Land borders in Africa have an ominous reputation, but they’re usually not as bad as people think. There are notable exceptions – one entry into Egypt cost me five hours and USD170 in unavoidable bribes. But those are the horror stories we tell our friends, whereas most crossings are rather dull and uneventful; just a bit of a hassle and an unwanted, but unfortunately legitimate, drain on the wallet. By Chris Davies
Tracks4Africa’s brand new atlas, Traveller’s Atlas Southern Africa, is selling like hot cakes. Buy your copy online and you will receive a free custom-made canvas bag.
At R690, the latest addition to T4A’s paper map portfolio, Traveller’s Atlas Southern Africa, is outstanding value for money. The A3-sized, wiro-bound navigational gem offers 108 pages on 10 Southern African countries.
With modern navigation devices and cellphone cover, it’s hard to imagine getting truly stranded by a stricken vehicle. That said, the best places to explore are usually the most remote and there’s always the chance an accident or mechanical failure could leave you marooned. By Chris Davies
