The Trans Africa Expedition is planned to begin in February 2001. We will start our journey in Madrid Spain. The ultimate destination is Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire. On route we will visit a total of 13 countries, including:

Spain
Gibralter
Morocco
Western Sahara
Mauritania
Mali
Senegal
Burkina Faso
Niger
Benin
Togo
Ghana
Cote d Ivoire
Due to the many variables that can be encountered on a trip of this magnitude it is difficult to definitively set a time schedule. However, we are planning for an adventure of between 8 and 12 weeks.

There are no guarantees about what a trip of this length will cost. The one resolution that we have all made is that it will be as cheap as possible. This will not be a "champagne tour" of Africa. Expect camping and budget hotels (And I use the word"hotel" very loosely). Food, petrol, vehicle repairs, visas, etc etc, all are factors in the cost. Air fare to Morocco is currently about US$500 one way and airfare back from Gabon is about US$1200. Expect about US$2000 to ship a vehicle over and back. Once in Africa, about US$20 a day should be a reasonable average. This puts the total cost at about US$5000 to US$7000 per person. That is a VERY cheap 80 day adventure! Obviously, as previously stated, the cost can and probably will be fluctuate from many unforeseen circumstances.

The Trans-Africa Expedition 2001 is generously sponsored by several corporations, however, the majority of the funds required to complete this trip are being paid by the participants themselves.

Primarily the expedition team will be sleeping on top of their vehicles. It may not sound too comfortable, but actually it isn't too bad. Occasionally, when available, the crew might find a more comfortable nightly residence at a local motel and enjoy a shower if the water is running.

Africa has a very diverse climate. The beginning of the trip we will encounter dry, hot desert conditions. Mauritania is best known for very hot, windy and dry days almost all year long. Ghana and Niger can be one of the hottest places in the world, sometimes reaching nearly 120 degrees fahrenheit as well as being extremely humid. There probably will be few places that could be considered cool climates.

The vehicles going are all vintage Land Rovers and will remain very close to stock. Certain minor modifications will be required. These include: custom roof racks, upgraded alternators, off road lighting, cloth seating surfaces, built in showers, onboard compressors, refrigerators and winches.

Yes, there are several concerns with a trip of this magnitude. Illness, especially Malaria and Hepatitus are common in Central Africa. Accidents are the number one cause of injury and death in Africa. The condition of many roads and the traffic safety situation are horrible. Armed bandits are rare, but not unheard of in several countries we will be visiting. Last, but not least is the weather- always Africa, always unpredictable.

Although this expedition is about adventure, education is another key goal. To this end we will be hosting a cultural exchange between children in the USA and children in Africa. The expedition team will be carrying much needed supplies and school books to these children in Africa and will be hosting online chat sessions between kids in the USA and Africa. Our goal is to educate both students and teachers and bring our mission of cultural exchange to the world via the internet.

This will be a vintage Land Rover expedition. All trucks must be a minimum of 25 years old. Currently four trucks will be making the journey, all vintage vehicles ranging in age from a 1965 Series IIA to a 1973 Series III.