Adventure tours in Africa

Andi and Grant's Trans-Africa Diary

Extract 1: 25th November 2002
After many months of preparation our 29-week Trans Africa journey finally begins.

Sunset at Gibralta. Well, what has happened so far in Weeks one and two? We left Algeciras and sailed to Cueta heading for Africa on the 12th November 2002. Our first destination was Chefchaouen, where we spent the night bush-camping near the town. Africa has greated us with extreme weather conditions for the first two weeks.

The skies have opened up to drench us with the worst rainfall in 25 years. We have also had to cope with snow in the Middle Atlas and scorching desert suns. Despite less than ideal camping conditions everyone has kept in high spirits.

The two trucks have been running almost parallel, and meeting up every couple of days. We have both had our fair share of getting stuck these last two weeks, from the mud after the downpours, to the small episode of sandmatting in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Cooking over the camp fire has been a time for us all to impress the rest of the group with our culinary skills. Making camp fires has been a bit of a problem as the firewood we have collected is wet. However, we nearly have it all mastered.

Extract 2: 9th December 2002
For the past two weeks since we left Essaouira, we have been following Mauritania's Atlantic coastline southwards, leaving the Western World far behind. No more hot showers, MacDonald's or well-stocked supermarkets here! The scenery has changed from Morocco's snow-capped mountains and swift-flowing rivers to the barren desert landscape of the Western Sahara.

We entered Mauritania on December 3rd, travelling mainly along the beaches on the firm sand left by the low tide. We have now spent the past five days travelling 500km through the Sahara Desert, gradually accepting the reality of the desert's great size and remoteness. We have all worked together as a team, sandmatting and digging the truck out of the soft sand. The experience has been unforgettable.

During the time in the desert we have had to rely on the well-stocked truck for food (notably Steve's Angel Delight and peaches), as well as learning how to ration water and wood supplies. Ten days without a shower was a shock to some, but we have all realised how luxurious daily life in the Western World really is.

From here we head for Bamako, the capital of Mali, and then on to the renowned Timbuktu, followed by trekking with the isolated mountain tribe of the Dogon and a visit to the mud-built city of Djenne.

Extract 3: 19th December 2002
Here we are in weeks five and six, having arrived in Bamako.

The past two weeks have been interesting, as we left Ramadam behind us and headed through the southern reaches of Mauritania to Mali. The landscape here was surprisingly different to the north, with a distinct contrast on entering Mali.

As we entered the border town of Nara, it was a relief to finally find some ice-cold beer at a little bar on the side of the road, a pleasure which had not really been possible during the last month of Ramadam: A beer well enjoyed by all.

As we headed through the small villages en route to Bamako, we stopped off to replenish supplies and the cook groups have been finding it tough as they realise there is so little available in the way of foodstuffs. There are a few local restaurants en route, and the pleasure of a genuine kebab is not to be missed.

As we arrived in Bamako, you would have thought that our people had been away from home for years as they rushed off to find restaurants, supermarkets and some even booking into hotels.

We are planning a "Share the Love" Christmas up in the Dogon Country, so we are stocking up on all those small goodies and treats for the occasion. We will be also spend New Year in Mali, before heading onto Burkina Faso.

Have a Great Chrissy and New Year from us here with Oasis on the Trans and we will talk to you in the New Year!



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