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
Merry Christmas everyone!
I have driven into Namibia, country number 18 - without any signs or warning, I swapped to driving on the left for the first time on the expedition.
This should be interesting!
More: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-namibia
-Dan
I have driven into Namibia, country number 18 - without any signs or warning, I swapped to driving on the left for the first time on the expedition.
This should be interesting!
More: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-namibia
-Dan
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hey Everyone,
I have been exploring the extremely remote Namib Desert in the North West of Namibia.
It is absolutely spectacular. I'm wild camping every night and loving it!
Tons more photos here: http://theroadchoseme.com/the-namib-desert-namibia-pt-1
-Dan
I have been exploring the extremely remote Namib Desert in the North West of Namibia.
It is absolutely spectacular. I'm wild camping every night and loving it!
Tons more photos here: http://theroadchoseme.com/the-namib-desert-namibia-pt-1
-Dan
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
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!
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
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!
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
Dan Grec
Expedition Leader
Hi All,
We've been exploring down more dry riverbeds and bumping into all kinds of wildlife.
Also, this might just be the best wild camp of the entire expeidtion. Elevated above the riverbed waiting for animals to wander by!
And then back to the desert
Tons more pics: http://theroadchoseme.com/riverbeds-deserts-and-wildlife
-Dan
We've been exploring down more dry riverbeds and bumping into all kinds of wildlife.
Also, this might just be the best wild camp of the entire expeidtion. Elevated above the riverbed waiting for animals to wander by!
And then back to the desert
Tons more pics: http://theroadchoseme.com/riverbeds-deserts-and-wildlife
-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.
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
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
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
mccustomize
Explorer
Those last few blog entries are amazing Dan, nice work
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
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