By Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
Parys is the kind of place that invites you to slow down and sink into its laissez-faire charm. By day, the “big boys and girls” head for the Vaal River; paddling, rafting, or simply lazing on its banks, before turning their attention to birdwatching, stargazing, and the natural beauty that frames the town.
Just over an hour’s drive from Johannesburg, you’ll find yourself in a tucked-away oasis that feels far removed from the city’s pace. The town has earned its reputation for river adventures, craft shops, and antique hunting, not to mention art galleries that pop up around every corner. And then there’s its best-kept secret: the Vredefort Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Site and the world’s largest and oldest meteorite impact site.
This time, our trip to Parys wasn’t about soaking up the scenery but rather savouring its flavours. A colleague and I made our way to the Lamb Champs, an expo celebrating all things agricultural, with a mission as serious as it was indulgent: to taste lamb chops in every possible form and xplore the products that come with them. We were there as guests of Toyota South Africa, and, as fate would have it, I was testing the Fortuner GR-S that week. The coincidence couldn’t have been more fitting, the sportiest Fortuner flexing its muscles on the open road.
The Ride
The Fortuner GR-S was an instant hit with my tribe the moment it pulled into the
driveway. The extra two seats at the back sparked endless fascination, and at any given time someone would claim one, even when the second row was practically empty. The tray and charging ports were another crowd-pleaser, especially with the teenagers who styled themselves as VIPs in the back, devices plugged in, while I did the usual parental shuttle service. From behind the wheel, I wasn’t complaining either — at least, not at first.
The GR-S is easy, no-fuss motoring, with just enough oomph to distinguish it from the standard Fortuner, though it’s no cheetah by any stretch. What it does deliver is confidence: solid ground clearance, generous space and a well-thought-out layout. The only downside for me was the dark interior. It gave the cabin a slightly heavy feel, and I found myself instinctively reaching for a sunroof that simply wasn’t there.
The Drive
The drive from Johannesburg to Parys feels longer than it is. The N1’s endless
stretches, flanked by open land, offer little in the way of stimulation — and if you don’t keep an eye on the speedometer, the wide, inviting road will happily land you in trouble with the traffic cops.
Behind the wheel, though, the Fortuner GR-S made it a pleasure. Ride comfort was spot on, and when I took it off the tar onto gravel, it came into its own; steady, confident, and cocoon-like inside. It had me daydreaming about a trip home to my village in the Eastern Cape, where rough roads have long since crowned the Hilux as king. My only gripe? The fuel stops. Averaging 10,5L/100km, the 2.8-litre GD-6 Turbo Diesel proved thirstier than I’d like — a serious consideration in Ramaphosa’s economy.
Arriving in Parys, we were greeted by a maze of potholes, particularly in the suburb leading to Afridome, where the event was being held. In some stretches, the road infrastructure seemed to have disappeared altogether, leaving us questioning what had happened to this once-charming town. Yet, the Fortuner GR-S took it all in stride. It felt right at home, gliding over the rough patches with ease and reminding us that, sometimes, the journey is as much about the car as the destination. In that moment, the Fortuner proved it wasn’t just a stylish SUV for the city, but a dependable companion for life’s more unpredictable roads.
After sampling the local flavour and weaving through stalls of jams and farm produce, we did exactly what we had come for – indulged in meat in every imaginable form, from tender boiled cuts to ribs roasted on a spit braai. Big Zulu’s lyrics played in my mind as we tucked in, before wrapping up a stash of lamb to take home. Now, when I think of Parys, I will have memories of the juicy lamb, the Fortuner GR-S and potholes.
