WATCH: Two men, a tiny car, and 600km through the Kruger for a cause
The tiny car took on the KNP on a journey of adventure for conservation.
It’s barely bigger than a ball of elephant dung – just over a metre wide – and with a squeeze and a shove, two skinny men can just about wedge themselves inside.
Yet despite the obvious limitations, it might well be the smallest car ever to tour the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
Samuel da Fonseca, owner of the social media enterprise, The Car Scene, and his good friend Reggie Takundwa took on the challenge in their bonsai-sized Bajaj, driving the length of the Kruger (Malelane to Pafuri).
@thecarscene_ Episode 1 of how we prepared the smallest possible car for the Kruger National Park is now live on YouTube! 👀 We’re close to the 6 day action-packed series unfolding! Find out if we make it and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube: “TheCarScene” 🫡 #bajaj #krugerpark #kruger #bajajqute #bydshark6 #bydlife #bakkie #bajajlovers #bajajamachance
Their route was anything but smooth, sticking mostly to gravel roads and the sort of terrain that would make a 4×4 sweat.
@thecarscene_ Bajaja-ma-chance 😩 Will we survive the Kruger? We’ve officially arrived!! 😛 We’ve been challenged to drive the smallest car the entire 600km length of Kruger National Park, and thank goodness I’m being joined by @dominicritchie_ftt, @rt_customz and @open_plan_trading 🤣. This is the final build of the Bajaja-Ma-Chance and tomorrow the 1st days journey will air 👀 Follow along for this WILD challenge 💪👊 This challenge will also be on YouTube! 🎉🥳 #smallcar #bajajqute #southafrican #bakkie #landcruiser #safari #travelsouthafrica #capetown #mpumalanga #lowveld #microcar #minicar #smartcar #carchallenge #cheapcarchallenge #topgear #vwsouthafrica #toyotasouthafrica #toyotahilux #bajaj #safari #southafrica #antipoaching #poaching #wildlife #krugernationalpark #savetherhino #stoppoaching #rhino
But this was more than just an eccentric road trip. The duo aimed to spotlight the urgent need to protect wildlife from poaching and to raise funds for anti-poaching efforts.
“We’re doing this drive to make a difference,” Da Fonseca said. “To raise awareness of the harsh reality our biodiversity is facing right now.”
The journey took six days, and covered about 600km – all in a Bajaj Qute they bought for just R15 000. “The challenge was simple: buy the smallest car we could find and make it Kruger-ready,” Da Fonseca explained. “It took us 20 days to beef it up so it could take on the rough roads.”
Among their most nerve-jangling moments? Elephants.
“The Bajaj weighs a measly 450kg – tiny compared to the five-ton giants roaming the park. Luckily, none of them were aggressive. They were curious, though,” he chuckled.
“A few times, we had to reverse as they ambled toward us, rumbling like they were asking, ‘What on earth is this contraption?'”
Along the way, they captured footage and conducted interviews, including conversations with passionate, battle-hardened rangers.
@thecarscene_ This thing is the size of a elephant kak 😩 Full episode now on YouTube 👀 We were challenged to buy the smallest possible car and drive it through the entire Kruger National Park, 500+km from Malelane to Pafuri. The first car we’re using is the popular Bolt Car, Bajaj Qute with 8 whole kilowatts of power 🤪 We’re doing this challenge to make a difference and any donation you make through given-gain goes towards to preserving South Africa’s beautiful wildlife: you can find the link in my bio… We’re supporting Mdluli K9 Conservation Centre and Moholoholo Wildlife rehabilitation centre. Every donation you make is an entry into winning awesome prizes: – Kennedy is giving away X1 62 piece tool-box and a chest of drawers – FIla is giving away X2 R5 000 gift vouchers – Luxury Time is giving away a Rally watch valued at R8k Note you must make a donation through givengain to qualify to win a prize, 1 prize per person. The draw will take place after episode 6 airs. bajajqute bydshark6 krugernationalpark smallcar krugeruntamed krugersighting wildlifeconservation bydshark byd shark elephant krugerpark topgearchallenge bajajlove
“It really hit us: these guys are in a constant fight against poachers. It’s like a war zone.”
The result of the journey will be a six-part series that will air on The Car Scene’s YouTube channel.
Da Fonseca says the next challenge – planned for next year – will raise funds to build a much-needed vulture enclosure at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit.
