Can we please refrain from further "oh you need an Autobahnvignette otherwise you are not allowed to cross the desert" comments. I'm certain that a pack of cigarettes with dollar notes in it will void certain fees and legalities...i've seen in done in movies.
Cetainly a trip like that will need to be planned in advance...this is just to see who's up for it.

We should organise an evening watching old Top Gears, the ones with the big trips. As far as I remember there is:
- across africa (the one with the desert where Hammond falls in love with his car)
- across the amazon rain forest
- scootering in Vietnam

and of course the all time classic

- from Florida to New Orleans

Hell yeah, I love the Africa one...!!!

How long do you think it will take? I know some people who drive from Morocco to Namibia in a Fiat Cinquecento. They even picked up hitchhikers. So, it'd be totally do-able in a bigger car.

That's what I'm talking about!!! I'd assume a good 2-3 weeks.

Picking up hitchhikers doesn't necissarely increase the amount of occupants in the car....

It is miles away but since you've already considered doing that and you might as well get stuck in Africa indefinitely... why won't you go skiing to Lesotho which is perfect time anyway in mid of the year as the seasons are opposite to northern hemisphere and it is not so fareway from Swaziland.

Anyway, talking about the trip and logistics you need to plan it for at least lets say a month trip, lots of cash will be handy for tipping local authorities to let you intact and without unnecessary hassle. It took about half a year to my Geman friend who travelled all the way down to South Africa by BMW motor-bike. Travel insurance and int. personal liability and insurance covering from vehicle damage will be reasonable cover and all sort of vaccines against tropical deseases I would deem necessary. You might need more cash as the cards won't work in some countries anyway, just carry a sack of gold. Make sure you have multi-lingual electronic dictionary which will be handy in dealing with local communities. Except from obvious stash on all kind of outdoor gadgets that might be handy and always carry fresh drinkable water, antivenin serum against cobra's or mamba's and scorpion's bite in case you decide to pitch a tent in the rural area or in the bush... be ready for any occurence... You get the picture... Good luck with your journey... Still wanna go... good luck

You really need to do any Africa trip in an ancient mercedes. Because of various despot's penchant for these cars, spare parts are never a problem.

Haha! Good point! Be fun to see how many of the original occupants survived to the end -- a bit like Big Brother.

I'd love to do this, but can't drive, unfortunately! But, all the best! I highly recommend West Africa as a holiday spot.

I tell you what, we'll get a 1994 black S600 and attach two small flag of the country we are currently passing on the front of it...and pretend to be diplomats returning home from Switzerland.
On a more serious note, hell yeah I'm still up for it. It will take 2-3 weeks anything more will be considered tanning.

I was thinking in the same direction, but I would prefer a golden Benz. What you you think, coupe or the real tank?

The real tank obviously...by the way, that is a sweet car.

god. this is getting good.
i'm thinking that i'm (sorry to cramp yo style) bringing the family.

How big is the family?

If you want them to be safe and have enough space in the back, this might be the right choice for you...

oh no! we are small people.
let's not get outta hand.
personally, i'd take something more like this-






but then we had to utilize laps...

Before you go, you might want to check the legality
of selling your car in the Gambia, thus avoiding what
could otherwise be A Very Nasty Surprise...

Just a thought.
.

What are popular cars for taxis in Gambia, because thats what we're driving I was speaking to a Cairo cabbie a few years back and he was moaning about his brand new Daewoo and just how crap he thought it was. In a grand flourish he said that he would swap it for a 20 year old Peugeot 504 in a heartbeat. Apparently these cars in their saloon and estate forms trade hands for serious money out there.

Castro, you are definitely coming.

..done deal, girls older than 18 can come on my lap...and make sure the kids behave. I don't want to have to leave little Billy on the side of the road somewhere on a highway in Mali or wherever we're crossing.

hell yea. good thinking castro.
is there an equivalent to a jeep cherokee type car?
in central american taxi drivers use a lot of those to haul people and their things...

yeah, I got one...a good ol Impala.