Expert: Ruard Ganzevoort - 7/13/2009

Question
Dear Ruard Ganzevoort,

My friend and I are planning to travel to Africa next summer as part of our Gap Year. We are planning to travel from the North (Marrakesh) to the South (Cape Town). The only twist is that we want to drive.

After doing a small amount of research we realised we could not get the whole way but 4X4. So for the first part of our journey until Addis Abeba we will be using public transport and planes. It is is Ethiopia we plan to buy a 4X4 which we will drive the rest of the way to Cape Town.

I am writing to you to ask for any advice or any contacts you have to help our trip come together. Is it possible to buy a reliable 4X4 in Ethiopia? and is this a manageable expedition?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and any contacts would be warmly received.

Many Thanks,
Hannah

Answer
hI

Sorry, I didn't get to you sooner. I have just moved. Anyway, Ethopia I don't know if you find any 4 x 4 there. Not sure. But look on the net and try even the toyota or Land rover dealers. Sorry, can't help you on that one.

Driving from Addis to Cape town.... Nice !!!!! The only hardship on the road is Northern Kenya. The road is bad... depending on the raining season. It is quiet a stretch from the Ethopian border and the next 500km. You may be lucky and have no rain and the road can be driveable. Take it very slow, it is better for the vichicle and for you. Be careful of bandits on that stretch. I did it in 2004... maybe things have changed. Maybe try to drive with some other vichicles. Sometimes you can get police escort, but they don't really mean much. From Nariobi and bit before it is all the way tarmac. Quiet good roads if you stick to the 'main roads'. If you buying a 4 x 4. Don't get it to fancy, Africans can't really fix eletronics gadgets so well. The locals know more than you think. They fix our radioter from our truck..... the hole was about 4cm in diameter. If you can't find 4 x 4 don't worry get a vichicle that have high clearance from the ground.

If you have any other question please feel free to contact me again.