Ten months around Southern & Eastern Africa ("Big Trips" part 2)

[alanymarce]

In 2017 we bought a Series 80 Land Cruiser in Nairobi, then drove to Cape Town and back over ten months - 44,694 Km in 288 days, 10 countries. We visited 65 parks, in various categories from National Parks to Protected Areas: 4 in Zimbabwe, 12 in South Africa, 7 in Namibia, 8 in Botswana, 6 in Zambia, 6 in Malawi, 7 in Tanzania, 3 in Rwanda, 7 in Uganda, 6 in Kenya.



A few photos:


Crossing the Equator in Uganda



Richtersveld NP, South Africa


View attachment 6M0A7907.jpg
Namib Desert



Okavango Delta: First Bridge on the main road into the delta, Botswana


The vehicle was a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser VX Limited Series 80 4.2 L turbodiesel:

- Automatic transmission
- Cruise control
- Leather electric seats - leather
- Old Man Emu suspension with 50mm lift, Rob's Magic dampers
- Tyres: 285-R75/16 - 5 x BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A
- exhaust gas inflating jack
- wheel chocks
- Electric winch (front)
- Rear tow hook
- tow straps with shackles
- Airtec Safari Snorkel
- Patriot roof rack
- Fitted kit rack for 3 x 20L fuel cans, 2 x 20L water containers, and kit trunk, 1 more 20L fuel can on roof rack (total reserve fuel capacity 80L – 100L in northern Botswana)
- Howling Moon side awning
- 2 sand ladders
- 3 batteries
- 12V Power outlet at rear
- basic toolkit
- Stainless steel work top on rear lower tailgate
- ARB 35L fridge
- Cooler/ice-maker between front seats with 6 water bottles

Added in Nairobi before starting:

- Fitted bed inside vehicle (hinged for rear seat access if needed). Easy to remove if not needed
- 1 new wheel rim with Maxxis 980 Bravo A/T tyre (giving us 2 spare wheels)
- 3 warning triangles meeting Zimbabwe requirements (available in USA only as far as we could determine – bought at a truckstop between New York and Washington)
- fire extinguishers (1 mounted plus 3 in toolbox)
- heavy duty jumpleads
- crossbrace
- panga in case with sharpening file

Brought from home:

• Long torque bar
• Socket set, spanner set, screwdrivers, jeweller’s screwdrivers
• Tyre repair kit
• Additional compressor
• 10m climbing rope with slings and carabiners

If interested in this trip look at www.unochoenafrica.blogspot.com (posts are in both English and Spanish).

Photos may be used for non-commercial purposes with credit to alanymarce@gmail.com

 

[BrittanyHighland]

I love how you included the list of what you packed with you. So the Land Cruiser you purchased came with all the overlanding gear, including the fridge, awning, etc.?

 

[alanymarce]

The vehicle came with the exhaust jack, winch, snorkel, roof rack, awning, sand ladders, and fridge. We added the kit box ( mounted on the roof rack), the fitted bed, and other internal modifications in Nairobi after picking up the car. We bought the warning triangles (to meet Zimbabwe requirements) at a truck stop between NY and Washington - they're available only in the USA as far as we could determine – not even in Zimbabwe(!). We also fitted new fire extinguishers.

For more insight - have a look at https://unochoenafrica.blogspot.com - post are nearly all in oth English and Spanish, in alternating paragraphs.

 

[SootyCamper]

I also appreciate you included your gear aswell. Look forward to more posts!

 

[alanymarce]

I assume that you've seen the posts for South America and Australia (..."Big Trips" parts 1 and 3?)