Land Rover Archives - Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Love the Desert… Wait, in Summer?

Jul 18, 2019 · by Russ · In: Land Rover, Nikela Blog, South African Tour Tagged: #NikelaAfrica, South Africa, Tankwa National Park

Just when we finally go back to love the desert, the summer furnace hits us in Tankwa National Park of the Great Karoo, South Africa. In the shade it’s 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit). Even less nice, Landy’s lack of Air Conditioning creates a blazing oven even Hansel and Gretel would appreciate. Yes, I procrastinated having the A/C looked at and boy are we’re paying for it. Fortunately the hot blast from the fan, the rushing air from the windows, and managing to gulp down tons of water helps a bit. Even so, the sun bakes us in this massive…

How the roar of a lion in the night became an unforgettable bush adventure

May 14, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Human Wildlife Conflict, Land Rover, lioness, Marnus, Nikela Blog, wildlife conservation Tagged: bush camp, Marnus Roodbol, Namibia, Nyae-Nyae Conservancy, save lions, walking for lions

The roar of a lion in the night wakes us both up. It’s after midnight, there is no moon. I drop down from the rooftop quickly (it’s that time of night) and don’t stop to enjoy the brilliant sky. A while later another roar… a whole lot closer! “Dam and I are going to see if we can find them.” Marnus and his SAN tracker slowly leave the camp in the direction of the most recent roar. We watch them from the roof top tent on top of our Land Rover. The search light dances around in front of their…

Preparing to Overland Africa to save wildlife from South Africa to Ethiopia and back

Jul 17, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Land Rover, Living in a Landy, Nikela Blog Tagged: 2018-2019, Land Rover, South Africa to Ethiopia, Traveling Africa

Today we begin our eight month journey. We fly from Dallas Texas in the USA to Doha Qatar in the Middle East on to Johannesburg, South Africa. The entire journey will take about 30 hours. This is about preparing to overland Africa 2018-2019. Why do we do this? In our small way we’re about helping people saving wildlife. Preparing to overland Africa to save wildlife in our old Land Rover requires a few things: Like securing a carnet de passage for border crossings (sort of a vehicle passport), a Comesa (third party auto insurance), updated vehicle registration, buying hard to…

The conclusion of the Land Rover Stuck in Tanzania Saga

Mar 15, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Land Rover, Nikela Blog Tagged: Defender TD5, Dodoma, fuel pump, Kwa Mtoro, Land Rover, mechanic, Tanzania

It all began quite suddenly without warning and turned into quite the Land Rover Stuck in Tanzania adventure. The entire stuck in Tanzania saga took 14 days. Yes, it was all of two weeks later that we finally are back on the road south. It all started when driving the back road from Singadi to Dodoma. Our Land Rover’s back right shock failed and took out a fuel connector. We rolled to a stop in the middle of nowhere. Or so it seemed. (Read about it here.) This is where the story continues… After four nights and three days camped…

Almost the Rest of the Stuck with our Land Rover TD5 in Tanzania Story – Part 2

Feb 28, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Land Rover, Nikela Blog Tagged: Kwa Mtoro, Land Rover TD5, Landy, mechanic, Stuck, Tanzania

On Wednesday afternoon we get stuck in Tanzania, in the middle of nowhere, and by Saturday we’re still in the small remote village. “It must be five o’clock!” Russ groans as the morning prayers blast through the village. Five times a day Muslim devotionals are broadcast via loudspeakers. Even in remote villages like Kwa Mtoro its part of the tradition. So begins day two of our stuck in Tanzania story. (You can read how it all started here.) It’s a beautiful morning after the rainstorm yesterday. Today we sit and wait. Recap of yesterday: After fixing and replacing all the…