VW T-Cross, a perfect ride to experience Bushbuckridge

BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe

Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga, boasts many gems. Located on the doorstep of Kruger National Park, it also offers diverse cultural experiences. Most importantly, it is home to some of the most hospitable and peace-loving people. This past weekend, I drove the VW T-Cross to support a friend in her rural village in the area, and it was a truly beautiful experience.

The car

I picked up the T-Cross shortly before my journey. I love VW’s user-friendly design. I quickly connected my Android phone for music and navigation, knowing it would be a six-hour drive to Metsi village. As I set off, I ensured my phone was charging to preserve the battery for the night part of the drive.

Inside, the car boasted a spacious layout with ample ground clearance. Finding a comfortable seating position was easy. After filling up Pinehaven, Krugersdorp, I noted the generous full tank capacity. It provided more than enough range for the initial 454 km journey to my friend’s home.

Returning to Joburg following the weekend’s festivities, I had three passengers to drive back with it. Everyone enjoyed the ample space and comfort, with some dozing off during the trip. The only slight issue was the smaller boot size, but we managed to accommodate our four suitcases by removing the cargo cover.

The drive

The drive was smooth and pleasant, though there was a slight lag from a standstill. Once on the freeway, it was smooth going. The car had sufficient power for acceleration and handled effortlessly. Occasionally, I unintentionally exceeded the speed limit. I noticed when the sun visor shook, prompting me to slow down. After all, I was not in a rush. I was enjoying the solitude and my specially curated playlist for the journey. I attempted to use cruise control to rest my foot but couldn’t get it to work. Nonetheless, I appreciated the elevated seating position, providing a clear view of the road ahead.

The roads

Taking the N1 through Pretoria to Emalahleni on a Friday afternoon turned out to be a mistake due to heavy traffic, likely from people leaving work early. Once off the N1, the road became clearer. However, speed enforcement officers were frequent, stopping many speeding drivers. Some didn’t learn from their mistakes and were stopped numerous times.

The N4 was generally in good condition apart from trucks that caused a traffic jam especially where the road became a single-lane section. A navigation error led me through the Panoramic Route that passes through the town of Sabie, with darkness, heavy rains and fog making the drive even more challenging. It also added an extra 90 minutes to the journey since in some sections I was travelling at 20km/h.

Upon reaching Bushbuckridge, the road conditions worsened with potholes and many speed humps. Despite this, the T-Cross navigated the last part of the journey which was gravel with ease. Arriving at my friend’s home at 9:00 PM, I was impressed by the T-Cross’s fuel efficiency, still having a range of 320 km for early morning travel to Clara village.

The rest stops

The N4 has some of the country’s best rest stops. They seem to have thought it through since this is the gateway to the Kruger National Park and carries many tourists. I had a bathroom stop at Milly’s on the N4 in Machadodorp. This rest stop has several incredible shops, including a restaurant that serves some of the best trout meals and a padstal that sells delicious biltong. I still had a good range, around 500km, and didn’t need to refuel. I only needed a quick bathroom break and I was back on the road.

On our way back on Monday, we opted for Alzu Petroport – also on the N4 between Middleburg and Belfast. This is a very popular stop with restaurants, a variety of shops as well as a service station. Since we didn’t need to refuel the car, we stopped for a meal and to also enjoy some of the animals that have become Alzu’s biggest attraction. This was a moment to let the hair down and take in some pictures to record a truly enjoyable trip.