Submitted by Davidvanwyk on April 8, 2008 - 21:07.
Well it is great fun driving in Angola although really taxing on the vehicle. I am having to replace break pads, shocks, recondition the drive shaft etc. etc. The Angolan people are really committed to peace now. In towns like Menongue people are out in the streets every night going to clubs and restaurants partying. There is a real carnival atmosphere. The reminders of the war are everywhere. I will post the pictures from 'Strata el Muerte', the road of death between Cuito and Menongue next.
The Mosquitoes are really terrible and a spider blew in the window the first night in Southern Angola. It made itself at home under the front passenger seat and bit both me and my American passenger. My right foot was badly swollen for days.
Submitted by FranklyWrankles on April 8, 2008 - 21:16.
Have just done an article on Land Rover - which was loads of fun as it included driving around their off road centre and trying not to kill the instructor. Ahem. Looks like you guys really tested those vehicles and pushed it too the limits. And there I was proud about driving up an embankment of rocks.
Submitted by Davidvanwyk on April 8, 2008 - 21:26.
Well next time we should approach Land Rover to sponsor the trip. However, Angolans seem to prefer Mitsubishi Triton, pimped up, of course! I saw very few Angolan Land Rovers. We actually rolled one landie on the way back near Rundu. It had a full box of wine bottles in the cabin. I am surprised that the box of bottles did not kill the occupants. It olled twice and not a single person was injured. They all walked out without a scratch - perhaps a bit sobered up!
Submitted by FranklyWrankles on April 8, 2008 - 21:31.
Amazing that they were all okay.
Ja Land Rover sponsor Kingsley Holgate and do loads of other sponsorships as well. But I believe they've just been sold. From Ford to Tata. Not sure what Tata's plans are.
Submitted by FranklyWrankles on April 8, 2008 - 21:35.
The irony wasn't wasted on me. It appears that it's going to be Tata Jaguar as well. They bought both car brands in a two for one deal. It appears they want to go upmarket in India and use those two brands to give Mercedes, BMW et al a run for their money.
Submitted by Davidvanwyk on April 8, 2008 - 19:32.
This task is undertaken by an NGO that has mobilised youth for the purpose. Land mines are horrible weapons, however they are strategically important defensive weapons when infrastructure such as bridges or roads need to be protected. They are also used in ambush situations and in guerrilla warfare. Land mines played a major part in the nine months battle in the area between Cuito and Mavinga.
Comments
David
Didn't you feel nervous about driving around there?
Ja David
I'd be levitating with fear.
Driving in Angola
Well it is great fun driving in Angola although really taxing on the vehicle. I am having to replace break pads, shocks, recondition the drive shaft etc. etc. The Angolan people are really committed to peace now. In towns like Menongue people are out in the streets every night going to clubs and restaurants partying. There is a real carnival atmosphere. The reminders of the war are everywhere. I will post the pictures from 'Strata el Muerte', the road of death between Cuito and Menongue next.
The Mosquitoes are really terrible and a spider blew in the window the first night in Southern Angola. It made itself at home under the front passenger seat and bit both me and my American passenger. My right foot was badly swollen for days.
David
Have just done an article on Land Rover - which was loads of fun as it included driving around their off road centre and trying not to kill the instructor. Ahem. Looks like you guys really tested those vehicles and pushed it too the limits. And there I was proud about driving up an embankment of rocks.
Testing Land Rover
Well next time we should approach Land Rover to sponsor the trip. However, Angolans seem to prefer Mitsubishi Triton, pimped up, of course! I saw very few Angolan Land Rovers. We actually rolled one landie on the way back near Rundu. It had a full box of wine bottles in the cabin. I am surprised that the box of bottles did not kill the occupants. It olled twice and not a single person was injured. They all walked out without a scratch - perhaps a bit sobered up!
Hectic David
Amazing that they were all okay.
Ja Land Rover sponsor Kingsley Holgate and do loads of other sponsorships as well. But I believe they've just been sold. From Ford to Tata. Not sure what Tata's plans are.
Tata Landie
Tata - Goodbye
Ja David
The irony wasn't wasted on me. It appears that it's going to be Tata Jaguar as well. They bought both car brands in a two for one deal. It appears they want to go upmarket in India and use those two brands to give Mercedes, BMW et al a run for their money.
Nooooo.
that is the only problem with the great outdoors. Spiders. We will never be friends. Ever. I don't care how many other bugs they eat.
It sounds like one helluva trip, David.
Removing land mines
This task is undertaken by an NGO that has mobilised youth for the purpose. Land mines are horrible weapons, however they are strategically important defensive weapons when infrastructure such as bridges or roads need to be protected. They are also used in ambush situations and in guerrilla warfare. Land mines played a major part in the nine months battle in the area between Cuito and Mavinga.