On Sunday 11th October 2009, the OverlandintheSun team will leave Marble Arch, central London, bound for Cape Town, South Africa.
Ahead of us lies a gruelling expedition over more than 18 000 miles and 18 countries, with omnipresent challenges such as breakdowns, banditry, red tape and disease. Why? To promote SolarAid, a positive charity that fights poverty alongside global warming.
Leaving Europe via France, Italy and a ferry into Tunisia, we will then drive into the largely undiscovered “dust storm” of Libya before seeing the more familiar sites in Egypt. Christmas will be spent in Sudanese sun and hospitality, before crossing into the cooler highlands of Ethiopia.
In the New Year, the drive will take us into East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi), visiting the SolarAid projects and the “Safari” proper. After some time in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, we will enter South Africa in July 2010, just as all eyes will be focusing on the Football World Cup.
One third of the world’s population has no access to electricity. Solar energy can enable people to have lighting for education, foster communication by powering radios and mobile phones, improve health by powering water pumps and vaccine fridges, and reduce the risk of fire. The charity, SolarAid, helps local entrepreneurs to set up businesses specialising in this technology. It also enables local communities to build their own larger solar systems for centres such as schools and hospitals.
Up to 30% of an engine’s power is used for equipment other than propelling the vehicle forward. Demonstrating the potential of solar power, the OverlandintheSun LandCruiser has been fitted with 300 Watts of electricity-producing Solar Photovoltaics (PV). This electricity will charge batteries that power the assisted steering and cooling fan. It will also power a kettle, laptops, mobile phones, stereo, lights and a small fridge.
With a leaving event lined up (go to www.OverlandintheSun.com for more info) and all preparations nearly complete, we are very nearly ready to roll.
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