The trip was conceived in early 2002, at Tiervlei, in Ongava – Northern Namibia. After 5 years of careful preperation, Stone produced the trailer for the forth-coming trip, set to depart: March 2007…

26th of March 2007 – JF

Things were looking on track to leave… the vehicle was no longer standing in the workshop. However, we were still short two roof top tents, about 500 different types of rechargeable batteries, a door lock and top and bottom radiator pipes!!!

To do list:
Buy and fit rooftop tents
Fit speakers
Procure door lock
Procure radiator pipes
Pack
Leave

As dawn broke over the twelve apostles, Tim and I headed out to Safari Centre to go procure some particularly expensive roof top tents. These tents, which would be our bedrooms for the foreseeable future, proved to be the bane of our purchasing efforts due to limited information of their effectiveness in harsh West African conditions.

Fortunately, we were able to pull into the Safari Centre on Monday morning and the guys there really dispensed the sort of information that one expects from such a savvy bunch of outstanding professionals, with comments ranging from “Yes, it folds up” and “Trust me, I used one in a park once”.

T&L: So… we are heading into West Africa 8 months into some pretty harsh climates and conditions… what do you recommend?

Salesmen: Try the rooftop tent… you can put it on the roof AND it folds up!

T&L: Gee… really… I almost don’t believe it!

So, we bought the tents… The guys at Safari Centre said it would take them a few days to mount them and they would have to seriously modify the racks etc… A special thanks to the guys from Safari Centre for the 2% discount on the tents… if not for them we won’t have been able to get the bigger bag of peanuts!

By mid afternoon, I was still at the workshop with the roof top tents still off the roof, the speakers still not connected and a new radio needing to be wired…. Aahhhh!!!

I eventually got home at about 21:30… it was just a little too late to pack and leave so the general consensus was to leave in the morning. I told the Buth Dog that he could pull in around 9am and we would then pack and leave

27 March 2007 – JF

The day after the proverbial D-Day… I am not sure what you call that: D2 – Day maybe!

To do list:
Buy and fit rooftop tents
Fit speakers
Procure door lock
Procure radiator pipes
Pack
Leave

After a week of panic packing, and every intention to leave at daybreak, the AfricanSurfer expedition departs in the middle of a beautiful Camps Bay sunset. Joined by Mike Arbuthnot and Pippa Harris, Lurks and Tim head towards Elands Bay for the first night of camping.