As a child I was blessed to explore large areas of Southern Africa. Driving countless miles with my parents, sister and occasionally a collection of country cousins, taught me a lot about roadtripping and future overlanding expeditions from an early age. Most notable is no matter the age, always have padkos on hand (Afrikaans for ‘road food’), good music on standby and a big thermos of hot water.
It is undeniable that it is these trips that paved the way for my love affair of exploring Africa. Roadtrips as a child invariably were always more of the famed “are we there yet?” type, with my mother and father having to find ingenious ways to keep us quiet and still. On a side note, did anyone else’s parents pay a finders fee for wild animals spotted, in order to avoid boredom and the ensuing chaos? I think the highest reward was a solid R1 for a leopard in a tree with a kill, remembering that these were the days that with luck, in small dorpies (little towns), you could still pick up a Chappie (chewing gum) for 5 cents.
On safari in Zimbabwe, circa 1989.
On safari: Kruger, Swaziland and Umngazi.
As I eagerly progressed into my teenage years, this turned into a desire to be in the bush as often as I could and explore our country. I was very lucky to be able to spend time with my dad during school holidays as he drove around some of the most beautiful but possibly less touristy areas of South Africa just so I could see what was out there. This, along with countless cups of tea with my mother pouring over Getaway magazines and watching hours of wildlife shows, meant every spare moment was dedicated to the bush
Along with this I too had an insatiable hunger for books all about Africa. Whether they be about archeological finds, animal tracks, early explorers, both modern and tribal wars, marketing and business or general history, you name it, I read of countries and times I could only dream of!
Kgalagadi – early 2000s. I am glad to say my fashion sense has markedly improved (and my own 4×4 choices)!
Fast forward to 2021 and I have been blessed to explore 12 African countries so far and still cannot get enough. The strange thing was that no matter how I experienced these countries or how often I planned epic overlanding expeditions for clients, it didn’t quite seem enough. It felt like I was planning other people’s dreams without ever achieving my own. I was always here and there, exploring on short trips or being hosted by the tourism bodies in other African countries but I was still experiencing an insatiable wanderlust.
The year 2020 of course needs little introduction and whilst it brought the world to its knees and changed the tourism landscape forever, one thing it did do was light a spark, a little flicker of hope to keep me going and make me realize that overlanding expeditions and a real exploration of Africa was calling me!
During lockdown, I was in Durban living with my parents and I am sure I was driving them crazy with my covid / existential millennial crisis of “what am I doing with my life”. At the same time there was also an outside element poking and prodding me, a pair of people hell bent on wanting me to make that change, to follow that dream, even if it meant them kicking me out the proverbial door. This duo was Paul and Jo Marsh, of Paul Marsh 4×4, who decided to nickname me Tom Sawyer, as they saw in me a (slightly) younger Paul, with a mischievous glint in my eyes and a desire to create my own little adventurous world.
Fliming with Jo for their channel ‘The Essence of Overlanding’.
Putting the hours in – working with Paul on the car over weekend braai’s.
With my trusty Camilla (a 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport) and an all star cast of friends and family backing me, I was just waiting on one more star to align, a travel companion. It had to be someone who was chasing the same dream, who was not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty digging us out of sand with a 40 degree Kalahari sun burning overhead, living rough with no water at times and someone who could also take a few months off work with little warning and disappear into Africa with me. The universe and all her stars must truly have conspired! Barely a day had gone by since I got a late night call from Paul telling me to put all my new business plans on hold and to rather hit the road, when I met Stacey. Growing up in Malawi, she was the epitome of a true kaalvoet (barefoot) African child. I was to find out she was also deft with a chef’s knife but deplorable with dishes, was a quick-hand at mastering photography and was rather handy at climbing into small spaces to dig out a car, but I am getting ahead of myself! Within a short time of knowing each other, I put the rather outrageous idea of joining me on a 3 month overlanding expedition out there and without a moment’s doubt she said yes! Now I truly had no excuse not to do it. The universe had dealt its hand and now the big task of prepping the car, chatting to bosses, planning the routes, sorting the paperwork and wrapping up loose ends was about to commence. We had 3 months and thanks to Paul and Jo, a very (very) long ‘to do’ list, and rightfully so too!
Join me on the next blog as I take you through the planning and prep work for an overlanding journey such as ours…
Stacey, joining part of the dream team!
