Doncaster to Capetown - any advice?

[WFL]

I've got a mate who's been talking about this for a while - driving from our hometown of Doncaster to South Africa in an old, cheap 4X4. Whether he actually goes through with it remains to be seen but let's imagine he does. Has anyone on here done something similar before? Other than a carnet de passage and a boot full of spares what other essentials would you need?

He reckons a Suzuki Jimny or an old Forester for the car - call it a £2000 budget for the car alone. Any advice?

[Sump]

We did Sheffield to Iran in 2012. Boot full of spares ended up being a complete waste of time. eE took a 1996 Honda Shuttle for £450.

We only had one car issue which was the rear lower arm bushes going. A bosch garage in Turkey fixed it for £60 and a day. Oh we also had an issue with a pad which a Honda garage in Poland fixed for us.

The biggest issue we had on the whole trip was the terrorist police when leaving England.

Edited by Sump on Wednesday 18th March 11:05

[scubadude]

You realise at the moment this would involve driving through active warzones don't you?

My mate has spent the last few months driving around Southern Africa, original plan was to drive home but he's ended up shipping his van back because all the routes back where "undesirable"

[Monty Python]

Suzuki Grand Vitara

[Lazadude]

Went to Mongolia, apart from the odd spare wheel with tyre and jerry cans for the spots where you have a long distance between fuel pump, you don't actually need that many tools!

Surprised us how well a £500 car is put together. (Hyundai Getz).

[WFL]

scubadude said:

You realise at the moment this would involve driving through active warzones don't you?

My mate has spent the last few months driving around Southern Africa, original plan was to drive home but he's ended up shipping his van back because all the routes back where "undesirable"

We're aware of that - it sounds easier to scrap the car once he gets there and fly home (getting the 'car visa' stamped to avoid paying the customs import duties). Obviously there will be fairly large areas to avoid.

[SEE YA]

Security I know SA very well, plan you route well always have a PLAN B.

Insurance in case of a accident worse happens etc.

If you go near JOBURG stay away from certain areas e.g. Hillbrow.

Edited by SEE YA on Wednesday 18th March 11:20

[McFarnsworth]

WFL said:

We're aware of that - it sounds easier to scrap the car once he gets there and fly home (getting the 'car visa' stamped to avoid paying the customs import duties). Obviously there will be fairly large areas to avoid.

Getting there also requires him to drive through active or recently active warzones. Driving the length of Africa has always been pretty sketchy, but it hasn't gotten any easier in recent years.
You might be fine if you take an eastern route, starting in Egypt and skipping the middle east by means of a ferry across the mediterranean.