Real Africa...

[Willem]

I promised Niel I will send you some photos and stories from Africa. Yes Niel, I know it took me some time but some of us have to work for a living, but off course, you will not know - Joke.
I have been working in Africa since 19?? and visited some amazing countries - Angola, Mozambique, Ghana, Senegal, Namibia, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Kenya, etc… (bla bla,bla) At the moment I am in Sierra Leone where it is approaching raining season and that means plenty of rain and mud (Yippy). It can rain here for days nonstop and then off course you need a good 4x4. At the moment I am driving a Land Cruiser pickup 4.2 with turbo and intercooler; shipped from South Africa. So I am not a tech expert but I can tell you one thing – “nothing can stop this baby”. Ok, we have been stuck for hours and hours before but we also have a Samel 20 and a Unimog if things get really tough. For all your Hilux fanatics it will be pleased to know that we also have a Hilux with plenty of extras necessary for a serious 4x4 adventure. We are planning a 5 – 7 day, 1500km trip from Sierra Leone to Guinea next month so I will send you some more photos but at the moment I hope you like these ones. I decided to send you some road photos first. If you think the driving conditions in S.A. is bad; think again.
Next time I will send you some real 4x4 photos.
See you next time Boys and Girls. Happy 4x4ing

[george]

Jeez Willem
Amazing what one can actually do with a vehicle. The roads look actually in good condition.
I bet that you get some nasty potholes.
What do you do for a living?

[Niel]

Hi Willem

Glad to hear you are still alive. Send some pics of the pothole you showed me before :D :D

George, he is a laborer working on a tomato farm

[Willem]

Sorry George I am only replying now. Internet here in Sierra Leone is like Niel in his Hilux – Yes, extremely slow. I have been working in the mining industry since 1993. I love traveling and have been to places here in Africa where they have never seen a white man before. One boy dropped all the wood he gathered for the day and ran like hell after he saw me driving past, screaming like hell doing so. Africa is truly an amazing continent even with all the problems but it does get to you, especially the locals, they can drive you nuts but then again “This is Africa”. Some roads are ok but you never know what can happen around the next corner. Check out this tree that fell in the road.

[Scooter]

Willem it definately is a great thing to be able to travel for work and enjoy doing it. Especially on this great continent :!:
Even though some countries are worse than others, they all make for new experiences and once in a lifetime ones too.

Looking forward to hearing some stories and seeing some more pics. :D

May your stay be an experience and your experience be why you stay :!:

[jontheron]

on my way to the congo i spotted this bucki

[hilex08]

gee...some guys have all the luck...

[Willem]

Hi Jonathan.
What can I say – Africa; every day is an adventure. Looks like you were a little scared to move closer for a better shot? A closer shot can get you in jail unless you have some dollars to pay your way??? A friend of mine went with a buddy of him to the Congo and gave the immigration officer 100 USD to get his passport stamped. His friend refused to pay and demanded to see his supervisor. The officer replied that he is on the second floor room 10 but he is much more expensive and then he still has to come past him to get his passport stamped. Check out this next photo. Here is the proof – Nissan need Toyota for transport in Africa.

[2.8 d/cab SFA]

:D nice phots. Keep them coming. That tree is huge!