You are spot on. My wife & I have picked up vehicles and 'road-tripped it' through 10 countries throughout Europe. We've driven India from New Delhi (Agra & Jaipur) then on to Hyderabad then south-east down to Chennai followed by a jump to Sri-Lanka which we explored by driving the southern half of that magnificent country. We've done the same covering most of the coastline of Brazil with several detours up into the various jungle regions. At home in British Columbia we have our 97 Jeep xj & our 2003 Tracker so yes, nothing brand new but yes to 4 wheel drive. The Jeep at home is lifted 4.5" on 33's with ARB air locker. These are great features at home however during our worldly overlanding trips we never had 4wheel drive etc. and did just fine as you point out in your video. We've watched your entire Africa series and many times we sat with smiles nodding "yup, ...yes that's exactly what that check point guy was like in South America" or "yes yes that's so typical for buying food or getting fuel in India ..." As you say, the world has improved. We've had sketchy experiences driving across North America. Over all it helps to be friendly and as non defensive as possible. Practice common sense! Well done again my friend. Loved your home area vids too such as Whipsaw...👍👍
I agree for the most part. Now, you don't need the best rig but I can have it. I started Overlanding by crossing South Africa on a bicycle in 93. Then I drove motorbikes. Basically the older I get, the more comfortable my vehicle becomes. Having spent more than half of my life abroad in ”corrupt countries”(I’m 52), corruption is an issue more if you live than if you just passed by. Tourists usually writes to the embassy once they are safely back home. Victims of corruptions cannot ”escape” corruption, they live there, they cannot talk. I know you are a very positive guy and want to give a good image of traveling abroad. I have been attacked by road pirates in the woods (jungle) at night while I was driving. I have witnessed a lynching. Got caught in 4 riots. If you think those were just demonstrations, people don't get shot with live ammunition in a normal demonstration and hearing bullets above your head should not be considered normal neither. Driving through a land mine field is also not your regular ”overlander session”. I don't know. I think we all had different experiences and that doesn't mean we are lying or exaggerating. We had a sucide terrorist attack 500 meters away from our place and learned later my friend’s wife had been hit with a nail in the head. You have been on the roads for 3 years or so. I lived in those countries for 27 years. So the probability is just higher. I'm not a pure Overlander. Being a photographer taking pictures in some of the most famous slums is different. Crossing Botswana in a 4x4 or driving on a bicycle in a township around Johannesburg are two different Overlanding experiences. I would say ”slums” are one of the biggest myth by the way. They are totally misunderstood. What I'm trying to say is that we are all different, with different experiences. We are exposing ourselves differently. Some people will avoid the most dangerous slums in the World and some will take photos in them, with a bag full of expensive gear. You can visit Cape Town as a tourist or visit Khayelitsha or Nyanga as a photographer. We will both have been to Cape Town and will both tell a very different story. You bust a few myths based on your experience. Just accept some people have had different experiences. I have met the photographer who inspired the character played by Sean Penn in the movie ”The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. He will tell you different stories. Would you tell him that his stories were made up? What I don't agree with you is that when you say if someone tells you any of this myth, he has probably never done anything. For me, it's quite the opposite. I love weird people and love listening to their stories. I can promise you those people are real and so are their stories. I respect them, they are legends. It would make no sense to tell them ”if you say this, it's probably because you were too afraid to do it”. We probably have not done the same things, met the same people. And it's fine. But no need to discredit other people’s stories, lives, or advice. I'm not trying to discredit you by the way. You share your experience and it's great. Just accept we have different lives, stories and advice.
@@Ch1oeW That's what I tried to explain to Dan. I'm so happy for him he had only good experiences. The reality is sometimes very different. I did not explain to Dan that my daughter witnessed a murder and not any murder, the lynching of a man who tried to murder a taxi driver by cutting his throat. She witnessed the primary aggression and the lynching that followed. Stuck in traffic, she saw everything. She was 5. Can you really accuse me of dramatizing? Do I need to tell more stories? I won't. If I had advice to give to beginners is to always ask locals. They will tell you if the road is dangerous at night because of road pirates. They will tell you there are any tricks you should be aware of. There was a period when, if you had a flat, it was usually because they had punctured your tires at the supermarket or traffic light and they would follow you until you stopped to changed your tires. So my advice would be to be aware of the latest criminal technique and raise your awareness. Fear has never stopped me to travel. Being well-aware has helped me a lot. You are already psychologically prepared and you know basically what to expect and you had time to elaborate your relation ahead. I don't think Dan should tell people there is no danger. People will be caught off guard if they are attacked. I'm not talking about being paranoid. My level of awareness varies if I'm in Johannesburg or in the Okavango Delta.
Dan, the issue of the car I drive is what often stirs up most people. People keep arguing with me on what vehicle is ultimate plus features, but definitely these people have never even driven around their own country... Like u tell them; a 4wd is okay but 99% of the trip you'll even forget that you have a 4wd as it will be unnecessary for 99% of the trip.... Same goes with other upgrades like lifting the vehicle or adding heavy bars or adding horsepowers in upgraded engine... Lots of crap. I think we have too many THEORY OVERLANDERS who talk like experts yet they're exactly theory. As a guy driving a 2wd simple van around Africa, I actually love it when mine is the easiest adventure vehicle to fix in times of breakdown and the less complicated as I go around having lifetime adventures... Im so proud of this golden info u dish out Dan
I was waiting for the tricked out vehicle thing, because I had the privilege of meeting Laura in Botswana in January this year. Apart from being a truly inspirational person, she got us out of a massive hole regarding accommodation because my credit had ran out. She still has that Morris Minor and drives it daily in Maun. I also travelled across Africa in a 40 year old Land Rover short wheelbase. Apart from being very uncomfortable (her Morris Minor would probably be the better vehicle in today's Africa) the only modifications I had fitted was a roof rack and an extra 45 litre fuel tank in addition to the standard 45 litre tank. At around 20 l/100 km it was just about satisfactory for major routes, so I carried four jerricans just in case. I personally find borders a very stressful place, but that's because I suffer with Asperger syndrome and anxiety. Airports or anything like that sends me into a panic attack, but I survived with assistance and truth be told, most immigration, customs and police officers in Africa seem to be more accepting and have more of an understanding of disabilities than people here in the UK do. I've only ever had one bad experience with police officers in Africa, which I will elaborate on shortly. What is more important if you're like me is to get your paperwork sorted the night before and to hand, and get a fixer to sort things out for you. Sure it'll cost you some money (fees are negotiable) but provided that you find a fixer that has a good relationship with the officials and actually has some accreditation - proper ones are always happy to get an official to confirm their story - it makes life at borders so much easier. In fact, officials will often happily point you in the direction of an accredited fixer. Regarding corruption, I once had 6 police officers in Kenya point guns at me in 2016 because my friend who was driving drove the wrong side of the bollard at a roundabout in Mombasa. Clearly being young officers, they were enjoying their power trip, so I just said quite forcefully that "if you threaten me or try to bribe me, I'll call the Tourist Police. I'm the passenger and this is a traffic offence, not a criminal offence" and I promptly wound the window up and locked the doors. They left me alone after that, and the inspector was not impressed with their actions. That is my only bad experience I have ever had with police officers, apart from speeding in Zambia and Tanzania which was my fault, and they were perfectly fine with me then (after a telling off - I don't have a km/h speedometer so I was guessing my speed), and that's in nearly 10 years of visiting and volunteering in Kenya, and my last overland trip from Namibia to Kenya. As for people being out to get you, there's a kidnapping a day in London, yet people don't think twice about going there on holiday. Think about hat for a moment, you are probably less likely to get attacked or kidnapped in Africa (perhaps South Africa aside) than you are here in the UK. Certainly, car crime is lower in most of Africa than it is in the UK!
Hey Dan! Again, thanks for speaking your mind. I absolutely agree to what you say about Uganda. I never felt unsafe for even a second when I backpacked Uganda/Rwanda for two months - with my then 5 year old daughter. It's such a beautiful place with such friendly, inviting and genuine people. We were really sad to leave and can't wait to go back. Cheers from Berlin!
I'm happy to hear this about my country Uganda... Please come again I would be happy host you next ye u like to come around. Your experience is marvelous and I can totally relate
I found your channel really inspiring and you deal with overlanding with an honest mindset: this video is a clear example. Could you please post a video on differential locks? I'm struggling between having them or not on my next overland vehicle...thanks
Hi Fabrizio - like 4x4 it depends entirely on you and where you want to go. Plenty of people have driven Alaska to Argentina without 4x4 (or diff locks), so you certainly don't *need* them. But if you're a person that wants to do a ton of off roading in tricky situations, maybe you want them.
@@TheRoadChoseMe thank you for replying, I don'usually look for tricky off road situation but my fear is to unexpectedly find them on my path... maybe a set of 4 maxtrax (I've now 2 of them) could be helpful enough. Many thanks again! I'm now scrolling your video list to enjoy another!
Well said and such common sense again Dan. I don't have a DREAM overland vehicle anymore. My thinking now is 'How can I do this as cheaply as possible with maximum fun available!!! Rock on Dan....
Your very last statement nailed it. Fear. And anyone who advocates from fear is trying to get you to "defend" your fearless life. If you do, you just took the bait... "Oh yeah, when was the last time YOU....?" (BTW typo in the banner 11:15)
4:26 I live on mexico on a danger zone, if you keep yourself to turistic zones you will be ok, if you start to wander arround you might get stoped by them, because the locals call them so they can get some money for calling a veicle that its not local, at least you can loose the vehicle mostly if its a truck, they dont use to go after jeeps unless they are kind of new, you are rigth they are busy on their things, you also should know that they are figthing with other groups for territory and searching for easy big money income, so keep it to turistic places and dont make to much noise because they like towns to be cosy, if you really really want to come a good time to travel its on winter holidays because a lot of people come to visit theyre family on mexico, so foreigner vehicles are not so weird to see around and not get called because it migth be family or someone with stuff to give away on little towns so winter its the best time to be safe even if you wander arround.
Sounds great! I offer one on one consulting calls to my supporters over on Patreon - sign up and we can setup a call anytime www.patreon.com/theroadchoseme
Dan, agree with everything you have said except my first trip to Mexico I had an officer shake me down for a bribe. It did not ruin my trip or my desire to travel, but I would say Mexico is a different animal. That was in 2017. There was no way out of it without a very unpleasant trip to a back water jail. Haggled it from 150 US to 20.
It happens sometimes. I will say I was rattled the first times it happened in Mexico too.. and it wasn't until the 10th and then 50th time that I felt more comfortable and understood the situation better.
Dan, if there is ever a MythBusters episode on Overlanding they definitely need to invite you as a main technical advisor! :) I have two questions, perhaps to be addressed in a future video. 1) If you have family or dependants, how do they cope with you being away for so long? ( In other words, is Overlanding selfish?) 2) How do you decide what places to visit and how long to stay (how much planning and preparation you do in advance)?
Another great video - I am reading two good books at this time, enjoying both tremendously, your Alaska to Argentina, and Six Years with Al Qaeda, the Stephen McGown story, and amazing that both the books have similar triggers, Charlie Boorman, etc, but very different consequence driving through Timbuktu - I think it is important that one needs to be well aware of where you are and not be naive, but I do agree with not allowing it to prevent you from doing the trip. Having said that, I think you and Stephen had very similar views on the world, at least when he started.
Further to above, If you want to see a cesspool of bribery, get into an accident in some of the Africa countries - We bumped into a family at Kapisha Hot Springs after they managed to get their son released in Tanzania - he drove after dark and got into an accident south of Mbeya with a cyclist, with fatality, and another friend of mine got into an accident on the great North, both instances it was seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity to get great riches and police immediately locked them up with expectation to pay for release, and punitive bribes. No amount of friendly banter resolved these two issues, but again, be cautious, and be aware.
My partner who was born and raised in South Africa, as well as his family, left everything behind and moved because of the danger. All his friends who stayed have been murdered from break and enters. It’s also the rape capital and you’re a man. I appreciate you sharing your experience, and understand the spirit of what you’re saying, but understand that even you don’t know everything about the dangers. I like your other points and encouragement :) Just please keep what I said in mind, because it’s a real slap in the face to people who uprooted their entire life to escape the dangers of some of the places your are referencing.
I completely understand what you're saying, and you are right there are dangerous places in the world. Remember though, right next door Botswana is one of the most peaceful countries in all of Africa, and has been for a very, very long time. Just avoid the bad ones. It's also worth remembering that what locals experience living in a place for years or decades is entirely different that what overlanders will experience as they pass through for a month or three.
Great Dan. Yes, after 83 border crossing it is not true. Be prepared and patient. Coming into Russia was the most difficult border crossing. I am going to share this on our page. I love it so much. Thanks a million, Dan. Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers from Auckland Rolanda
Another great video Dan. We have gone down through Mexico twice in the past few years, gone through close to 30 military check points, and only once did we feel uncomfortable. Nothing happened, just one guy was a little too friendly. LOL Zero bribes attempts. The first time we drove our BMW 3 series sedan. 12,000 km to Cabo through the Baja. Anyone can do this!
Thanks again for this video. But I believe there will be always some people how "know it better". But I can agree with you on all points and here are some of my own thoughts: 1. A two weeks All Inclusive vacation costs the same as my last eight week trip trough West Africa. So it is less expensiv than the standard vacation. 2. I have never felt threatened anywhere in Africa. Even when I was in Burkina Faso in February 2019, where there had been unrest shortly before and there were official travel warnings, I felt safe around the clock. Life on the streets goes on normally. I think the most dangerous thing about Overlanding is the traffic. 3. My last Overlanding van did I get for free. It was a total rust bucket which was parked outside and not moved for over ten years. I thin I didn't spend more than 500€ to prepare it for my trip. You can check out my video about it (The "Mooskutter") on my channel. 4. Never had problems with any borders. As long as you have all your papers that you need and they are valid, you can cross it, without problem. And always stay friendly, even if it takes longer, than you expected. 5. The highest amount I had ever to pay was 50€ at the boarder from Sierra Leone to Liberia. Most of the time you get asked for more or less about 10€ and often you can talk yourself out of it. You will get better with the time ;-)
Hello! Thank you for being so informative and straight to the point in your videos! Its definitely given a young 20 year old like me the confidence boost I need to get out there in the world! I just recently found your channel and have love all the videos i have watched. In your videos you talk about Alaska to Argentina a lot, I was wondering if you have had made a video on how you did the trip. like what time of year did you leave. how you planned for it and just stuff like that.
Hi Tristan, Welcome aboard! I did that drive long before I had thought about making TH-cam videos, so I documented it in blog form on my website - theroadchoseme.com/expedition-overview I will film a video soon about "How to drive the Pan-American Highway" with everything you need to know!
Great content and delivery is getting better! Keep them coming! If I could give you two thumbs up I would! You still looking to do a video on where/how to camp, when is it feasible to wild camp, what are things to look for and avoid?
There are places to avoid. However, with planning and whatnot, you are safe in most areas. In my travels around the world, I found people are normal folks. They are proud of their country and want to show you their country. They are awesome folks just making a living. Columbia, I will be going there!!! Soon!! I hope. Lol.
Hey Dan. Great video and good for reassurance. Off topic, I know you're from Australia but I don't think I've heard you talk about overlanding there. If you haven't done it, is it on your radar to do? Would you ship your vehicle there or would you rent something in-country? It's absolutely on my bucket list but what concerns me is the process to get my own vehicle into the country. I have heard that vehicles must be absolutely dust / dirt / contaminant free. But I'm not super sure how the cleaning process works. I have no interest in doing the actual cleaning myself but I'm not sure if a shipping company would do this deep cleaning or if it can be done at the port in Australia if it doesn't arrive satisfactorily clean, or what happens if it arrives in AUS and it's not clean enough? Do they just make you ship it back home? Sorry for this rambling question but I'm having a tough time finding any info about these things. Any insights appreciated.
Hi Brain, Shippign a vehicle to Aus is a pain in the backside. The underside has to be clean enough to eat off (you have to clean it yourself). If it's not, you'll have to pay fumigation and cleaning fees on arrival, which are many thousands of dollars. You also can't have ANY wood in the vehicle at all - cabinets, drawers, etc. You also MUST have a Carnet De Passage, which is very expensive. All in all, and given the vehicles on offer in Australia, I think it makes way more sense to fly and buy. I'll do a video on it at some point!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thank you. I think you just helped me come to the conclusion that I've been trying to avoid coming to on my own. I have a feeling the same goes for NZ but haven't really looked into it there. I actually thought about buying in AUS and bringing it back to Canada but that looks nearly impossible too -- I'm super envious of the vehicles you guys get access to in AUS. I am definitely going to get there one day and make this happen.
Buy one that's 15 years old, then bringing it back to Canada is simple . Checkout the RIV - www.riv.ca/ Essentially, once it's 15 years old it can be ANYTHING, and you can make it Canadian with a minimum of fuss.
Hi Brian I am from Oz and some of our vehicle rules are a PITA even for us locals. The import rules can be navigated- I have a work colleague who regularly brings in LHD vehicles from the US. Check out ‘Alveto Expedition’ in TH-cam- they are a Italian couple who have spent 4 years over landing the world including the US and Australia. They are responsive to viewers with questions so may be able to help what they went through to get their Toyota into Oz. Like Dan their vehicle is a perfect example of what you don’t need to overland internationally. Cheers...
@@4bnewb969 Thanks for the reply! I recently started following Alveto but didn't realize they'd been to AUS. I will definitely hit them up for info on their experience. The reason I first checked them out is because I want the same vehicle they have (Lexus GX). I want a vehicle built on an internationally-available platform, and there aren't many options here in Canada. The Lexus GX though is essentially a rebranded Prado, i.e., the closest I can reasonably get to a full-on Land Cruiser (which they very unfortunately do not sell in Canada). Thanks & cheers.
I spent six months overlanding through all the west and south side of the African continent and felt more unsafe and had worse experiences in my hometown of Edmonton Canada so yup your comment is true
Even stats prove it. Chicago city alone in 2018 had over 4,000 gun violence deaths and the entire region of East Africa comprising of 5 countries with a population of over 170 million people had less than 1000 gun violence cases including counting those committed by law enforcement. Statistically if one stays in chicago they're like 5 times unsafe and bound to lose their life staying home in USA than spending time in Africa.... Also putting into account that as traveller in Africa, you're likely to worry about getting malaria or own accident from your own bad driving than worrying about insecurity... Stats can prove that as well... So you're more than right.
If we look at murder rates in major US cities compared to Africa, 37 out of 100 major American cities are more dangerous as Africa as a whole. If we look at the same but with South America, 5 out of 100 major American cities are more dangerous than Africa as a whole. Comparing cities to a whole continent doesn't actually make any sense since murder rates tend to be higher in cities no matter where they are but nevertheless looking at these specific cites your chances of getting murdered are higher that that of Africa or South America as a whole. But looking at the US as a whole compared to Africa and South America as a whole, your chances of getting murdered in Africa are 2.5 times higher than the US. In South America, your chances of getting murdered are 6.5 times higher than the US. There's obviously more things that you have to account for to actually get a proper statistic. 50% of all murders happened in 2% of US counties. This would mean if you stay out of the most dangerous parts of any country, your chance of getting murdered a basically 0. But no, it is not safer in South America and Africa as a whole than in most major US cities.
Hi Dan can you discuss cars bikes under finance if these are options, traveling with covid hysteria still going, best rig to live out of long term, stealth camping and can you still make good money on the road and do what you love. Cheers mate
It sure does, which is why you want to start a trip with a new passport, and if it's an option from your country, get one with more pages (mine has 70). I used 56 pages driving around Africa.
On group trips I always talk with the drivers and see when they becomes very serious withd riving. Like when it becomes dark. In mexico our bus driver drove a evry big scania bus with 50 seats. ane when it became darker he floored it driving 120km/h over 80km roads. And he face became super serious. Then you know that route has a bigger risk. When i was in uganda I never felt unsafe. Lovely country friendly police and army forces. ALways talk to locals and ask advice!
I'm happy to hear your kind words about my country Uganda, please always come again.... Will be happy to host you again, I would do my best to meet you up..... Nothing beats such experience Victor.
The '80s was a long time ago! Dan, I think you just called me old. LOL. Seriously though, the world is a much different place than the 80s and early 90s, and for the most part, a much better and safer place.
My biggest question is trailers. I'm intrigued by the black series caravans and figure I can ship that and get a local legal 4wd to tow it but I've not seen any youtbers towing something like that, they're more vehicle based camping and not having a trailer. Are trailers common? Like those robust aussie style ones?
No, towing a trailer around the world is not common. But some people do it, and it works. I think it's just "more stuff" to babysit/maintain/worry about/deal with. More tires on the road, more wheel bearings, more weight. It makes driving harder, and it can complicate border crossings (sometimes you have to temp import both vehicle and trailer). I met an Aussie couple who made it from South Africa to Kenya before they were so fed up with their $$$ trailer they shipped it back to Australia and just threw a RTT on their Landcruiser to keep going. They were much happier without it. Can it be done? Yes. Is it common? No. I think there are very good reasons for that.
To the disbelievers and exaggerators, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” -Mark Twain "Sadly, the people who make awful excuses are the ones who need to travel the most." -SnarkyNomad
The notion that manual gear is cheaper and easier to maintain, especially if your vehicle were to breakdown in remote places where there is no 4S service center. What is your view? Which is your preferred choice, auto or manual?
It’s the road conditions that concern me because it determines what vehicle to choose. Where do you go on the web to get complete and accurate road conditions? Can I overland on a Goldwing w/trailer or Transit Connect? Or, must it be an ADV motorcycle or Jeep?
It depends entirely on where you're going in the world, and how remote you want to get. If you stick to major routes, you can drive a VW polo around the world no problem at all. The worst you'll see are some gravel roads. If you want to cross the Congo, you'll need a Jeep built bigger than mine!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thanks for the reply. If...... I would probably stay on main routes. It would lean more towards vacation, and further away from expedition. Generally speaking, you can’t go wrong on Route 1’s around the world, can you.
Right. You can drive anything you want, you'll be fine. It's easy to drive even West Africa and only hit gravel for a hundred miles or so. The rest of paved.
Hey Dan, obviously anyone who has done any kind traveling knows the world isn’t near as dangerous as rumors and the media would have us believe. That being said, there’s no denying that sometimes countries undergo crises or political issues that can pose danger to locals and travelers. However I think a lot of people assume when there’s conflict in a country it encompasses the entire country when in actuality its usually just confined to small portions of the country or a major city making you unlikely to even see anything dangerous. My question is, if you’re unfamiliar with the current events of the country you’re about to drive through what’s the best way to find out about the problematic areas of said country? Blogs? Fellow overlanders? Locals? I remember one video of yours (I think Ethiopia?) you and another couple were driving through a conflict zone that looked a little sketchy and thats something I’d ideally like to avoid if I can during my travels. Also, I bet the dweebs on reddit didn’t think you’d make it through a minefield in Mauritania unscathed. I feel like if you can survive that, you can survive anything, haha.
Without a doubt the best way is to talk to fellow overlanders who have just been where you are going. They have real up to date info, and they have no interest in putting a spin on it. You'll just get the facts. Once you're on the road you'll bump into people!
.... I drove through many countries in South America, and every country in Central America, and thirty five countries in Africa including some of the most notorious and corrupt countries on the planet. I have only paid two bribes in my life ($5 in Nicaragua, and $50 in Ivory Coast). I've been asked a few hundred times. Many, many people drive around the world without paying a single bribe. Read the comments on this video from other people that have done it. See th-cam.com/video/7RTlDa2cg0o/w-d-xo.html
You made some really good points and good argument but to try to justify bribery as okay that happens it "only" a couple times a month when's the last time you been extorted in 🇨🇦
I don't think he wanted to say it's okay. Bribery is never okay, but it happens. And sometimes you have to deal with it. Most of the time you can talk yourself out of it, but most of the time it does not work. Then you have no other choice and you have to pay. And just because you pay doesn't mean you support it. The world works a lot different outside the western world, but it gets better, but with small steps.
Not sure Dan was justifying bribery. I think the intent was to help people keep it in perspective and not use it as a fear that keeps one from ever leaving home.
Hi Dan, I am absolutely loving what you have done and achieved; however, I would like to raise points of concerns regarding traveling in Africa. I myself am a very positive person, I am very much outgoing and feel relatively safe living in sunny wild Africa. Right? I will highlight what it means to live and travel in and around Africa. Most people live in closed off estates with high security. Most people additional belong to private security services because there is no trust and confidence in our police! Our homes are linked with security companies. Further you are equipped with panic buttons and silent panic buttons. As this is not enough people live behind huge walls and most walls are spiked with wires, spikes and electric fences. I have pepper spray additional at home and in my car. And, if you visit people here you will realize that the majority has dogs on the property for security reasons. Now we don't live like that because we are scared of lions. In Africa it is a matter of time where you WILL be confronted with crime and you are going to be a victim of crime. The difference is what type of crime and how badly you were hurt. Did your loved ones got shot, killed? Raped or even tortured? House robbery? Hijacked? Armed robbery? Smash and grab? We are dealing with crime on the daily basis. Communities supporting CPF and are additional on night patrol. Crime hit me 3 times. If nothing serious happened to you personally you are thankful. A friend of mine got killed in a bush lodge recently and the attacker took only cellphones and other small valuables. The woman got hit over the head. Driving in Africa means that you have to be on alert all the time. Leave space to the car in front of you in case you need to pull away. One of my black friend, after watching your comment about Africa, said that you clearly don't know Africa. Dan, it is not my intention to say that you are wrong. Africa is fascinating. The people are the most welcoming and warm people I know. But reality is that we all, black and white, fearing crime. Black people even more as they are often get brutally attacked and stabbed by criminals. People need to understand that it all depends on the crime experienced. I know tourists who had the most amazing time here and everything went well but I also know tourists who got robbed on the day of arrival and went straight back. I don't want to discourage people to visit our beautiful country. Instead I want you to know that it is a country where you have to follow safety procedures, look up at your own embassy for recommendations and safety issues and get emergency telephone numbers on speed dial. If I have a car problem and be stranded next to the highway in Johannesburg, my insurance company will immediately dispatch security to stay with me until AA arrives and stay with me on the line until I confirm that security has arrived. This is not done because there is no one out to get me. Of course nobody is here to get me personally but there are criminals everywhere and they see a chance. ..they will take the chance. What I want say is, that I am very happy for you that you have only encountered positive feelings and moments while driving through Africa. In general, however, I advise that please familiarize yourself with the conditions. Take certain steps to keep your holiday or adventuresome travel as safe as possible, stay on the national roads and be alert. Use common sense and to be honest, pepper spray is recommended because it also keeps some animals away who want to greet you personally 😉 I trust that I could bring some helpful information and once again I am happy to hear that you have had an awesome and amazing experience. This is exactly what I wish to all the people who are planning to make a holiday in Africa. I wish you Dan many more beautiful and fascinating travels all over the world. This inspired me to do the same btw. 😊 all the best for 2021 - greetings from sunny wild Africa!
I certainly felt way less safe in South Africa that I did in other countries. Driving into Botswana was a huge sigh of relief. After 3 months of not wild camping in SA I did so on my first night in Swaziland and met tons of friendly and welcoming people!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Swaziland and Lesotho are very much different from SA. Much less crime and the people are very inviting and grateful. The tribes who live in Swaziland and Lesotho were fleeing into the mountains from the Zulus. It goes way back. The history is really interesting. I feel in Swaziland and Lesotho much safer than in SA. Botswana; I hope you visited the Salt pan? It's incredible there. Your passion for exploring countries and continents in an overlander is very much inspiring and as soon life allows me to do this I am definitely going to explore other countries and continents. Have a great day and stay safe wherever you are.
@Carola Trummer - I pointed out the differences between Bots/Swazi/Lesotho and SA because while I don't want to diminish your experiences and input, it's worth remembering SA is by far the most dangerous and violent country in Southern Africa. So it's not reasonable to compare all 54 African nations to just South Africa, given it's a bit of an outlier and paints a bad picture on the rest of the nearby countries. You said the people of Swazi and Lesotho are "very much different" and the people are very inviting and grateful. I can tell you from my experience, and the experience of hundreds of other overlanders I personally spoke that have spent years in Africa that's what many Africa countries are like.
We are Fred and Elisabeth from New Zealand and driving around the world for the last 6 years with an 1957 Mercedes and tent trailer. We spend one year USA,1 Year trough Central America, 2,5 years trough South America. We have never felt unsafe ,had any bribery. Our experience is the meeting all the local people. We still having an fantastic time. Fb.Classicstrider.com
Expo is increasingly full of jingoistic trolls that care more about how pretty their never used vehicles look and almost rejoice in telling you how dangerous the rest of the world is and how stupid you are if you venture out of Murrica or Mooseville. I really don't even understand why they are on a vehicle adventure based forum in the first place.
Great video. You'd have been better sticking to the facts for the kidnapping. If it's 1 every 10 years you're actually 20 times more likely to be struck by lightning!
If what you say is so true, then how come so many Americans always seem to be scared as heck carrying AR-15s in their pick-ups and prepping at their compounds? th-cam.com/video/sEygeduzi40/w-d-xo.html
You are spot on. My wife & I have picked up vehicles and 'road-tripped it' through 10 countries throughout Europe. We've driven India from New Delhi (Agra & Jaipur) then on to Hyderabad then south-east down to Chennai followed by a jump to Sri-Lanka which we explored by driving the southern half of that magnificent country.
We've done the same covering most of the coastline of Brazil with several detours up into the various jungle regions.
At home in British Columbia we have our 97 Jeep xj & our 2003 Tracker so yes, nothing brand new but yes to 4 wheel drive. The Jeep at home is lifted 4.5" on 33's with ARB air locker. These are great features at home however during our worldly overlanding trips we never had 4wheel drive etc. and did just fine as you point out in your video.
We've watched your entire Africa series and many times we sat with smiles nodding "yup, ...yes that's exactly what that check point guy was like in South America" or "yes yes that's so typical for buying food or getting fuel in India ..."
As you say, the world has improved.
We've had sketchy experiences driving across North America. Over all it helps to be friendly and as non defensive as possible. Practice common sense!
Well done again my friend. Loved your home area vids too such as Whipsaw...👍👍
I agree for the most part. Now, you don't need the best rig but I can have it. I started Overlanding by crossing South Africa on a bicycle in 93. Then I drove motorbikes. Basically the older I get, the more comfortable my vehicle becomes. Having spent more than half of my life abroad in ”corrupt countries”(I’m 52), corruption is an issue more if you live than if you just passed by. Tourists usually writes to the embassy once they are safely back home. Victims of corruptions cannot ”escape” corruption, they live there, they cannot talk. I know you are a very positive guy and want to give a good image of traveling abroad. I have been attacked by road pirates in the woods (jungle) at night while I was driving. I have witnessed a lynching. Got caught in 4 riots. If you think those were just demonstrations, people don't get shot with live ammunition in a normal demonstration and hearing bullets above your head should not be considered normal neither. Driving through a land mine field is also not your regular ”overlander session”. I don't know. I think we all had different experiences and that doesn't mean we are lying or exaggerating. We had a sucide terrorist attack 500 meters away from our place and learned later my friend’s wife had been hit with a nail in the head. You have been on the roads for 3 years or so. I lived in those countries for 27 years. So the probability is just higher. I'm not a pure Overlander. Being a photographer taking pictures in some of the most famous slums is different. Crossing Botswana in a 4x4 or driving on a bicycle in a township around Johannesburg are two different Overlanding experiences. I would say ”slums” are one of the biggest myth by the way. They are totally misunderstood. What I'm trying to say is that we are all different, with different experiences. We are exposing ourselves differently. Some people will avoid the most dangerous slums in the World and some will take photos in them, with a bag full of expensive gear. You can visit Cape Town as a tourist or visit Khayelitsha or Nyanga as a photographer. We will both have been to Cape Town and will both tell a very different story. You bust a few myths based on your experience. Just accept some people have had different experiences. I have met the photographer who inspired the character played by Sean Penn in the movie ”The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. He will tell you different stories. Would you tell him that his stories were made up? What I don't agree with you is that when you say if someone tells you any of this myth, he has probably never done anything. For me, it's quite the opposite. I love weird people and love listening to their stories. I can promise you those people are real and so are their stories. I respect them, they are legends. It would make no sense to tell them ”if you say this, it's probably because you were too afraid to do it”. We probably have not done the same things, met the same people. And it's fine. But no need to discredit other people’s stories, lives, or advice. I'm not trying to discredit you by the way. You share your experience and it's great. Just accept we have different lives, stories and advice.
@@Ch1oeW That's what I tried to explain to Dan. I'm so happy for him he had only good experiences. The reality is sometimes very different. I did not explain to Dan that my daughter witnessed a murder and not any murder, the lynching of a man who tried to murder a taxi driver by cutting his throat. She witnessed the primary aggression and the lynching that followed. Stuck in traffic, she saw everything. She was 5. Can you really accuse me of dramatizing? Do I need to tell more stories? I won't.
If I had advice to give to beginners is to always ask locals. They will tell you if the road is dangerous at night because of road pirates. They will tell you there are any tricks you should be aware of. There was a period when, if you had a flat, it was usually because they had punctured your tires at the supermarket or traffic light and they would follow you until you stopped to changed your tires. So my advice would be to be aware of the latest criminal technique and raise your awareness.
Fear has never stopped me to travel. Being well-aware has helped me a lot. You are already psychologically prepared and you know basically what to expect and you had time to elaborate your relation ahead.
I don't think Dan should tell people there is no danger. People will be caught off guard if they are attacked. I'm not talking about being paranoid.
My level of awareness varies if I'm in Johannesburg or in the Okavango Delta.
Dan, the issue of the car I drive is what often stirs up most people. People keep arguing with me on what vehicle is ultimate plus features, but definitely these people have never even driven around their own country...
Like u tell them; a 4wd is okay but 99% of the trip you'll even forget that you have a 4wd as it will be unnecessary for 99% of the trip.... Same goes with other upgrades like lifting the vehicle or adding heavy bars or adding horsepowers in upgraded engine... Lots of crap.
I think we have too many THEORY OVERLANDERS who talk like experts yet they're exactly theory.
As a guy driving a 2wd simple van around Africa, I actually love it when mine is the easiest adventure vehicle to fix in times of breakdown and the less complicated as I go around having lifetime adventures... Im so proud of this golden info u dish out Dan
I was waiting for the tricked out vehicle thing, because I had the privilege of meeting Laura in Botswana in January this year. Apart from being a truly inspirational person, she got us out of a massive hole regarding accommodation because my credit had ran out. She still has that Morris Minor and drives it daily in Maun. I also travelled across Africa in a 40 year old Land Rover short wheelbase. Apart from being very uncomfortable (her Morris Minor would probably be the better vehicle in today's Africa) the only modifications I had fitted was a roof rack and an extra 45 litre fuel tank in addition to the standard 45 litre tank. At around 20 l/100 km it was just about satisfactory for major routes, so I carried four jerricans just in case.
I personally find borders a very stressful place, but that's because I suffer with Asperger syndrome and anxiety. Airports or anything like that sends me into a panic attack, but I survived with assistance and truth be told, most immigration, customs and police officers in Africa seem to be more accepting and have more of an understanding of disabilities than people here in the UK do. I've only ever had one bad experience with police officers in Africa, which I will elaborate on shortly. What is more important if you're like me is to get your paperwork sorted the night before and to hand, and get a fixer to sort things out for you. Sure it'll cost you some money (fees are negotiable) but provided that you find a fixer that has a good relationship with the officials and actually has some accreditation - proper ones are always happy to get an official to confirm their story - it makes life at borders so much easier. In fact, officials will often happily point you in the direction of an accredited fixer.
Regarding corruption, I once had 6 police officers in Kenya point guns at me in 2016 because my friend who was driving drove the wrong side of the bollard at a roundabout in Mombasa. Clearly being young officers, they were enjoying their power trip, so I just said quite forcefully that "if you threaten me or try to bribe me, I'll call the Tourist Police. I'm the passenger and this is a traffic offence, not a criminal offence" and I promptly wound the window up and locked the doors. They left me alone after that, and the inspector was not impressed with their actions. That is my only bad experience I have ever had with police officers, apart from speeding in Zambia and Tanzania which was my fault, and they were perfectly fine with me then (after a telling off - I don't have a km/h speedometer so I was guessing my speed), and that's in nearly 10 years of visiting and volunteering in Kenya, and my last overland trip from Namibia to Kenya.
As for people being out to get you, there's a kidnapping a day in London, yet people don't think twice about going there on holiday. Think about hat for a moment, you are probably less likely to get attacked or kidnapped in Africa (perhaps South Africa aside) than you are here in the UK. Certainly, car crime is lower in most of Africa than it is in the UK!
I was happy to hear this story.... I wish I could but you a 🍻 beer.... u spoke wisdom from experience right here
Finally a video to put all these myths to rest! Excellent idea & fantastic execution Dan 👏👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@TheRoadChoseMe always enjoy and appreciate your work mate!
Hey Dan! Again, thanks for speaking your mind. I absolutely agree to what you say about Uganda. I never felt unsafe for even a second when I backpacked Uganda/Rwanda for two months - with my then 5 year old daughter. It's such a beautiful place with such friendly, inviting and genuine people. We were really sad to leave and can't wait to go back. Cheers from Berlin!
I'm happy to hear this about my country Uganda... Please come again I would be happy host you next ye u like to come around. Your experience is marvelous and I can totally relate
I found your channel really inspiring and you deal with overlanding with an honest mindset: this video is a clear example. Could you please post a video on differential locks? I'm struggling between having them or not on my next overland vehicle...thanks
Hi Fabrizio - like 4x4 it depends entirely on you and where you want to go.
Plenty of people have driven Alaska to Argentina without 4x4 (or diff locks), so you certainly don't *need* them. But if you're a person that wants to do a ton of off roading in tricky situations, maybe you want them.
@@TheRoadChoseMe thank you for replying, I don'usually look for tricky off road situation but my fear is to unexpectedly find them on my path... maybe a set of 4 maxtrax (I've now 2 of them) could be helpful enough. Many thanks again! I'm now scrolling your video list to enjoy another!
Well said and such common sense again Dan. I don't have a DREAM overland vehicle anymore. My thinking now is 'How can I do this as cheaply as possible with maximum fun available!!! Rock on Dan....
Another great video Dan , thank you very much for sharing all those information.
Fabulous. Loved your top 5. Even knocked some of my thoughts sideways. Morris Minor lol.
Your story really inspired me❤️🙏
Awesome insight you have great knowledge appreciate you sharing 👍
My pleasure!
Your very last statement nailed it.
Fear. And anyone who advocates from fear is trying to get you to "defend" your fearless life. If you do, you just took the bait...
"Oh yeah, when was the last time YOU....?"
(BTW typo in the banner 11:15)
4:26 I live on mexico on a danger zone, if you keep yourself to turistic zones you will be ok, if you start to wander arround you might get stoped by them, because the locals call them so they can get some money for calling a veicle that its not local, at least you can loose the vehicle mostly if its a truck, they dont use to go after jeeps unless they are kind of new, you are rigth they are busy on their things, you also should know that they are figthing with other groups for territory and searching for easy big money income, so keep it to turistic places and dont make to much noise because they like towns to be cosy, if you really really want to come a good time to travel its on winter holidays because a lot of people come to visit theyre family on mexico, so foreigner vehicles are not so weird to see around and not get called because it migth be family or someone with stuff to give away on little towns so winter its the best time to be safe even if you wander arround.
Great video - only problem is it fuels the fire of wanting to overland again which is a little on hold now :)
Excellent advice!!!!! Thank you! You are awesome, I love your channel. I need to consult with you for our overland expedition.
Sounds great! I offer one on one consulting calls to my supporters over on Patreon - sign up and we can setup a call anytime www.patreon.com/theroadchoseme
Dan, agree with everything you have said except my first trip to Mexico I had an officer shake me down for a bribe. It did not ruin my trip or my desire to travel, but I would say Mexico is a different animal. That was in 2017. There was no way out of it without a very unpleasant trip to a back water jail. Haggled it from 150 US to 20.
It happens sometimes. I will say I was rattled the first times it happened in Mexico too.. and it wasn't until the 10th and then 50th time that I felt more comfortable and understood the situation better.
@@TheRoadChoseMe Agreed, luckily I was prepped on how to handle the situation in advance or I would have been taken for a. Lot more.
Dan, if there is ever a MythBusters episode on Overlanding they definitely need to invite you as a main technical advisor! :) I have two questions, perhaps to be addressed in a future video. 1) If you have family or dependants, how do they cope with you being away for so long? ( In other words, is Overlanding selfish?) 2) How do you decide what places to visit and how long to stay (how much planning and preparation you do in advance)?
Thanks for the kind words!
I'll do videos on both those topics soon - but I cover the first one quite a bit in my published books.
Fear is big business and it works really well in keeping people where they are.
Another great video - I am reading two good books at this time, enjoying both tremendously, your Alaska to Argentina, and Six Years with Al Qaeda, the Stephen McGown story, and amazing that both the books have similar triggers, Charlie Boorman, etc, but very different consequence driving through Timbuktu - I think it is important that one needs to be well aware of where you are and not be naive, but I do agree with not allowing it to prevent you from doing the trip. Having said that, I think you and Stephen had very similar views on the world, at least when he started.
Further to above, If you want to see a cesspool of bribery, get into an accident in some of the Africa countries - We bumped into a family at Kapisha Hot Springs after they managed to get their son released in Tanzania - he drove after dark and got into an accident south of Mbeya with a cyclist, with fatality, and another friend of mine got into an accident on the great North, both instances it was seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity to get great riches and police immediately locked them up with expectation to pay for release, and punitive bribes. No amount of friendly banter resolved these two issues, but again, be cautious, and be aware.
Thanks Dan. Awesome video! Inspiring as always.
Great video, thanks for the advice!!!
My partner who was born and raised in South Africa, as well as his family, left everything behind and moved because of the danger. All his friends who stayed have been murdered from break and enters. It’s also the rape capital and you’re a man. I appreciate you sharing your experience, and understand the spirit of what you’re saying, but understand that even you don’t know everything about the dangers. I like your other points and encouragement :)
Just please keep what I said in mind, because it’s a real slap in the face to people who uprooted their entire life to escape the dangers of some of the places your are referencing.
I completely understand what you're saying, and you are right there are dangerous places in the world.
Remember though, right next door Botswana is one of the most peaceful countries in all of Africa, and has been for a very, very long time. Just avoid the bad ones.
It's also worth remembering that what locals experience living in a place for years or decades is entirely different that what overlanders will experience as they pass through for a month or three.
Great Dan. Yes, after 83 border crossing it is not true. Be prepared and patient. Coming into Russia was the most difficult border crossing. I am going to share this on our page. I love it so much. Thanks a million, Dan. Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers from Auckland Rolanda
Another great video Dan. We have gone down through Mexico twice in the past few years, gone through close to 30 military check points, and only once did we feel uncomfortable. Nothing happened, just one guy was a little too friendly. LOL Zero bribes attempts. The first time we drove our BMW 3 series sedan. 12,000 km to Cabo through the Baja. Anyone can do this!
More excellent content and thanks again for sharing.
I love it... people are waiting just to get you... :P Well said-as always.
So nice to share ur true story! Tks.
Thanks Dan! Love it as always!!!!
Thanks again for this video.
But I believe there will be always some people how "know it better".
But I can agree with you on all points and here are some of my own thoughts:
1. A two weeks All Inclusive vacation costs the same as my last eight week trip trough West Africa. So it is less expensiv than the standard vacation.
2. I have never felt threatened anywhere in Africa.
Even when I was in Burkina Faso in February 2019, where there had been unrest shortly before and there were official travel warnings, I felt safe around the clock. Life on the streets goes on normally.
I think the most dangerous thing about Overlanding is the traffic.
3. My last Overlanding van did I get for free. It was a total rust bucket which was parked outside and not moved for over ten years. I thin I didn't spend more than 500€ to prepare it for my trip. You can check out my video about it (The "Mooskutter") on my channel.
4. Never had problems with any borders. As long as you have all your papers that you need and they are valid, you can cross it, without problem. And always stay friendly, even if it takes longer, than you expected.
5. The highest amount I had ever to pay was 50€ at the boarder from Sierra Leone to Liberia. Most of the time you get asked for more or less about 10€ and often you can talk yourself out of it. You will get better with the time ;-)
Great video Dan! The internet warriors drive me crazy too.
One of the best videos about overlanding I have seen so far. 👍
Hello! Thank you for being so informative and straight to the point in your videos! Its definitely given a young 20 year old like me the confidence boost I need to get out there in the world! I just recently found your channel and have love all the videos i have watched. In your videos you talk about Alaska to Argentina a lot, I was wondering if you have had made a video on how you did the trip. like what time of year did you leave. how you planned for it and just stuff like that.
Hi Tristan, Welcome aboard!
I did that drive long before I had thought about making TH-cam videos, so I documented it in blog form on my website - theroadchoseme.com/expedition-overview
I will film a video soon about "How to drive the Pan-American Highway" with everything you need to know!
Overland is about visiting deferent places and meet people and most important is to interact with them not just drive to drive
Agree 100%!
Just found your channel. Excellent content, entertaining and informative! I subscribed.👍
Welcome aboard!
Great content and delivery is getting better! Keep them coming! If I could give you two thumbs up I would!
You still looking to do a video on where/how to camp, when is it feasible to wild camp, what are things to look for and avoid?
Thanks! Will do!
There are places to avoid. However, with planning and whatnot, you are safe in most areas. In my travels around the world, I found people are normal folks. They are proud of their country and want to show you their country. They are awesome folks just making a living.
Columbia, I will be going there!!! Soon!! I hope. Lol.
Well done! We’d all be better off to listen to this advice when we hear almost anything from the media.
Well said!!!!
Go out and enjoy life!!!!
Hi Dan, can you talk about overlanding with a car under finance and the options, especially to and from Oz. Cheers
I touched on it a few times, but basically you can't take a car with payments out of the country - the company that owns it (the bank), won't let you!
Another great video. Thank you!!
Hey Dan. Great video and good for reassurance. Off topic, I know you're from Australia but I don't think I've heard you talk about overlanding there. If you haven't done it, is it on your radar to do? Would you ship your vehicle there or would you rent something in-country? It's absolutely on my bucket list but what concerns me is the process to get my own vehicle into the country. I have heard that vehicles must be absolutely dust / dirt / contaminant free. But I'm not super sure how the cleaning process works. I have no interest in doing the actual cleaning myself but I'm not sure if a shipping company would do this deep cleaning or if it can be done at the port in Australia if it doesn't arrive satisfactorily clean, or what happens if it arrives in AUS and it's not clean enough? Do they just make you ship it back home? Sorry for this rambling question but I'm having a tough time finding any info about these things. Any insights appreciated.
Hi Brain,
Shippign a vehicle to Aus is a pain in the backside. The underside has to be clean enough to eat off (you have to clean it yourself). If it's not, you'll have to pay fumigation and cleaning fees on arrival, which are many thousands of dollars.
You also can't have ANY wood in the vehicle at all - cabinets, drawers, etc.
You also MUST have a Carnet De Passage, which is very expensive.
All in all, and given the vehicles on offer in Australia, I think it makes way more sense to fly and buy. I'll do a video on it at some point!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thank you. I think you just helped me come to the conclusion that I've been trying to avoid coming to on my own. I have a feeling the same goes for NZ but haven't really looked into it there. I actually thought about buying in AUS and bringing it back to Canada but that looks nearly impossible too -- I'm super envious of the vehicles you guys get access to in AUS. I am definitely going to get there one day and make this happen.
Buy one that's 15 years old, then bringing it back to Canada is simple . Checkout the RIV - www.riv.ca/
Essentially, once it's 15 years old it can be ANYTHING, and you can make it Canadian with a minimum of fuss.
Hi Brian
I am from Oz and some of our vehicle rules are a PITA even for us locals. The import rules can be navigated- I have a work colleague who regularly brings in LHD vehicles from the US. Check out ‘Alveto Expedition’ in TH-cam- they are a Italian couple who have spent 4 years over landing the world including the US and Australia. They are responsive to viewers with questions so may be able to help what they went through to get their Toyota into Oz. Like Dan their vehicle is a perfect example of what you don’t need to overland internationally.
Cheers...
@@4bnewb969 Thanks for the reply! I recently started following Alveto but didn't realize they'd been to AUS. I will definitely hit them up for info on their experience. The reason I first checked them out is because I want the same vehicle they have (Lexus GX). I want a vehicle built on an internationally-available platform, and there aren't many options here in Canada. The Lexus GX though is essentially a rebranded Prado, i.e., the closest I can reasonably get to a full-on Land Cruiser (which they very unfortunately do not sell in Canada). Thanks & cheers.
I'm guessing it's safer in south America and Africa then in most major US cities!
I spent six months overlanding through all the west and south side of the African continent and felt more unsafe and had worse experiences in my hometown of Edmonton Canada so yup your comment is true
Sure there are some dodgy areas in Africa and obviously some warzones. But overall I feel safer there than in Europe.
Even stats prove it. Chicago city alone in 2018 had over 4,000 gun violence deaths and the entire region of East Africa comprising of 5 countries with a population of over 170 million people had less than 1000 gun violence cases including counting those committed by law enforcement. Statistically if one stays in chicago they're like 5 times unsafe and bound to lose their life staying home in USA than spending time in Africa.... Also putting into account that as traveller in Africa, you're likely to worry about getting malaria or own accident from your own bad driving than worrying about insecurity... Stats can prove that as well... So you're more than right.
If we look at murder rates in major US cities compared to Africa, 37 out of 100 major American cities are more dangerous as Africa as a whole. If we look at the same but with South America, 5 out of 100 major American cities are more dangerous than Africa as a whole. Comparing cities to a whole continent doesn't actually make any sense since murder rates tend to be higher in cities no matter where they are but nevertheless looking at these specific cites your chances of getting murdered are higher that that of Africa or South America as a whole.
But looking at the US as a whole compared to Africa and South America as a whole, your chances of getting murdered in Africa are 2.5 times higher than the US. In South America, your chances of getting murdered are 6.5 times higher than the US.
There's obviously more things that you have to account for to actually get a proper statistic. 50% of all murders happened in 2% of US counties. This would mean if you stay out of the most dangerous parts of any country, your chance of getting murdered a basically 0.
But no, it is not safer in South America and Africa as a whole than in most major US cities.
Hi Dan can you discuss cars bikes under finance if these are options, traveling with covid hysteria still going, best rig to live out of long term, stealth camping and can you still make good money on the road and do what you love. Cheers mate
Having your passport stamped in and out multiple times at internationalborders: doesn't it get full pretty quickly? How do you deal with that? Thanks!
It sure does, which is why you want to start a trip with a new passport, and if it's an option from your country, get one with more pages (mine has 70).
I used 56 pages driving around Africa.
On group trips I always talk with the drivers and see when they becomes very serious withd riving. Like when it becomes dark. In mexico our bus driver drove a evry big scania bus with 50 seats. ane when it became darker he floored it driving 120km/h over 80km roads. And he face became super serious. Then you know that route has a bigger risk.
When i was in uganda I never felt unsafe. Lovely country friendly police and army forces. ALways talk to locals and ask advice!
I'm happy to hear your kind words about my country Uganda, please always come again.... Will be happy to host you again, I would do my best to meet you up..... Nothing beats such experience Victor.
Don't convince too many people or it'll be traffic chaos on the road and nobody will be at home. Somebody's got to keep the lights on.....😃
The '80s was a long time ago! Dan, I think you just called me old. LOL. Seriously though, the world is a much different place than the 80s and early 90s, and for the most part, a much better and safer place.
Haha, I remember the 80s too!
Another great video!
Dan's the man!
Totally agree!
Should we help people on the wild road if thier car in problems ?
My biggest question is trailers. I'm intrigued by the black series caravans and figure I can ship that and get a local legal 4wd to tow it but I've not seen any youtbers towing something like that, they're more vehicle based camping and not having a trailer. Are trailers common? Like those robust aussie style ones?
No, towing a trailer around the world is not common. But some people do it, and it works.
I think it's just "more stuff" to babysit/maintain/worry about/deal with. More tires on the road, more wheel bearings, more weight. It makes driving harder, and it can complicate border crossings (sometimes you have to temp import both vehicle and trailer).
I met an Aussie couple who made it from South Africa to Kenya before they were so fed up with their $$$ trailer they shipped it back to Australia and just threw a RTT on their Landcruiser to keep going. They were much happier without it.
Can it be done? Yes.
Is it common? No.
I think there are very good reasons for that.
To the disbelievers and exaggerators, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” -Mark Twain
"Sadly, the people who make awful excuses are the ones who need to travel the most." -SnarkyNomad
Amazing !
Excellent!!!
The notion that manual gear is cheaper and easier to maintain, especially if your vehicle were to breakdown in remote places where there is no 4S service center. What is your view? Which is your preferred choice, auto or manual?
I choose manual every time. Less electronics, simpler, can push start, better on mountain roads, better gas mileage AND more fun to drive!
How do you chose what camping location to stop at and when’s the best time to travel? Thanks
I'll do a video on that soon!
Thanks
great vid!!!
What is your next trip? Will you go to do Asia next, or go somewhere else?
Covid is really messing up all my plans. I'm working on a few different trips, and hopefully one will come together early next year!
Obviously Asia missing on Dan's list. On mine too ;-)
It’s the road conditions that concern me because it determines what vehicle to choose. Where do you go on the web to get complete and accurate road conditions? Can I overland on a Goldwing w/trailer or Transit Connect? Or, must it be an ADV motorcycle or Jeep?
It depends entirely on where you're going in the world, and how remote you want to get. If you stick to major routes, you can drive a VW polo around the world no problem at all. The worst you'll see are some gravel roads.
If you want to cross the Congo, you'll need a Jeep built bigger than mine!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Thanks for the reply. If...... I would probably stay on main routes. It would lean more towards vacation, and further away from expedition. Generally speaking, you can’t go wrong on Route 1’s around the world, can you.
Right. You can drive anything you want, you'll be fine. It's easy to drive even West Africa and only hit gravel for a hundred miles or so. The rest of paved.
well spoken!
Hey Dan, obviously anyone who has done any kind traveling knows the world isn’t near as dangerous as rumors and the media would have us believe. That being said, there’s no denying that sometimes countries undergo crises or political issues that can pose danger to locals and travelers. However I think a lot of people assume when there’s conflict in a country it encompasses the entire country when in actuality its usually just confined to small portions of the country or a major city making you unlikely to even see anything dangerous. My question is, if you’re unfamiliar with the current events of the country you’re about to drive through what’s the best way to find out about the problematic areas of said country? Blogs? Fellow overlanders? Locals? I remember one video of yours (I think Ethiopia?) you and another couple were driving through a conflict zone that looked a little sketchy and thats something I’d ideally like to avoid if I can during my travels.
Also, I bet the dweebs on reddit didn’t think you’d make it through a minefield in Mauritania unscathed. I feel like if you can survive that, you can survive anything, haha.
Without a doubt the best way is to talk to fellow overlanders who have just been where you are going. They have real up to date info, and they have no interest in putting a spin on it. You'll just get the facts.
Once you're on the road you'll bump into people!
@@TheRoadChoseMe right on, thanks man
True !
what year is your jeep again?
2011 with a stock 3.8ltr V6, 6 speed manual transmission.
@@TheRoadChoseMe how much range do you get on your jeep with every fill?
I talk a lot about range in this one - th-cam.com/video/zTsRhp2kaAI/w-d-xo.html
I want to see you drive through South America with all those decals on the side of your Jeep and make it out without paying up big time.
.... I drove through many countries in South America, and every country in Central America, and thirty five countries in Africa including some of the most notorious and corrupt countries on the planet. I have only paid two bribes in my life ($5 in Nicaragua, and $50 in Ivory Coast). I've been asked a few hundred times.
Many, many people drive around the world without paying a single bribe. Read the comments on this video from other people that have done it.
See th-cam.com/video/7RTlDa2cg0o/w-d-xo.html
There’s parts of South Africa that look like New York. Stop believing what you hear from other people who’ve never been there
The Grand Edifice builders hate the truth.
You made some really good points and good argument but to try to justify bribery as okay that happens it "only" a couple times a month when's the last time you been extorted in 🇨🇦
I don't think he wanted to say it's okay. Bribery is never okay, but it happens. And sometimes you have to deal with it. Most of the time you can talk yourself out of it, but most of the time it does not work. Then you have no other choice and you have to pay. And just because you pay doesn't mean you support it. The world works a lot different outside the western world, but it gets better, but with small steps.
Not sure Dan was justifying bribery. I think the intent was to help people keep it in perspective and not use it as a fear that keeps one from ever leaving home.
Hi Dan, I am absolutely loving what you have done and achieved; however, I would like to raise points of concerns regarding traveling in Africa. I myself am a very positive person, I am very much outgoing and feel relatively safe living in sunny wild Africa. Right? I will highlight what it means to live and travel in and around Africa. Most people live in closed off estates with high security. Most people additional belong to private security services because there is no trust and confidence in our police! Our homes are linked with security companies. Further you are equipped with panic buttons and silent panic buttons. As this is not enough people live behind huge walls and most walls are spiked with wires, spikes and electric fences. I have pepper spray additional at home and in my car. And, if you visit people here you will realize that the majority has dogs on the property for security reasons. Now we don't live like that because we are scared of lions. In Africa it is a matter of time where you WILL be confronted with crime and you are going to be a victim of crime. The difference is what type of crime and how badly you were hurt. Did your loved ones got shot, killed? Raped or even tortured? House robbery? Hijacked? Armed robbery? Smash and grab? We are dealing with crime on the daily basis. Communities supporting CPF and are additional on night patrol. Crime hit me 3 times. If nothing serious happened to you personally you are thankful. A friend of mine got killed in a bush lodge recently and the attacker took only cellphones and other small valuables. The woman got hit over the head. Driving in Africa means that you have to be on alert all the time. Leave space to the car in front of you in case you need to pull away. One of my black friend, after watching your comment about Africa, said that you clearly don't know Africa. Dan, it is not my intention to say that you are wrong. Africa is fascinating. The people are the most welcoming and warm people I know. But reality is that we all, black and white, fearing crime. Black people even more as they are often get brutally attacked and stabbed by criminals. People need to understand that it all depends on the crime experienced. I know tourists who had the most amazing time here and everything went well but I also know tourists who got robbed on the day of arrival and went straight back. I don't want to discourage people to visit our beautiful country. Instead I want you to know that it is a country where you have to follow safety procedures, look up at your own embassy for recommendations and safety issues and get emergency telephone numbers on speed dial. If I have a car problem and be stranded next to the highway in Johannesburg, my insurance company will immediately dispatch security to stay with me until AA arrives and stay with me on the line until I confirm that security has arrived. This is not done because there is no one out to get me. Of course nobody is here to get me personally but there are criminals everywhere and they see a chance. ..they will take the chance. What I want say is, that I am very happy for you that you have only encountered positive feelings and moments while driving through Africa. In general, however, I advise that please familiarize yourself with the conditions. Take certain steps to keep your holiday or adventuresome travel as safe as possible, stay on the national roads and be alert. Use common sense and to be honest, pepper spray is recommended because it also keeps some animals away who want to greet you personally 😉 I trust that I could bring some helpful information and once again I am happy to hear that you have had an awesome and amazing experience. This is exactly what I wish to all the people who are planning to make a holiday in Africa. I wish you Dan many more beautiful and fascinating travels all over the world. This inspired me to do the same btw. 😊 all the best for 2021 - greetings from sunny wild Africa!
I'm guessing you're in South Africa?
@@TheRoadChoseMe yes, I live here since 1996. Originally from Germany 🙂
I certainly felt way less safe in South Africa that I did in other countries. Driving into Botswana was a huge sigh of relief. After 3 months of not wild camping in SA I did so on my first night in Swaziland and met tons of friendly and welcoming people!
@@TheRoadChoseMe Swaziland and Lesotho are very much different from SA. Much less crime and the people are very inviting and grateful. The tribes who live in Swaziland and Lesotho were fleeing into the mountains from the Zulus. It goes way back. The history is really interesting. I feel in Swaziland and Lesotho much safer than in SA. Botswana; I hope you visited the Salt pan? It's incredible there. Your passion for exploring countries and continents in an overlander is very much inspiring and as soon life allows me to do this I am definitely going to explore other countries and continents. Have a great day and stay safe wherever you are.
@Carola Trummer - I pointed out the differences between Bots/Swazi/Lesotho and SA because while I don't want to diminish your experiences and input, it's worth remembering SA is by far the most dangerous and violent country in Southern Africa. So it's not reasonable to compare all 54 African nations to just South Africa, given it's a bit of an outlier and paints a bad picture on the rest of the nearby countries.
You said the people of Swazi and Lesotho are "very much different" and the people are very inviting and grateful. I can tell you from my experience, and the experience of hundreds of other overlanders I personally spoke that have spent years in Africa that's what many Africa countries are like.
those people that tell you that stuff are jealous because they can't do it
i work for air canada and people say stupid thing something and they dont know like you said what theres talking about lol
I was a bit more worried about border crossings
What are you worried about specifically? I can go into great detail in a future video if you really want...
@@TheRoadChoseMe not speaking Spanish and getting thr permits and insurance!
I'll do a step-by-step how to cross and international border video
Yeah, truly driving around the world is 100% impossible unless you have a vehicle that can travel both land and sea...
That's why we ship our vehicles from continent to continent - th-cam.com/video/nfXrj6J87Ts/w-d-xo.html
We are Fred and Elisabeth from New Zealand and driving around the world for the last 6 years with an 1957 Mercedes and tent trailer. We spend one year USA,1 Year trough Central America, 2,5 years trough South America. We have never felt unsafe ,had any bribery. Our experience is the meeting all the local people. We still having an fantastic time. Fb.Classicstrider.com
Expo is increasingly full of jingoistic trolls that care more about how pretty their never used vehicles look and almost rejoice in telling you how dangerous the rest of the world is and how stupid you are if you venture out of Murrica or Mooseville. I really don't even understand why they are on a vehicle adventure based forum in the first place.
Great video. You'd have been better sticking to the facts for the kidnapping. If it's 1 every 10 years you're actually 20 times more likely to be struck by lightning!
Absolutely correct!
If what you say is so true, then how come so many Americans always seem to be scared as heck carrying AR-15s in their pick-ups and prepping at their compounds? th-cam.com/video/sEygeduzi40/w-d-xo.html
First
Wowee!