Suzan Chala
The first and one of the largest expeditions of motorised adventure travel around the African continent is to start in September this year. It will promote Africa as a desirable tourist destination.
Specialised 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles and motorcycles will travel through the continent’s bushes, forests, deserts and swamps. The 25-member crew is transporting 60 tourists across 70 borders. The convoy will officially start and finish in Cape Town, proceeding eastward in an anti-clockwise direction to transverse 30 countries. The expedition will cover 36 000km in 170 days.
“The expedition will be led by experts and professional personnel from Tours for Africa a company renowned for being a patriotic and honourable ambassador for Africa,” says project manager Ray Muller. Members of the crew include doctors, technicians, linguists and a communications director.
Each of the 6×6 vehicles has its own generator, one vehicle contains computers and fax machines and another one will be used as a medical unit.
“Around Africa Expedition 2001” has been planned for the past two years with the aim of “opening the eyes of the world to the mystique and beauty of Africa”. “We need to educate the world about Africa its positive attributes and its beauty,” says Muller. He admits they could meet difficulties in some countries. “We are aware that in certain countries political problems, war and situations beyond our control have to be taken into consideration and will be addressed and handled accordingly.”
According to Muller some of the objectives of the project are to promote and tourism, to influence job creation and uplift the African community. The organisers are hoping to promote peace and reconciliation and “to extend a hand of cooperation and unity to all African nations the expedition will be traversing”.
The project has secured endorsements from both African and Western governments, including a R10 000 sponsorship from South African Tourism. “This mammoth undertaking is a multimillion-dollar private initiative supported by a number of committed and dedicated establishments and influential individuals who would like to assist in making a positive contribution for the upliftment of Africa,” says Muller.
“We still have a shortfall of R20-million but are trying to get assistance from big businesses,” says Muller. The tourists on the expedition are paying between $16 000 and $92 000 depending on the package they choose. Participants can also use their own vehicles or motorcycles.