WHAT ARE WE DOING?
2 old friends are taking a Landcruiser, starting off from Cape Town and driving north.
WHY?
Call it an adventure, a holiday or a challenge - we seek experience of our world, its environments, its cultures, and the tests that it offers. And because we love things that seem impossible.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Cape Town, north. We will stay flexible, but here are some names to watch the diary entries for: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and more.
We chose to focus on Southern and Eastern Africa, rather than the more adventurous route up through Angola, DRC and Congo into Western Africa, largely because we want to see 'classic Africa' and its wildlife before it disappears under the pressures of population growth, agriculture and climate change.
WHEN?
Leaving mid May 2010. If you are asking us to name when we are coming back, then I'm not sure you've quite grasped the flexible nature of the trip yet.
WHATS ALL THIS ABOUT ROOM TO READ?
Room to Read is a global organization seeking to transform the lives of millions of children in the developing world by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read works in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and to ensure girls have the skills and support needed to complete their secondary education. Since 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of more than four million children in Asia and Africa and aims to reach 10 million children by 2015.
We are raising money for Room to Read because it is about local investment - not bandaid charity - aimed at tackling a problem at a grass roots level. Room to Read's African operations are currently spread through South Africa and Zambia, but they are planning to expand further afield on the continent. We'd love it if you donated at our page at Everyday Hero.
Get the Room to Read factsheet!
HOW CAN WE FOLLOW THE TRIP?
You can follow it right here! We will be updating this site as we go (internet connections permitting). The Diary is, umm, our trip diary. The Gallery includes a selection of our favourite photos. The Statistics page will tell you all the random things you never needed to know. And you can leave us messages on the wall at the Main page.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Deserts, forests, savannah, mountains, beaches, and cold beers over big vistas. Remote camp spots. The Kalahari, Okavango, Namib, Katavi, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. People. The Big Five. Mountain Gorillas. Wildlife generally. Bush cooking. Scuba in Mozambique and the Red Sea. Hiking. Kilimanjaro. Mt Elgon. Fixing things. Winching. The unexpected. Connect 4. The long road ahead. The achievements of miles past.
WHAT ARE WE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO?
The road through northern Kenya to the Ethiopian border. Stone-throwing children in Ethiopia. Gun-toting adults in Northern Kenya. Arguments. Snakes. Not being able to fix things. Malaria, gastro. Crime. The Sudanese visa dance. Babboons. Accidental spoonings. Egyptian border formalities. Corruption, bribery, hassle and scams. Misinformation and prejudice.
WHY A LANDCRUISER 80 SERIES?
I could write an essay on this. You need to consider purchase cost, reliability, on and off-road capabilities, availability of spare parts, ease of repair, familiarity of local mechanics, type of fuel, fuel consumption, and resale. There are really only 4 suitably capable vehicles you'll find spread throughout the south and east of Africa - Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, Land Rover Defender and the Toyota Landcruiser. We wanted a dedicated 4WD wagon, not a ute. So why a Landcruiser and not a Defender? This will be controversial in some circles, but here's our answer - reliability, less spanner-work, better off-road capabilities (no emails about this from Land Rover owners please), more comfortable, quieter, and faster.
Within the Landcruiser family, the 80 series represented a big step up from the leaf-sprung 60 series. We weren't interested in 70 series troopies. 100s are too expensive and arguably have too many complex bits to break. 80s often run for a million kilometres.
WHY DIESEL?
It's more widely available throughout Africa. Usually a diesel engine will be more efficient. All other things being equal, its a less technical machine than a petrol engine. A diesel engine may not have all the highway power of its petrol counterpart, but packs enough punch in low range, and usually has better engine braking for steep descents (we'll be dreaming of a petrol engine once we're into sand though). Diesel is also more stable (i.e. less likely to blow up) when transported in jerries.
2 old friends are taking a Landcruiser, starting off from Cape Town and driving north.
WHY?
Call it an adventure, a holiday or a challenge - we seek experience of our world, its environments, its cultures, and the tests that it offers. And because we love things that seem impossible.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Cape Town, north. We will stay flexible, but here are some names to watch the diary entries for: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and more.
We chose to focus on Southern and Eastern Africa, rather than the more adventurous route up through Angola, DRC and Congo into Western Africa, largely because we want to see 'classic Africa' and its wildlife before it disappears under the pressures of population growth, agriculture and climate change.
WHEN?
Leaving mid May 2010. If you are asking us to name when we are coming back, then I'm not sure you've quite grasped the flexible nature of the trip yet.
WHATS ALL THIS ABOUT ROOM TO READ?
Room to Read is a global organization seeking to transform the lives of millions of children in the developing world by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read works in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and to ensure girls have the skills and support needed to complete their secondary education. Since 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of more than four million children in Asia and Africa and aims to reach 10 million children by 2015.
We are raising money for Room to Read because it is about local investment - not bandaid charity - aimed at tackling a problem at a grass roots level. Room to Read's African operations are currently spread through South Africa and Zambia, but they are planning to expand further afield on the continent. We'd love it if you donated at our page at Everyday Hero.
Get the Room to Read factsheet!
HOW CAN WE FOLLOW THE TRIP?
You can follow it right here! We will be updating this site as we go (internet connections permitting). The Diary is, umm, our trip diary. The Gallery includes a selection of our favourite photos. The Statistics page will tell you all the random things you never needed to know. And you can leave us messages on the wall at the Main page.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Deserts, forests, savannah, mountains, beaches, and cold beers over big vistas. Remote camp spots. The Kalahari, Okavango, Namib, Katavi, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. People. The Big Five. Mountain Gorillas. Wildlife generally. Bush cooking. Scuba in Mozambique and the Red Sea. Hiking. Kilimanjaro. Mt Elgon. Fixing things. Winching. The unexpected. Connect 4. The long road ahead. The achievements of miles past.
WHAT ARE WE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO?
The road through northern Kenya to the Ethiopian border. Stone-throwing children in Ethiopia. Gun-toting adults in Northern Kenya. Arguments. Snakes. Not being able to fix things. Malaria, gastro. Crime. The Sudanese visa dance. Babboons. Accidental spoonings. Egyptian border formalities. Corruption, bribery, hassle and scams. Misinformation and prejudice.
WHY A LANDCRUISER 80 SERIES?
I could write an essay on this. You need to consider purchase cost, reliability, on and off-road capabilities, availability of spare parts, ease of repair, familiarity of local mechanics, type of fuel, fuel consumption, and resale. There are really only 4 suitably capable vehicles you'll find spread throughout the south and east of Africa - Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, Land Rover Defender and the Toyota Landcruiser. We wanted a dedicated 4WD wagon, not a ute. So why a Landcruiser and not a Defender? This will be controversial in some circles, but here's our answer - reliability, less spanner-work, better off-road capabilities (no emails about this from Land Rover owners please), more comfortable, quieter, and faster.
Within the Landcruiser family, the 80 series represented a big step up from the leaf-sprung 60 series. We weren't interested in 70 series troopies. 100s are too expensive and arguably have too many complex bits to break. 80s often run for a million kilometres.
WHY DIESEL?
It's more widely available throughout Africa. Usually a diesel engine will be more efficient. All other things being equal, its a less technical machine than a petrol engine. A diesel engine may not have all the highway power of its petrol counterpart, but packs enough punch in low range, and usually has better engine braking for steep descents (we'll be dreaming of a petrol engine once we're into sand though). Diesel is also more stable (i.e. less likely to blow up) when transported in jerries.
WHAT ELSE HAVE WE DONE TO THE CAR?
We will be driving it, living in and around it, and sleeping on top of it, so we need a comfortable and well-equipped juggernaut. We've done lots. See the About Us and Prep sections.
WHY ARE WE BUYING IN AUSTRALIA AND SHIPPING TO SOUTH AFRICA?
The #1 frequently asked question.
The Right vehicle - we had a very specific list of equipment and mods, and watched the markets here for 12 months to find a suitable vehicle at the right price. The value of finding that vehicle, having it checked out on your home ground, setting it up and doing your training in it, can't be underestimated. This was hugely important to us.
Availability abroad - we will be arriving in SA within a couple of weeks of the soccer world cup, when presumably good vehicles will be hard to come by.
Time - It's generally accepted that setting up a vehicle will take about 6 months. We felt the pressure getting it done in 4. That's on top of the time spent hunting for it in the first place. Buying abroad, you either forego your ideal setup, pay top dollar to get it done pronto, or spend a lot of time getting to know Joburg.
Cost - We eventually got Toy as a steal, precisely because we were patient. We saved the cost of flying/driving around SA looking for a vehicle. Because we had the luxury of time, we also picked up a lot of the extra equipment we needed second hand on ebay or through the 4WD forums, and saved a packet on that gear by doing so.
Carnet - under the carnet system, the car either needs to be returned to the country from whence it came, or properly imported into the foreign country and sold. We would rather return Toy to Oz and sell at our leisure, than put it on a boat back to South Africa, wait a month, fly back to South Africa ourselves, and then arrange a sale under those pressured conditions.
Training - we have been able to do driver training, recovery training, test trips and some of our own servicing.
Overall, we think the cost savings on purchase price, equipment, down time in SA, additional flights, and (hopefully) a better sale price at the end probably come close to the cost of shipping. And if not - we're prepared to wear the difference to get the right setup, training, and peace of mind.
WILL WE CARRY GUNS?
This is the #2 frequently asked question, particularly by South Africans. Other than Law and Order, no.
WHAT ABOUT BIG BAD ANIMALS?
We are pretty secure in the vehicle against animals other than elephants. We have done some pre-reading on animal behaviour. We will be sleeping in a roof top tent that folds out from the roofracks, so we will be a good 2 metres out of the reach of snakes and creepy crawlies. The number 1 threat is actually other road users. The number 2 threat is people with ill intentions (crime).
WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOTS?
The road through Northern Kenya to the Ethiopian border, urban Kenya, urban South Africa. A referendum on the seccession of Southern Sudan is scheduled for April 2011, so we will be keeping our feelers out for any pretremors as we meet overlanders who are coming south from that troubled nation.
WHAT IF YOU BREAK DOWN?
We are carrying a decent toolkit and a range of spares. When we head into remote areas, we will carry appropriate food and water reserves. Nonetheless, generally speaking we will not be travelling in convoy with other vehicles, and we need to have a way to communicate if things go wrong. Our Australian UHF radio is not legal in much of Africa. We have therefore invested a significant amount in a satellite phone, which will allow us to communicate from any point on the surface of the planet.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE HELD UP OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT?
Firstly, think positive people. Secondly, we understand our priorities when it comes to keeping the car vs handing over the keys and staying alive. Thirdly, first aid training, satellite phone, travel insurance.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Lots. Contact us if you want details.
IS IT TRUE THAT MARK ROBERTS IS GAY?
Steve would like to apologise for starting this rumour at the 10 year reunion. Mark is not, never has been, and presumably never will be, gay. Similarly, Steve is not Bec Cartwright's cousin, and he did not make a speech at her wedding to Leyton Hewitt.
DO THEY HAVE KFC IN AFRICA?
Yes. But tragically, there is a KFC vacuum between Namibia and Egypt.
We will be driving it, living in and around it, and sleeping on top of it, so we need a comfortable and well-equipped juggernaut. We've done lots. See the About Us and Prep sections.
WHY ARE WE BUYING IN AUSTRALIA AND SHIPPING TO SOUTH AFRICA?
The #1 frequently asked question.
The Right vehicle - we had a very specific list of equipment and mods, and watched the markets here for 12 months to find a suitable vehicle at the right price. The value of finding that vehicle, having it checked out on your home ground, setting it up and doing your training in it, can't be underestimated. This was hugely important to us.
Availability abroad - we will be arriving in SA within a couple of weeks of the soccer world cup, when presumably good vehicles will be hard to come by.
Time - It's generally accepted that setting up a vehicle will take about 6 months. We felt the pressure getting it done in 4. That's on top of the time spent hunting for it in the first place. Buying abroad, you either forego your ideal setup, pay top dollar to get it done pronto, or spend a lot of time getting to know Joburg.
Cost - We eventually got Toy as a steal, precisely because we were patient. We saved the cost of flying/driving around SA looking for a vehicle. Because we had the luxury of time, we also picked up a lot of the extra equipment we needed second hand on ebay or through the 4WD forums, and saved a packet on that gear by doing so.
Carnet - under the carnet system, the car either needs to be returned to the country from whence it came, or properly imported into the foreign country and sold. We would rather return Toy to Oz and sell at our leisure, than put it on a boat back to South Africa, wait a month, fly back to South Africa ourselves, and then arrange a sale under those pressured conditions.
Training - we have been able to do driver training, recovery training, test trips and some of our own servicing.
Overall, we think the cost savings on purchase price, equipment, down time in SA, additional flights, and (hopefully) a better sale price at the end probably come close to the cost of shipping. And if not - we're prepared to wear the difference to get the right setup, training, and peace of mind.
WILL WE CARRY GUNS?
This is the #2 frequently asked question, particularly by South Africans. Other than Law and Order, no.
WHAT ABOUT BIG BAD ANIMALS?
We are pretty secure in the vehicle against animals other than elephants. We have done some pre-reading on animal behaviour. We will be sleeping in a roof top tent that folds out from the roofracks, so we will be a good 2 metres out of the reach of snakes and creepy crawlies. The number 1 threat is actually other road users. The number 2 threat is people with ill intentions (crime).
WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOTS?
The road through Northern Kenya to the Ethiopian border, urban Kenya, urban South Africa. A referendum on the seccession of Southern Sudan is scheduled for April 2011, so we will be keeping our feelers out for any pretremors as we meet overlanders who are coming south from that troubled nation.
WHAT IF YOU BREAK DOWN?
We are carrying a decent toolkit and a range of spares. When we head into remote areas, we will carry appropriate food and water reserves. Nonetheless, generally speaking we will not be travelling in convoy with other vehicles, and we need to have a way to communicate if things go wrong. Our Australian UHF radio is not legal in much of Africa. We have therefore invested a significant amount in a satellite phone, which will allow us to communicate from any point on the surface of the planet.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE HELD UP OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT?
Firstly, think positive people. Secondly, we understand our priorities when it comes to keeping the car vs handing over the keys and staying alive. Thirdly, first aid training, satellite phone, travel insurance.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Lots. Contact us if you want details.
IS IT TRUE THAT MARK ROBERTS IS GAY?
Steve would like to apologise for starting this rumour at the 10 year reunion. Mark is not, never has been, and presumably never will be, gay. Similarly, Steve is not Bec Cartwright's cousin, and he did not make a speech at her wedding to Leyton Hewitt.
DO THEY HAVE KFC IN AFRICA?
Yes. But tragically, there is a KFC vacuum between Namibia and Egypt.
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