One of the many sights on the unveiling of the Ford Ranger XL Sport.
The expression is one that has been used many times in the past and will most likely linger for years to come; off-roading is not for everyone and can be daunting.
On the other hand, it is also an extremely rewarding challenge that makes you want to come back for more regardless if you have been doing it for years or a few weeks.
Black or white, the Ranger XL Sport fitted in well with the surroundings
Towards the end of last year, Ford opted for an unusual unveiling of its aesthetically enhanced Ranger XL Sport, in the form of a three-day road-trip dubbed Traveloge from Gauteng, Limpopo and then into Mpumalanga while following the Olifant’s River.
While not quite on the same level as the five-day Graveloge the year before, the trek promised to be anything but plain sailing or boring as master route planner and off-road wiz, Gideo Basson from Red Moon Adventures, seldom if not ever disappoints.
Having extensively reported on and detailed the XL Sport in our initial feature, which can be read here, we now focus on its prowess off-road, which on day one involved a seemingly unnerving jaunt from the parking area of the Protea Hotel outside the OR Tambo International Airport to our eventual destination, Hoedspruit.
Incredible scenery off of the beaten track
For the majority of the first day, which ended at the Aloes Bush Game Lodge near Marble Hall, the cavalcade of white, silver and black XL Sports didn’t break much of a sweat around the backroads of rural Mpumalanga, even when the tar gave way to gravel roads ranging from smooth and almost tar-like, to rocky laced with washouts and unforgiving stones ready to trap the inattentive.
The serious part of the trip, as is often the case, commenced on the second day and saw us crossing into Limpopo before turning off of the main road for what would be a taste of the route ahead, a quick muddy excursion directly next to the Olifant’s River for a photo opportunity in searing hot conditions.
Ranger XL Sport didn’t mind a dip in the Olifant’s River
Being anything but strong flowing as the trip took place before the assault of Tropical Storm Eloise, a few shots of Gideo taking the XL Sport for a dip in the river seemed in order as we soon headed on to a route untouched by time or anyone.
Orrie Baragwanath Pass a piece of off-road perfection nearly no one has ever heard of
Located in the Legalametse Nature Reserve is the 1 370 m Orrie Baragwanath Pass, a rocky, hairpin festooned piece of four-wheel-drive perfection snaking up the Wolkberg Mountains so obscure hardly anyone in our convoy, including our most seasoned off-road colleague, had ever heard of.
Low range engaged, we pressed forward underneath a canopy covering a “road” seemingly last used by the Voortrekkers.
Rocky and narrow nature of the pass had us holding a breath a few times.
Characterised by not only the massive rocks, earth bank on one side and an unforgiving drop on the other, progress was unsurprisingly slow as the convoy had to stop on a number of occasions so that the road ahead could be cleared of the shrubbery.
Caution was indeed the key word as the plethora of washouts and razor sharp stones threatened to have a field day with any of the XL Sport’s shiny 17-inch gloss black alloy rims and wheels.
Almost forgotten route presents a real challenge
Such was the nature of the route that we had to use the diff-lock on a few occasions while maintaining a speed so slow that the puddles left from days of rain beside us appeared to be running quicker.
The endless switchbacks and slow going was however a fantastic test that left broad smiles on the faces of my driving partner and I as we reached the boom gate signalling the end of the pass.
It didn’t stop there though as after launch, we upped the ante by going up yet another rock covered but slightly less demanding road to witness the sheer splendour and spectacular views of the area we were exploring – a real ‘take-your-breath-away, on-top-of-the-word moment.
Views from beneath the canopy just incredible
Once again, bar a few creaks from the side steps coming into contact with the rocks and ruts, the XL Sport performed without fault as the 118kW/385Nm provided by its 2.2 TDCi engine proved to be more than enough going up and then taking it even easier going down.
A few kilometres later, and after reaching the pass’ summit, we switched back to two-wheel-drive as the terrain changed to tar and in the form of a Monte Carlo-styled WRC stage with lots of fast corners that seemingly unlocked everyone’s inner Sébastien Loeb.
Ranger XL Sport made light work of the rollercoaster terrain
Like the pass we just left behind, the tar surface appeared underused and smooth with the lack of any tyre contact marks on the cement walls highlighting the little to no traffic it receives.
The XL Sport proved to be surprisingly stable despite weighing 2 197 kg. Playtime soon ended as we headed back onto the national road and our overnight stop at the Moholoholo Forest Lodge on the outskirts of Hoedspruit and indeed the Blyde River Canyon.
The third and final day was the less arduous part of the trip that saw us heading up the road and hopping onto a boat for a cruise into the canyon itself, concluding with the best possible view of the Three Sisters.
In the same mould as its chief rival, the Isuzu D-Max X-Rider, the Ford Ranger XL Sport proved that base doesn’t necessarily mean cheap or nasty as its ‘basic persona with added aesthetic appeal had us asking, “Why would you need an XLT or Wildtrak?”
The sisters of the Three Sisters from a boat on the Blyde River in the Blyde River Canyon.
Combined with its prowess off-road and as-tested price of R550 500, it makes for a compelling entrant value seeking Blue Oval or bakkie buyers had been waiting for.
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