thanks for the link '62...
those guys are quite the adventurers.
as i've noted before tourism IS a big business on the dark continent and growing rapidly...
while the most recent turmoil has slowed some bookings for travels,
it is expected this will rebound in a few months.
tourists, business ventures, and development of natural resources continue to expand...
some of the these issues create NEW problems but tourists AND economic deveopment are positive forces...
and have been expanding exponentially.
the north-south TRANSCONTINENTAL tours and treks are a regular part of life in africa NOW...
there are literally 100s of treks each year, on FOOT, by motor, and even by BICYCLE...
Tour d'Afrique Ltd. - Tour d'Afrique
look at their route, the organization, the NUMBER of people doing this bike ride, and so on.
google africa tours, africa travel, africa safaris and you will see endless combinations of eco-adventure-trips.
THE 3 BIGGEST issues (imo) for our current planned jaunt are...
1. total $ costs for the trip and the time commitment needed.
there is a limit to how much many can afford or want to spend, while 4 others that isn't a problem.
2. trailer issues.
initially the plan was pretty simple, take an old trailer modified slightly for local needs...
use it for both routes, and
sell/leave it in south africa when done.
but many of the folks NOW seem to want to highly (costly) customize a unit or not share it with another family...
and have the trailer shipped BACK to the states afterward.
this approach adds SIGNIFICANTLY to the the overall COSTS for the individual or group...
3. lastly securing
tow vehicles is still a major issue for the group. the simplest approach would be to buynsell some local diesel mules.
securing NEW or DONATED vehicles is more complicated and currently the goal.
this issue may not be clear until much LATER this year, like october 2008 or later.
it's a key element, as u can imagine, and greatly impacts #1.
IF the group just wanted to take an RV TOUR, that could be arranged and underway in just a few WEEKS.
because TOUR COMPANIES already do these trips routinely....
give the tour company MONEY, book a flight, do the routine preparations and GO!
taking streams, working with sponsors, not using a formal tour company (to reduce costs)...
AND making the trip a "spectacle" with media outlets are the MAJOR RISKS and ROADBLOCKS...
nothing ON the african continent is a limiting issue, they even have koa type camping parks all along the route.
although the "pet walk" and playground equipment are different!
IF any thing the fact that SO MANY PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE are already doing these treks....
makes this one LESS compelling to equipment/gear sponsors, media and others not part of the 'airstream cult'...
cheers
2air'
IF there were any exciting, useful or significant new info to share, i'd share it....
and i'm seriously thinking about the BICYCLE TRIP linked above in another 2-3 years!
read through their bios, blogs, personal websites, the route info and so on...
it's sort of like ragbrai or raam, but with an occasional elephant to dodge or bush meat burger!
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