Cape Town to Chichester 2009

I don't think I ever posted this but it was the site I did for my trip last year.

Home (Rhubarb Rising).

A couple of warnings - I'm rant prone at times, It needs the last two days adding.

I have bits on maps, equipment, spares, favourite places etc but the map might be the most useful element.

Two things that I always think of telling people planning on doing the trip on forums are;

i) Throw out all your spares and most of your tools. They are dead weight. If you have a 300TDI you will find everything en route for pennies. Apart from Ethiopia to Isiolo in Northern Kenya, the roads will all be tar by the time you make the trip and all have several vehicles an hour happy and willing to help you out.
Careful servicing is far more valuable than anything else. A well maintained 300 will not go wrong. In 35000km all we had go wrong was a prop - not greased. We used Dar and Addis for our major services.

ii) My plan was always to go through Libya and Tunisia etc to keep it all African. So happy we did Syria - possibly my favourite place on the trip apart from maybe Malawi, or Rwanda.

There is a thread somewhere of all the visa/car tax type expenses that I did whilst the trip was on that's pretty useful too. It also has prices for Botswana, Namibia, Zambia from a couple of months before.

I have never done something so good ever and think about it every day since, if you have even half a chance of doing it then go for it.

Best £~~k ever.

Unfortunately I would disagree with your first bit of advice. Driving a Landy means you should be prepared for the worst. We had a few more issues on route and therefore were pleased we carried some spares and a complete tool kit.

It is strange as you would think of Africa being cheap, but most parts in East Africa are more expensive than here in the UK. Especially if you are stuck and rely on the main garages. You can get most parts happily, but in some countries only in the capitals.

Servicing and use of genuine parts is very important, a lot of after market stuff is good for here but not Africa. However you would be foolish to go without tools and a few spares.

I just read a bit of your site - the last entry. I lived in Cape Town for four years - right around where you were at the end - Signal Hill, actually Ocean View Drive. Know the Newport Deli well.

I checked some dates on my own site (linked above) and reckon we must have crossed in Nariobi or just north around 10-13th August 2009. That road from Ethiopia to Isiolo is a killer! Good fun in the end though.

We got back mid October and it's only the last couple of weeks it's hit me how good it was and how much I miss it. Been quite down really.

Anyway tonight I booked a flight out to CT to see friends next week so should be in better spirits then. I'll have to do the return next year!

I'll read the rest of your site later - but I stand by my opinion that most people take way too many spares - tools of course you need - but spare half shafts and transfer boxes??!!