The Road Chose Me: Driving a Jeep Wrangler 80,000 miles around Africa for 2 years
- Thread starter Dan Grec
- Start date
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hey Everyone,
After a lot of asking around and phone calls, I eventually had 20 gallons of gas delieverd to Hippocampe.
I paid three times the official price, just over $10 USD / gallon!
Read the whole story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/brazzaville-congo
After being denied the Angola visa in Brazzaville, I immedietaly jump in the Jeep and drove West, through a region of Congo recently attacked by anti-government rebels.
You can read that story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/to-dolice
Congo sure has been a wild ride!
Fingers crossed I can get the Angola visa somehow... I don't really want to drive across the DRC if I can help it.
-Dan
After a lot of asking around and phone calls, I eventually had 20 gallons of gas delieverd to Hippocampe.
I paid three times the official price, just over $10 USD / gallon!
Read the whole story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/brazzaville-congo
After being denied the Angola visa in Brazzaville, I immedietaly jump in the Jeep and drove West, through a region of Congo recently attacked by anti-government rebels.
You can read that story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/to-dolice
Congo sure has been a wild ride!
Fingers crossed I can get the Angola visa somehow... I don't really want to drive across the DRC if I can help it.
-Dan
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Honestly no way to know. Could have been weeks.
Also at the regular price I would have paid about $80, so in reality I only paid $120 for the convenience.
I have paid more than that for multiple visas on this coast, so it's well worth it!
-Dan
Jim K in PA
Adventurer
At that price you make sure you don't spill a single ML!
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
It depends how you look at it.
If you see it as extortion, then yeah, it really gets to you and you have a crappy day.
On the other hand, if you look at it as people genuinely helping out and doing you a favor, then it's perfectly OK to pay for that convenience.
I didn't have to run around town, or make tons of phonecalls in French, or really even stress. I could have sat and drank beer while someone else solved the problem for me, and then just paid them some money.
No difference really to dropping your car off at a dealership, or paying someone to fix your house roof after a tree falls on it.
They help you out, and expect to make some money.
Same thing here.
-Dan
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hi all,
I spent some time around Pointe-Noire Congo, waiting aniously for the Angola visa.
Traditionally it's the hardest of all to get, with many, many people being denied in years gone by.
Happily the current president feels the country is "ready for tourists" and so things are getting easier in 2017.
There is no need for an invitation letter, and getting the one month visa is no problem, when it used to be just a 5-day transit visa.
You can read more about my time in Pointe-Noire here: http://theroadchoseme.com/pointe-noire-congo
Next up, I must cross The DRC.
Probably the least functioning and least safe country I will ever visit.
I did some heavy thinking and planning about which route I want to take, and I have decided to go looking for adventure.
You can read all about the options and my thinking here: http://theroadchoseme.com/congo-concludes
17,778 miles through 16 countries. The line on the hood continues to grow!
And so onwards, into The DRC!
-Dan
I spent some time around Pointe-Noire Congo, waiting aniously for the Angola visa.
Traditionally it's the hardest of all to get, with many, many people being denied in years gone by.
Happily the current president feels the country is "ready for tourists" and so things are getting easier in 2017.
There is no need for an invitation letter, and getting the one month visa is no problem, when it used to be just a 5-day transit visa.
You can read more about my time in Pointe-Noire here: http://theroadchoseme.com/pointe-noire-congo
Next up, I must cross The DRC.
Probably the least functioning and least safe country I will ever visit.
I did some heavy thinking and planning about which route I want to take, and I have decided to go looking for adventure.
You can read all about the options and my thinking here: http://theroadchoseme.com/congo-concludes
17,778 miles through 16 countries. The line on the hood continues to grow!
And so onwards, into The DRC!
-Dan
Caravanning with a couple you just met through mostly non-existent African jungle backroads!? HELL YES!! This MUST be why you went to Africa (and it makes for good blog entries)! Can't wait to read all about it. Good Luck and take lots of pictures!
Sent from an evil pocket calculator with a flashy screen
Sent from an evil pocket calculator with a flashy screen
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hey Everyone,
It turns out just getting to the border of the Congo to leave can be an adventure!:
I wound up camping the night at the border post, for the first time in my life.
Read the story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/leaving-congo-dolice-to-londela-kayes
From there the road got MUCH smaller and worse, and I wondered time and time again if I took a wrong turn.
After a lot of making it up and following my nose, I finally got to the International Border of the DRC, by far the smallest of the expedition so far!:
You can read about it here: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-the-drc
Already, the DRC feels like something completely different!
-Dan
It turns out just getting to the border of the Congo to leave can be an adventure!:
I wound up camping the night at the border post, for the first time in my life.
Read the story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/leaving-congo-dolice-to-londela-kayes
From there the road got MUCH smaller and worse, and I wondered time and time again if I took a wrong turn.
After a lot of making it up and following my nose, I finally got to the International Border of the DRC, by far the smallest of the expedition so far!:
You can read about it here: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-the-drc
Already, the DRC feels like something completely different!
-Dan
Really enjoy reading the latest entries while you're even further off the beaten path... Is there a specific reason there is no litter and everything is "cleaner"? Or just simply the locals like to keep the place they live tidy...
Sent from an evil pocket calculator with a flashy screen
Sent from an evil pocket calculator with a flashy screen
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
I am assuming it's because there is simply no option to buy "trash". There are no stores for coke bottles, plastic bags, etc.
The only store I have seen had only vegetables. You carry them in your hands!
-Dan
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hey All,
The slog across The DRC has started in earnest!
After writing an entry date in my own passport with a pen, I am finally legal in the country!
The walking trail got interesting in a few places, and I just about tore one of the fenders right off.
Read more here: http://theroadchoseme.com/across-the-drc-day-1
The scenery here in the DRC is absolutely stunning - completely unexpected!
Also, I finally found the "highway" that runs East/West across the country, more-or-less following the mighty Congo River.
I am heading East, aiming for a ferry to make the crossing.
Read more here: http://theroadchoseme.com/across-the-drc-day-2
The DRC is like nowhere I have ever been before!
-Dan
The slog across The DRC has started in earnest!
After writing an entry date in my own passport with a pen, I am finally legal in the country!
The walking trail got interesting in a few places, and I just about tore one of the fenders right off.
Read more here: http://theroadchoseme.com/across-the-drc-day-1
The scenery here in the DRC is absolutely stunning - completely unexpected!
Also, I finally found the "highway" that runs East/West across the country, more-or-less following the mighty Congo River.
I am heading East, aiming for a ferry to make the crossing.
Read more here: http://theroadchoseme.com/across-the-drc-day-2
The DRC is like nowhere I have ever been before!
-Dan
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Now you understand why some call Big Congo the "real" Africa.
Good luck and safe travels.
Good luck and safe travels.