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wow, a dream tripGoing the Distance
Wow, a full year since my last update. It’s time to wrap this African Build and adventure thread up!
In June, I decided to curtail my tour of duty and return to the U.S. a year earlier than originally planned. In keeping with our family ethos, we loaded the kids into the Landcruiser for one last hurrah before shipping out. We spent 25 days on the road, driving from one point to another every day but one (a rest day in Etosha National Park in Namibia). We headed out from Zambia, into Zimbabwe and through Botswana to reach the high point of the trip - 8 days exploring and wild camping on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, before returning to Zambia via the Caprivi Strip.
There was so much to this trip, it’s hard to capture it in a forum post. We deepened old friendships and made new ones. Officials gave us trouble at borders, and we got through every time; we got sick, and we got better; we ate the most amazing food, and had the worst food imaginable; We saw nothing at all through thick fog, and saw the most incredible sunsets over the Atlantic ocean. In the end, we had experiences that are only possible on the road, and I am so grateful we had the opportunity to experience such an epic trip to close out this chapter of our lives.
The trip was centered around an 8 day expedition into the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, where risks are high and outside support minimal. I had a lot of planning to do to ensure my wife and kids (as young as 5 years old) could enjoy - and survive - the extreme conditions we were going to experience.
Unfortunately, taking the trailer was out of the question, because of the necessary dune bashing to traverse the Namib desert. Even though it pained my glamping heart, we switched it up to a ground tent and roof rack combo for this trip (and put the trailer up for sale
On the frontrunner slimline II roof rack I loaded 2 gas jerry cans, two water jerry cans, a second spare tire, 3 wolf packs, and the Starlink backpack (worst disappointment of the trip!). We loaded our Engel fridge, an auxiliary battery, and a bunch of warm clothes in the back. I loaded 3 more water jerry cans on the swing out for easy access to potable water (best mod of the trip!). If my calculations were correct, that would be JUST enough fuel and water to get us the required 8 days / 1,200km through the Namib desert.
To handle the weight, I swapped the 80’s series springs back under the rear and pumped the Airlift airbags up to 35 psi. I loaded up the trusty Garmin GPS with the latest Tracks4Africa maps, checked out a sat phone from work, and we were ready to hit the road.
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Highlights included:
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Taking the Sea Lion ferry, a 24 hour overnight journey across Lake Kariba. We seriously lucked out with only ourselves and one other family on the boat. It was practically a private cruise! The sailing before us and the sailing after us were fully booked with 14-16 vehicles and tons of people on board. We were completely spoiled with amazing meals, attentive staff, and the whole boat practically to ourselves.
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Arriving in Swakopmund, Namibia. Who knew?! Amazing food, ocean views, and a frontier town atmosphere. We would LOVE to spend more time here!
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Our convoy for the Skeleton Coast portion: lead by a professional guide in a single cab diesel Hilux, two rent-a-wreck double cab diesel hiluxes, and a petrol 100 series land cruiser. Not pictured is the diesel Mahindra support truck, piloted by the camp chef and containing extra diesel and everyone's shared breakfast and dinner meals in the back. A professional guide is required if you want to traverse certain areas (where they own the concession rights). Well worth the expense!
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Driving and camping on the Skeleton coast was one of the coolest things we have ever done. It truly feels like you are on an alien planet.
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After we exited the desert and hit the first petrol pump we had seen in 8 days, the pump attendant asked us to bring some fuel to some goat farmers “just on the other side of that hill” (Gottenberg Pass). They were happy to see us and I couldn’t help but try and make a comment to a goat armer about his truck being the GOAT toyota vehicle, which he did not understand...oh well! At this point we were headed towards “home” in Lusaka.
And when we got home after 25 grueling days on the road, where we camped on the ground for the majority of the time and endured the best and the worst of overlanding through Africa, and all I wanted in the world was to sleep in my own bed again and not have to worry about the million different things that could go wrong on any given day...what does my 5 year old say to me first thing in the morning, with an excited look on her face?
"ok daddy, where are we going today?"
Three short weeks later, the trailer was sold, the crates of household goods were packed, and the truck was handed over to the transportation company. We got on a plane and said goodbye to this chapter of our lives.
But have no fear…the truck will soon be plying the streets of Northern Virginia. It turned 25 years old in September and is scheduled to arrive at the port of Norfolk, VA at the end of January. Maybe you’ll see it around!
the majority of us can only dream of.
Yes, I have the dissent. striped the nuts/bolts with white out as an indicator. Non have backed out in over the year of ownership. Note: no extensive corregations. I keep the apropriate wrenches in the rig at all times just in case. that's what i get from coming out of defense/aerospace.
