Crossing Continents: Africa with the Grenadier

[Scott Brady]

After getting a few accessories installed in Joburg, we headed south towards Cape Town.

The sunsets in Africa are just something to behold!

Driving through the Cederberg. Grateful the road had dried out. The rains had brought incredible wildflower blooms.

 

[Scott Brady]

We stopped at this interesting lodge called Bakkrans, run by an energetic and eclectic (in all the good ways) Turkish man Ozzie. It was a 14 mile 4low trek back to the overlook. The accommodations are intentionally simple, but have hot water and solar lighting. It was perfect for those that enjoy remote lodges.

 

[Scott Brady]

We had a fun sendoff in Cape Town at the House of Machines



Before leaving town, I spent some time with my good friend Paul Marsh, one of the most accomplished vehicle upfitters and overland trainers on the planet. You can hear his story on the podcast: https://expeditionportal.com/overland-journal-podcast-episode-158/


While in Cape Town, we were able to stop by the AluCab facility. An impressive operation and they are genuine enthusiasts.


Continuing south, we arrived in Cape Town for a little sendoff party at the House of Machines. Then a meander east to Cape Agulhas, the Southernmost point on the African Continent

 

[Scott Brady]

After leaving Cape Agulhas, we meandered up the east cape towards the Mozambique border.


Between Joburg and Cape Town, we had amassed a bunch of gear, tools, and spares, all needing to be properly organized and stowed. So we took a long afternoon to pull literally everything out of the Grenadier and slowly put everything back in with a system both Joe and I could manage. We took advantage of every cubby and even the space under the rear seats. We also focused on getting as many of the heavy items as possible behind the front seats and down in the footwells. This included all tools, recovery gear, compressor, etc. It always feels so good to have an organized vehicle.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

The organization of kits, is so often overlooked. It can make or break a trip, not only in an emergency. But even just when the weather is bad, and you have to soak everything and yourself to find the matched/fire starter...

 

[Scott Brady]

The organization of kits, is so often overlooked. It can make or break a trip, not only in an emergency. But even just when the weather is bad, and you have to soak everything and yourself to find the matched/fire starter...

So true. Can you get access to emergency equipment quickly? Keeping recovery equipment, first aid, and emergency communications immediately accessible is often overlooked.

 

[Scott Brady]

we put together a detailed walk-a-round of how we prepared the Grenadier for this trip.
Trigger Warning. . . no M.O.L.E. or tactical tan was used in the project LOL

 

[hotpants]

I'm curious as to why you're not just heading up the west coast. Given the situation in Sudan seems the most likely to succeed route at this time.