Anouk en Richard
- Naam:
- Anouk en Richard
- Woonplaats:
- Utrecht, Nederland
- Bij Reislogger sinds:
- oktober 2013
- Website:
- destination-africa
.reislogger .nl - Reisverhalen:
- 12
- Foto’s:
- 333
Over ons
Hi there! Though most of you probably know who we are, we would like to give a small introduction about ourselves. Anouk Beniest is 26 years of age, has recently graduated from Utrecht University with a Master in Earth Materials (Geology). She will commence a PhD at the IFP in Paris on our return. Richard Wessels is 27 years of age and has recently graduated Utrecht University with a Master in Petroleum Geology (Geology).
We have known each other since the beginning of our studies and are in a relationship since last year December following a mutual stay in Oman in early 2012. During this period we´ve travelled Oman, Musandam, the UAE and Jordan, and discovered that we are highly compatible travel companions, to say the least.
We already decided that we wanted to see more of the world, and Africa in particular, following our graduation from University. The initial plan was to take Anouk’s gracious and beloved red Volkswagen Golf, drive it down south as far as it would take us, and travel by public transport through Africa from there on. Unfortunately her first love exhaled its last breath some 6 months ago, so it was time to device a new plan of travel. Needless to say this has escalated a bit, resulting in a journey that will take us from Europe through the Middle East, down the East African Rift and around the Great Lakes, across the continent towards the Atlantic, ending up at Africa’s southernmost tip.
Over onze reis
Planning a trip such as this one within a six month time frame is no easy task, and we almost bit off a bit more than we could chew on. After receiving the first vaccinations and some random searches on the world wide web for information on this supercontinent we decided to take it all a bit more seriously. We started with getting in touch with people who wandered the same paths a couple of years ago: Hennelies and Ipo. Their enthusiasm made our last doubts fade to nothing and suddenly the sky was the limit. They gave us loads of practical information which became our preparing guidelines.
The first and most important thing was to find a proper, sturdy car. It took us about a month or two to find it, and it was love at first sight. Born in 1983, this robust, green HJ60 Land Cruiser has served some 180.000 km on French farms and European roads, was overhauled and upgraded by RV4WD in Harderwijk, and has further been prepared by Anouk, Richard and his dad at the latter’s home in Heeze. It will be our means of transportation, sleeping quarters, power source, storage room and repair-vehicle for this trip. It is equipped with a roofrack, rooftent, solar panel, high beams, voltage converters, fridge, storage facilities, and is powered by a 4.0L 6 cylinder HINO diesel engine.
A good car is of course a necessity but without possessing the right documents you are lost on the big African continent. Amongst the most valued documents we are carrying are a valid passport, travel insurance, health insurance, international drivers license, car insurance which covers Africa (Alessi is the only company in the Netherlands providing this), carnet de passage (ADAC, German Automobile club issues these for every country except Lybia), lonely planet, National Geographic Adventure Road Book, owner’s manual Toyota Landcruiser 60-70s series, Arabian language guide, etc. But only paperwork will not do the job, so we also spend a good deal of time on gathering information on all possible subjects. From malaria to border crossings, ferry transfers to wildlife, places not to go but especially places we absolutely have to visit, and so on.
We shall commence our journey on October 21st 2013 and be back in the Netherlands somewhere mid-April 2014. The first part will take us to Salerno (I), where we’ll board a ferry to Ashdod (Isr). At first we had planned to take a ferry from Turkey to Egypt, but due to the civil war in Syria and the unrest in Egypt all these services are currently suspended. Upon arrival in Israel we drive south, cross the border with Jordan at Aqaba, take a ferry to the Sinaï Peninsula, and drive south until Sharm-el-Sheikh where a ferry will take us to Hughaba and mainland Egypt. The drive will continue along the Red Sea, across Egypt to the Nile River, with again a ferry transfer from Aswan towards Wadi Halfa in Sudan. The exact route from thereon remains unclear, and we can only provide the list of countries we intent to visit. These will be, in order of appearance; Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Upon arrival in South Africa we want to try to sell the car or, if this proves difficult or financially unsound, we will ship it back to the Netherlands.
Hopefully we have given you a little bit more than the slightest impression on what we will be doing the coming months. To be honest, we ourselves also have no real idea of what we are actually doing. For now it still stays with dreams of green oases in yellow desserts, lions (and tigers?) chasing elephants over the wavy savannas, the colorful melting pots of Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Capetown and, not to forget, the magnificent East-African rift zone that leaves its traces in almost every African country we will pass through. Stunning mountain views, bubbling volcanoes, deep blue lakes, these are still part of our (and maybe your) imagination. With this blog we would like take you along these hidden mysteries of Africa and bring them a little bit closer to you.
Bezochte landen
Wij hebben 27 landen (11%) bezocht:
België, Botswana, Burundi, Cyprus, Duitsland, Egypte, Ethiopië, Frankrijk, Griekenland, Israël, Italië, Jordanië, Kenia, Lesotho, Luxemburg, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibië, Nederland, Oeganda, Rwanda, Soedan, Tanzania, Turkije, Zimbabwe, Zuid-Afrika, Zwitserland.
