revjames
New Member
- Posts
- 1,145
- Location
- Holy Island, Anglesey
I was going to drive to Tipperary but its a long way to go.
Timbuktu for a laugh
- Thread starter kimanchi
- Start date
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nomadafrik
New Member
- Posts
- 57
- Location
- Takoradi, Ghana
Nobber - what the hell are you doing in your photo???
Re trip - it depends how fast you wanna take it. You could do UK to Timbuctu in 3 weeks if you wanted to. (Have mates who did UK to Ghana - 3 times - in a Series in that time). So, count another month round trip from Southern Morocco. That's going south to Mauritania then across to Mali and up. In Zagora (Southern Morocco) they have a sign that says Timbuctu - 52 days by camel. A hundred or so years later, a Land Rover can just about beat that!
If you're pushed for time though, I'd stick with Morocco. The south (below the High Atlas) is lovely and there are some good pistes to play about on with the Landy. And if you have more time, and you don't go near the towns - the Mauritania desert will blow you away (buy Chris Scott - Sahara Overland for many ways to get lost/stuck etc.)
Oh, but it is kinda good to get to Timbuctu...
Re trip - it depends how fast you wanna take it. You could do UK to Timbuctu in 3 weeks if you wanted to. (Have mates who did UK to Ghana - 3 times - in a Series in that time). So, count another month round trip from Southern Morocco. That's going south to Mauritania then across to Mali and up. In Zagora (Southern Morocco) they have a sign that says Timbuctu - 52 days by camel. A hundred or so years later, a Land Rover can just about beat that!
If you're pushed for time though, I'd stick with Morocco. The south (below the High Atlas) is lovely and there are some good pistes to play about on with the Landy. And if you have more time, and you don't go near the towns - the Mauritania desert will blow you away (buy Chris Scott - Sahara Overland for many ways to get lost/stuck etc.)
Oh, but it is kinda good to get to Timbuctu...
kimanchi thers absolutely no reason why a series wont make it fella providing its in good shape. after all thats what they used before defenders were invented and women were allowed behind the wheel of an automobile.
have a look here to wet your whistle.
Africaland.it - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum
AFRICALAND forum
its in Italian but the photos are really worth a look.
have a look here to wet your whistle.
Africaland.it - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum
AFRICALAND forum
its in Italian but the photos are really worth a look.
nomadafrik
New Member
- Posts
- 57
- Location
- Takoradi, Ghana
Kimanchi,
Re kit, right, here goes. Basically, we bought everything we could for the trip (www. nomadafrik.com if you want the gory details) and subsequently drove through Africa like a beached whale. I should have listened to Chris Scott more (Sahara Overland) about weight. He's right.
Spares:
Think I covered that above. Wouldn't bother with anything heavy as you can always find second hand stuff. Do take a good range of gaskets, seals, belts and bearings. Grease and grease gun.
Fridge:
Well worth it. Engel or National Luna 40l both good and ruggard.
Power:
2nd battery and solar panel a good idea. We had 2 leasure batteries (Optima) as well as the main and would have much prefered a solar panel as much better for keeping the fridge going if you're staying in any one place for longer than 3 or 4 days.
A good inverter (True Sine) is better than one of the cheapo ones. Especially if you are charging laptop, GPS, camera, etc. off it. The cheap inverters really heat up your equipment batteries.
Lights: 12v strip ones from camping shops are good, as is a gas one for when you run out of battery power!
Split Charge system... Hmm, we had a National Luna one. It broke and we seemed to keep meeting people who also had one - and it was also broken. A switch, a relay and a good memory (to flick the switch) a much better and cheaper idea.
Winch - don't bother. It's heavy and they'll always be some-one to pull you out eventually. A rope, good shovel and sand ladders a good idea though.
Hi-Lift. Had one and found it heavy and a pain to use. Can be useful if you get really stuck in a ditch on your side somewhere. But you have a Series, so you'll be driving slowly and carefully. I'd say it's much better to get a 2 tonne bottle jack. Much easier for doing jobs under the Landy.
K&N air filter. Worth it I'd say. Don't think they do Snorkels for Series do they?
Fancy oversized wheels. I have 6 nice big 265/75 BFG AT's. Never a problem and never a puncture. But not sure I really needed 'em. Good tyres undoubtedly mean less punctures, but I wouldn't bother going for bigger ones - and one spare is fine.
Suspension upgrades? - hmm, drive slowly and you'll be fine.
Extra fuel tank and a couple of jerry cans - yep
Water tank - no. You can find bottled water everywhere. Lighter and cheaper. And the kids will love the empties. Also means you don't need a water pump/filter. Take a big 10l water bottle with you for washing up etc. They sell 'em in supermarkets in France/Spain.
Bull bar/roll bar. No need unless you decide to join the Paris-Dakar.
Security. Once you are in Africa, you're fine. It's getting through Europe that's the dodgy bit. Don't go overboard.
GPS - definitely a must. Also a lot better in colour, as we had a black and white screen that was a bit tough to see sometimes in the bright sun. Anyone will do really. If you're taking a laptop, well worth ensuring the GPS software works with it! (Garmin software doesn't work with Macs)
Sat phone. Waste of money.
Gas stove. Kettle. Mug. Yep.
Fold up camping table and chairs - yep.
Tent? Nice, light and cheap. There are plenty of places to stay on the way if you want. Our rooftent was fine - but a) it's expensive, b) it's a pain to put up and down, c) bloody heavy. If you've got a good roof rack - you can always sleep up on top.
Oh, and plenty of alcohol. Stock up in Spain.
Think that's most things. Sure others will have ideas as well. My overall feeling (as you can probably tell) is that you don't need half the stuff they try to advise you to get in the UK. And you're only going to Timbuctu which isn't that far.
Re kit, right, here goes. Basically, we bought everything we could for the trip (www. nomadafrik.com if you want the gory details) and subsequently drove through Africa like a beached whale. I should have listened to Chris Scott more (Sahara Overland) about weight. He's right.
Spares:
Think I covered that above. Wouldn't bother with anything heavy as you can always find second hand stuff. Do take a good range of gaskets, seals, belts and bearings. Grease and grease gun.
Fridge:
Well worth it. Engel or National Luna 40l both good and ruggard.
Power:
2nd battery and solar panel a good idea. We had 2 leasure batteries (Optima) as well as the main and would have much prefered a solar panel as much better for keeping the fridge going if you're staying in any one place for longer than 3 or 4 days.
A good inverter (True Sine) is better than one of the cheapo ones. Especially if you are charging laptop, GPS, camera, etc. off it. The cheap inverters really heat up your equipment batteries.
Lights: 12v strip ones from camping shops are good, as is a gas one for when you run out of battery power!
Split Charge system... Hmm, we had a National Luna one. It broke and we seemed to keep meeting people who also had one - and it was also broken. A switch, a relay and a good memory (to flick the switch) a much better and cheaper idea.
Winch - don't bother. It's heavy and they'll always be some-one to pull you out eventually. A rope, good shovel and sand ladders a good idea though.
Hi-Lift. Had one and found it heavy and a pain to use. Can be useful if you get really stuck in a ditch on your side somewhere. But you have a Series, so you'll be driving slowly and carefully. I'd say it's much better to get a 2 tonne bottle jack. Much easier for doing jobs under the Landy.
K&N air filter. Worth it I'd say. Don't think they do Snorkels for Series do they?
Fancy oversized wheels. I have 6 nice big 265/75 BFG AT's. Never a problem and never a puncture. But not sure I really needed 'em. Good tyres undoubtedly mean less punctures, but I wouldn't bother going for bigger ones - and one spare is fine.
Suspension upgrades? - hmm, drive slowly and you'll be fine.
Extra fuel tank and a couple of jerry cans - yep
Water tank - no. You can find bottled water everywhere. Lighter and cheaper. And the kids will love the empties. Also means you don't need a water pump/filter. Take a big 10l water bottle with you for washing up etc. They sell 'em in supermarkets in France/Spain.
Bull bar/roll bar. No need unless you decide to join the Paris-Dakar.
Security. Once you are in Africa, you're fine. It's getting through Europe that's the dodgy bit. Don't go overboard.
GPS - definitely a must. Also a lot better in colour, as we had a black and white screen that was a bit tough to see sometimes in the bright sun. Anyone will do really. If you're taking a laptop, well worth ensuring the GPS software works with it! (Garmin software doesn't work with Macs)
Sat phone. Waste of money.
Gas stove. Kettle. Mug. Yep.
Fold up camping table and chairs - yep.
Tent? Nice, light and cheap. There are plenty of places to stay on the way if you want. Our rooftent was fine - but a) it's expensive, b) it's a pain to put up and down, c) bloody heavy. If you've got a good roof rack - you can always sleep up on top.
Oh, and plenty of alcohol. Stock up in Spain.
Think that's most things. Sure others will have ideas as well. My overall feeling (as you can probably tell) is that you don't need half the stuff they try to advise you to get in the UK. And you're only going to Timbuctu which isn't that far.
nomadafrik it seems to me like you have done this all so many times. thanks very much for the advice and kit ideas. how much money do you reckon will be necessary for a month??????????? my mate who is coming with me spent a month in morrocco on 500 quid and we thinking bout a grand for the month fuel included!!
nomadafrik
New Member
- Posts
- 57
- Location
- Takoradi, Ghana
Hi Kimanchi,
Thanks for the comments, but no once is enough. And I promise you as soon as you get on the road you'll soon work out for yourself what you use all the time, never use and wish you had. (More beer for us I think!)
Re budget, we banked on 1,000 euros a month (the best foreign currency to have in NW Africa) and pretty much got by quite happily on that. I even think we managed to stay within that including repair costs! You'll be more than happy on a 1,000 quid a month, petrol included.
I think our website (www.nomadafrik.com) had descriptions of border crossings and details of where to pick up visas from (get 'em on the way is easier) if you're interested.
Cheers
Thanks for the comments, but no once is enough. And I promise you as soon as you get on the road you'll soon work out for yourself what you use all the time, never use and wish you had. (More beer for us I think!)
Re budget, we banked on 1,000 euros a month (the best foreign currency to have in NW Africa) and pretty much got by quite happily on that. I even think we managed to stay within that including repair costs! You'll be more than happy on a 1,000 quid a month, petrol included.
I think our website (www.nomadafrik.com) had descriptions of border crossings and details of where to pick up visas from (get 'em on the way is easier) if you're interested.
Cheers
