South Africa is one of the countries best suited for road trips in the world. One of the most beautiful is the Highlands Meander. We visited Chacma Bush Camp in the Limpopo province in an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4, and BERNIE HELLBERG reported on the trip.
The Highlands Meander Region of Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. A unique swathe of Mpumalanga set high on the escarpment, unlike any other area in the province. It is a region of waving grasses that go on for as far as the eye can see, of craggy escarpment walls, stunning mountain passes, thundering waterfalls, enchanting forests and crystal clear streams.
For many people, it is the ‘Gateway to the Lowveld’, a landmark to pass on the route between Gauteng and the northern provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, somewhere to drive through rather than to stop and visit.
For those who yearn for one of the most scenic road trips in the country, and are prepared to venture off the N4 to explore this undervalued region, will find a host of incredible sites and wonderful attractions.
There is, of course, the town of Dullstroom, in particular, that draws regular crowds on weekend breakaways, but for us, the town only represented a stopover on a longer trip to our ultimate destination in Limpopo province, the Sun Destinations property of Chacma Bush Camp.
Our wheels, the recently introduced Alfa Romeo Stelvio, took us on an 800-kilometre round trip from Pretoria via Dullstroom and eMakhazeni, and on to Hoedspruit, before ultimately reaching Chacma, which is located in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve.
ALFA’S FIRST SUV
Alfa Romeo launched its first SUV in South Africa towards the end of 2017. The Stelvio is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with outputs of 206 kW and 400 Nm of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is fitted as standard and power is directed to all four wheels with Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system. The Stelvio is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 230 km/h. Perfect for brisk overtaking on the long road.
Available in Super and First Edition guises, the Stelvio’s interior comes well equipped as standard with a range of optional features on offer. The Stelvio Super is fitted with 18” wheels as standard and the interior benefits from leather upholstery in either black, brown or red. Matching colour trim is found on the dashboard, door panels and steel sill insert. A Luxury Pack is also offered as an option, which will add electric seat adjustment and seat heating as well as wood inserts, aluminium inserts and steel pedal trims. An 8-speaker sound system is standard.
The Stelvio First Edition is equipped with all the standard features found on the Super but adds 20” alloy wheels, full grain leather upholstery, a 10-speaker sound system, active cruise control, blind spot monitoring and an electric sunroof.
Other standard interior features include dual-zone climate control and an 8.8” Alfa Connect infotainment system with voice recognition, Bluetooth and USB connectivity and navigation.
Of course, when travelling one needs sufficient luggage capacity. The Stelvio offers a sizeable 525-litre luggage bay with an electronic tailgate with three different opening levels.
Key safety features include an Integrated Brake System (IBS), Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency brake with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-path Detection and Active Cruise Control.
CHACMA BUSH CAMP
Chacma Bush Camp offers the perfect Big Five safari experience in 8,000 hectares of undulating landscapes dotted with rocky outcrops. This family-friendly camp in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve sleeps a total of 10 people, and thus offers an authentic and intimate safari experience. Deep caves on the traverse and the Olifants River coursing through the region provide the perfect diverse landscape for game drives.
The camp’s perimeter is hugged by Mopane woodlands, which are a significant drawcard for a wealth of wildlife. Elephants, bushbuck, kudu and plains game are commonly spotted in these woodlands and can be viewed from the comfort of the deck area surrounding the sparkling swimming pool. There’s a natural waterlogged area in front of the camp, which provides wildlife with the much-needed replenishment needed during the heat of the day.
LOCATION
Chacma Bush Camp is located in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger, The area is situated between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province. It is an 8,000-hectare private game reserve, which shares open borders with the Kruger National Park. The undulating landscape is home to the Olifants River north of the of camp and old mica caves dot the landscape throughout. Prominent mountainous ridges and boulder **koppies** characterise the terrain, making it an exciting region to explore during a drive.
LAST WORD
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is more than just a new style of Alfa; it also signals the brand’s intent to enter the leisure market. We fell in love with it on our road trip to Chacma Bush Camp – almost as much as the camp itself and the breath-taking Maseke Balule Game Reserve.
Report & Images by BERNIE HELLBERG
