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Overland
travel, Land Rovers and Africa are synonymous,
ask just about any person what overland vehicle
they would identify with Africa, and the
response more often than not would be Landrover.
Ever since the very first overland expeditions
under taken in a Land Rover Series 1 in 1950's
the rest were bound to follow. These vehicles
are still the vehicles of choice for trans
African journeys and African exploration in
general.
The requirements
for an ideal overland vehicle have to be such that
you can set out on an adventure in to the unknown
and be able to emerge from the other side with your
vehicle in tact. To do this it must be mechanically
strong and spacious, capable of carrying all
overlanding and expedition equipment and basic and
functional with minimal complication that requires
advanced equipment or know how for repair. The
suitability of the Land Rover lies in the
utilitarian construction which is both strong and
functional and infinitely customisable. From a
maintenance point of view they are generally easy to
repair, especially earlier Series, Defender and
Discovery vehicles, and availability of both
knowledge and spares is good throughout Africa.
Overland equipment
and preparation is just as important as the vehicle.
There are many options available and they all depend
on your expedition and travel goals and
requirements. Purpose built overlanders offer the
perfect mix of convenience, comfort and simplicity.
However for many overlanding is not a full time
occupation but a temporary escape from their day to
day lives. So then you need to be able to modify
your Land Rover by fitting expedition accessories
and pack the camping essentials that will make your
off road trip comfortable and memorable.
Overlanders have a
whole community of their own, a group of people
bound by the thrill of travel into remote areas in
search of adventure and the unknown. Some will
travel for years and months covering continents and
countries overland. While others venture out for
short trips into remote areas. Africa with its un
developed infrastructure and rural landscapes is a
perfect destination for the adventurous overland
traveller. |
