Trans Africa Tours: 4x4 Expedition to South Africa

After the crossing, we drive through the green northwest region known as the vegetable pantry. In Marrakech, there's a full day for the old town, souks, and tanneries. At the Djemaa el Fna, we let ourselves be carried away among dancers and spices. The next day we go over the Tizi n Test Pass into the Atlas Mountains. Further south, we follow old Dakar tracks. Overnight stay in a kasbah in the middle of the desert sand with a starry sky instead of Netflix.

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 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 to the north and the dry savannah to 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 because of the Paris-Dakar Rally, which first started in 1979 and led for decades across Europe and North Africa, with the final goal at 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 constructed highway out of Dakar into the expanse of the Sahel zone and suffocating dusty tracks takes our off-road expedition under the "studded tires" through open savannah landscapes today. Starting from Koungheul, the route leads inland through dense forests and wide grasslands. The route becomes increasingly challenging and exciting; we are entering "real Africa." A cultural highlight of 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.

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 was blown up. Peter, a Bundeswehr comrade of the old school, has set up a fuel depot of €500 liters at his lodge near the Fouta Djalon Plateau by the Tinkisso River to cross the country. Not far from the lodge is Dabola; here, on the railway line to Nanken and Conakry, we go on a shopping tour to African Hermes, Rolex, verutschi, and other "luxury brands," which are simply called "eating" here ;-) Despite all adversities, Guinea fascinates with its "still" dense rainforests in the south and dry savannas in the north, spectacular rock plateaus, and countless rivers. The population is young, hospitable, ethnically diverse, with groups such as 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 corrugated iron gas stations for the Khele, but also to get an authentic insight into the local cuisine. Women are pounding cassava, children greet us with laughter while steaming pots of rice and smoked fish provide an aromatic welcome menu over the open fire. Depending on fuel availability, 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.

Welcome to Ghana. Along the South Atlantic, we pass through authentic fishing villages before battling our way through seemingly endless construction sites towards Accra. This day will turn into a marathon day in 2025 - a tough stage that challenges us both physically and mentally. In Accra, we spend the night in a simple, clean accommodation lovingly run by "Bella" called Beauty, near an industrial area. The so-called Beauty Hotel is "ugh" on the outside but "wow" on the inside - with simple but delicious Ghanaian food. Here we take 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 procuring spare parts.

At the border to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with around 220 million people, it is said: Stay calm. In the late afternoon, we reach Lagos, which we internally refer to as the "Gateway to Hell." In Lagos, we are met with a contrasting program that could hardly be more extreme: The expedition 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 also meets the local security officer. In Nigeria, there seems to be a checkpoint every ten kilometers, where passports, driver's licenses, and vehicle registration must be presented, often accompanied by lengthy discussions to avoid having to pay any "fees." We are prepared. We discuss the details for passing through and the behavior at the checkpoints on-site with the expedition team. After leaving the vibrant metropolis of Lagos, our route takes us through diverse 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 is particularly evident in these areas: There is a lack of nearly 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 towards Ugep are quite simple, where we will then cross the border into the authoritarian regime of Cameroon.

The barrier goes up and we are in the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, to avoid confusion with the Democratic Republic of Congo. We cross the Congo Basin, the second largest tropical rainforest on Earth. In the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Africa, lowland gorillas still live. With two rangers, we take a boat upstream on the river. After about ten kilometers, we encounter a small population of gorillas. The sight is impressive, and the experience absolutely worthwhile. Back at the camp with the rangers, we leave a donation after dinner. The Republic of Congo ranks 153rd out of 193 in the Human Development Index, indicating a low level of development. Our visit is important for the rangers as it generates urgently needed income. The capital, Brazzaville, is a day's journey away. In the city with over two million inhabitants, we replenish our supplies and fuel.

We reach the breathtaking coastal landscape of Angola. The drive passes by lonely beaches and quiet fishing villages. In Luanda, the capital of Angola, there is another opportunity to get fuel and food for the next 1,700 kilometers to the Namibian border. The seaside city with its colonial architecture, cultural landmarks, and vibrant nightlife is one of the most expensive cities for foreign visitors worldwide. At the same time, tens of thousands of homeless children live there, searching for food in the streets. We leave Luanda with its fascinating blend of African and Portuguese culture and continue along the coastal road to Lobito. The charming port city offers white sandy beaches and cozy cafés.

In the Etosha National Park, we embark on a safari through the diverse wildlife. The protected area spans approximately 22,000 square kilometers and is one of the most significant 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 blend of African lifestyle and German order. For us, it is an important supply point for the "jump to the last leg" to South Africa. Here in Namibia, the relaxed vacation part of the trip begins. We continue the tour in the Namib-Naukluft National Park - one of the most impressive desert areas in the world.