By Prashirwin Naidu
On 29 December, I headed to Durban after a joyful Christmas and a blessed but challenging year, to welcome in the new year. I made the trip in the Suzuki Grand Vitara HEV, affectionately named Suzy, with reliable company from my friends Mishen and Kerlena.
Our final destination was Ballito, the hub of entertainment in KZN. After travelling from Johannesburg to the north coast for over five hours, it felt like the trip had gone by quickly owing to the soulful music, laughter and excitement – all elements that made the ride unforgettable.
Durban is lively and bustling, making it the perfect spot to enjoy the beach and
unwind after the festive season. Suzy handled the open roads well, offering comfort and a good ride. However, the gearbox and underpowered 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine were a let-down. While it managed 7.1 L/100km—decent but not impressive for a hybrid—it covered the over 600km to Ballito on a single tank, costing R750 to fill up. Well done, Suzy!
When we arrived in Ballito, the weather was scorching. My friends and I grabbed
a bite at Ocean Basket overlooking the ocean while enjoying seafood. This is also where we decided to plan our itinerary for our five-day trip. Our plan was simple. We decided we’d xplore some great spots, mostly food digs. As many xplore readers know, in 2024 I embraced a vegan lifestyle for health reasons, and so I continued with my lifestyle. I stuck to veggies and sweet potato while my friends enjoyed a seafood feast.
We continued with our simple itinerary, relaxed and went with the flow. We made
sure to visit some of the iconic food spots. One standout was The Famous Bunny
in Ballito – a must visit for their mouth-watering bunny chows. Naturally, I stuck to
vegetables, choosing a Beans Bunny, while my friends savoured their Mutton
Bunnies. It was a solid 7 out of 10.
New Year’s Eve began with a visit to the beach. We spent the entire afternoon at
the beach. It was pure joy soaking up the sun, building sandcastles and sharing
laughter. Friendship is truly a blessing. We had a simple plan for the evening, to
check out the fireworks display and toast the New Year in Umhlanga. By the time we were ready for the roughly 20 minute trip, we only had twelve minutes to get
there and soak in the ambience. So, we put the pedal to the metal, keeping it within the speed limit. Suzy was driving fast as we pressed on. But we had to refuel the tank, which delayed us by a few minutes.
After had enough juice to get us to Umhlanga, Mishen urged me to Shay’ imoto, and get to the promised land of fun and fireworks. We made it just in time for the New Year, and all roads were crazy busy as many people scrambled for parking and jostled for space close enough to the action. We did it and were there for the countdown to 2025 and welcomed the New Year with a bang, hooray! Hello, 2025!
On the few days we had on the coast, our modus operandi was to relax, take it
easy and watch days go by without any stress. Our goal was to enjoy great food
and create great memories. On Thursday, we threw some meat on the barbie
and braaied into the night, deeply grateful to spend quality time with my friends.
The next morning, we woke up early and got ready to head back to Jozi. We had
one stop at a little church to refresh our spirits. This is the landmark I love because it brings a sense of peace. The three amigos wrote a message in the communal diary, a deeply meaningful way to start 2025. By God’s grace, I hope we make it count, show kindness, and express gratitude.
On our way home, our Suzy, the Suzuki Grand Vitara, continued delivering a
good drive and being a great road companion to us despite a few imperfections. Overall, it was a comfortable ride and a wonderful trip.
