The Africa Rally

18/06/2024

The Africa Rally isn’t just about the adventure, it’s also about doing good along the way 🙏

That’s why we encourage each of our teams to choose a charity close to their hearts, and fundraise for them as part of the rally. 👍

Team Amazon Across Africa have chosen With Change In Mind - and below is a link to their fundraising page - anything you can do to assist, whether it be the price of your morning coffee, or more - will we’re sure be greatly appreciated 🙌

Kevin and Kaz are taking part in the Africa Rally 2024 in a 1964 Volvo Amazon 122S, named Modesty by her previous owners, “Moddy” for short, after the rather racy British cartoon strip Modesty Blaise. She’s no stranger to long trips across challenging African roads, having been driven by her p...

17/06/2024

We're pleased to announce that due to an overwhelming amount of enquiries about The Africa Rally 2025, we're opening registration early!😀🌍
..and what's more, anyone who jumps on the roster now can receive a special early bird discount simply by using the code "EARLYBIRD25" at checkout!😍

It's available for a limited time only, so don't hesitate to check us out: https://africarally.com/africa-rally-2025/

Or get in touch with our HQ Team directly on [email protected] to pose any pre-registration questions!👍

The Africa Rally is an adventure travel company which hosts charity motorsports events in Africa.

07/06/2024

Team registration is now closed for The Africa Rally 2024…

…but we know so many of you already have your eyes on 2025 😀🙌

…and yes - we’ll be back 5th July 2025 - 26th July 2025 - same routes, same concept, same fantastic adventure right across Africa! 🌍

Special early bird pricing will be available to anyone on our mailing list, so make sure to sign up and opt in to receiving emails to get your code: https://africarally.com/the-africa-rally-2025/

05/06/2024

It’s fair to say that here at The Africa Rally we always like to work with likeminded innovative people, and often it can require some out of the box thinking to meet the unique demands that running a pan-African charity road trip holds. 🌍

This is why we are so pleased to be working with Geotab Africa 🙌

They have adapted their fleet and asset tracking solutions perfectly, to meet the needs of The Africa Rally. Historically we have always had a 24/7 emergency line during our events, but now for the first time there won’t be any question about where that team is located.

This extra level of safety should allow Africa Rally Teams to be bold and take the road less travelled like never before! 👍

https://geotabafrica.com/

04/06/2024

This is an amazing middle option for any of our teams who perhaps want a night off from camping but don’t want to spend big on chalets 🙏

Africa Rally teams get a discounted rate, but we’d suggest anyone going through Livingstone to check this place out 🌍🙌👍

30/05/2024

Just a reminder that team registration for The Africa Rally 2024 closes at midnight tomorrow! 🙏

Should anything happen to your team prior to the start line we do offer a free deferral to The Africa Rally 2025, but hope that won’t be the case as we’d love to adventure with you sooner rather than later! 🌍🙌

Here’s the link to join us: https://africarally.com/product/the-africa-rally-2024/

Please do share this announcement far and wide as we would love for to get involved 👍

28/05/2024

Those of you who have been following us for some time will remember the Africa Rally Charity Calendars we were selling in December to support Aspire African Communities in eSwatini 🇸🇿…

…well, this weekend our team were back on site to offer a little more hands on help rather than financial. 🙌

We worked through the night, battling some rather large spiders, and can now report the clinic has a fully functioning dental chair. 😀👍

P.S. does anyone know what those spiders were, and if they were venomous? 😳😂

23/05/2024

Awesome to announce that The Africa Rally HQ Team - along with some of our more famous vehicles - will be attending the South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show at Zwartkops this September! 😀🌍🙌

In the area? Why not come down and query the team about all things overlanding, and what’s in store for The Africa Rally 2025! 👍

The South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show

21/05/2024

It seems like only yesterday we were sipping cold Tusker Beers and waving in teams to the Finish Line of The Africa Rally 2023…

…yet this mobile menagerie of motoring mayhem is once again about to get underway!😀🌍🙌

There’s still time to join us though - Team Registration is open until midnight on 31st May. 👍

Click to join: https://africarally.com/product/the-africa-rally-2024/

Queries or questions prior to getting involved, please message our HQ Team directly on [email protected] and they’ll be happy to help.😀🙏

The Africa Rally is an adventure travel company which hosts charity motorsports events in Africa.

20/05/2024

Happy Mondays from the Africa Rally Advanced Research Team 🙏🌍👍

Ernest Hemingway once said ‘I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up and was not happy’ and while we’ve had plenty of tough mornings, waking up to a sunrise such as this definitely helps! 🤩

17/05/2024

Great news that we’ve been featured in Malawi Travel’s list of events coming to the country in the next few months! 🙌🇲🇼

If you are in Malawi this July keep a lookout for our Africa Rally Teams passing through - all details in the article 👍

https://malawitravel.org/our-news/news/entry/the-africa-rally-2024-heads-for-malawi.html

Suggested Title:  The Africa Rally 2024 Heads for Malawi! Suggested Text: This July the Warm Heart of Africa plays host to Africa’s Biggest Char

16/05/2024

We’ve consulted for and helped out a number of overlanders over the years, but always get excited when new mad trips pop up 😂🌍🙏

…now to just get the attention of Guinness World Records… 👍

15/05/2024

It’s been years since our team was back driving through west Africa, but to see it again, on motorbikes no less, is always tempting 😁🌍 I Like Motorbikes has been kind enough to document their travels for our blog, and Sunsetseeker is his better half and travelling companion! 🙌

In other news, Gear K***s - you need to chat to these guys for those borders you are attempting 👍

14/05/2024

It’s our teams’ last day on the Mozambique coast, so we had to finish with a truly tropical round of beverages 🍹

What’s your beach beverage of choice, and why? 😀🏝️🙌

10/05/2024

Happy Friday 🤩 from Tina & the Africa Rally Team! 🌍🙌

09/05/2024

Our ‘man on the road’ in West Africa, Tom Gould from I Like Motorbikes is back with his second article for us! 😀

Written while staying at PermaTogo high up in the Togolese mountains, it’s a reflection on what’s changed since he hit the road, and how his daily interactions with the world while astride his Honda CG125 have had a lasting impact. 🌍👍

Changes. A musing on life, adventure, and motorbikes, written by Tom Gould currently riding his Honda CG125 through Togo, West Africa.

04/05/2024

It’s official, we’re now experts😂… in what it has yet to be determined, but we shall be at The South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show in September with a host of fantastically ridiculous overland vehicles, ready to answer all of your questions or queries on sub-Saharan Africa 🌍👍

…we’re also going to try and bring the flying motorbike… if we can find a way to ship it from the UK (please help!😂) 🇬🇧🇿🇦

Adventure Afrika Indaba

Get your adventure fix by joining us at the The South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show at Zwartkops Raceway on 7 and 8 September for the first-ever Adventure Afrika Indaba

Ultimate Adventures
The Africa Rally
Outbound 4x4 Trailers
Ironman 4x4 Africa
Trans Africa Self Drive Adventures and Tours
Adventure Afrika 4x4 Training & Tours
Jimny DRIVE
Wild Dog 4x4

Lets talk Overlanding!!

04/05/2024

An Africa Rally Guide to The Dedza Border (Malawi to Mozambique)

Alrighty folks, we’re back with another useful Africa Rally Border Guide!

As always, this guide has come straight from first hand on the ground research, valid as of 3rd May 2024.

Context: British National crossing from Malawi to Mozambique at Dedza, on British passport, in South African plated vehicle, registered in another person’s name, but with affidavit permission.

(You might also wonder why we didn’t do a guide for Zambia / Malawi at Chipata. Well, enter building, go to first window, proceed along windows, exit building seemed so simple we’re sure you could handle it!)

Dedza is a game of two halves!

Step 1: Drive past all the old border shops on the right, including the old MRA (Malawi Revenue Authority) building, and ignore the sign for Border Post which seems to be pointing you towards a gate. This is in fact the exit gate. Also drive past the Mozambique left turn, until you come to another gate on your right. Turn in here then park up on the right hand side in front of the new white building.

Step 2: Walk into the white building through the right hand side door and walk ahead to the Immigration desks. The building is so new the signs aren’t up yet, but it will be the only window with people at, for your Malawi exit stamp.

Step 3: Walk through the building and exit through side door as indicated on the map. Turn right then left into the new MRA (Malawi Revenue Authority) building.

Step 4: Walk up to the desk and give them your TIP and Road Tax documents that you got on arrival in Chipata, then fill in the book while they tick you off the system and stamp your documents. You’ll get these back when they are done.

Step 5: Return to your vehicle, exit round the right hand side of the white building, keep turning right until you reach the exit gates you drove past earlier. They will check your passport, look at the TIP exit stamps (be clear to them you are exiting), then proceed down the road marked “To Mozambique” on the map.

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Step 6: You’ll see a barrier across the road. Unlike with most borders that have an enclosed space, this one barrier is in fact the border itself, so don’t drive up to it, instead turn right into the dusty field and find a spot to park underneath a shaded tree.

Step 7: Get out of your vehicle and walk past the barrier, then enter the blue building on the left. On the way in you’ll be passed a small Visa form to fill in, the officials will be happy if you fill this in out of the way before entering.

Step 8: With your newly filled in form go into the blue building and to the desk on the left (immigration). It may still have the Malawi sign up, but ignore this, it’s Mozambique entry since the building was repurposed. Hand them your passport and the slip.

Step 9: While they are processing this, you may ask if you can do the TIP at the same time, (they said yes to me), so I walked to the other side of the room, and filled in all the documents for the vehicle. Note: THE TIP IS FREE. It used to cost, however this has been removed, so if you’ve employed a “helper” – not recommended – they’ll probably try to charge you for this.

Step 10: Once the TIP is stamped, go back to get your passport, and you’ll need to pay 650 meticals, or about $10. Local currency is preferred but they will take USD. Your passport will be stamped and you’ve got 30 days in Mozambique.

Step 11: Walk out with all of your documents, past the barrier, and now go to the blue hut marked Road Tax shown on the map. Pay $10 and get a blue road tax document. This document and the receipt for your visa stamp are both very important as they will be stamped at various major checkpoints as you drive across Mozambique – DON’T LOOSE THEM!

Step 12: The building next door to the Road Tax building (shown on map) is an insurance place. We paid $25 for 30 days cover on Mozambique roads for the Cortina. Again, probably cheaper if paid in Meticals but they didn’t seem to push the price and everyone was paying roughly that.

Step 13: Return to your vehicle, perhaps change some cash to local as a lot of petrol stations in Mozambique only take cash, but most of the currency guys around will take anything. So if you want to change Kwacha, USD, Rand, or even Euro you’ll be able to do it at an acceptable rate.

Step 14: Drive up to the barrier with all of your documents out, they’ll check the stamps, then… Welcome to Mozambique! You’ve now got 100kms of beautiful new tarmac ahead of you to enjoy!😀

03/05/2024

Any teams that are looking for something fun, yet very capable for this year’s Africa Rally - it’s not too late to get your name on the roster! 😀🌍🙌

Just seen this posted on another site. It’s not too late if someone wants to enter The Africa Rally 2024.

01/05/2024

That moment where heard you are bringing loads of classic cars through for charity, and are building some beautiful new roads just for you! 😁🌍🙏

Our Ford Cortina managed the current roads with no issue, but we’re sure our teams will appreciate it. 🇲🇼👍

.malawi

27/04/2024

Last month our Rally Director Paul dropped us a message from Zimbabwe to say he’d be offline for a few days, as he needed to head to Scotland to pickup the ultimate adventure machine… a flying motorbike… 🏍️

…naturally we assumed the heat had finally got to him…☀️

But turns out the Venturo is real, and this is the story of what happened next…

It feels like years since we watched videos of the team test piloting the Venturo prototype flying above a small island off the coast of Scotland... and in f...

25/04/2024

Anyone attending today, keep a lookout for our infamous Ford Cortina in the car park, and our Rally Director wandering around 😀🙏

He’ll probably be in a Hawaiian shirt and red sunglasses so should be pretty easy to spot 😂🌍👍

Today's the day 🌍🇲🇼🔥💫

24/04/2024

While waiting for an internet connection strong enough for our team in the field to send us their next videos from Zambia and Malawi, we stumbled across this old photo of our Rally Director, Paul, at an event earlier in the year…

…naturally had to have a bit of fun with it😂

Thoughts? 😁

22/04/2024

MUSICIANS & DJs WANTED! 🎸🙌🌍👍

We’ve just heard that the artists we had for the Start Line Party on 29th June in Harties, have had to cancel… something about a double booking in Cape Town…

…now with our event having International TV and Media exposure we thought let’s do something a little different, and try to find replacement artists to put on the map through all of the wonderful people that make up our network 🤩 (that’s you guys reading this now! 🙏)

Do you know of a great DJ available on Saturday 29th June?

Do you know of a band that will get everyone up and dancing into the night?

Please put them in touch with us, tag them below, or get them to send links to their music to [email protected] with their name in the subject line 👍

(Disclaimer: It’s a charity event so we don’t have the budget to fly people in or host AC/DC for the weekend, but we’re also not expecting them to play for free. Someone in the Gauteng / Harties area already would be perfect.)

18/04/2024

This week we welcome Amy Novak to our team of Guest Writers, and we turn to the mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa, for a story of adventure, self-discovery, and rock climbing!😀

Reminding us to enjoy the challenge and method of learning a new skill, and encouraging readers to put themselves out there, this is an awesomely crafted piece, well worth 5 minutes out of your morning routine to read. 🧗‍♀️👍

A personal story of discovery featuring the enjoyment of rock climbing in the Western Cape, South Africa. Advice included for those wanting to start.

16/04/2024

The Kazungula Border Bridge (Botswana to Zambia) – An Africa Rally “How To” Guide.

Since the Zambezi ferry was decommissioned and the Kazungula Border Bridge was finished in May 2021 this border has changed dramatically. There’s also a lot of conflicting and outdated information online, so with this, we figured we'd give you a “How To” Guide, valid as of April 2024.

For context: Driver is crossing on a British Passport, with a South African vehicle, registered in another person’s name.

Step 1: Cross Bridge then head left towards a Foot & Mouth environmental gate, listed as Water Gate on map. Drive through the water then stop.

Step 2: Get out and wash your feet on the mat, then request a Gate Pass slip (hold onto this you’ll need it to exit the border).

Step 3: Drive round to the right, take the first right turn, and park next to the Port Health Building. Let them know how healthy you are, and collect a sticker (it’s round on a square piece of paper about 1 inch squared).

Step 4: Drive back out of car park, turn right, and head to main building on the left, and park up there.

Step 5: Head into main building and proceed through windows left to right around the outside. First is Botswana for your immigration stamp out.

Step 6: Botswana Customs, you need your BURS document you got on entry, then provide vehicle ownership document, signed & stamped affidavit from owner to say you can drive it into Zambia, plus their signed & stamped affidavit ID. You’ll be asked to complete a temporary export form, let them know your route of the rally (you’ll be asked this a few times).

Step 7: Walk across to the Zambian side of the building, you can ask for specific “window numbers” if you get lost.

Step 8: Zambian immigration, ask for 14 to 30 days, you won’t be charged for the tourist visa. This is where you deposit your Port Health sticker.

Step 9: Zambian Customs & Interpol, provide all documents to them and answer questions. They will then take you outside to inspect your vehicle and check chassis or engine number. Talk about the Africa Rally and the story behind your vehicle, depending on the staff they’ll recognise the sticker and will make everything from here on easier.

Step 10: Car insurance is the window next to Interpol, get 30 days, it should cost around $9 USD.

Step 11: Zambia Customs, after receiving clearance from Interpol, will now ask you to complete a form on the computers confirming any high value items you are bringing into Zambia temporarily prior to them creating your temporary import permit for them and the vehicle. Excluding the vehicle, so long as the items are under $5,000 USD value then you won’t be asked to complete any additional forms.

Step 12: While Zambian Customs are preparing your TIP, you’ll be asked to head to the Cashier (last window in the corner of the building) to pay for the bridge toll $15 USD (must be in USD), $20 Carbon Tax, and KWH230 road tax (must be paid in Kwacha). They accept card payments for all of these, but if you want to speed up the process then cash is always useful as you don’t have to wait for the internet or risk your card not working on the first try.

Step 13: Go back to Zambian Customs, your documents will all be ready and he’ll tell you you are ready to go!

Step 14: Go back to the Zambian Car Insurance desk if he didn’t give you a window sticker, as insurance must be displayed on the passenger side window of the vehicle at all times in country. He’ll give you a sticker and now you can leave the main building and stick it on.

Step 15: Drive to exit gate, give them the original slip from the water gate entrance and congratulations you are into Zambia!

We're not saying processes and prices won't change again, but hopefully this sequence of steps will help any Africa Rally teams, or fellow overlanders have a stress free border experience.

Getaway Magazine Tracks4Africa SA4x4 Adventure Afrika

09/04/2024

Team already registered for The Africa Rally 2024? 🌍🙌

In that case you may want to start thinking about how to secure yourselves one of our infamous Golden Pineapples 😁🍍🏆

Scavenger Hunt booklets will only be handed out at the Start Line (to prevent prior preparation), but for everything else there’s lots you can do in advance to help secure yourself an award 😀👍

The Golden Pineapple Awards celebrate the greatest of the rally teams to enter each year, and applaud their adventuring out across Africa.

08/04/2024

A massive congratulations to Russ Cook, who yesterday became the first man to run the length of Africa! 🌍🙌

What an achievement and over £500k raised for charity 👍

Russ Cook says it is "hard to contemplate the whole thing" after completing the mammoth challenge.