The Land Rover Experience (Inchanga)

By Allan Jackson

So you caved in to fashion and went and bought that glamorous off-road vehicle that you've been yearning for.  
Taking the plunge wasn't a bad idea but you'll soon be discovering the first snag about off-road vehicles which is that there are now so many parked outside the Pavilion that nobody is even going to notice you arrive. You'll probably even start feeling that you might have made a mistake as you drive along the Marine Parade past lots of people who are not looking at you.  
Never fear, though, because your off-roader can still earn you plenty of kudos if you go plan to Plan B. And that is to take your vehicle off of the tar and into its natural habitat and you'll not only have the greatest fun while doing so but you'll also have a story to tell at the next braai that not many will be able cap.  
It would be advisable to take an off-road driving course before you do, however, and there are a number of them around. One is the Land Rover Experience in Inchanga and I went along recently to have a look.  
The LRE is located in the bundu alongside Inchanga station on the top of a hill and, although you don't need an off-roader to get there, it certainly feels like it. Among the courses on offer are basic off-road driving, advanced off-road driving including winching and vehicle recovery, sand driving, GPS navigation, and safari planning.  
The day started out with a thorough lecture from instructor Richard Hatch on how various kinds of off-road vehicles work and how to drive them. Then it was out to the vehicles to have the various bits and pieces pointed out to us by Noel Stapelfeldt. A quick lunch and then we headed out in convoy into the bundu and along a track with a number of hair-raising obstacles in it.  
Richard would explain just how to defeat each obstacle and then we'd get a chance to try it for ourselves. I started out sharing the Defender with Warren Egan and, after some initial nervousness, we learned that, although off-road driving looks hazardous, it' s pretty safe if you do it right.  
By the end of the afternoon we had switched to the Discovery and were zooting around the track in confident style. It was a fine day; one of my best in recent memory and, even if I did have a tense episode in the muddy hollow, instructor Richard also found it darn difficult.  
When I got my certificate I felt really brave and adventuresome and, boy, that first drink hissed when it went down. The Land Rover Experience is, as its name implies, mainly geared towards Land Rover owners but owners or prospective owners of other off-roaders will also find it a valuable experience. What's especially useful is that you get to drive a variety of vehicles ranging from the tough uncompromising Defender to the luxurious Discovery and the more street-oriented but still capable Freelander.  
The valuable thing about going on the course and getting the different vehicles to drive is that can get a feeling for their capabilities and you will be able to make a far more informed decision about what to off-roader to go for based on what you want to achieve with it.  
The LRE instructors make the point that you have not only bought a vehicle when you buy an off-roader but into a lifestyle which can give you immense pleasure. There were all ages and both genders on the course with me and everyone coped so there's no reason why you couldn't.  
There are now dozens of off-road trails throughout Southern Africa just waiting to be explored. More details on the Land Rover Experience are available from Carina on (031) 7834209.

I hope you found this article thought-provoking and informative. I would welcome any E-mail with your questions, comments and suggestions.

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