Exploring the Drakensberg in a MINI Countryman

The warm air rushed against my face as I walked out of King Shaka International Airport in Durban. I was here to explore some of South Africa’s treasures, get acquainted with the new MINI Cooper Countryman, and most importantly, have an epic road trip.

The Mini Countryman is now launched in South Africa. Image by Ondela Mlandu

 
I was invited by MINI Cooper to spend a weekend in the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Free State Provinces with other media colleagues to test drive the MINI Countryman. It has officially been launched in South Africa and you can test drive one as well.

I was struggling to control my breathing against the humidity when I spotted the chauffeur from MINI Cooper. We were welcomed with a cocktail to the Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga, which opened in 1964 and has beautiful sea views. The evening was filled with chatter which was followed by a tantalising dinner, with an array of curries at the iconic Oyster Box Hotel. You can enjoy your dinner with the perfect backdrop of the iconic lighthouse in one corner, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Also read: recipe for the Oyster Box’s chicken and prawn curry

The Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands Meander was on the agenda for the first drive experience. The first leg of the journey commenced bright and early. The drive through the Midlands left me in awe of what beauty the countryside has to offer, with rolling hills and picturesque villages.

Sunny skies, a great playlist and we were off. Image by Sam Ayres.

 
Also read: affordable weekend breaks near Durban

After experiencing the Countryman eating up the dirt road, we arrived at what is known as the gateway to the Midlands – Mooi River. We made a stopover for lunch at the award-winning hotel and restaurant Hartford House. Hartford House has a restaurant and a hotel for those wishing to stay overnight, to enjoy the Midlands. My partner and I made a quick car change to experience what the MINI Countryman and MINI Countryman S had to offer.

The next stop was the Free State. The clouds began to fill the sky as we made our way to the Sterkfontein Dam, outside of Harrismith in the Free State, right in time to catch the sunset. The mountains are rugged, with views of the Drakensberg. A few snapshots later and we were on the road to Clarens in the Free State. Clarens is 100 kilometres from the Sterkfontein Dam and this is where we would spend the evening.

Sterkfontein Dam created the perfect backdrop for us. Image by Ondela Mlandu

 
The final day was fuelled by a hearty breakfast from the Clarens Protea Hotel. It wouldn’t be a proper road trip if we didn’t stop at the Golden Gate National Park, at the foot of the Maluti Mountains. The best sandstone formations in South Africa can be seen at the Golden Gate National Park. We had a few hours to spare before a departing flight to Cape Town, so we drove to the Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport.

Dynamite comes in small packages. Image by Sam Ayres

 
The weekend proved that dynamite does indeed come in small packages. Another exciting discovery was how, with a good travel itinerary, you can conquer two provinces in a weekend. If you have experienced the MINI Countryman or visited any of the places mentioned above, add your story in the comment box and tell us about your experience?

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