Like the actual route, our ideas about the type of 4WD, and the necessary equipment, have changed a number of times. Land Rover Defender (the strongest), Land Rover Discovery (more comfortable) or Toyota Hilux Double Cab (more reliable and bigger)? There is so much to choose from! And what about the camping equipment? Rooftop tent (safe) or do we take a ground tent (more flexible)?

On the first day after our arrival in Cape Town Peter went for a test-drive in a Toyota Hilux D/C, equipped with rooftop tent and the basic camping equipment. The price for this 20-year old car was 90.000 Rand (~ 9.000 Euro). Not cheap, though sturdy and reliable, but a bit worn down. After some debate, we decided against the rooftop tent. This would mean that every time we want to use the car, we first have to pack all our gear. Besides, the owner of the Hilux was a German living in Berlin, and we were dealing through his local friend who would shortly leave on holiday for a month. At the very least a time-consuming route, and possibly an unreliable one. Exit Toyota Hilux.

From Claudia’s niece Elena, who lives in Cape Town, we got the tip of a local second-hand car dealer down the road who specialises in 4WD. They had a number of Land Rover Discovery’s for sale and 2 of them suited our budget. We fell in love with a blue Discovery 1, automatic, with a 4 liter V8 petrol engine, and about 127.000 km on the clock. The other one was a diesel with manual shifting and much more mileage. We took an option on the petrol version and took a day to discuss the sort of tent and equipment. The next day, after de decision on the tent was taken, we bought the car for 80.000 Rand, including 2 new tires, a dual battery and a second spare tire. Via the Internet we acquired a used aluminium roofrack, which we will pick up after the weekend. The car dealer helped us arrange a third-party liability, theft and fire insurance. Relatively easy, the only prerequisite was to be able to give a resident address. Now we only have to buy some camping equipment (tent, cooker, mattresses, chairs, table, pots, cutlery, plates, etc), and off we are. Africa, here we come!