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• Mitsubishi brand ambassadorFrancois Rossouw explores Mozambique in his Pajero Sport.
• The Pajero Sport is currently on sale in SA and has a starting price of R624 995.
• According to Rossouw, the brand's Super Select 4WD II system is one of the best in the world.
• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24
Golden beaches, the warm and crystal-clear water of the Indian Ocean, endless seafood feasts and days spent exploring under the African sun - the stuff of dreams. No wonder Mozambique is so popular with many explorers. It was also the destination chosen by Francois Rossouw for one of his recent 4x4 Sport expeditions.
In May this year, Rossouw, at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, led a party of six 4x4 vehicles to the neighbouring country to sample all it has to offer. The group met at the Komatipoort border before tackling the first 150km of the trip to Tan 'n Biki, nestled in the dunes of the Mozambican peninsula island of Macaneta.
Rossouw says: "We were almost seduced by the unspoilt beaches and beautiful chalets at the lodge, but I was eager to stretch my Pajero Sport's legs on a 300km route to Xai Xai, where we stayed at the Go Wild Resort. It wasn't that far, but the roads are in terrible condition, and there were police checkpoints every 30km or so. As a result, we reached our destination just in time to enjoy the first of many seafood dinners during the trip."
Decadence all around
The next day saw the group travelling 400km further north to Morrungulo Beach Resort, a Robinson Crusoe-type getaway situated right on the beach in the shade of large palm trees. From here, it was on to Inhasorro and the tranquillity of the Mystic Blue Bay Lodge. On the first of their three-day stay, the adventurers took full advantage of the beach permits they had secured to drive 60km along the coastline to the Bartholomeu Dias Point peninsula. The balmy water of the Mozambique Current offered a welcome reprieve from the heat as Rossouw's group had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the local marine life.
A boat ride to Santa Caroline Island - also known as Paradise Island - was on the agenda for the next day, before the group headed further south to the Paindane Beach Resort for a three-day stay. A highlight was visiting Tufo Beach at Inhambane, where it was time for some 4x4 fun in the sand dunes.
READ: 4x4 Trail | Challenging Minwater outside Oudtshoorn in a two-decade-old Mitsubishi Pajero
Rossouw explains about the Pajero: "The selectable off-road modes maximise traction on and across various surfaces. The Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand or Rock setting can be selected to suit surface conditions to optimise engine output, transmission settings and braking for superior traction control, so the loose, fine sand was easy to tackle."
The Pajero Sport has a 30-degree approach angle, which allows adventurers to challenge tough obstacles head-on, while the 24-degree departure angle will get you back down safely.
Bilene, 140km northeast of Maputo, was the next stop. It is said to be the closest beach destination to Johannesburg, and the Uembje Lagoon is one of the main attractions. The group did a 60km loop around the body of water before sampling some of the beach bars and lodges that have survived the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry.
What makes the Pajero Sport special
It was time to head home all too soon, and the convoy passed Maputo before taking the new road over the very impressive bridge on the way to the border. The last night was spent at the Kosi Bay Lodge, with a seafood feast to bid a fond farewell to the country and its friendly people.
Rossouw says: "During the 3 500km round trip, I was impressed by the comfortable ride and quiet cabin. We travelled three up and, apart from our luggage, we also brought along special equipment for emergencies. Despite this, there was still plenty of room inside the vehicle. In addition, practical features such as tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering column and a multi-function leather-clad steering wheel with audio and cruise control settings at your fingertips, made the trip all the more enjoyable."
Bearing in mind that the speed limit in Mozambique is 100km/h, the average fuel consumption of the Pajero Sport was around 8.0-litres/100km.
Compiled by Robin Classen
