Transafrica Expedition: West Route to Cape Town

The Transafrica expedition starts on December 26 at 5 a.m. at Overcross in Tübingen. Through Lyon, Barcelona, and Málaga, we roll to Gibraltar. After about 2500 kilometers, there’s breakfast at the rock in “England,” toast included. Then it’s only 10 kilometers to the ferry to Africa.

After the crossing, we drive through the green northwest region, known as the vegetable chamber. In Marrakech, there’s a full day for the old town, souks, and tanneries. In the Djemaa el Fna, we let ourselves drift among jugglers and spices. The next day, we cross the Tizi n Test Pass into the Atlas Mountains. Continuing south, we follow old Dakar tracks. Overnight stay in a Kasbah in the desert sand with a starry sky instead of Netflix.

The course of the expedition leads along the rugged Atlantic coast. We pass Tan-Tan and reach the most resource-rich area of Western Sahara in the Guelmin Qued Noun region. Western Sahara is a legally disputed territory that was annexed by Morocco after Spain's withdrawal in 1975, and since 1991 there has been a ceasefire between Polisario and Morocco. The Sahrawi population has been fighting for independence as the Democratic Arab Republic of Sahara. We reach El Aaiún, the largest city in Western Sahara, with around 218,000 inhabitants. We continue through an impressive mix of sandy plains and rocky desert landscapes, on kilometer-long, straight roads - a preview of what lies ahead.

Continuing south towards Dakar, the namesake city of the probably most legendary rally in the world. We cross the border into Senegal on a small river ferry that hopefully won't sink during our crossing, and pass the charming colonial city of Saint-Louis, where the Senegal River flows into the Atlantic. Now we find ourselves in the Sahel zone - a transition region between the Sahara in the north and the dry savannah in the south, where we will be able to enjoy the most delicious dinner under palm trees at a cool camp by the sea ;-) Dakar, legendary for the Paris Dakar rally, which first started in 1979 and for decades traversed through Europe and North Africa, with the final finish line on the beach of Dakar, not far from Lac Rose, where the salty water shimmers pink in the evening sun and we raise our glasses to our stage destination. A mix of perfectly paved highway out of Dakar into the expanse of the Sahel zone and stifling dusty tracks takes our off-road vehicle expedition today under the "treaded tires" through open savanna landscapes. From Koungheul, the route leads inland through dense forests and wide grasslands. The route is becoming increasingly challenging and exciting, it goes into "real Africa." A cultural highlight on the expedition in Senegal is the Great Mosque of Touba, which is considered the largest mosque in Senegal and is the spiritual center of the Mouride brotherhood, a place of impressive architectural power and religious significance.

Next, we head south to Dakar, the namesake city of the probably most legendary rally in the world. We cross the border into Senegal on a small river ferry that hopefully won't sink during our crossing, and pass through the charming colonial town of Saint-Louis, where the Senegal River flows into the Atlantic. Now we find ourselves in the Sahel zone - a transition region between the Sahara in the north and the dry savannah in the south, and we will be able to enjoy the most delicious dinner under palm trees at a cool camp by the sea ;-) Dakar, legendary for the Paris Dakar rally, which first started in 1979 and for decades led across Europe and North Africa, with the final finish line on the beach of Dakar, not far from Lac Rose, where the salty water shimmers pink in the evening sun, and we raise our glasses to our stage destination. A mix of perfectly developed highway out of Dakar into the vastness of the Sahel zone and stifling dusty tracks takes our expedition under the 'studded tires' through open savannah landscapes

We cross the border into Guinea at a small border post, a country full of challenges, traditional villages, and notoriously empty gas stations. Fuel is scarce, as on December 18, 2023, the main fuel depot in Conakry exploded. Peter, a Bundeswehr comrade from the old school, has set up a fuel depot of €500 liters at his lodge near the Fouta Djalon Plateaus by the Tinkisso River to cross the country. Not far from the lodge is Dabola, here on the rail line to Nanken and Conakry we go on a shopping tour for African Hermes, Rolex, verutschi, and other "luxury brands" which one simply calls food here ;-) Despite all the adversities, Guinea fascinates with its "still" dense rainforest in the south and the dry savannas in the north, spectacular rock plateaus, and countless rivers. The population is young, hospitable, ethnically diverse, with groups like the Malinké, Peul, and Soussou, each speaking their own languages and maintaining their own musical traditions and culinary cultures. In the small villages, we regularly stop, not only because of the tin gas stations for the Khele but also to get an authentic insight into the local cuisine. Women pound cassava, children greet us with laughter, while steaming pots of rice and smoked fish over the open fire provide an aromatic welcome menu. Depending on the availability of fuel, we reach Kankan, with around 191,000 inhabitants the third-largest city in Guinea, a bustling hub with markets, mosques, and a touch of colonial past, nestled in the dry heart of the country.

It won't get any easier: On a challenging route, we continue to Sopota, a remote oasis in the midst of wilderness. We cross the Ivory Coast and reserve the option depending on group dynamics: Either via paved connections to the Atlantic or more adventurous routes through sandy tracks and mangrove forests that stretch like green veins through the humid lowlands, traveling across the Ivory Coast to the Atlantic coast. There, we end the day in a small lodge right on the beach, with freshly grilled fish, good wine, and the salty scent of the sea in our noses. For all those who are curiously reading along or traveling with us during our Trans-Africa expedition: The Ivory Coast, with the modern economic metropolis of Abidjan as its de facto capital (officially: Yamoussoukro), is a predominantly Christian and Muslim country with growing economic dynamics, which has noticeably recovered from the crises of the past in recent years. Along the coast, long sandy beaches, lagoons, and colonial port towns shape the picture, a thrilling contrast to the dense tropical vegetation inland.

Welcome to Ghana. Along the South Atlantic, we drive through authentic fishing villages before battling through seemingly endless construction sites towards Accra. This day is turning into a marathon day in 2025 - a tough stage that challenges us physically and mentally. In Accra, we spend the night in a simple, clean, and lovingly run accommodation named Beauty, near an industrial area. The so-called Beauty Hotel is "awful" on the outside, but "wonderful" on the inside - with simple but delicious Ghanaian food. Here we schedule a buffer day for maintenance or repairs on the vehicles. A workshop with the Lebanese mechanic Mohammed is just a stone's throw from our accommodation and a central point for spare parts procurement.

Let’s go Voodoo! We traverse Togo, the birthplace of the Voodoo religion. In Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin, we pass the Parliament building and soon reach Cotonou. There, a legendary lodge awaits us right by the South Atlantic. With excellent food and good wine, we enjoy the evening by the sea. As usual, we discuss the upcoming route and the specifics of the next country at sunset and treat ourselves to a dip in the sea before diving into the adventure and chaos of the next stage the following day.

At the border to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with about 220 million people, it is said: Keep your nerves. In the late afternoon, we reach Lagos, which we internally refer to as "the gateway to hell." In Lagos, a contrasting program awaits us that could hardly be more extreme: The experience trip group checks into a five-star luxury hotel, where the manager Philipp is already waiting for us. He can organize the complex transit through Nigeria in advance, and here the guide meets the local security officer. In Nigeria, there seems to be a checkpoint every ten kilometers, where one must show their passport, driver's license, and vehicle registration – often accompanied by lengthy discussions to avoid paying any "fees." We are prepared. We will discuss the details of the transit and the behavior at the checkpoints on-site as a team.

After leaving the vibrant metropolis of Lagos, our route leads through varied landscapes and fertile farmland. We reach the sparsely populated regions in the south. Nigeria ranks 161 out of 193 in the Human Development Index (HDI) – this becomes especially evident in these areas: There is a lack of almost everything that is available on every street corner in Lagos. Accordingly, the accommodations and camps along the dense rainforests and on the banks of the Ebonyi River toward Ugep are very simple, where we subsequently cross the border into the authoritarian regime of Cameroon.

In the morning, the barrier goes up to Cameroon and we enter a country that does not issue entry stamps at this border station. The "after-road" stage from the previous day is still in our bones: kilometer by kilometer we struggled through challenging terrain – just like today. It will be hot, it will be humid, and we are expecting a spectacular passage through the largely deforested jungle in northern Cameroon.

On the way to Yaoundé, we will spend one more night outdoors and use up the last supplies from the expedition kitchen. After sunrise, we continue "on the road" towards the capital. Upon arrival in Yaoundé, the participants of the adventure trip treat themselves to a shower and a bit of relaxation in a "comfortable" four-star hotel after days full of dust, sweat, and dirt. Fred from France is already waiting for the participants in the expedition vehicle – ready with a wrench and hammer in hand to do what needs to be done.

Depending on the extent of the repairs, we plan a rest day here to maintain the vehicles and regenerate. The next two daily stages will take us through wild, difficult-to-access off-road routes across the Cameroonian jungle – a region currently being massively deforested and developed by Chinese investors. It is hard to believe: huge trucks with up to six massive tree trunks are making their way through the dense rainforest – remnants that are sometimes over a hundred years old.

The last and toughest overnight stay of this stage awaits us just before the border to the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). But we will survive this night as well – true to our motto: ''No comfort, no compromise!''

The barrier rises, and we find ourselves in the Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, to avoid confusion with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We traverse the Congo Basin, the second-largest tropical rainforest on Earth.

In Odzala-Kokoua National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Africa, lowland gorillas still live. With two rangers, we travel upstream by boat. After about ten kilometers, we encounter a small population of gorillas. The sight is impressive, and the experience is absolutely worthwhile.

Back at the camp with the rangers, we leave a donation after dinner. The Republic of the Congo ranks 153rd out of 193 on the Human Development Index, indicating a low level of development. Our visit is important for the rangers as it generates much-needed income.

The capital, Brazzaville, is a day's travel away. In the city of over two million inhabitants, we replenish our supplies and fuel.

On the opposite side of the Congo River lies Kinshasa, which we also refer to as the "City of Hell" on the tour. From here, the HIV pathogen was carried into the world. We cross the Congo on a direct route through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and reach the border with Angola after two days.

In the Etosha National Park, we take a game drive through the diverse wildlife. The protected area covers around 22,000 square kilometers and is one of the most important wildlife reserves in Africa.

Afterwards, we continue to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia and once the capital of German South West Africa. Windhoek offers an interesting mix of African lifestyle and German order. For us, it is an important supply point for the "jump to the last stage" to South Africa. Here in Namibia, the relaxed part of the journey begins.

We continue the tour to the Namib-Naukluft National Park – one of the most impressive desert areas in the world.

We cross the border into South Africa and reach Neilersdrift. The landscape along the Orange River is picturesque. On our way south, we pass through the Swartberg region, known for its impressive mountain passes and the historic Swartberg Pass road. Finally, we reach the southernmost point of the expedition: the Cape of Good Hope - a symbolic milestone and also one of the most famous sights in South Africa. Cheers to the successful completion of one of the most challenging expeditions that Overcross has undertaken in the last quarter-century. The last day is relaxed. We drive to the shipping company, return the vehicles, and Wolfgang takes care of the organizational part. We celebrate the end of the trip with a festive dinner at one of Cape Town's best restaurants.