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I've spent the last 3 years driving around Africa - 35 countries and over 50,000 miles. In more than a few cities the traffic (and pollution) have been absolute
by grecy 8y ago
I've spent the last 3 years driving around Africa - 35 countries and over 50,000 miles. In more than a few cities the traffic (and pollution) have been absolutely horrific, and I've often wondered if there is a large city where biking is much more common.
Biking is very common in rural areas.
Unfortunately I've had to skip Eritrea, although I really wanted to get there. Because of the recent peace deal with Ethiopia the borders are wide open.. but that means for me nobody really knows how I can enter at a land border legally... there won't be anyone to stamp my passport, and so it's very likely I'll be arrested by the first Police that see me, even with a valid visa.
The ambassadors in Ethiopia and Djibouti were more than happy to give me a visa, but they had no idea what would happen if I tried to drive in. Maybe I'll have to go back!
- danielecook 8y agoWhat circumstances have you driving all around Africa?
- grecy 8y agoI decided I didn't want to spend my life sitting at a desk writing code (Software Engineer), and I decided a life of adventure was for me. After saving for years I quit my job and drove Alaska to Argentina, and it changed my life. I went back to a desk to save again, and now I've been away for three years driving around. I've also worked really hard to be a freelance travel writer and photographer, so I can do this forever without ever going back to a desk. I'll never own a big screen TV or new car, but I'm certainly going to see stunning places, meet interesting people and have grand adventures!
- always4getpass 8y agoWhat was your initial budget before being sustainable, if I may? Because by a quick skim through your page it seems it would be in the order of hundreds of thousands (including gas). Are you able to sustain yourself now with your income while traveling? Any tips for people that might wish to do the same? Your story is inspiring, but what holds me back is the fear of not having enough money to do such thing. Thanks
- grecy 8y ago> in the order of hundreds of thousands (including gas). This is a really, really common misconception. For the Alaska to Argentina trek, two years and 40,000 miles through 16 countries, I spent $27k, for everything.[1] Africa won't really be much more per month than that. By keeping my monthly expenses low, I'm now very close to sustaining myself while on the road. Some months I do, some I still take a tiny bit from my savings. I'm about to publish another few books, and if they go reasonably well like my current one, I should be good. My major tip is simply don't be afraid. Give it a go, see what happens. In five years if all of this doesn't work I'll be sitting back at a desk and I sure as hell won't be sitting around thinking "what if". If it does work, I will be living my dreams. > What holds me back is the fear of not having enough money It's funny now from where I sit, the vast majority of people in the developed world are terrified of money. It's really educational to spend time with people that have none, and have no prospects of ever earning any, but are still immensely happy and have tons of time and often find ways to live their own dreams. [1] http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure http://theroadchoseme.com/the-price-of-adventure
- always4getpass 8y agoThanks a lot mate. Truly inspiring, and I don't say that often. I wish you the best
- senorjazz 8y ago> For the Alaska to Argentina trek, two years and 40,000 miles through 16 countries, I spent $27k, for everything.[1] including vehicle? If not, it can be cheaper. We did Europe to SE Asia (southern route: India and up through Tibet / China). Then California down to South America for less over 2 years (wife daughter and I)
- grecy 8y agoI bought the vehicle at the start for $5k, then sold it at the end for $5k, so I don't count it as an expense. I drove it 40k miles and the vehicle cost nothing :) I've met plenty of backpackers that travel the world for $10-$12k per year. Backpacking is cheaper than going with a vehicle if you are a single person, though a vehicle is cheaper as soon as there are two or more people, especially when you go to parts of the world where it's easy to camp out in the wild for free.
- ensiferum 8y agoBig hand to you for daring to live the life you want to live! Too few people ever grow the cojones required to do exactly that and jump out of this miserable rat race.
- mprev 8y agoHow did you deal with the Darien Gap?
- grecy 8y agoI shipped the jeep inside a shipping container from Panama to Colombia. http://theroadchoseme.com/shipping-across-the-darien-gap-pt-1 http://theroadchoseme.com/shipping-across-the-darien-gap-pt-...
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- erkken 8y agoI cycled through Africa, from Europe, with South Africa as destination ten years ago (took me 9 months). Fascinating continent.