ‘all the way’ with the KB and plan the kind of long-distance road trip that simply wouldn’t be possible in any other pick-up on the market not named after an 80s hair metal band. Here are the 5 things we learned while exploring with #SAfricansTravelToo after taking it on a 1200km highway jaunt in the ice and snow.

1. Wait A Minute – Isn’t 1200km Over The Isuzu KBs Full Tank Range?

Yes, you’re right – but also wrong, as I quickly discovered. Officially, Suzuki rates the KB at being able to squeeze a little over  600 km out of its tank before you need to fill it up, and in the real world there are some fair weather drivers who have beaten that figure. On arrival to our destination, our indicator was only two bars below the half mark. Obviously, we had to fill-up on our return. 

2. Highway Stability Isn’t As Impressive

The Isuzu KB is designed around a wheelbase that sits tall on its tires, giving the bakkie plenty of real estate to expose to brisk winter winds and not much natural stability to counter their efforts to tip the car over like a sleeping cow in a snowy farmer’s field. By no means is the KB dangerous at highway speeds, but you’ll have your work cut out for you paying attention to the steering inputs needed to maintain a straight track – particularly if you find yourself traveling over rutted pavement. 

3. The KB Is Quick

It’s no sports car, but how many affordable bakkies can reliably spin the tires if you get over-exuberant with the go-pedal? I’ll admit that cold rubber and asphalt don’t make for the best traction, but damn, the Isuzu felt strong off the line – and on the highway, too, comfortably surging past 110km/h to pass without hesitation.

The only other pick-up I’ve driven in the KB’s size that displayed a similar willingness to play is the pricier Hilux, which says a lot for the engineering benchmarks met during the KB’s design process.

4. It’s an all-rounder

This is no ‘tire and sticker’ package designed to boost your confidence and get you stuck farther away from home than you otherwise might have attempted in a regular 4×4 pick-up. Instead, the KB is a fully-engineered solution to the conundrum of how to build a truck that can balance day-to-day commuting, hauling, and towing with the desire to kick maximum ass once the asphalt disappears – and it took an unlikely partner to make it a reality.

There’s really nothing else like it, and that’s something Isuzu is heavily counting on as it courts off-road customers. We’re truly living in a golden age for four-wheeling, what with the Ranger, the Triton, the Navara, and the Amarok each offering dramatically different takes on how to have fun 600km from civilization.

We South Africans also love family vehicles, which is why the double cab bakkie is such a popular choice on our roads. But if the double cab bakkie is a favourite South African vehicle, which model is the favourite favourite? With the sound knowledge from the guys at Imperial Auto, we had a look around at what is on offer, and came back with the Toyota Hilux, the Isuzu KB Double Cab and the Ford Ranger Double Cab at the top of the list.

Here’s why…

Toyota Hilux 2.7 VVT-I Raised Body DC Legend 45

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The Toyota Hilux 2.7 VVT-I Raised Body DC Legend 45 lives up to the long-established Hilux reputation for being as tough as nails, solid as a rock, hard-working and adventure-loving – and it does all of this while looking super-slick and sexy.
The vehicle is fitted standard with a stainless steel nudge bar with Legend 45 branding, and other cosmetic features include grey alloy wheels, a rear step-bumper with a towbar, combination leather seats with a matching steering wheel and colour-coded door handles.

4×4 models in the range deliver high capacity part-time four wheel drive, with Artificial Intelligence SHIFT Control on 4.0 litre AT models automatically adapting the shifting pattern according to road condition and driver intent.
Fitted with all the safety and security features that you would expect from a high-performance service vehicle, the Hilux Legend 45 comes with a three year/100,000km warranty and a five year/90,000km service plan.

Engine specs: 2.5l engine
Power: 118 kW @ 5,200 RPM
Torque: 241 NM @ 3,800 RPM
Fuel economy: 10.8 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 257 g/km
RRP: From R385,000

Isuzu KB Double Cab

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Isuzu has built a decades-long heritage of innovation, toughness, reliability, functionality and overall appeal, and its current double cab model, the Isuzu KB Double Cab, is the culmination of over four million kilometres of driving tests around the world, in conditions varying from Kalahari heat to North Pole snow.

The Isuzu KB Double Cab is a great choice whether you’re a city slicker or a bundu basher – or both – and offers towing capability of up to 3,500kg and a payload of up to 1142kg. This is in addition to its spacious, low-noise luxurious interior, and its bold-styled appealing exterior.

Five-speed automatic transmission engines are available in the LX models, and have a driver-select sequential shift for driving pleasure and operational flexibility. This contributes to its outstanding fuel economy too.
Rear park assist, ABS that supports electronic brakeforce distribution and up to six airbags show that safety is a priority in this vehicle, while its fuel-sipping engine offers best in class consumption at 7.7 litres per 100km.

Engine specs: 3.0l automatic
Power: 85kW @ 3,600 RPM
Torque: 280 NM @ 1,800 to 2,200
Fuel economy: 7.7 l/100km
CO2 emissions: from 203g/km
RRP: From R395,000

Ford Ranger Double Cab

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Available in nine models, the Ford Ranger Double Cab is tough and robust, allowing you to go where other vehicles can’t take you. Designed around the driver, the Ford Ranger comes with the latest entertainment and connectivity technology, while offering the workhorse power of 3,500 towing capability and the ability to ford water as deep as 800mm.

Designed to exceed expectations, the Ford Ranger meets your urban expectations, with a glove box large enough to hold your laptop computer, a cooled centre console, and under-seat stowage on selected models.

Safety features include ESP with seven different control systems, including traction control, trailer-sway assist, hill-launch assist and rollover mitigation, while all models have DIN-compliant load boxes, making your cargo just as safe as the passengers inside.

Optional extras that add to the vehicle’s appeal include running boards, heavy duty canvas seat covers, a second battery and tough steel bull bar, which incorporates mountings designed specifically for driving lights, antennas and flags.

Engine specs: 2.2 TDCi Manual, 2.5i Manual, 3.2 TDCi Manual or Auto
Power: 122kW @ 5,500 RPM (2.5i Manual)
Torque: 226 NM @ 4,500 RPM(2.5i Manual)
Fuel economy: 11.3 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 269g/km
RRP: From R454,900