Overland through Africa..?

[Merrion]

How much do you reckon it would cost to buy a second hand landrover, kit it out and overland from UK to Cape Town? Anybody ever done anything like that or know someone who has?

 

[samsmithnz]

Do you know exactly the route youd take? Theres plenty of African countries that you should probably avoid, including Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Zimbabwe, all countries weve heard a fair bit about in the news lately regarding wars and tourist slaughters.

Probably wouldnt hurt to know a bit of french or swahli D) too.

And make sure your will is done.

And bring food for the lions.

 

[Merrion]

I have good French and a smattering of Amharic - and have lived in many countries in Africa [Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Cameroon] but the money side is the big question.

 

[Robby]

Just bring a lot of cash, If you get robbed theyll probably kill you anyway, so it wont matter how much.
Just kidding, I guess if you calc for $50 to $100 per day youd be ok.

 

[samsmithnz]

Gotta love those (totally inaccurate) African Stereotypes that we have.

 

[Merrion]

Youd probably be safer sleeping in your vehicle in most countries in Africa than in London, or Liverpool for instance.

 

[samsmithnz]

Exactly, but all we hear on the news is tourists massacured here, wars there, famine there.

I actually have a couple of co-workers from Egypt, and they assure me that it is quite safe there, even thought governments are warning against travel in some regions like this.

Have fun!

 

[Robby]

Im sure that egypt is safer then some other countries surrounding it.

 

[Bodybag]

Africa is very unstable at the moment.South africa is heading the same way as zimbabwe.I know i live in south africa.So you beter travel quickly.

 

[samsmithnz]

Originally posted by Bodybag
Africa is very unstable at the moment.South africa is heading the same way as zimbabwe.I know i live in south africa.So you beter travel quickly.

South Africa will never be a Zimbabwe. The country has a real government that wont let it happen.

 

[Merrion]

The "too hot to touch" list is basically Sudan, Congo, Liberia and Zimbabwe. However to reiterate, I would rather sleep in my car in any of these than in central London.

 

[Bodybag]

As long as you dont sleep in central Johannesburg in your car.

 

[Bodybag]

Actualy i want to apoligize about my south african comment. Been a rough 2 months we have had armed robbery down stairs from where i work , a bom threat across the road, Someone robbed my friend with a knife and tried to stab him. They robbed another friend blind, broke into five houses in our neigbourrhood, and broke into my car and stole my radio.Been a bad couple of months.

 

[Merrion]

I didnt like Johannesburg at all - pretty grotty place. However I felt safer in Lesotho than most places Ive ever been despite the soppy peace-corps womans claims to the contrary.

 

[Bodybag]

Never been to Lesotho.I have been to Swaziland.Quiet little country not bad. One African country i would go work in is Botswana. No crime and good economy.

 

[hog]

Well I have driven from the UK to Bavria, Austria, Italy 3 yrs in a row and would rather do that than go anywhere where there is a chance that I would be either eaten by the wildlife...er or the people, robbed, murdered, B*****d etc.

Surely there are far safer places to drive......Belgium? Er yeah ok Erm America?

Id love to get over there get in one of those HUUUUUGE tourer thingys and just drive from one end of America to the other. Of course avoiding any of those towns where every one is relative

 

[samsmithnz]

This is exactly the sort of generalisation weve been talking about. You have more chance of being killed driving accross america (which ive done and is very fun), than being eaten by wildlife or killed by locals.

Its all commonsense anyway. No one would drive in certain areas, espeically after dark.

 

[hog]

This is exactly the sort of generalisation weve been talking about. You have more chance of being killed driving accross america (which ive done and is very fun), than being eaten by wildlife or killed by locals.

me thinks you should lighten up.....Im havin a joke dude

life is too damn short to be serious all the time

 

[samsmithnz]

haha that was light!

 

[DiverDan]

If you do any scuba diving, Ive heard that Madagascar rocks!!! But, have you considered...maybe Australia, India, or even Borneo instead???? Traveling is fantastic and "bad places" today become great "places tomorrow". I went to mainland China and had a ball, but not during one of the revolutions.