Overlander's Handbook
Trip Reports

Germany-Cape Town & back ~ Landcruiser BJ75

Who Bernd S. & Sabine F. ~ website
Professionengineers
Born 1967 & 1966Nationality German
Previous travel experienceFirst Africa overland attempt with two Lada Niva ended being evacuated out of Zaire. Lots of Sahara.
This tripUlm - Cape Town and back on unusual tracks
Departure dateSeptember 2001
Number in group2
Trip duration19 month
Distance covered81.000 km
Cost of trip (not incl. vehicle)1200 US$ per month for both
Best dayEntering New Sudan (SPLM A controled South of Sudan) and the Anglophone East of Africa, leaving behind my Pidgin French.
Worst/ hardest dayLeaving the remote desert at 12. September 2001 in Tamanrasset, Algeria and realize that the foundation of the Western world has been shaken and we just left our "old" life behind.
Favourite placeSahara - the real vastness. Ounianga Sehir, Wadi Doum ;-), Zakouma NP (Chad), Dzanga Sangha NP (CAR), Omo Region (Ethiopia), Kaokoveld (Namibia), Lalibella at Christmas, Sanganeb (Sudan), Shoprite (S. A.)
Biggest headacheWill CAR to South of Sudan & Uganda work, or is it just a 2000 km bycicle trail? (Don't want to drive a 5000 km detour.)
Wish I hadn'tGot the message that the mission in Bangassou, CAR was raided by Congoles 'rebels' the night after we stayed there and enjoyed the great hospitality of the American missionaries.
Most pleasant surprisePretty postcard style Himba girl with naked son shopping in a flash European like Namibian supermarket (and Boerwurst purchased by the meter).
Any illnessDriver none, Navigator various. Now we know, that even non aguish diarrhoea can be serious: Giardia.
Other trips plannedSouth America - or should we first go to Mongolia?
One overlanding tipDon't take "... is not possible ..." too seriously. Just do your own thing.
Type of VehicleToyota Landcruiser BJ 75
Age/ mileage on departure13 years 235.000 km
Modifications360 l long range fuel tank, compressor, spare battery & solar panel, fridge, winch, immobilizer, doors with padlocks, water tank & ceramic filter, roof rack, oil cooler, complete drive train overhaul, Ironman HD Suspension and bushes were supposed to be A
Most useful accessoryGood compressor. Tubeless tyres. Engle Fridge.
Mods you wish you'd donePop-up roof, fitted Michelin tyres & serious HD suspension - in the end we had a mix of Original Toyota, Cameroon logging company donated, 'Noble Tanzania', South African, Ethiopian and Sudanese afermarket. Go for the real Australian.
Tyres usedBF Goodrich 235 85 16 MT AT (ended as tailor made sandals & even the shoemaker complained)
Number of punctures
Vehicle's weak pointBJ engine (4 cylinder) is dead slow.
Vehicle's strong pointExtremly reliable. If you need spare parts you find the everywhere - Africa is Toyota continent.
Vehicle problemsIronman HD suspension, overhauled injector failed, loose bolts caused axel disaster
Same vehicle again?Landcruiser takes you there, takes you back. Next time a bit quicker with two cylinders more - HZJ
One driving tipThe real risk in Africa is traffic. Be aware and pay attention to the others, but don’t let them know.