It has been a long journey, a very long journey, our journey of dreaming and our journey of planning. Eight years of dreaming and two years of planning. Now, at last, our dream has become a reality. We commenced our journey in January 2010; the journey of our life. We have now completed Stage One of our adventure from Borneo to South Africa and from South Africa to Europe.
We visited 30 countries and covered a distance of nearly 70,000km (almost enough to circumnavigate the globe twice at the equator). Africa has so many breathtakingly beautiful places and during Stage One of our around the world 4WD adventure, we have been very privileged to have experienced everything these countries have to offer. We were exposed to so many different cultures, scenery and beautiful people. For most part, Southern, Middle and Eastern Africa is a remarkably kind and benevolent place.
We are a Dutch couple who have been dreaming about travelling the world in an off-road vehicle. In the 28 years since we moved to Australia, we have travelled approximately 300,000km throughout Australia. The last 140,000km has been in the period 2003 to 2007. We enjoy the deserts, remote places, beautiful scenery, bush camping and camp fires. After many nights discussing the possibility of an around the world trip, we made the decision to sell our business, retire and then start travelling.
Over a period of one year, we gathered a great deal of information about Africa. In February 2010, we embarked on our world adventure, firstly visiting Borneo while we were waiting for our truck to arrive in South Africa. Our website includes our Australia trips, our world travel and the 10,000km test drive to Cape York just north of where we live. Born 24.6.55 in Arnhem Holland, Robert has lived in Holland, the Caribbean and Australia. He was a Royal Dutch Marine from 1974 to 1977. Then in 1977 he married Clary Lingeman. Robert and Clary moved to Australia in 1981.
They lived in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and for the past fifteen years they have lived just north of Cairns in Northern Australia. Robert has been involved in the hospitality industry most of his life. He has held executive positions with Nestle, Sara Lee and Sinclair Halvorsen, before becoming self-employed and involved in food manufacturing, wholesale, import and export. Ten years ago Robert and Clary purchased Apres Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove, Tropical Northern Australia.
Robert`s hobbies include: Travelling, bush camping, swimming and music. Born 28.10.56 in Dieren Holland, Clary has lived in Holland and Australia. Clary worked in Holland as a teacher until migrating to Australia with husband Robert in 1981. Due to the many job transfers with Robert, Clary worked many jobs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While Robert was involved in his own business in import/export, Clary purchased her own business, the Apres Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove, North Queensland. Robert then sold his own business and then spent his time assisting Clary with her business in Palm Cove. Clary`s hobbies include: Travelling, bush camping, swimming, reading and gardening.
Our Trip
We have now embarked on Stage Two of our journey. We have had to dramatically alter our original plans for this stage due to the political situation in North Africa and will now be travelling through Europe and West Africa.
Stage One – Borneo and South Africa to Europe
Completed : The journey started 10 February 2010 in Borneo where we spent three weeks before flying to South Africa to meet our truck on the wharf in Durban. We travelled from Cape Agulhas, east of Cape Town (Africa`s most southerly point). We then travelled north till Sudan from where we crossed the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah). From there we drove to Holland, arriving on Christmas Day 2010. The countries we visited were:Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana. Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Holland
Stage Two – Europe and West Africa
Start January 2011 – Finish October 2011 The countries we will visit are: Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Mali, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Andorra. Once back in Europe we will tackle Iceland and Norway including Europe`s most Northern point “North Cape” before ending Stage Two at the October fest in Munich Stage Three – Northern Africa, Europe and the Middle East
Start January 2011 – Finish October 2011
In 2010 we did not visit Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. Hence we will travel back to Alexandria in Egypt to continue our Journey (this is subject to the political situation) Before heading back to mainland Europe we will visit Africa’s most northern point near Bizerte in Tunisia. Once back in Europe we will tackle Northern Europe, including Europe’s most Northern point, “North Cape”.
The countries we will visit are: Egypt- Libya-Tunisia (Italy-Switzerland- Germany only transit), Finland Northern Russia, Eastern Europe and once we leave Eastern Europe en route to Asia: Iran, Kuwait, Dubai, Oman (the plan is to then leave our truck in Dubai)
Stage Four – Middle East to Asia
Start February 2013 – Finish October 2013 The countries we will visit are: Pakistan, Tibet (China) Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore
Stage Five – Asia to Europe
Start January 2014 in Singapore – Finish November 2014. The countries we will visit are: China, Mongolia, Russia (including Siberia), Kazakhstan, Ukraine
Stage Six – South America
Starting January 2014 in Brazil and finishing in Mexico October 2015 Around We will ship our truck from Holland to Rio de Janeiro (South America). The countries we will visit are: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Panama (we will take a ferry from Ecuador), Costa, Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico Stage Seven – USA, Canada and Alaska March 2016 to October 2016 March 2017 to October 2017 Editor : you can see pictures and stories of this great journey on www.doubledutchworldsafari.com
