Gran Sabana 1998 (Venezuela)

[Alberto_SD]

La Gran Sabana 1998:

La Gran Sabana (The great plain) is located inside Venezuela's biggest national park: Canaima, in the Bolivar state south. It is a unique place with views that you will not see anywhere else in the world. Flat topped mountains (Tepuy's) are spotted everywhere and you can find an amazing waterfall to set-up camp pretty much everywhere. The first time I travelled to the Gran Sabana was in 1983, and then we went back in 1989, 1998, and 2000. These set of photos show the trip in 1998. A separate thread will show the photos from the year 2000.

In this trip we had 16-people travelling in 5 vehicles: (1) FJ60, (2) FZJ70, (1) Jeep Wrangler, and (1) Jeep CJ-7. It was a 10-day long trip, camping 7 nights, and staying in a hotel on the road to and from La Gran Sabana

I apologize for the poor quality of the photos, but they were hard copies that I scanned when I moved to the United States.

Hope you enjoy the photos!

-Alberto

We had to cross our vehicles using the primitive raft, where we had to get into the water and push it to get to the other side. The raft was anchored to each side of the river by a metal rope, but it had no means of forward propulsion. We were heading to a waterfall called "La Milagrosa"

 

[Alberto_SD]

La Milagrosa

 

[Alberto_SD]

 

[Alberto_SD]

Back in 1983, we bought a brand new Land Cruiser FJ60 (the dark gray on the photos above) with a 4.2L carbureted 6-cylinder (2F) with a 5-spd manual transmission. The FJ60 later became what I called an FZJ60 where I installed the drive train of a later generation 4.5L carbureted 24-valve engine with a 5-spd manual transmission (that was quite a good challenge). In 2002 (when I moved to the United States) I sold the FZJ60 and bought an orange 1982 FJ40. Later on I sold the FJ40 and bought a 2002 FZJ71 (5-spd). At the same time I had here is the States a 1997 Land Rover Discovery I series (5-spd) and later I bought a 1995 Land Rover Discovery I series (5-spd), both which I still own. My personal preference regarding 4x4 is that they must have solid axles (front and rear) and be a manual transmission, so all the trucks I have owned have met those requirements :sombrero:.

I want to thank Kristian (upcruiser) and Jason (Northern Explorer) for the information they provided to my multiple questions. I have been a member of this forum since Jan 2009, but I have been reading this site from much longer. A few people had mentioned that they would like to see some photos of my trips back home so I will create 2 or 3 threads with photos to each of them. According to the year, you will see improvements on the FJ60 along with all the camping equipment.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Thanks,

-Alberto

 

[Northern Explorer]

That looked like a great trip! Thanks for posting.

 

[Tucan viajero]

What can I say?

Even though I visit this site almost daily to admire and enjoy the trips, views and the people from all over the world who share this passion, it is always nice to see great photos and engaging trip stories from home.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to seeing the other thread you've promised.

 

[upcruiser]

Alberto, thanks for posting them up! Perfect pics for a little arm chair adventuring! Cool rigs for sure, that CJ is too cool. Again, let me know if you get up the UP way at all.

 

[Alberto_SD]

What can I say?

Even though I visit this site almost daily to admire and enjoy the trips, views and the people from all over the world who share this passion, it is always nice to see great photos and engaging trip stories from home.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to seeing the other thread you've promised.

Hey Guacharaco!

I am really good friends with Antonio Gambina, he knows my FJ60 like the palm of his hand...

Good to see you posting here.

I also miss the scenery back home...beautiful landscapes.

I posted another trip to the Gran Sabana in 2000. I will post a couple of trips from Apure (Capanaparo - Cinaruco) that I completed just before moving to the U.S.

Keep in touch,

-Alberto

 

[Alberto_SD]

Alberto, thanks for posting them up! Perfect pics for a little arm chair adventuring! Cool rigs for sure, that CJ is too cool. Again, let me know if you get up the UP way at all.

Thanks Kristian, I posted another trip already. Most of the trucks I travelled with were really well taken cared of...so we never had any major breakdowns.

One trip that I have yet to complete back home is the trip to "The Angel Falls". I am sure Tucanviajero has done that at least a dozen times

 

[upcruiser]

Thanks Kristian, I posted another trip already. Most of the trucks I travelled with were really well taken cared of...so we never had any major breakdowns.

One trip that I have yet to complete back home is the trip to "The Angel Falls". I am sure Tucanviajero has done that at least a dozen times

I have read that the trip to Angel Falls is pretty gruesome with some serious challenges. Would be one of the treks of a lifetime though I bet!

 

[Alberto_SD]

I have read that the trip to Angel Falls is pretty gruesome with some serious challenges. Would be one of the treks of a lifetime though I bet!

Hi Kristian,

Below is a small youtube video that some friends of mine took on their trip to the Angel Falls. I agree with you that it is one of those trips of a lifetime...eventually I will make it down there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih8URjtJuVA

Hope you enjoy the video,

-Alberto

 

[Rastaman]

This is such a magical spot. I have a few pictures of the place myself. Sharing.

 

[Alberto_SD]

This is such a magical spot. I have a few pictures of the place myself. Sharing.

Awesome photos!

Thanks for sharing.

-Alberto

 

[DiploStrat]

Don Alberto,

Great photos! (Especialmente las chicas!) I made the trip to Angel Falls by canoe and I remember the bichos as being especially fierce!

 

[Venezuelanature]

Very nice pics, the landscape of the Gran Sabana is really great