Grecy

Gabon is shaping up to be everything I dreamed West Africa would be!!

I spent time in the spectacular Loango Lodge and National Park:


More pics and story here: Loango Lodge and National Park | The Road Chose Me

It thumped rain while I was there, which made getting out quite the adventure!



Also, I sat and watched this guy on the side of the road. Spectacular!



More pics and story: Out of Loango | The Road Chose Me

I can NOT believe more people don't talk about Gabon and how spectacular it is!

-Dan

Grecy

Hey Everyone,

I am continuing to roam Gabon!

Wild camps like this continue to be normal:


Here in Gabon I continually see "street meat" for sale on the side of the road, including monkeys:


Read More: Glorious Gabon | The Road Chose Me

After that I decided to cut right through the middle of the country, exploring deep into the jungle:


The trees are enormous, and occasionally the road descended into a mud pit... I continually wondered if I would make it through or be forced to turn back.


Read More: Central Gabon | The Road Chose Me

This place is amazing! As much as I am looking forward to Congo, I don't want to leave!

-Dan

Grecy

Hi All,

I have made my way across the Central Highlands of Gabon, which continues to be stunning!



See more pics here: Gabon Highlands | The Road Chose Me


And after 16,260 miles, I have driven into the Congo!
I have been seriously looking forward to this one for a long, long time. I can not wait to see what this country offers !



You can read about the crossing here: Into Congo | The Road Chose Me

It's Congo time!

-Dan

kbarwall

very very cool adventure!!! Your travels are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing! good luck and be safe. I will be following your progress.

Grecy

Congo is turning out to be nothing at all like I expected!

The one and only refinery is shut down, so there is a massive gas and diesel shortage.
I bought from this guy on the side of the road for a 30% premium.


Read the full story here: Northern Congo | The Road Chose Me

Now I have driven the entire length of the country without a single gas station - over 560 miles.
Unfortunately, there is no gas in Brazzaville and the Jeep is completely empty.


Read the fully story here: To Brazzaville | The Road Chose Me

-Dan

SF_E60

How do people with vehicles get around currently with the gas shortage? They are probably selling some on the black market. What are your current options with the jeep being empty?

Grecy

Yeah, there is a black market. Likely locals have it stocked up and know where to get it, which would help.

I think if you are in the transport business you just keep a hundred gallons or so on hand always, expecting this to happen every few months.

-Dan

Grecy

Hey Everyone,

After a lot of asking around and phone calls, I eventually had 20 gallons of gas delieverd to Hippocampe.
I paid three times the official price, just over $10 USD / gallon!


Read the whole story here: Brazzaville, Congo | The Road Chose Me


After being denied the Angola visa in Brazzaville, I immedietaly jump in the Jeep and drive West, through a region of Congo recently attacked by anti-government rebels.


You can read that story here: To Dolice | The Road Chose Me

Congo sure has been a wild ride!

Fingers crossed I can get the Angola visa somehow... I don't really want to drive across the DRC if I can help it.

-Dan

Grecy

Hi all,

I spent some time around Pointe-Noire Congo, waiting aniously for the Angola visa.
Traditionally it's the hardest of all to get, with many, many people being denied in years gone by.

Happily the current president feels the country is "ready for tourists" and so things are getting easier in 2017.
There is no need for an invitation letter, and getting the one month visa is no problem, when it used to be just a 5-day transit visa.



You can read more about my time in Pointe-Noire here: Pointe-Noire, Congo | The Road Chose Me


Next up, I must cross The DRC.
Probably the least functioning and least safe country I will ever visit.

I did some heavy thinking and planning about which route I want to take, and I have decided to go looking for adventure.
You can read all about the options and my thinking here: Congo Concludes | The Road Chose Me


17,778 miles through 16 countries. The line on the hood continues to grow!


And so onwards, into The DRC!

-Dan

Grecy

Hey Everyone,

It turns out just getting to the border of the Congo to leave can be an adventure!:


I wound up camping the night at the border post, for the first time in my life.
Read the story here: Leaving Congo ? Dolice to Londela-Kayes | The Road Chose Me

From there the road got MUCH smaller and worse, and I wondered time and time again if I took a wrong turn.

After a lot of making it up and following my nose, I finally got to the International Border of the DRC, by far the smallest of the expedition so far!:


You can read about it here: Into The DRC | The Road Chose Me

Already, the DRC feels like something completely different!

-Dan