- Kalahari Desert played host to the Nissan Navara in October
- Witsand Nature Reserve throws down the gauntlet
- Navara 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE boasts the power and toughness to beat the dunes
Nissan Navara extended the radius of its Tough City home into the dunes of the Kalahari Desert this month as the Witsand Nature Reserve threw down a gauntlet that the renowned pick-up just couldn't refuse. The Navara 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE was chosen to tackle the might of the Kalahari and with similarly mighty credentials, fared well in tough conditions.
Kalahari: dry, desolate and dangerous
Stretching up from the Orange River to Angola, the Kalahari Desert is part of the huge Kalahari Basin which forms part of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Created by the erosion of soft stone formations, the sand masses and sand ridges which are so typical of the landscape in the Kalahari have been masterfully shaped by the wind.
Stabilising over the years through vegetation, the Kalahari's dunes are not wandering dunes, unlike those of the Namib. A 2,500 hectare island of brilliant white sand surrounded by a sea of regular red Kalahari sand, Witsand Nature Reserve is also known as Brulsand or Roaring Sands, and was created by ordinary Kalahari sand being captured by the underlying koppies and the natural eroding action of water springing from the rock below, which gradually removed the grains' red iron oxide coating.
Dunes can reach 10 km in length and 100 metres in height, emitting eerie roaring sounds when disturbed by wind or human activity, especially during hot and dry weather between the months of September and April.
Navara 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE has what it takes to take on the Kalahari
Priced at R437,800, for the manual transmission and R447,800 for the automatic, the Nissan Navara 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE proved to be the absolute perfect Navara model to take on the enormity of the Kalahari. Featuring a powerful common-rail turbocharged diesel engine (producing a phenomenal140 kW of power and 450 Nm of torque, the 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE 6-speed manual and 5-speed auto had no trouble in the harsh conditions.
With its rugged appearance and strong South African following, the Navara continues to appeal to buyers on many levels, the lifestyle front being as important as utilitarian applications. That's why the Navara is loaded with safety equipment, including ABS brakes with EBD and six airbags. Comfort features abound as well, the 2.5 dCi 4x4 LE coming standard with the likes of a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control and automatic climate control amongst other luxury features.
In the Kalahari, the Navara's credentials came into the spotlight. Boasting ground clearance of 230 mm, approach, ramp and departure angles of 30°, 22° and 24°, respectively, and featuring full four-wheel drive control with differential lock and low range, the dunes were a formidable but unfit opponent for this tough bakkie. With so much torque on tap as well, navigating the deep sand and carrying speed up the dunes was also a cinch.
Comments Marinus Venter, Product Manager: LCV at Nissan South Africa: "The Kalahari Expedition was a great opportunity to showcase the capability of the Nissan Navara in terrain of the Kalahari Desert that some would deem quite daunting. Being the ultimate touring vehicle and the complete package to fit the lifestyles of active and adventurous people, it's no surprise that the Nissan Navara took the terrain with ease."
The Navara range already represents some of the toughest and most versatile pick-ups on the local market today, with a comprehensive line-up spanning from the rugged KingKab models, the XE and SE Double Cabs to the range-topping and comprehensively-specced Double Cab LE models. The Nissan Navara range has certainly cemented its place in the market as a pick-up that is tough and rugged whilst still packed with luxury features, proving to be more than "just another bakkie'.
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