An epic route over two Karoo passes

The Tankwa Karoo is full of surprises. On every visit, I discover something new. Most recently, with some time to test drive Toyota’s new Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Automatic, I headed for the hills on a day loop from Ceres to Die Mond campsite to drive two lesser-known gravel passes that have been on my radar for years.

Karoo-road cruising in the new Toyota Fortuner

Ouberg Pass

A short drive up the R46 from Ceres got me onto the long gravel R355 north, notorious in this part of the Karoo for its pitiless appetite for tyres. I’d been lucky in the past. This time, just outside Tankwa Padstal, my luck ran out. But, plugged and pumped with the help of padstal owner Hein Lange, I was back on the undulating gravel, bounding north and then north-west at the sign for Tankwa Karoo National Park, along the southern bank of the bone-dry Tankwa River, then over it and onto Ouberg Pass. One of the first-ever routes up the Roggeveld plateau, this gorgeous gravel road doubles back on itself, climbing ever higher with each view back over the gnarled Karoo better than the last.

The turnoff to Sutherland at the top of Ouberg Pass

Getting the right pressure back in the plugged tyre; plenty of boot space in the Fortuner

Gannaga Pass

With the mercury nudging 36 degrees, it was windows up and climate control on as I crested the plateau, took a left at Twee Riviere Farm and set my sights on Middelpos. Passing farms with bleating sheep that sound like humans imitating sheep, the road was a mix of hard-pack, gravel and soft-but-shallow sand beds. After Middelpos the sun began its slow roll towards the horizon and I reached the hot crust of Gannaga Pass. Shorter than Ouberg, this little gem of tight switchbacks and severe edges pulled me back down, steeply, into the heart of Tankwa. At the foot of the pass, I pointed the Fortuner south and zigzagged through the Tankwa Karoo National Park passing pronking springboks and back briefly onto the R355, then west to Die Mond campsite. There, I had just enough time to cool off in the lake, throw a few choppies on the flames and relive the best bends before the night grew cold, the moon full and my head sleepy.

Two passes, one awesome ride

Descending Gannaga Pass

Tip: While neither of these passes is strictly 4×4 (a high-clearance vehicle will get you through), I found the Fortuner’s DAC (Downhill Assist Control) in 4H gave me the perfect speed to descend Gannaga without having to drag the brake too much – more control, better safety.

Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Automatic
Engine 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox 6-speed automatic
Seats 7 Fuel tank 80l
Consumption 7,8l/100km (claimed combined)
Price R617 900 (includes 3-year/100 000km warranty and 5-year/90 000km service plan)

Travel Planner

Need to know

It’s a 540km round trip from Ceres, so make sure you have enough diesel. You won’t get any en route. Access through Tankwa Karoo National Park is currently free if you’re not staying over, but call ahead in case things change. 0273411927, sanparks.org

Tankwa Padstal

Do this

Loer in at Tankwa Padstal. The faces are friendly, the colas cold, and you might even get the recipe for Hein’s beetroot and cacao shooter, said to knock you for six. hlange@breede.co.za

The campsite at Die Mond

Stay here

Die Mond is a superb, well-shaded campsite set on a small lake that seeps out from the Doring River. Camping is R70 per person. Cash only. 0233170668

The Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Automatic

Overall impressions

I’ve always loved the utilitarian Hilux, and the Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Automatic still gives you the feel of that powerhouse, albeit inside a plusher cockpit with better road manners. The transmission is smoother than previous models and while I prefer using the manual transmission in most off-road situations, the response time and power delivery of the automatic box in 4H and 4L was sufficient.

I did encounter some turbo lag and, on occasion, felt the transmission could be a bit sharper, but it’s a monster on sand and an adept climber over loose terrain. The improved suspension does a top job of dealing with bigger bumps and undulations but I found the long wheelbase made it a little skittish over corrugations at higher speeds. A simple solution, of course, was to take it easy on those Karoo gravel roads. Corrugations aside, there are other dangers and if you’re rushing in that part of the country, then you’re doing it wrong. All in all, the Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Automatic is still a great mix of SUV beauty and off-road beast, evident in its continued popularity with the SA market.

Bright afternoons in a hot Karoo

What’s the deal with Eco Mode?

With a discussion of the Toyota Fortuner’s Eco Mode missing from many car reviews, I thought I’d take a moment to address it here. Fuel economy and large-volume, big-torque engines have long since been at odds (for obvious reasons: more power generally means more fuel), but I’m a big fan of Toyota’s move to consolidate those two concepts with its Eco Mode setting. On the new Fortuner 2.8 GD–6 4×4 Automatic, that’s executed by less aggressive fuel mapping, a restriction on overall power (75% at full use) as well as a handful of other mods.

Not everyone is a fan, with some lamenting the longer throttle response times and a generally claiming that it’s not all that economical unless you drive it with a conscious effort to reduce fuel. And that’s precisely why I love it. You need to drive economically for the Eco Mode to make sense. Instead of flooring it at the traffic lights, I found myself easing onto the throttle, maintaining decent cruising speeds and being less erratic with the controls because I was looking further ahead to anticipate traffic conditions.

Initially that was to keep the eco bars (displayed beneath the clocks) down, but it quickly turned into an exercise in creating a smoother drive for myself and passengers. Eventually that sort of pre-emptive driving in urban areas felt normal (and easy) and the reward was much-improved consumption figures and, over the longterm, will result in reduced wear and tear on brakes and transmission. It’s obvious in retrospect: abusing the gas pedal isn’t going to save you fuel, regardless of what mode you drive any vehicle in. To take economy seriously, take your input seriously. That’s where I found Eco Mode plays along perfectly and profits duly. And, when I needed power, it was easy enough to shift to ‘Power Mode’ and get myself out of any perceived trouble. I don’t expect everyone to agree with that, just to consider it.