One-Way Ticket: Colorado to South Sudan

[EstianSwanepoel]

Awesome

 

[jham]

Is Uganda an optimal entry point? Did you consider any others?

Also, how big of a deal was it driving around other countries with Ugandan plates? Were there any other options?

Uganda isn't an entry point because it's landlocked. You have to send it to port in Tanzania or Kenya and drive it to Uganda from there.

 

[Joash]

Thanks for the geography lesson. The reason I asked is because the OP used Uganda as a starting point. That may be because he had business there in the first place. I'm just wondering if other than his possible commitments there if Uganda was a good jumping off point in terms of the bureaucracy & other obstacles he encountered.

 

[silversand]

Containerized:

I thoroughly enjoyed your in-depth observations on the people, geography and nuts-and-bolts of: designing a reliable expe vehicle for impossible situation; getting the bullet-proof vehicle there; and covering seemingly every health situation that could ever befall the long-term contractor in places with little to no infrastructure !

I have a close friend who spent 3 years in Somalia outback doing seismic reflection surveys (oil explorations)....back in the late '70s. The stories I remember were fascinating (riding out with a Somali military unit for protection; getting caught in fire-fights once in a while near the Ethiopia border region; making it back alive; compressed-air hosing out of the dust-ridden jeeps on return; repeat).

Your observational perspective is appreciated! I hope to perhaps see more as you return for another go...

S-

 

[Containerized]

Joash - Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Malawi are probably the LEAST ideal entry points. All are landlocked, suffer from bureaucracy, and have high taxes/fees involved. However, I don't get to choose where I work (well, I do, but only to a point), and my work is based on the Uganda - South Sudan border, where I live. You will note that the vehicle was shipped from the U.S. (Baltimore) to Dar es Salaam (TZ). It is a toss-up between Dar and Mombasa as a shipping destination point, and many in Africa who are experienced (including me) think there are pluses and minuses to each. I slightly prefer Dar because of the way the port is set up and the way the Tanzanian authorities resolve disputes a bit more quickly than the Kenyans when there is a hiccup in the process, but there are a dozen people who would say the same thing about Mombasa that I say about TZ. It really depends on your experiences and your comfort level with where your equipment is headed.

silversand - local commanders still "rent" their men as armed escorts in Somalia and elsewhere. We use private security (except in two very unusual situations) and I'm overall happier working with people who have been "on the payroll" long enough that I understand their motives, capabilities, and weaknesses.

 

[Kikoo]

Sale

Excellent tread... I am myself going though the roads of Afica and need to congratulate of your pics... escellent.
I understood though the Thread that you would sale teh FJ locally. Could you please elaborate on that a bit more... (Price, location in Uganda, current vehicule condition)
Thanks

 

[Containerized]

Hi, Kikoo - Vehicle is in excellent cnodition and it was just serviced by a Toyota Master Tech. OME suspension (heavy), customised FabFours bumpers, 285/75R16 KM2's with 50+% tread remaining, PowerPlant WARN winch in excellent condition (onboard air compressor and winch), HID conversion, three XMITTER bars, four custom bucket seats, Bajarack with four jerrycan holders, etc. If you're willing to pick up in Northern Uganda or Southern Sudan, I think we could work out a deal. Truck is still available, needs to be picked up by late July. Send me a PM?

 

[J*C*M]

Thanks for the memories
I hadn't been on this board in a long time, i was just getting poking around when i saw your thread, after spending 23 months (two trips) working through east Africa your trip was a welcome reminder of the beauty of the region. I absolutely agree about kenya being overrated and Northern Uganda being underrated.

I am surprised by your decision to build and ship a FJC, I drove LC70's or prado's through out the region, and although i lived out of my trucks a bit less, i was always happy for the much more local support, not that i needed it because you can't kill those trucks even if you try.

Thanks

 

[JWP58]

ahhh Africa, what a cesspool. And the U.N. aims to keep it that way......

Hope you took a ton of hand sanitizer and your blue helmet.