The vehicle preparation

I purchased our Landcruiser from a friend Guy Driemeyer, who owns a motor dealership called PMB Autosales in Pietermaritzburg. It is a fully imported vehicle and is not available as a new vehicle in South Africa and is known as a Troopie in Australia. It comes out standard with dual fuel tanks and aircon. The previous owner was Red Cross and it was used to transport people so there were bench seats down each side. I have removed these and built in a place to secure my National Luna double door fridge/freezer, in the right back corner of the vehicle. Between the driver seat and the fridge I have built a storage compartment, where I store my 2nd 105A/H battery, recovery equipment, tyre pump and tools. I have also secured a 65L fresh water tank against the side on top of the storage area. On the left side of the vehicle I have removed both side sliding windows and built a narrow storage compartment accessible from the outside. The one hatch is for our day-to-day cooking needs- cutlery, crockery, spices, pots and pans. The other hatch is to be shared by us for clothing. On the inside below this storage compartment is another long store area which is for our bulk food storage of rice, mealie meal, pasta, flour, tinned foods etc. Under the vehicle, I had built, by a good friend Dave Surian from Exhaust Shoppe, a grey water tank. The exhaust system passes through the center of this tank and warms the water while you travel. So when we stop, I set up a portable shower cubical outside the driver’s door, connect the shower rose and the switch for the pump and we have a hot shower! Up front we have a CB radio and an inverter for charging all those items that require 220V.
The vehicle came out with a 5 cylinder 3.5L diesel motor with a 4 speed gearbox. This was a very tired combination and I could not maintain 120km/hour on the flat even when totally unloaded. So I tried to turbo the vehicle but this was not successful. I then opted to change the engine and gearbox. After a lot of deliberation I decided on the Toyota 4.5L petrol with carburetor and a 5 speed gearbox. It goes like hell but is very thirsty - 22-24L per 100km in and around town, but it does drop down to about 18 on the open road. So with two 85L fuel tanks I cannot even get 1000km. To increase our range I am taking two additional jerry cans and I hope I have enough fuel on board!!! I have also installed a 2nd alternator and another 105A/h battery under the bonnet. The 2nd alternator is for the two auxiliary batteries. On top is the roof top tent and on the side we have an easy-awn pull out awning. We have sides, a front and a draft strip to make it a cozy room. I have also made a table that secures to the side of the vehicle below the side hatches in this “room”.

The team

From the left - George Oldham (with wife Anne-Rose will travel with us for one month), Willie, Dave, Beryl, Neville, Brian & Maureen.

In front - Ingrid & Lorraine.

The intended route

We plan to meet at Pete’s Place in Zambia on the 20th March.This will be our effective starting point. After Zambia we will travel up the western shore of Lake Malawi and into Tanzania. We then travel east following the Mozambique border to the coast.We will continue up the Tanzanian coast, with a detour into central Tanzania, then returning to the coast. Across the top of Tanzania to Lake Victoria, traveling clockwise around the lake into Uganda. Through Uganda into Kenya, covering most of the central part of the country and then down to the coast almost back to the Tanzanian boarder. We then move up the coast, cutting back into central Kenya and the straight up to Ethiopia. Then through central Ethiopia up to the Eritrea boarder, then left and down slightly and into Sudan, then almost straight up to Egypt.
At this point the team intends to separate, the Day’s and Hardman’s intend to turn around and travel back to South Africa revisiting places that they found of interest on the way up. The Kotze’s and Karg’s intention is to travel through Egypt and follow the Mediterranean coast through Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Then across into Europe and onto England where we will either ship our vehicles back to South Africa, sell the vehicle or store them for a further trip at a later date.

The Dream

It all started in Mozambique on a 4X4 trip in June of 1997 (my the time has passed), we (Brian & Maureen Day, Willie & Ingrid Hardman and ourselves Dave & Beryl Kotze) spoke about a trip through Africa. We felt that 2007 would be the ideal timing for such a trip as our youngest daughter, Rayanne would be matriculating in 2006 and during 2006 was Dave’s 50th and Carmen-Jo’s (our eldest) 21st, so 2007 was a “free year” for us. March was decided as the departure month allowing us to submit TAX returns etc. So it was set March 2007.
What seems a dream to us would be a nightmare for others (my sister being one). I suppose either you like it or you don’t. There is something very special about sitting out in the middle of nowhere at night with no sounds, except nature talking to you and no lights, except the stars above.
A gap year at 50 (Dave), are you out of your mind, must be a comment some people have thought, but as yet not said. They could possible be right, three kids at varsity, keeping our home running with a maid and dogs left at home, with no income. Why not wait a few years you may think. But when is the right time? Either you have the money and the time but now you are too old or sickly to do such a trip or you get too wrapped up in your day to day routine and before you know it, its too late. In fact we, and all those traveling with us, will have to come back and work again. So if you haven’t done what you have always dreamt of doing, don’t leave it too late, get on and do it. You only have one life so make the best of it.

The Team

Brian & Maureen Day – Brian is an auto electrician and Maureen is a nursing sister.
Willie & Ingrid Hardman – Willie is a motor mechanic and Ingrid a bookkeeper.
Dave & Beryl Kotze – Dave is involved with IT with a technical background and Beryl is a Pharmacist.In about August 2006, Lorraine and Neville Karg - dairy farmers from Mooi River joined our group making an ideal foursome

The planning stage

We only started having meetings at the beginning of 2006 with one meeting a month. Maureen was kind enough to present us with an agenda covering topics like security, medical, vehicle equipment and of course the route. We decided to cover a country each month. So each couple was supposed to bring items of interest that they would like to see on the country in question. Some of us were better at this that others and Maureen made extensive notes which she handed out to us. So although we have laid out a route to hook up all the places of interest in each country, this is only going to be a guideline. What I am looking forward to, is not having to be anywhere on any particular da,y at any specific time. We are dictated to by calendars and watches every day of our lives, how is it going to feel not knowing or caring whether it is Monday or Sunday, 8am or 2 Pm? Just living each day for what it gives and discussing the next day over the campfire.