The Road Chose Me: Driving a Jeep Wrangler 80,000 miles around Africa for 2 years

[kurtwp]

Dan:

Did you do a write up of the electronics you brought with you and internet access when travelling from country to country.

Kurt

 

[DiploStrat]

Heads up: https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/01/267115.htm

Colleague of mine is in Bamako.

 

[Dan Grec]

We're really enjoying your posts. I'm wondering if there are any items or mods to the jeep that you now realize that you do not need or items/mods that you now wish you had?
Thanks Dan, and safe travels.

Thanks !

For sure the Jeep is heaver than I want, so I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could do without. I have also picked up a couple of very minor things on the road, but they make life better.
Let me ponder this question so more and I'll do a good write-up on it soon!

Dan:

Did you do a write up of the electronics you brought with you and internet access when travelling from country to country.

Kurt

Most (all?) of them are listed here: http://theroadchoseme.com/the-jeep
Wifi was getting extremely hard to find, so I recently bought a smart phone (new, for $20) and will buy a SIM card in every country and tether with 3G. The speeds are good!

Heads up: https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/01/267115.htm
Colleague of mine is in Bamako.

Thanks. Bamako is a different world to Gao, there are literally hundreds of UN workers getting around Bamako, no worries.

-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Hi All,

The West African mud pits have begun!
This is a highway in Guinea in the North from Koundára to Labé. National Route something something. The Chinese were building a section of it, this is a bit they hadn't got to yet.
The trucks had been stuck there for days, I walked right through it.

It's a video - embedding it seems to be too hard.

Check it out here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPfgRyXjh7P/?taken-by=theroadchoseme
or here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theroadchoseme/videos/10154765884740943/

-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Hi Everyone,

I have driven into Mali, Africa country number 7!

Read the whole story of the border crossing here: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-mali


I also just posted this video of crossing a swing bridge it Guinea over a swollen river.
What do you think, would you mess around on this bridge?



-Dan

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I love your Wrangler, man! And, of course, wish you luck in all upcoming adventures!

 

[Dan Grec]

I'm checking out Sibi, a beautiful town in Southern Mali.

Obviously I'm keeping up to date on the safety situation in Mali, and talking to lots and lots of people about the reality on the ground.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to go North to the Doggone Country due to all the fighting there, the Mali military will actually stop me if I even try.
Read more: http://theroadchoseme.com/sibi-mali



-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Hi All,

I have driven from Mali into Ivory Coast, African country number eight!

Read all about the very stern bribery attempt here: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-ivory-coast

Here's the international border:

-Dan

 

[redneckdan]

Hi All,

I have driven from Mali into Ivory Coast, African country number eight!

Read all about the very stern bribery attempt here: http://theroadchoseme.com/into-ivory-coast

Here's the international border:

-Dan

Glad to hear you are still alive!

 

[Dan Grec]

I just paid the biggest bribe of my life.

I'm really not happy about it, though I was rattled and I'm happy to still be in possession of the Jeep.

Read the full story here: http://theroadchoseme.com/ivory-coast-begins



-Dan

 

[762X39]

I really enjoy reading about your adventures and this post about paying a bribe is no different.I figure you got off cheap and it was the cost of the lesson you learned (careful where you park). Stay safe and keep us amused with tales of your misfortunes and good travels.

 

[Pixie]

Some years back I crossed Mali and Burkina on a MTB. Happens that the only time I had to do the same was on Mali... safe travels!

 

[Dan Grec]

Hi all,

I have made my way South in Ivory Coast, and the roads deteriorated very, very quickly.
10 hours of driving for 40 miles. Trucks stuck for a week.
This is the West Africa I dreamed about !

http://theroadchoseme.com/national-park-tai


-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Here's a video of that mud hole I just put on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRqKFgqAP5d/?taken-by=theroadchoseme

-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Hey all,

After days of mud and intense sun and humidity, I'm ready for beach time.

Where better than the Ivory Coast... Coast ?

These may just be the best beaches I have ever seen, anywhere in the world.



Read the full story: http://theroadchoseme.com/ivory-coast-coast

-Dan