Visiting a rare lily spectacle with the new Raptor |
With a timeline firmly under Mother Nature’s control, correspondent Ian McLaren on the eve of the local launch of the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor set course for one of the rarest sites in the botanical world …
How long ahead of time do you like to plan in earnest for your next epic road trip? Your favourite mode of transport kitted out and ready to go once packed, what is the shortest amount of time that you would prefer to allocate for logistics and arrangements?
Now, what if I told you that in order to witness one of the most spectacular displays of natural wonder in the world, you will have less than a week to plan, pack and arrive at one of the oldest towns in Namibia? Oh, and it will depend entirely on how much rain has fallen the week before as to whether it will be worthwhile.
The Sandhof Farm outside of Maltahöhe in Southern central Namibia is home to Crinum paludosum, a rare species of lily known to be particularly shy. With the average annual rainfall for this part of the country listed as just 194 mm, this field of dreams demands no less than 150 mm of precipitation over a short period of time before it will consider revealing its secret.
Terms and conditions met, and within seven days of waters meeting ground this 700-hectare piece of otherwise arid land is transformed into a sea of pink lilies – that will be gone again within a week. Last witnessed in 2021, and perhaps as a sign of the landscape resetting itself after some challenging times, Mother Nature conspired in early February to trigger the lilies to life once more.
Maltahöhe (Malta’s Heights), named after the wife of the then Governor of the nearby Gibeon district, is located some 110 km to the West of Mariental. Established in 1899, this quaint town is also home to one of the oldest hotels in Namibia; and is a good place to set course for when “planning” a visit to the Sandhof Lilies.
New Raptor, new powertrain
Designed and engineered by Ford Performance in Australia, the second-generation Ranger Raptor aims to build on the success of its predecessor by upping the ante in terms of what this F150 Raptor-inspired package is capable of.
Harnessing the newfound strength and under-the-skin enhancements of the all-new Ranger double-cab, together with an evolution of the impressive Fox-supplied damper system, the significant news in terms of the new flagship derivative is the inclusion of a new V6 turbo-petrol powertrain.
With any newfound performance potential throttled by the usual early-morning Gauteng traffic congestion, my focus in the initial part of our trip was instead on familiarising myself with a cabin boasting a broad refocus on quality of materials and overall comfort – including a large, portrait-oriented infotainment display with an appropriate level of theatre in Raptor spec.
Built-for-purpose, well-bolstered seating aside, the pinnacle Ranger package features a bespoke steering wheel design with brilliant-to-the-touch, metal transmission paddles and one-touch access to the various driving modes and systems of the vehicle.
This includes modulation of steering feel through three settings, control of the new active exhaust system and adaptive dampers, and management of a rather compelling new button, simply marked, “R.” With the R14 between Johannesburg and Kathu in the Northern Cape safely negotiated on day one, an early start the next day also revealed just how capable the new Ranger Raptor is within its natural habitat: gravel driving.
Baja Mode
It is 50 mm wider than the standard Ranger double-cab and fitted as standard with 285/70 R17 BF Goodrich tyres. Where the party trick on the previous generation Raptor is its Fox damper setup, the new package introduces new, so-called Live Valve items from this same US-based brand.
Granted up to 23% more travel on the front wheels alone compared to the previous model, this advanced arrangement offers constantly active ride control, based on prevailing conditions. Able to be locked into various settings, including a Baja mode for maximum forgiveness over rough terrain, leaving our fuel stop in Van Zylsrus, it quickly became apparent that the Raptor is in its element on loose surfaces.
Entering Namibia via the Rietfontein border crossing, an overnight destination in Mariental provided more opportunity to both soak up the bumps, experience newfound levels of cabin refinement, and enjoy a freshly unlocked level of poise granted to the pinnacle Ranger via its Ford Performance-sourced, turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 drivetrain.
Delivering a mighty 292 kW of power at 5 650 rpm and 583 Nm of torque at 3 500 rpm with a corresponding guttural exhaust note, the Raptor now has the performance – straight-line, out of corners and, indeed, in the sand (as we found at the launch in the Namib dunes close to Swakopmund) – to match its dynamic prowess.
While the still-wet and heavily corrugated gravel road linking Maltahöhe with the gate to the Sandhof farm proved no match for the heavy-duty underside protection and segment-defining suspension setup of the Raptor, the contrast of a fresh field of flowers that, by all accounts, should not be able to flourish in such otherwise harsh conditions.
This was closely matched by the warm welcome of the gathered locals, set-up to sell refreshments and braai meat to all who make it in time for the bloom. And while the lily bloom spectacle may be a scarce occurrence, the new Ranger Raptor – given its quality design and newfound dynamic attributes – will soon not be a rare sight on local roads …
Text & Images © Ian McLaren
