Traverlers tales
How do you start to gain enough experience to travel through Africa on your own and camp out in the bush?
I joined two ‘overland’ trips. The first was from the UK through Europe across the Med and all the way through Africa to Nairobi. That was it, I was in love, the wilder, the better. Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR, Zaire (now DRC) Burundi, Tanzania past Lake Victoria and finally into Kenya. All that pink in our atlases at school, all the magical names and now I was there. Next it was Nairobi to Harare in Zimbabwe that was a bit of a Gin and Tonic trip compared to the Trans Africa. After that I joined Earthwatch and did five elephant projects in Botswana and Zimbabwe gaining good basic knowledge in camping in the bush, shopping in markets, changing tyres and cooking on camp fires. Evening classes in car mechanics for three years and thought I was ready. During those learning years I had met Chris in Nairobi, luckily he is an Afriholic too!!
We started planning our first of many long journeys. The planning is almost as exciting as the trip, pouring over maps and guide books. At first we used hired 4x4’s which worked out very expensive over a two to three month trip.
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With our love of Africa increasing with every adventure we decided to buy our own vehicle and equip it with roof tent , fridge ( a must for a couple of cold beers after a long hot day behind the wheel, or sitting at waterholes for hours ) vehicle spares and all the other camping essentials. The ‘Maiden Trip’ was just so amazing to Botswana and Namibia and Bettsie (that is what we call our Hilux) has been going strong for seven years now. Over the last 16 years I have developed my photography and my knowledge of Africa having many wonderful adventures over that time.
On this page I will endeavour to share some of the incidents, illustrated with photos. These photos may not be too good as a steady hand in the face of a charging ellie is not that easy!
Next month. Chimpanzees at Chimfushi Orphanage Zambia.
Please browse and enjoy my gallery.
Hilary Dean-Hughes.
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