From Oz To Africa

[ Travel ] Southern Africa – Part 1

- Uwe Bockmann

As far back as 2004, my wife and I formed the idea to travel across Australia and beyond in our own vehicle. By 2010, we found the right vehicle – an Australian made Earth cruiser model EXP, based on a Mitsubishi Fuso 4x4 Canter – and we started to wean ourselves off full-time work.

We started with a six month trip around the Eastern half of Australia.

We returned to contract work for a few months and then embarked on our Western trip around Australia. By then the travel bug had bitten, and we've never looked back. Over the next few years, we travelled the length and breadth of Australia.

In 2015, we shipped the vehicle to North America on a trip through Alaska, Canada and the Western USA. A roundtrip of 35 000km.

Then, on recommendation of some of my South African work colleagues, we were encouraged to visit southern Africa.

We travel about six to eight months per year. It's good to come home after that sort of time. But after about three to six months we suffer from itchy feet again and feel the need to embark on another adventure.

Not having been to southern Africa before and without any contacts in South Africa, we needed to do a lot of research to prepare for the trip. One day I came across Caravan & Outdoor Life, and got inspired by the travel reports, featuring articles about touring in South Africa. I emailed the editor for some travel tips and advice on travelling, and his friendly and supportive response encouraged us to take the plunge on our African Adventure.