Introduction – Quests come in all shapes and sizes.
This one is definitely on the big side.
This blog is a quick overview of the Overland Trip: Traveling from South Africa to Morocco in old Peugeots – from late June to October(ish) 2024.
It is being undertaken by one of the Questa Collaborative founders – Mike Mouritz (me) and my brother Barry. We will be sharing the journey with others who will be with us for parts of the journey. I will introduce them in future blogs.
This idea (or quest) has been on the drawing boards for a long while. I have always wanted to visit Africa – ever since being a young boy – looking out across the Indian Ocean, imagining Africa and beyond.
Now it has become a reality, in challenging way. But that is the nature of quests – testing one self and, in this case, our ability to work as team and getting two 60-year-old cars to the finish line.
And, along the way, learn as much as possible about cultures and peoples of the many places we will visit on the journey. I am sure I will bring back stories and write a few along the way via this blog.
As well as a travelogue of these adventures, I will reflect the trials and tribulations we face when we undertake quests. This might just find its way back into the services we offer through Questa Collaborative.
The vehicles: two 1960s 403 Peugeots – see picture
The Station Wagon: Barry’s car, which he has owned for about 20 years, is called Mollie and has done lots and lots of overland trips – including from Perth to Paris in 2015 (I did that journey with Barry), from California to Alaska and then the East Coast of the USA in 2017 ….and multiple trips around Australia and NZ.
The Ute: Mike’s car, called Mel (short for Melissa – which is Greek for bee, since her colouring is a bit like a bee) originates from Queensland and was originally part of the small vehicle fleet for QLD trucking company called Western Transport.
Since restoration it has done few trips to debug issues and has recently had an engine replaced but, admittedly, it is a lesser-known beast.
Both vehicles have lots of modern conveniences – like radios, CD players and two-way radio, GPS, double battery and have car fridges and we will have basic camping equipment. But they have no aircon (apart from good old fashioned ¼ widows and floor vents).
We always travel with a sensible range of spare parts and Barry is a very competent mechanic. The other great thing about taking Peugeots to Africa is that Peugeots have been popular vehicles in Africa for decades – and there will be parts somewhere!
The real appeal of traveling in the old vehicles is that they become a conversation starter and people are usually keen to help if you need help.
This may be because they think the people travelling in the vehicles are silly for attempting to get where they are going in such old vehicles.
Photo – Mollie and Mel … In Coolgardie, 2022.
The Route
The map below comes from Madventure (they do regular trips right down the west and back up the east side of Africa, in 4-wheel drive trucks). I have included it here just as point of reference, not the route.
Our plan for the route is to offload cars late June in Durban, on the east side of South Africa, then head to Cape Town along the coast, before turning north, up to Namibia following the coast where possible.
Then head inland east again for about 1400 km to visit Victoria Falls, in the top corner of Zimbabwe as there are a lot of the wildlife areas through that part of southern Africa before returning to the west coast in Angola and beginning the journey up the west coast.
We then have approximately another 18 countries up the West Africa route to travel through, mainly following the coast before getting to Morocco about four months after we commence.
The end date is obviously defendant upon a bunch of challenges along the way. Then into Europe for flights and transport home.
The final distance is about 14,000 to 15,000km on some good roads but there are some rough and bad roads. Our research suggests that 2-wheel drive vehicles make through the journey (even if sometimes need some help). Recently, a 1000cc Toyota Yarris did a similar route.
Challenges
There is always a bunch of challenges in trip like this – and many folks say the idea is crazy – but we have been monitoring Facebook and Instagram, as well as an App called iOverlander messaging systems, and lots of people are doing overland trips through Africa all the time. They are travelling in all sorts of vehicles – 4 x4s, cars, motor bikes, push bikes and even some hitching or seeking to share rides with overlanders.
You have to have your wits about you, but these communication tools are helping people with all sorts of up-to-date info – like best routes, road conditions, visa issues, accommodation, places not to miss, etc.
There are a bunch of youtubers talking about their African overland adventures, you just need to search “Overland West Africa” and you will find all sorts of stories (a good one is called BlueLandy).
One of the most relevant books we have read on West Africa travel is a book called “Going Home to Africa” – Dot Bekker, a 60-year-old lady who drove (mainly by herself) a transit van from Europe to Zimbabwe.