Eclipse Cross is a
Gliding about between the Big Five and roses felt safe and comfortably cocooning
MY MOTHER and I were gliding along the N1 North, having a good chat. It was a sunny Saturday, typical for this time of year, and I had picked her up in the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross for a day trip to the Dinokeng Game Reserve with a stopover planned on the way back at Ludwig’s Roses.
The Eclipse Cross, a compact luxury SUV, is quiet and smooth and accelerates effortlessly, and within no time we were at the Ndlovu Gate to the reserve. The office there sells permits (R250) for self-drive in the reserve and provides a map.
We were advised to take the first road right as lion had been spotted early in the morning. We didn’t find them, but over the next hour had good sightings of zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, waterbuck and ostrich.
Dinokeng Game Reserve was opened officially eight years ago after protracted negotiations which resulted in a 200km perimeter fence being erected while land owners, including the numerous lodges, within the reserve, dropped their fences. Over time, lion, elephant and rhino – both white and black – and buffalo were introduced which, along with leopard which occur naturally, makes Dinokeng Gauteng’s only game reserve where the Big Five roam freely.
We needed a pit-stop so crossed back over the R374, headed for the Ritsako Game Lodge where I stayed previously. We were warmly received by the staff, and settled by the pool to enjoy a cold drink before continuing on our drive.
In Dinokeng one can drop in at most of the lodges to get something to eat or drink, find out about accommodation options and (where one can) book an organised game drive.
Prices vary from around R700 a night to R1 700 in this area of the reserve, but when booking in Dinokeng, bear in mind the advantage of being situated inside the reserve.
The wider Dinokeng is large and spread out and I have friends from overseas who booked a lodge in Dinokeng but, when they got there, found themselves closer to Cullinan than to Kwalata.
After our break, as I reversed from the car park, I wondered why the Eclipse Cross has a divided rear window.
“Because it’s a Japanese car and it’s all the rage,” my colleague and motoring editor Willem van der Putte told me later, as if that explains it.
The Eclipse Cross has won an award for design excellence and innovation, and the Journalists’ Conference of Japan made it their car of the year this year, so what do I, a non-motoring journalist, know?
What I can say is that it is extremely light to drive. I loved the CVT gearbox and its hill start assist, while Mom and I are were comfortable, feeling cocooned and safe.
It’s high off the ground (180mm) and we hardly felt bumps that would have had my car rattling along the dirt road.
Willem explained later that the electronically controlled allwheel-drive system distributes driving torque as required and gives it that agile handling and stability. Okay, so now I know.
There’s a touch-screen infotainment system with built in GPS, radio and connectivity tone’s’s smartphone; charge points, electric windows, adjustable seats, separately controlled air-con for driver and passenger, and enough compartments to keep all one’s bits and pieces safe and out of sight.
Back on the road, we headed due north towards the luxury Mokha Lodge, when we were alerted to the fact that there were cheetahs ahead. And, there, lying under a tree next to the road were three young collared cheetahs, perhaps those from the litter of the female moved from Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
We exited Dinokeng via the Tau Gate, promising to be back to try new roads, and headed for Ludwig’s Roses. A light meal and a few purchases later and our day out with the Eclipse Cross was over. On Monday, on the way to work, I stopped to top up before returning the car to Willem, and the petrol attendant was most complimentary of its stylish looks. They see a lot of cars, so they know a thing or two. ¡ The Eclipse Cross was launched internationally a year ago, but is new in this country. It adds to Mitsubishi Motors SA’S range of models, the ASX, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Sport and Triton.
¡ The Eclipse Cross is offered in two derivatives locally – the 4x2 at R399 995 or AWD at R449 995.
Val Boje is editor of the Pretoria News