The Road Chose Me: Driving a Jeep Wrangler 80,000 miles around Africa for 2 years

robert

Expedition Leader
Be careful, if you're anything like me and you haven't driven on the left in a while, when you get away from traffic you'll find yourself subconsciously drifting right. Doh! :eek:

Enjoy the New Year!
 
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Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
Hi All,

It's been 18 months through 18 countries, and I'm not even half way around Afirca!
How long is this going to take?!?

To be honest, I don't have a firm answer. I'm terrible at predicting timelines.
I'd say it's somewhere between 8-18 months more up to Egypt, but that's just a guess.

Also, a new member has joined the team!


Read the whole explanation and rationale:
http://theroadchoseme.com/timelines-and-teammates

-Dan
 

Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
Hi All,

We have reached the Coast in Namibia, and I push the Jeep hard in the big dunes to get to the Sandwhich Harbor area of the Skeleton Coast!


north-dunes-and-jeep-720x480.jpg
http://theroadchoseme.com/around-sandwich-harbor

More: http://theroadchoseme.com/around-sandwich-harbor

With the KO2s down to 10psi the Jeep did great on the dunes.
With all the weight there were plenty I couldn't get up without staying in tire tracks.

-Dan
 

Deshet

Adventurer
I have watched some of your youtubes videos. Your trip is impressive.
How is the Jeep Holding up?
I have always wondered if the Defenders were over rated, the few I have seen make the Jeep look like luxury vehicles. I think your jeep will break some of those stereotypes.

As I think about it more the Defender is likely only associated with Africa because of British and European Colonialism over much of the area. They bought and used vehicles that were available to them and there military forces. I have never seen an extremely reliable Land Rover in the states until the LR3.

Good luck on your voyage.
 

Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
I have watched some of your youtubes videos. Your trip is impressive.
How is the Jeep Holding up?
I have always wondered if the Defenders were over rated, the few I have seen make the Jeep look like luxury vehicles. I think your jeep will break some of those stereotypes.

As I think about it more the Defender is likely only associated with Africa because of British and European Colonialism over much of the area. They bought and used vehicles that were available to them and there military forces. I have never seen an extremely reliable Land Rover in the states until the LR3.

Good luck on your voyage.

Cheers!

The Jeep has been holding up brilliantly. Only very minor repairs and of course routine maintenance.
Now I'm in the South I'll be doing some more major work, detail on that to come soon!

I have never met a Land Rover driver that has not had to do serious, serious work on the West Coast of Africa. Engine swaps, gear boxes replaced, ECU failure, etc. etc.
I personally think they are a fantastic size, have a great diesel engine... but for me the reliability is just not there.

-Dan
 

Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
Hi All,

During all the dry riverbeds I found yet another wild camp that contents for best of the entire expedition.
Let me know what you think


More details on the riverbeds here: http://theroadchoseme.com/riverbeds-deserts-and-wildlife

After all that it was time for a change of pace so I visited a Cheetah Conservation place.
I will never, ever forget patting a cheetah while he purrs loudly:

Details here: http://theroadchoseme.com/otjitotongwe-cheetah-guest-farm

And then it was time for a visit to Etosha National Park. I have been told no visit to Namibia is complete without a stop.
I enjoyed it, though I think I prefer the completely wild animals. I have been spoiled already

Tons of photos here: http://theroadchoseme.com/etosha-national-park

Namibia continues to impress. I love this place as much as I always thought I would!

-Dan
 

sg1

Adventurer
Great trip. I love Namibia especially the Kaokoveld. How did you manage to enter without Carnet ? I thought that's impossible in the South African Customs Union.
 

Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
Great trip. I love Namibia especially the Kaokoveld. How did you manage to enter without Carnet ? I thought that's impossible in the South African Customs Union.

Driving in is no problem.. shipping in you MUST have a Carnet.

I'll get the details into wikioverland.org one of these days...

-Dan
 

Dan Grec

Expedition Leader
Hi All,

I made a stop at the The Ju/'Hoansi Living San Museum where locals are the museum pieces, showing how their ancestors lived on the land for generations.
This fascinating man told me through a translator he actually hunted giraffe with his dad with this bow and arrow when he was a boy.


More: http://theroadchoseme.com/the-juhoansi-living-san-museum

After that I moved over to Khaudum National Park for some extreme elephant viewing.


How close did I get?
Close.


More: http://theroadchoseme.com/khaudum-national-park

Everyone warned me about the deep sand in the North of the park and how they always get stuck.

It was extremely deep, though the Jeep didn't have a problem powering through.



-Dan
 

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