KALMAR Beyond Adventure is taking the traditional rally experience and changing it so that participants can learn about wildlife management.
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The creation of Jan Kalmar, the KALMAR Beyond Adventure has provided participants with unique driving experiences for two decades. They have taken cars on multi-day journeys across Finland, Iceland, South America, Bhutan, Morocco, and the country of Georgia among other locations.
Some of these events have featured more guided experiences in comfortable rally-inspired cars. Others have tested the drivers during more extreme adventures in which vehicles can break down.
The majority of the KALMAR Beyond Adventure expeditions take place with participants in bespoke rally vehicles based on various Porsche models. The Mount Etjo Special alters the plans by putting a hand-selected group of eight to 12 participants in customized Suzuki Jimny 4x4s.
This boxy SUV comes standard with a 1.5-liter engine with enough torque for a variety of challenging situations. Suzuki pairs it with a five-speed manual transmission. The Jimny also has a 3-link rigid axle suspensions with coil springs, 4WD with a low-range transfer gear, and special controls built for hills.
Photo credit: KALMAR Beyond Adventure
The Mount Etjo Special, which runs from April 22 to May 1, 2027, changes the standard experience. Driving is still a prominent focus, but it also takes a bit of a backseat as participants work out of a base camp. Each day will begin and end at the Mount Etjo Elephant Lodge in Namibia, Africa.
Those who choose to take part in the KALMAR Beyond Adventure in Namibia will drive the Jimny 4x4 for approximately 1,000 kilometers (621.37 miles) while exploring Africa, and they will earn the Mount Etjo license on the custom track at the lodge.
These participants will continue to use the Jimny 4x4s as they track elephants, visits schools and churches, and work with a veterinarian focused on providing medical care to rhinos. They will work together as well as with an expedition leader, an event organizer, and a paramedic.
The ninth day of the adventure provides even more time behind the wheel of the Jimny 4x4, which is not available for Americans to purchase. Participants will have the opportunity to explore Mount Etjo by themselves or in teams while spotting wildlife. The organizers of the expedition will track the vehicles via satellite.
"For years guests have joined us for the driving," Kalmar said in a press release. "What they talk about afterwards is the team spirit, the community and the experience. At Mount Etjo we let the driving take a back seat to see what stays."
