Poll: Would you drive across Africa for $1 million?

[Jedoro]

Can I have a Humvee wagon instead? Maintained right (i.e. not overloading it with bulletproofing that fucks up the suspension, not buying parts from the lowest bidder) those things are beasts off-road, and by the looks of it I'd have more room for ammo after filling it with everything else. I'd then learn everything I could about it while finding a friend who spoke French.

EDIT: Follow some links and you find what specific car they used and how someone drove a limo from California to Timbuktu. [http://2aroundtheworld.com/?page_id=2] Look at the bottom before the comments.

 

[Dalisclock]

Only if I get to drive an LAV....and I get $1 billion.

 

[blankedboy]

Africa? Hell no. Any other continent will do, but Africa has like, one legitimate country that won't kick me out on sight.

 

[Kimarous]

Hell no. Why? Because when I think Africa, I think less "awesome Safari trip" and more "poverty, disease, and political turmoil". The only place I'd avoid more is North Korea.

 

[The Virgo]

No thank you. I value my life way too much.

Money does one no good when they are six feet under.

 

[The Virgo]

Hell no. Why? Because when I think Africa, I think less "awesome Safari trip" and more "poverty, disease, and political turmoil". The only place I'd avoid more is North Korea.

Actually, I would feel safer driving through North Korea than Africa. At least North Korea has more civilization and it doesn't have all manner of creatures that could eat your face and kill you.

 

[Zhadramekel]

I was inspired by this amazing thread I read on a travel forum.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/50799-Democratic-Republic-of-Congo-Lubumbashi-to-Kinshasa


Your path:

Your vehicle:

- You have $10,000 USD in cash
- You can bring one (1) person with you, but he or she has to be someone you personally know (sorry, no Bear Grylls)
- You can bring one weapon
- You have GPS, maps, compass, and a satellite phone
- Your vehicle is fully stocked with enough food, medicine, supplies and fuel for 30 days; everything after that is up to you

When you reach Cape Town, South Africa, you get $1 million (tax-free) and are flown back to your country. If at any time during your trip you want to give up, you will be rescued by helicopter and flown back, but you don't get the money, regardless of how far you made it.

Before you answer, keep in mind the skills that you have: physical, technical, and linguistic (French is probably the most valuable language to know in Africa), and those of the person you are bringing with you.

What about air con?

 

[Twilight_guy]

I would but unfortunately I have no survival skills and wouldn't know how to fend off anyone who might attack me on the road. (Yeah I know most of the roads would probably be out int he middle of nowhere and safe but it still happens).

 

[Bebus]

That sounds like fun, to be honest. It's not like we would be forced to drive through/hang out in warzones or anything.

I would take my regular touring bud and have a drunken wonderful time. Life might be short, but $10k USD goes a very long way, especially outside of the West, and if we can't have fun living what's the point?

 

[Continuity]

Yep I would do it, but I would call ahead to all the dangerous countries, ask for permission and an escort. I'd bribe them with some of the prize money... hell I may not have all the 1mil at the end but I may be alive.

To be frank you'd have to pay me that 1 mil just to drive though DR congo never mind the rest.

 

[JLML]

I'd do it as long as my expenses were paid, the million is an extra plus in the corner though. ^^

I would probably make it through quite nicely, I'm good at planning trips and stuff, though there could be some complications with speaking, since my French is pretty poor, and my first choice of friend to take with me doesn't speak it at all (I've promised to go to South Africa with that friend some day, so taking another friend is out of question), though I do have friends who speak it fluently but... Yea. Still think I'd make it though.

 

[Thanatos5150]

Allowing for adequate preparation such as programming a number of numbers into the phone:
Yes. Very Yes.

Making the bribes to pass the border checkpoints would likely be pretty stressful, but nothing that can't be solved with some creative off-roading. Or outright murder, but I'd probably avoid that one as long as possible. (And, hey, free gun in the process!)

Hell, I might even be inclined to bring my girlfriend along. She hates camping and bugs, though - she may or may not decline.

 

[spartan231490]

UM, yes. You can get quite a ways in 30 days, and $10,000 should be enough to restock food and gas anytime you need to. Sounds like an easy million to me.

 

[Zhukov]

Uhh... I dunno.

I think a lot of people are neglecting to notice that that route goes through some awfully unfriendly places. The kind of places where you don't want to be a clueless white guy carrying 10 grand in US dollars. And I personally don't have any fantastical notions of being able to single-handedly fight off a gang of militiamen who've been desperately clawing their way through life from the age of zero.

I would be tempted to try, but I would be well aware that a single mistake or bit of bad luck could result in my shit being fucked up in short order.

 

[lettucethesallad]

I'd probably do it without the money. Looks like fun. And I'd bring my boyfriend along, ['the annoying pink unicorn from Charlie the unicorn' voice] it'd be an adventure [/voice]!

 

[Rawne1980]

Make it 1 million pounds sterling and i'd do it.

I'd take one of my friends, we're ex army so we'd make it a pub crawl across Africa (there had better be pubs in a line from the starting point all the way to cape town), the million would probably just about cover our bar tab when we finish.

What? Free holiday with money to cover expenses at the end?

Like i'd complain.

 

[Smokej]

an old school friend of me did this (but without being paid of course...) after doing 1 year of civilian service in a kindergarten in South Africa he bought a car there for his return journey and travelled back to Germany throughout Africa for several weeks. It was kinda dangerous but he can tell some cool stories from it...

 

[souper soup guy]

I would, it would be a fun adventure. As long as I can have about 3 months of planning time, I could figure out the safest path through Africa. Besides, that route through Africa doesn't even go through the 2 worst places to be currently (Libya, Ethiopia). Seriously, Africa would be a shitty place to live, but if plan ahead you could make the trip in a month and a half.

 

[theultimateend]

I've lived in Africa... and it'll take a damned sight more than $1m to get me to go back there!

Yeah a million dollars to be captured and tortured is not a good deal for me.

If you cut out the absolutely psychotic militaries roaming around Africa I'd be all for it. The animals are scary but I'd take driving a truck through a lion infested area over crazed African militants anyday.

At least the lions are after you for a logical reason.

You are delicious...if that wasn't clear. >_>...