Watch: 2 men, a tiny car, and 600km through the Kruger for a cause
It's barely bigger than a ball of elephant dung – just over a metre wide – and with a squeeze and a shove, two skinny men can just about wedge themselves inside.
Yet despite the obvious limitations, it might well be the smallest car ever to tour the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
Samuel da Fonseca, owner of the social media enterprise, The Car Scene, and his good friend Reggie Takundwa took on the challenge in their bonsai-sized Bajaj, driving the length of the Kruger (Malelane to Pafuri).
Their route was anything but smooth, sticking mostly to gravel roads and the sort of terrain that would make a 4×4 sweat.
But this was more than just an eccentric road trip. The duo aimed to spotlight the urgent need to protect wildlife from poaching and to raise funds for anti-poaching efforts.
'We're doing this drive to make a difference,' Da Fonseca said. 'To raise awareness of the harsh reality our biodiversity is facing right now.'
The journey took six days, and covered about 600km – all in a Bajaj Qute they bought for just R15 000. 'The challenge was simple: buy the smallest car we could find and make it Kruger-ready,' Da Fonseca explained. 'It took us 20 days to beef it up so it could take on the rough roads.'
Among their most nerve-jangling moments? Elephants.
'The Bajaj weighs a measly 450kg – tiny compared to the five-ton giants roaming the park. Luckily, none of them were aggressive. They were curious, though,' he chuckled.
'A few times, we had to reverse as they ambled toward us, rumbling like they were asking, 'What on earth is this contraption?''
Along the way, they captured footage and conducted interviews, including conversations with passionate, battle-hardened rangers.
'It really hit us: these guys are in a constant fight against poachers. It's like a war zone.'
The result of the journey will be a six-part series that will air on The Car Scene's YouTube channel.
Da Fonseca says the next challenge – planned for next year – will raise funds to build a much-needed vulture enclosure at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit.
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