The Plan
It has been a couple of years now since we came back from the USA and we still pine for adventure. There is still places in the USA we would like to visit and South America is on the plan but we decided that while we are still young enough to be able "Rough-it" that we should try Africa. We fear that if we leave Africa for later we may not be fit enough to travel through Africa.
We are applying for South African "retirement" visas which will allow multiple entry and we can stay for up to four years. A tourist visa only allows 90 days and the clock keeps ticking even if in other southern Africa countries. This would have been a bit restrictive for our plans. We only intend to spend about three months per visit but we don't want to be restricted to a maximum of three months if we don't have to be.
Johanna and Macklin have said they will visit over the Christmas University holidays and Laura will have finished Y12 so the first expeditions should be this year.
The Truck
For Africa we decided that we needed something more robust than our truck camper or a caravan and we want more luxury than a roof top tent. A 4x4 motorhome was the conclusion. Something tough that we can carry everything we need and at a push can accommodate five but generally carry just the two of us.
Which truck:
• Iveco Daily Expensive, lots of maybe not so reliable electronics and maybe a little small for what we had in mind.
• Iveco Eurocargo Only cab available at the time was a day cab which would not have any sleeper to allow entry behind the seats.
• Man We really like the Man and would have bought one if it was available a bit quicker. Earliest delivery Dec 2023. Cab was a bit big which cut room from the living box but for the automatic transmission and front and rear diff locks and the "Man" name we would otherwise have copped the high price
• Isuzu NPS Great little trucks but with a maximum weight of 6.5T and pretty small wheels we thought it was a little small for our plans
• Isuzu FTS A reasonable compromise we think. Small sleeper cab, 14T max weight so can carry anything, 5.2m load area and military 365/85R20 tyres on the new model. Bullet-proof low-tech engine and manual transmission can be fixed anywhere.
The Box
After multiple drafts and years of drafts and re-drafts we have settled on a layout. We wanted a rear dinette so we could get wrap around views and a north-south bed so we can get up without disturbing our partner. Our extravigance is a rear deck. As the vehicle is so high climbing up and down would be a bit of a chore and from our experience in America we found it was often one of too hot, too cold, or too many bugs to be outdoors. Our solution is a deck with a roof and drop down canvas and fly-screen sides. Hopefully it will give us added space while still being protected from the elements and malaria.
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How exciting for you both! We are taking a leaf out of your book and traveling to Japan for 3 months starting in March ’24. Except we’ll be backpacking and walking. Hopefully the first of our adventures. Much luck and love to you both XSuzette and Robin
We would love to go to Japan also. So much still to do.