4×4-ing Through South Africa’s Wilderness
- Three hundred days a year, across 80 000kms, Scott Ramsay drives his Ford Everest through South Africa’s wilderness
- Ford Everest the perfect partner for taking on Africa’s roughest terrain
- Year in the Wild is currently in its second year and sees Ramsay documenting South Africa’s most beautiful and remote areas
PRETORIA, South Africa, 04 November 2013 – South Africa is too beautiful for local photojournalist, Scott Ramsay, not to share. The freelance photographer spends more than 300 days a year driving through South Africa’s protected areas in a Ford Everest, to capture the country’s most remote and exquisite natural places.
The Everest is designed to be the ultimate recreational vehicle with the comfort and safety features required of a family car and the off-road competencies of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Powered by a 3.0-litre engine the Everest boasts plenty of torque to ensure manoeuvrability in any situation.
Now currently in its second leg, Year in the Wild has seen Ramsay travel 80 000kms in his Ford Everest and to date he has covered over 40 national parks and provincial nature reserves in Southern Africa.
“Through my Year in the Wild project, I am documenting and photographing the most special national parks and nature reserves, and ultimately inspiring other people to experience these wild places in Africa for themselves. I also interview rangers, researchers, communities and fellow travellers, to find out what makes each place unique and special, and why we should consider these protected areas worthy of conservation,” says Ramsay.
Endorsed by South African National Parks, KZN Wildlife and CapeNature, the project focuses on 45 of South Africa’s most special nature reserves and includes all 19 national parks, as well as the transfrontier parks on the borders of the country.
So far in the 2013-2014 Year in the Wild journey, he has journeyed through KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and southern Cape
The parks he has visited so far include uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, Mkambati, Dwesa, Addo Elephant National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park, Robberg Nature Reserve and Agulhas National Park
“Because I travel alone, my mode of transport needs to be reliable and sturdy,” says Ramsay. “I rely heavily on my Ford Everest 4×4 to get me to South Africa’s most remote and beautiful areas – which on any given day means I drive on tar, sand, gravel rock and mud.
“I’m no 4×4 expert, but I’ve driven to over 40 protected areas in southern Africa in my Everest. Of course, driving style and skill, as well as tyres and tyre pressure are critical but so too is the vehicle. The Everest has really proven itself and has taken me to some unforgettable destinations. Through my journeys I am able to inspire others to travel, so that they too can be inspired and maybe even transformed by the precious places our country as to offer,” he concludes.
The 2013/2014 Year in the Wild journey ends on 28 September 2014 in the Kruger National Park.
