MARLOTH PARK – A broken chassis and long painstaking hours waiting at the border of Angola have derailed a commendable attempt by two locally known stepbrothers from England to drive from London to Cape Town in less than 10 days – and it would have been a world record.
Paul Hanson (26), and George Coleman (25), had spent in the region of R230 000 kitting out their Land Rover Discovery, ready for their epic excursion. But in the end their plucky 4×4 bit the dust on the home stretch in Windhoek, Namibia, 1 600 kilometres from their target.
Earlier this month, Corridor Gazette reported on Hanson and Coleman who had at that stage, just entered Angola. They have been visiting Marloth Park since they were 10 and nine years old and it is here where they developed their zest for adventure.
It took them 14 400 kilometres of which 8 800 were completed with a broken chassis. That left them venturing on thin ice because their target of 10 days was hanging by a thread as the Angolan border is closed on Sundays.
That resulted in a 23-hour waiting period before they could enter that country. It was the final nail in the coffin for their record attempt.
Although very disheartening for the two brothers, they carried on regardless, to at least try and finish their journey in the Land Rover, only for the prop shaft to snap in Namibia. This meant the end of their record- breaking attempt.
Their final stretch was eventually done by air from Windhoek to Cape Town, where their families were waiting to welcome them home.
Paul said they had learned so much about the world, different people, different cultures and themselves, as well as about mechanics. As the vehicle was more than 15 years old, and ever since the chassis broke in Senegal, things got increasingly difficult and they were really fighting the tide.
“We felt disappointed at first but now we think it is better to think of what a great achievement our journey was. It was unbelievable and looking back, we are incredibly proud. We fought Africa and she won but we will be back.
“We may have fallen short this time but it has given us such great ideas of places we want to see.
“This has opened a door for us and we want to try and make a name for ourselves.”
But regardless of where their next trip may take them, one thing is certain, it will not be in this Land Rover Discovery. They have left it with relatives in Africa to be stripped and sold off for parts, showing little sentiment for their four-wheeled companion.
Hanson has contracted a serious strain of malaria, but has been treated and discharged. He is just about ready to start planning their next trip.
