This larger river required...
This larger river required crossing by raft. The rafts were hooked up to guide wires and powered by two locals.
No one on the trip will accuse Jeep of taking it easy on the drive route because this was, hands down, the most difficult and technical wheeling we've ever experienced during a new vehicle launch. The terrain constantly varied, one minute taking us through stereotypical savannah, then along narrow washes and sandbars, on to elephant grass and hippo ponds down through boulder-strewn canyons, and even a few places no vehicles have gone before. We drove the JK over 200 off-road miles in two days.
Initially, we were concerned about the JK's extra 5.5 inches of width, which proved to be more of a benefit to stability than a hindrance on the trails we encountered. The new suspension and extra width helped the JK to inspire confidence on obstacles that would have a TJ rolling over and playing dead. However, there were some tight sections that the two-door slipped right through, while the Unlimited's length came under scrutiny. At 116 inches, we feel that the Unlimited's wheelbase is about 6 inches too long. There is a joke in there somewhere, but we'll let it slide in the interest of good journalism. At least the extra length of the Unlimited helps to improve the JK's already impressive ride on pavement and makes the Unlimited a very sure-footed climber. With functional factory rocker protection, we could pivot the Unlimited around obstacles or give it a yank with the strap of the beefy tow hooks. Despite being a bit long for the trail, there is no doubt this five-seat model will be a huge seller for Jeep, and it should look pretty good up on 35-, 37-, or even 40-inch tires.
We have to admit to not being fans of the flenders at first, but then we realized just how much damage and abuse they could take without transferring it to the sheetmetal. The breakaway clips work great, and a brief introduction with a plumber's torch at the end of the day returned them to their original shape, or close to it.
 In case you wondered what...  In case you wondered what a JK would look like after a roll, we watched this two-door go dirty-side up after a bad line caused by some questionable spotting on a challenging obstacle. Proving how tough the new Jeep is, the occupants walked away with only a little soreness and some bruised egos. Once we righted the JK and cleared oil from the cylinders, we pulled off the doors and top, reattached the flenders, and continued driving for the rest of the trip without issue. |  |  The Wrangler JK has impressive...  The Wrangler JK has impressive fording abilities, with doors that are well sealed. |
While driving through all of this varied terrain and dodging man-eating elephants and poo-throwing monkeys, one feature we came to appreciate was the Power Wagon-style disconnecting sway bar. On steep side slopes, we locked it up, and we disengaged it on rocky climbs - all at the touch of a button on the dash. Short of the hippo that visited our room and scared the crap out of us in the middle of the night or the monkey that stole soap from one of the guys while he was taking a shower, it just doesn't get much better than that.
The JK also has many features never before seen in a Wrangler, such as power windows and door locks, while still offering removable doors. The hardtop is trick with its removable panels and a superb navigation system with Sirius satellite radio offered, enabling you enjoy your favorite tunes on any trail.
While Cappa will undoubtedly share with you in an upcoming issue all the things he would change if he ran Jeep, our first impression is that the new JK is a pretty damned good trail machine out of the box. We had no mechanical failures during our trip and even a JK that rolled was turned into an open top, doorless Jeep and continued on the rest of the trip unfazed. Remarkably, the fairly low-profile 32-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains suffered no flats or cuts during our time on the Mother Continent.
When you consider all of the regulations a new vehicle must meet and the trend away from solid axles, we could be telling you about the latest IFS Liberty, but, instead, Jeep did us right by the new Wrangler. The JK is the real thing and is arguably a better wheeler in stock form than the TJ. So to answer Jim's question, "Not at all." Sure, there are things we might have done differently, but the JK is an impressive vehicle - and far from tarnishing Jeep's name.
 Shoot first, ask questions...  Shoot first, ask questions later. William's only job was to protect us from big game and to watch over us when we were emptying our bladders near the vegetation. |  Hard to keep track of, these...  Hard to keep track of, these beady-eyed little bastards were ready to throw down (or throw poop) at a moments notice. |  If you plan on fishing, you...  If you plan on fishing, you better check in first with the honorable Chief Kakumbi. |
Ten Worst Ways to Die in Africa10. Dehydration in an open top Jeep.9. At the hands of a wild bush pilot.8. Asking Paris Three, instead of Bree.7. Trampled by big game.6. Stepping out of the Jeep to pet a hungry, hungry hippo.5. Rolling a Jeep in the middle of nowhere.4. Eaten alive from the outside by tsetse flies.3. Eaten alive from the inside by old world parasites.2. At the hands of a poo-throwing monkey (a.k.a. death by pooing).1. Any death in Africa while writing a story for Cappa for 10 cents a word.