The Budget Overlander team has been extremely busy the last few years, transcending and ascending many roads in their green-hued Suzuki Jimny. Their travels took them across South Africa and the journeys would have left many green with envy – in a good way.

But as with all things in life, there must come a change and Budget Overlander opted to part with their Jimny and upgrade to a Toyota Fortuner. Was the decision easy? Not in the slightest, but it was time for an upgrade.

The team said on their Facebook page: “We have some exciting and sad news. We sold our beloved Jimny for something with more power and space. We bought a Fortuner!

“Here is to many new adventures with our new companion.  We will miss the Jimny, but it was time for a change.”

New tekkies is a must!

Since the purchase earlier in September 2023, the Fortuner underwent its first upgrade as Budget Overlander opted to replace the existing tyres with brand new Grandtrek AT5 rubber, geared towards the best of both tar and gravel driving.

Expectedly, the Toyota Fortuner was ready for its first pilgrimage over the weekend of 16 September as the team explored the region between Modderrivier and Magersfontein.

“It was our first gravel road encounter with our secondhand – new Fortuner. It handled the gravel and dirt ‘veld’ road with great ease. The low-down torque makes cruising effortless,” the team wrote in another Facebook post.

“We drove until the sun was setting. The twilight turned the bright blue sky into midnight blue. It accentuated the wavy clouds and darkened the trees – absolutely bliss.

“Overlanding is a sublime sensation; it opens the door of your heart to new experiences. It is also heavy addictive. In the serenity that overlanding brings, you get time to think and absorb.”