Solo Overland Travel And Transit

South America : Africa : Middle East : Asia 

Within all the interior regions of Africa, South America and Asia, there's always some form of bush transport available. If there's a dirt track that a set of wheels can drive on, then locals will definitely use it to their best advantage. Climbing on the back of trucks, bush buses, or being squashed up into vans becomes a normal weekly occurrence in transit. It's the same with river or lake transport that has enough water to float a boat downstream - always packed over the limit, ready to sail. Some local transportation may appear to be totally outright dangerous within western eyes, but certainly not the case to locals that use it every day.
​There are times that the risk factor multiplies, but then if it's the only available transport, it could be a long wait until something else comes along. Highway carnage, accidents, breakdowns, blown out tyres and engine failures are all a part of the solo overland travel experience using local transport-Hey, welcome to the real world of solo overland travel. 

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So many today have the habit of jumping on quick flights inside countries to reach destinations within the same country. The obvious reasons for doing so equates, to either having short limited travel time schedules, or avoiding the hassles of using local overland transportation. This is where it defines those who are actual vivid overland travellers, or half-pie wannabes that haven't the courage or self-esteem to motivate themselves, even if they were inside a used paper bag trying to find the easiest way out. We all know Western beach party goers commonly use selective air travel from one safe zone to another safe zone, avoiding any kind of overland travel as much as possible. Colombia, Senegal, India and Indonesia are classic examples of this.

Those who are actual real overland travellers won't take internal flights. They will travel and transit overland through thick and thin, completing their journeys, no matter how long journeys take.

Below, some stuff that survived through the entire South American continent using deluxe buses, bush buses, vans, trucks, and hitched lifts. My DSLR photo gear took most of the baggage room on this 12 month journey. Traveling across continents carrying extra clothing has been normal since '82. What was in my baggage, a 6kg Nikon AFS 600 F4, AFS 70-200 F2.8 VR, AFS 105 F1.8, AF 50 F1.4, AFS 14-24 F2.8, AF 10.5, D3, D700.

Solo Overland Transit - Where To Land?

Beginning your own solo overland travel transit journey through a continent usually has limited options where to start if the entire continent is the itinerary. Landing into the middle of any continent like in Lima, Lagos, or Mumbai will only add complications to fully complete crossing through the rest of the continent in one direction. Doubling and back tracking through countries that have already been completed will only add extra cost and waiting time for new visas, including thousands of transit kilometres and accommodation costs. It makes sense to begin any long term overland transit journey at the edge of a continent, and then continuing either up, down, or across a continent en-route. The following countries are typical overland travel and transit start points in either direction: Turkey to Hong Kong, Morocco or Cairo to South Africa, Chile to Mexico, Colombia to Argentina, Singapore to Turkey.

Overland Routes - Take Your Pick 

The above image is from 2020, the below from the '80s. Nothing has changed much over four decades through the Himalaya concerning transit travel. Hitching lifts with trucks still works, bush buses are still active, and most high altitude road routes get clogged and bogged down in snow during the winter months. Fatal accidents are still frequent, and black ice along road routes remains the same - slippery as. One thing is for sure, any midwinter transit journey above 3500 meters in the Himalaya will be one of those journeys remembered for life.    

Overland transit routes through continents rarely change, although today within various regions, volatile skirmishes, terrorism, Islamic insurgency, drug and people smuggling, and increased banditry has created an array of Red Zones scattered across the African continent. South America has had its own reputation and long history of lawlessness that's still ongoing. Established Red Zone regions are well known within travel circles, but not so much on the spread of newly formed Red Zone territories popping up without notice. Passing through any Red Zone depends on timing, available transportation, and the overall safety levels and risk factors involved. Staying in Red Zones automatically increases the risk factor of becoming a victim just like locals residing in the same area. Getting fresh information crossing through Red Zones, is only by being close to them. Gathering the latest information from locals who have first hand knowledge of what's happening within their district is normal procedure, before decisions are made to transit, or stay in theses regions. Red zones have different levels of risk, some not so dangerous during daylight hours, while others are extreme.  
Fresh new Red Zone information is definitely not found inside the covers of LP, or other travel books. Their sources of information are already outdated before reaching bookshops. Also avoid couch potato travel bloggers relaxing on beaches sipping Pina Coladas, who have zero capabilities of completing hard yards of overland travel anyway. Most travel bloggers, and influencers have no intentions of travelling through untamed territories on their own. There's nothing there to sell or promote to their safe zone audiences who prefer soft sandy beaches.
The most important thing to understand here, Red Zones don't stay in the same areas. Red Zones multiply, spread, move around, regroup, and overtake other territories. Taking anything for granted outside "safe zones" will most certainly scare the crap out of many, when least expected at a moments notice without warning. Take my advice seriously if you want to survive unscathed, and to leave continents with all the baggage contents one came with. For the latest updates on earthquakes, volcanic activity and weather conditions these 3 active links will keep you informed anywhere on the planet.

  Stuck on a Crossroad - Going it Alone - It's A Personal Choice

​From the southern Pacific, there's no way out, but to use long haul flights reaching Africa, South America and Asia. Once arriving into any continent, jumping on internal flights within continents is definitely out in the cold, unless border crossings are completely shut down and closed. Africa, South America and Asia contain an over supply of roads and tracks to reach from one point to another. Jumping on anything with wheels on it heading in my direction normally does the job.

Some overland travellers I've bumped into through the decades really had no ambition transiting on slow moving bump and grind transportation because of their short journey timelines. Instead, most used express buses hauling along bitumen highways, or grabbed internal flights to reach destinations in the quickest time possible. This still happens today especially in Asia and South America. One classic example during the mid '80s, was just after crossing solo at the Iranian border into Pakistan. A London-Kathmandu express bus full of semi-hippie westerners had also just crossed over after transiting a quick seven days through Iran. I chatted with a few travelling on the bus if they were enjoying their road trip. They all had agreed there wasn't enough free-time to explore or see anything off their transit route since they had left London. When I told them I had been slowly roaming through Iran for a few months, and was heading back to Kathmandu via China through Tibet, they wished they had done the same. Continental overland travel tours may sound good with cool advertising without the need of worrying about travel route arrangements. Going it alone choosing your own journey itinerary without timeline stress deciding to stay an extra week here or a few weeks there beats the hell out of any group tour package deals on the planet.        

Transiting on board worn out bush-buses, trucks, thrashed out 4WD’s, listing slow boats, or in beat-up nomadic desert sand taxis is normal. Using basic local transport, with some en-route blowing their engines, or other forms of breakdowns is part and package of any rugged overland journey. At times, it can take days on end hitching lifts, and become stuck within remote isolated regions. Forget about time schedules - who's in a rush anyway?

As a westerner, it's as though time's lost when the clock’s ticking waiting for a lift somewhere well of the grid in isolated regions, but then has it? Some of the most amazing experiences while transiting are all those periods twiddling the thumbs waiting for a ride. It's here at the crossroads en-route in the middle of nowhere, where locals gather chit chatting among themselves. It's the aromas of chai, the smell of coffee, the swirls of bull dust, the noise and intrusions, thirsty mosquitoes and fly blown meat, women openly breast feeding, and fully charged children asking endless questions without shyness. This is where one has no acceptations, only the enjoyment of chilling with the company of locals. These are the moments that are never forgotten transiting through countries across continents. One becomes accustomed to living out of the box well away from comfy tourist zones, which at times may feel hostile or unadaptable to some. In these types of isolated environments you don’t have a choice anyway. The above scenarios don't hit home, or have little value until returning back to Western civilisation.

There are plenty of overland travel companies operating different package tours that transit up and down and across continents. Overland tour operators normally use main bitumen highway routes. They're like an off-shore western taxi service for Westerners. Imagine the hassles between a group of say 20 westerners for 1-3 months every day, 24/7. Personally, that would drive me right up the wall, and would be worse than being locked up in an Iranian jail cell - which I've experienced. It's also the organised time schedules that are either way too short, or in directions that stick to touristy routes for anything constructive well-off the beaten track. Crossing entire continents on main road routes may sound and feel inspiring, but it’s the regions scattered in the middle of nowhere that are much more interesting to visit. There are many Westerners who travel this way, and enjoy their 1st overland travel experience without the stress and paranoia of being independent and alone. 
Overland tour companies operating through Africa, South America, and Europe to Asia are more like get-together party hangouts for Westerners, who prefer to travel in groups amongst themselves - very similar to deep sea ocean cruises. Some at later stages may develop their own itinerary, and realise that it’s far more exciting to associate and interact with local atmosphere moving across continents in their own time frame. This is what a major part of solo overland travel is all about - interacting with total strangers through countries and continents without hesitation. When travelling solo, many doors open where they wouldn't if it was a crowd. Time limits are endless in any direction, seriously think about the multitude of possibilities going it alone.

Clocking up some serious overland transit milage passing through countries & continents beats fly-hopping hands down - period! Those who assume they've done some hardcore travel, but actually cheated, and flew instead, get zero kudo points - they know who they are. The millennial generation are a different breed of traveler, they actually have no excuse to complete crossing entire continents overland - But prefer the easy route across the sky from country to country. Their problem is, the majority of millennial/GenZ generation prefer sticking together inside comfy safe bubbles, and then actually count fly hopping as part of any travel journey experience - what? that's right, what a joke! fly in, fly out, fly over, fly across, fly stopover etc etc. Actually trying to spot millennials transiting in dirty dusty vibrating smokey fumed bush-buses off-tarmac highways well away from their comfy zones is indeed a rare sight. Sounds harsh, but with over 3+ decades of overland travel up my sleeve, who is willing to debate facts from fake fiction?
The slow overland transit routes through west and north Asia are still regarded as one of the most extreme journeys one can endure in either direction. I've done it both ways on different timelines, and recommend completing this journey before all hell breaks out closing border crossings. 
Since June 2020, the changing geo-political landscape has reached boiling point in Afghanistan, China and India. The US troop withdrawal out of Afghanistan will no doubt divide the country quickly into full blown chaos crippling an already weak infrastructure. Iran and Afghanistan are also at logger heads along their borders, including increased militia training, weapons supply and drug snuggling routes between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. China and India have heavily increased military, including fighter jets along their borders caused by sudden land grabs by China. The Chinese, as we know by their vile history record, will never let any crisis go to waste. The covid-19 (Wuhan virus) smoke cloud is yet another classic example by China to expand, exploit, control and take what's not theirs. Even little Nepal has jumped ship, and sided with China, which increases China's goal to undermine stability through the entire region. 
Visas for the above countries will become more difficult, and almost impossible to get when the shit hits the fan, including overland border crossing closures i.e. Afghanistan to Iran, India to Pakistan, China to India via Tibet etc etc. ​So like China, don't let an extreme overland journey like this go to waste, evaporating into thin air - Do it now while you can! 

Yuppy plastic travellers have actually asked what are bush buses! They imagined them to be travel buses fitted out for tourism adventures on one day excursions. A quick breakdown of typical bush buses still being used across the heartland of Africa, Central Asia, India, and Andean block. Nostalgic 1950s - 70s style with original worn out rattling seats, jammed up windows, broken windows or no windows, no heating or air con, limited suspension, noisey vibrating running gear, smokey engines, no mufflers, squealing brakes if any, more dust floating inside than outside during transit, flavoured aromas, sticky floors, picked out nose junk stuck on seats and window ledges, fully jammed packed during transit runs, goats, sheep pigs on board. If you haven't transited through the heartland of Africa using local bush buses - You haven't been to Africa! 

Below, Bolivian bush bushes through the country are a makeup of different types of American 70's nostalgia. Many still operate using V8 petrol engines. The rumble and comfort transiting through the Altiplano onboard these machines is as good as gets for what is left of original wild west transportation. The rear corner seats get the best views.      

Sooner or later ruff rugged bush buses will become a thing of the past. The rapid completion of bitumen tarmac has been spreading through the African heartland and Central Asia at phenomenal speed. During the '80s the overland route from Europe to South East Asia was a bone rattling vibrating journey worth remembering. Today, numerous routes reach Singapore on layered mirror glass tarmac. In saying that, there will still be bypass overland routes remaining untouched off-major highways. Back roads through the Andean block, the Amazon, and Himalaya a few regions to mention.    

Some bush bus breakdowns can't be avoided due to the lack of maintenance. Now and then, one can feel the rhythmic tension of breakdowns that are about to happen just before they happen. Major engine and transmission failures have their own unique warning sounds just before failure and grinding to a halt. Transfer buses can take hours, sometimes days depending on location. Below, a rugged bush bus that suffered an engine issue in the middle of nowhere that couldn't be roadside repaired.      

Overland Transit Routes - Africa

Overland transit routes are in full swing even when volatile skirmishes or civil unrest occurs inside countries. The Sahel region, South Sudan, Cameroon, Somalia, DRC, Nigeria and Libya are examples of this. It's imperative to gather fresh up to date information that can be trusted, that allows calculated risks to transit through Red Zone routes. The most trusted sources of travel information is directly from locals on the ground, or foreigners (if any) who are travelling in the opposite direction informing of what's up ahead - never from travel guide books or bloggers with outdated information. Fresh on the ground facts and data will ensure any intended transit route can be calculated beforehand, and bypassed if necessary. This will lesson the chances of becoming a target along routes infested with bandit blockades, Islamic insurgency, sabotage, mugging, and hostage extortion.

Travelling through Red Zones regions in conflict is entirely at your own risk without any support, backup or help from outside assistance i.e. the Maghreb and Sahel regions, northern coast, central African region, and North East Africa.
Never assume Western foreigners transiting through the above mentioned regions that nothing will happen to them.
Of course the couple in the link may have converted to Islam to save their skins, and whether the female was isolated and constantly raped through her 15 months captivity. No one will never find out until the couple cashes in with an over sensualised novel of their traumatic experience  It's all been done before - nothing new here. ​

Foreigners travelling offshore have made wrong decisions and calculations for decades. They have either been robbed, mugged, beaten, raped, or slowly tortured to death because of the risks they choose themselves. Beware of your surroundings, where you stay, and who you chit-chat with. Snitching is the greatest threat, and has always been the greatest threat. Local snitchers work independently with various groups. They can be operating with Islamic militias, highway bandits, or human smugglers. Watching to many poorly scripted liberal Netflix movies and yuppie travel You Tube clips won't help in the real world well away from safe bubbles - Got It?   
On the bright side, there are many westerners who have completed solo travel journeys through volatile regions (like myself) without having a single incident. Sourcing fresh information and using safe-decision making at crossroads in the middle of nowhere keeps one aware of what's up ahead.  

Each overland transit journey has a different atmosphere from one day to the next that may or may not give a free pass without side-effects of negativity en-route. Nothing can be taken for granted, even if your gut instinct tells you so. It depends on the luck of the draw on any given day traveling through the middle of nowhere. It also depends where one is dropped-off, or where one decides to stay. Transiting solo off the beaten track through northern Africa, one has to use their own brain. Forget about travel guide books, their input warning data is already obsolete before printing! 

Solo Overland Travel & Transit

Are you sick and bored of looking at the same old self-orchestrated selfie snaps of tourist locations from the countless amounts of travel fluff-bloggers out there? Don't worry - you're not alone. Nothing is not what it really seems or sounds in real-time reality browsing fluffy travel blog sites. How many times do you read comments like "fantastic", "so beautiful & amazing", "how wonderful", "look at me in Rio", "ohh I love solo travel " ...
Travel bloggers posting this fluff are worth a dime a dozen. They market themselves off just like fake news click bait. Normally, plastic bloggers have their faces glued to laptops tweaking SEO's, and are spotted sitting in trendy cafes, or in up-market backpacker hangouts. I mean really, how many times can one re-post the same fluff jargon on social media platforms over and over again? Yawn. They're like Chinese wrappers, the outside label and box looks good, but the inside contents is fake junk.

No joke, I've never travelled through countries across continents on package tours or with western groups since I began travel in '82. The early solo overland transit journeys through the '80s & '90s was the travel era of total freedom - not like today's plastic travel environment. On one journey through the Middle East, I had met a few UN/US army soldiers who thought westerners like myself were just a bunch of offshore weed smoking hippies. I rejected the comment, "So you military folk are flown here gratis from your own country, you're given free accommodation & food, with free transport to get around and have weapons to self-protect yourself if randomly attacked". "I actually worked and saved for my travels, and I'm here in the same location as you lot taking care of myself without all the free bonus handouts paid by taxpayers". These guys probably never expected a reply like that.     
While the Chinese are busy little bees constructing bitumen tarmac through Africa, there's still plenty of unsealed dirt road routes across the continent to appreciate the real feel of Africa. Somalia to Cameroon via Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic still contain more than enough dirt track routes to rattle anyone's bones to bits. Since the last overland transit journey through the region, militant insurgency has increased spreading in leaps and bounds. Getting the latest information from locals is a must priority. By doing this, it will forewarn what's happening 200 kilometres further up the road. On transit journeys like this, I normally ask truck drivers coming from the other direction I'm about to travel through. When two or more truck drivers say it's  OK, their advice can normally be trusted. 

Carving out your own itinerary, and planning your own transit routes through Africa, or across other continents is far more satisfying. You get the real feel of down to earth atmosphere amongst the locals themselves. Why follow the crowd like everyone else? Don't be afraid going it alone. Activate yourself, and hit the highway using local basic transport zig zagging up and down across entire continents. There's certainly no looking back. Real solo overland travel is a guaranteed eye-opening experience deep into the real world we live in. Take advantage of doing it now while it's still possible. Africa is becoming strangled from all sides by increasing fuelled Islamic insurgency i.e. Boko Haram, Islamic State, al Qaeda, al Shabaab (more in-depth data and info further down page)

I've actually never seen or met any travel fluff bloggers in the middle of nowhere, transiting in fly-blown vibrating bush-buses for days on end, filled with dust and dog fart aromas crossing through a continent. It's a good thing these types of travellers are confined to touristic island getaways and sunny beach coastlines. Only a small handful of solo travel bloggers from out of thousands out there can pat themselves on the back.
​Below are a few links from various sources about scam travel bloggers (ghost writers, and purchasing tens of 1000's of fake followers) Life Lessons : Instagram : Fluff Selfie : Maple Searup : Moose Café : Instagram Scam Artist : Blogger Influencer Ban : Travel Blogger Scam artist

My overland travel and transit quick snap images are real as it gets, all captured and taken through different time periods spanning through the decades. There's not too many of us old school travellers left still doing the hard yards from the early 1980s overland travel era. One things for sure, I'm still out there offshore somewhere on the planet while most westerners rushed home through the SARS-CoV-2 stock piling up on toilet paper.   

Most often offshore, one gets to listen to repeated travel journeys through different time periods by foreigners around the globe. Some will boast about the most fabulous beach hangout they stayed at for three months partying hard out consuming alcohol and drugs. Others will talk about how horribly sick they became blaming it on local street food which spoilt their relative short offshore vacation. Others will briefly chat about how they were mugged or robbed of stuff in various ways caused by their own stupidity. Usually jaws drop when I mention I've just finished an overland journey taking twelve months across a continent using local bush buses and hitched lifts on trucks.
The difference between yuppie tourist travel and real overland solo travel is huge. Jumping on international flights crossing oceans just to stay at "exotic beaches" is not travel. They are hyped up holidays. Solo overland travel crossing through the middle of nowhere taking months, sometimes years to complete is experiencing real time travel absorbing local atmosphere minus all the tourist fluff. Those who go offshore only to meet up with other western foreigners staying at tourist beach hangouts are nothing more than party goers - Got It?         

Overland Transit Routes - South America

The transit routes above have all been completed. It takes more than a 12+ month journey to cover the entire continent properly. Two years will certainly do it. Summer and winter seasons play a roll in this, it solely depends where one begins and ends. Returning to South America is usually on the cards for those who want to continue a road trip where they had left-off from any previous visit. Those who have already travelled and transited through the continent will recognise the above transit route directions. Any long-term journey route should be planned in advance, and changed where necessary en-route during transit if needed. For instance, the on-going Venezuelan situation has gone from bad to worse, causing millions of Venezuelan citizens to flee in to neighbouring countries. Not only has this situation caused more crime and despair in northern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, it has also put a spanner in the works for those wanting to travel and transit overland through Venezuela from Brazil to Colombia without being targeted, robbed, or victimised. Until the dust settles inside Venezuela, any travel through the country is entirely at your own risk. There's a 90% chance rate of being mugged, robbed, raped or car jacked not only once, but several times! Jumping on a ship to the Antarctic from Ushuaia or Puerto Williams has become very trendy these days to look at penguins. The best option is booking the smallest ship possible at the very beginning of the high season in November, or in the closing period in March. If one is lucky enough, and has the right contacts, hitching a lift on service supply vessels to the Antarctica peninsula is also possible.  

The above image was captured during the middle of a violent category 5 storm in the roaring 40's in full swing between Antarctica and Cape Horn. I was fortunate enough to grab a few snaps of this 40 foot yacht dancing around in the soup. I've had some really dramatic deep ocean experiences through the decades. This journey ranks 10/10 in the extreme category! 

Solo Overland Transit - South America

There's still plenty of isolated transit routes that are unspoilt off the beaten track throughout South America. The Georgetown to Belem transit route without seeing another foreigner for weeks is total bliss. Another route is from Bogota to Puerto Carreno that gets you across to Venezuela, which is a test even for the experienced overland traveller who can pass thru Venezuela without being corrupted, mugged or robbed (I've done this twice). A great transit route, is through the Bolivian backdoor to Abuno, and then on to Puerto Velho to Manaus. Another is from Yacuiba in Bolivia through the Paraguayan savannah and paternal to Brazil. A favourite transit route that's been around for decades, is the journey from Ayacucho to San Francisco, crossing the Ucayali river to Quillabamba, Ollantaytambo, and onward to Cuzco. If you're game enough, the overland transit route heading north to Panama via Turbo on the Caribbean coast will be a self satisfying accomplishment. Let's also not forget the Puerto Asis slow boat river journey down the Putumayo to Leticia. All the routes mentioned are isolated and do have banditry holdups from time to time.

There's no excuse! South American solo overland travel and transit routes from top to bottom of the continent are in any direction imaginable. Having plenty of time on your hands is required. A 12 month journey will pass in no time without realising how quick it went. There's nothing worse than having limited time schedules crammed packed into a 3 month stint for this continent - forget about it. Here's why with a quick breakdown of minimum time limits of each country: Colombia 2 months, Ecuador 1 month, Peru 3 months, Chile 2 months, Argentina 2 months, Paraguay 1 month, Bolivia 2 months, Brazil 3 months, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana 1 month, Venezuela 2 months. Transit journeys sticking to normal road routes through South America are easily accomplished when done in small steps.

Overland travel drastically changes in isolated regions with available transport usually being basic. In isolated remote territories, delays and breakdowns do happen, including higher risk levels of banditry within areas in the Amazonian and Andean block. This includes various regions in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. From one day to the next, one can never predict what could materialise just up the highway. For example, Banditry is nothing new, one can pass through a zone in the morning without any issues, while another bus or vehicle may pass through the same location in the afternoon and be held-up with passengers stripped and robbed of everything. South America has no Karma. This includes all of central America. 
Banditry is an easy lifestyle getting rich pickings for free. Snitchers are abundant. While most western foreigners are addicted social media junkies, latino bandits and thieves are hooked and addicted robbing what's not theirs, they've been experts at robbing for many decades. Most locals in public will smile, and look happy as if everything is blissful, but in reality this may not be the case just around the next corner. Take this as good advice through the entire continent. Foreigners in transit through remote regions have no way around this. Locals do spread gossip of any western tourist within their turf faster than lightning. Snitching is common practise. Getting robbed and mugged will depend if local bandits have just held-up a bus the night before. If so, luck is on your side, this usually gives a free pass to continue onwards without hinderance towards the next location. For example, in Ecuador, foreign tourists are set-up, and robbed by small groups in broad daylight. locals close-by watching the event happening will avoid confrontation. Why do they do this? The fear of reprisal attacks. Foreigners are classified as easy loaded targets - no matter the skin colour! Latino thieves celebrate year in year out, and why wouldn't they? Because there's always fresh loads of foreigners arriving to randomly rob and mug as they please.

Don't shout fear porn just yet - These are facts that happen on a daily basis through the continent. You hardly hear or read about robberies, muggings, or raping of foreigners in South America. The daily count rate would frighten most people! Fluffy travel blog-sites may surface dribble a little, but negative postings won't get kudos from their sponsors! Bad news has an immediate negative impact to sales marketing. It lessons the flow of click bait royalties to hotels, airlines, tour deals, and other travel related links. South American MSM only reports on foreign drug mules who have been caught, the odd rape and murder, and foreigners who have died in road accidents. Latin news-links related to tourism crimes have a tendency to suddenly vanish online without trace within a few months.
Peru: Violent crime, including sexual assault, armed robbery, muggings, hotel armed hold-ups, and carjackings, occurs frequently in Peru, particularly in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. 
Colombia: Robbery of taxi passengers is a serious problem, express kidnapping, isolated hiking, including hiking trails in and around Bogotá district with gunpoint robberies. Rural regions of Colombia have the presence of growing militia groups and armed gangs (referred to as "BACRIM" in Spanish). Violence associated with the BACRIM has spilled over into major cities. These groups are heavily involved in the drug trade, extortion, kidnapping and robbery. The collapse of Venezuela has increased this problem.  
Brazil: The rate of violent crime, including muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings and sexual assault is high. Thieves are often armed. Locals and tourists are targeted. 
Guyana: Crime levels have dramatically increased due to the overflow of Venezuelan crime and drug syndicates using Guyana as an export narcotic hub. Risks increase after dark in Georgetown particularly walking alone. 
Ecuador: Violent crime, street gangs, assault and armed robbery is common. Foreigners have been badly injured resisting robbery.
Venezuela: Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, drive-by shootings and carjackings is common. 
​In South America there's a saying "The dead don't talk"- it's more active today than it ever was.

Foreigners Are Mugged & Robbed Everyday!

Since the early 1980's, mugging and robbing foreigners throughout South America has Increased mega-fold. The heavy tourist industry and foreign tourists themselves have created this non-stop wave of crime through the continent. Don't be like other brain dead tourists, who are easily robbed, because of allowing it to happen in the first place! This creates others to be robbed, because of some dickhead foreigner thinking it will never happen to them. Latino thieves have been robbing and mugging dumb tourists in their turf for decades! Street savvy instinct doesn't come as a gift. One has to learn by using their vision, hearing and the way they look and handle themselves on the street. Every street block, laneway, shortcut, and park have different ambience. Locals already know you're coming, it's about how one can quickly acknowledge the warning signs and rapidly act to avoid confrontation without losing stuff. If your inner instinct says no, don't walk in that direction, or bypass certain locations and you ignore the warning signs - It's your own fault of what may eventuate. Trusting your instinct and acknowledging what's around you strolling through big city streets instead of star gazing into space is the best advice to follow. Learning how to quickly react and move fast from an area will save the pain for another day.        

These local street police in Peru aren't strapped and armed with guns just to look cool. Sometimes you have to question why there's so many foreigners getting robbed in South America. One can read through all the many travel blog-sites writing the same old gibberish of safety travel through the continent to no avail. Latino thieves have probably skimmed through many of these travel blog-sites laughing hysterically, because they already know there's fresh plane loads of docile foreigners arriving into the continent daily who become their next targets.
One out of many mistakes by foreigners in South America, is their own lack of judgment and instinct when out on the street - especially after dark. Imagine being half intoxicated or stoned out of your brain leaving from trendy bars, beach parties, or nightclubs without even realising who may have been watching you. Experienced Latino night thieves don't work alone - they work in groups, with one or two surveilling their victims up-close for bags, cash stashes and bling, while others outside wait for a cell message from their accomplices inside venues letting them know which victim to target.
It's also very common for foreigners, to let their guards down thinking they're in a "safe zone" as though nothing will happen to them. This no-brainer attitude catches untold amounts of foreigners off-guard every week, every year, around the clock non-stop. Strolling alone along streets after dark without acknowledging what's up ahead does end-up badly for some.
Being robbed, bashed, stabbed, or raped, and even murdered does happen within trendy areas where foreigners think it's totally safe without even knowing what maybe waiting outside in the dark, sometimes even in broad daylight.
Like the image snap above, wherever there's police presence and overhead camera surveillance, this would normally be regarded as a "safe zone", but just one or two blocks in either direction has zero security. 
A high percentage of tourist muggings, bashings, and victimisation throughout the continent never reaches local news. Latin MSM and tourism enterprises prefer keeping negative assaults on foreigners as quiet as possible to keep their booming tourism industry vibrant as possible avoiding the negative truth. 
​The amount of western foreigners who keep their mouths shut from aggravated muggings or rape is unknown, but with variable online statistics of those that have been robbed, mugged or raped is probably just as high or more.
In saying this, there are thousands of foreigners who have travelled long-term journeys throughout South America without being mugged, bashed, robbed or raped. Why are some foreigners more lucky than others? This has a lot to do with the actual timing of being at a particular location where someone was mugged and robbed moments before, allowing others a free pass. Getting through the continent without incident is about using and following one's inner instinct and judgment, being alert, aware, and acknowledging what's around them, and acting immediately without being over paranoid.

Foreigners are robbed, raped and murdered in Central & South America every year. Here's a few links.

COLOMBIA: American male robbed and murdered in Medellin.  ARGENTINA: Kiwi male shot dead in Mendoza
GUATEMALA: 12 foreigners in transit road hold-up robbed and raped  
CHILE: Canadian male robbed and stabbed to death  COLOMBIA: Japanese male robbed and shot dead 
BRAZIL: Spanish female shot dead by police.  JAMAICA: Kiwi male shot dead
COLOMBIA: 12 tourists bound up, robbed, one female gang raped
PERU: A Set Up 30 foreigners robbed by bandits on Amazon riverboat cruise  
PERU: It only took 7 minutes to rob 22 tourists by bandits during transit in the Puerto Maldonado region - April 2019 ​

I've travelled through Brazil more than ten times since '88, self-driving and using local transport. Crossing borders into and out of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana and French Guiana without being robbed or losing stuff once. During all these visits through Brazil, I had met other foreigners who were robbed, mugged, and lost their stuff. Sitting down chatting with these victims, I found the same issue with all them - lack of street instinct and ignorance.   

Highway Holdups

When Covid restrictions are lifted, and things get back to near normal, most westerners will happily take off without hesitation to feel freedom and blissfulness escaping from their basements. Road bandits can't wait either, there's been no foreigners to rob within their territories through the Andean and Amazon regions since the exodus of westerners in March 2020. Latino road bandits are now hungrier than ever, and probably more of them en-route just waiting to hold up bush buses loaded with tourists en-route transiting through their turf. If you think like highway bandits do, you'll understand what I'm writing. They already know you're coming, it only takes a quick cell phone call letting them know in advance who's on board each particular bus. Drivers may get a cut of the booty, or whoever else is involved. It's about survival where there's no dole checks, stimulus checks or handouts!  Covid virus has now created a world of more impoverished people unimaginable where blissfulness was once blissful - Not anymore, that's the old normal. An added creation of more highway banditry will only prosper an already booming bandit lifestyle.
One has to ask themselves if they were in the same scenario stone broke in the need of a quick fix. Becoming a snitcher pays well, more than peanut pesos loading and unloading baggage into buses, or selling tickets at bus stations. Snitching has become the ultimate cash cow. They are invisible, but may have been right beside you face to face without knowing it. Snitches have full protection, and keep their hands clean from the dirty work. This isn't something new, it's classic, but the invention of cell phones has made it all the more easier among highway banditry groups. Good luck out their transiting in the middle of nowhere if luck itself still has some juice left.       

Many have asked me through the years why they were suddenly targeted and robbed by road bandits, or by those who were suspiciously robbed on streets they've walked along many times over during their short stay. Snitching has always been big business in South America because of the easy financial gain. Imagine working for pesos in hotels or in upmarket backpackers, a baggage handler in bus stations, bus drivers, or restaurant staff along highways where buses stop for breaks. Snitchers can be anyone, it only takes a quick cell text or call to commission a holdup further down the road. It's simple as that. The world is overflowing with all types of ratbag snitchers - Get used to it or stay home watching Netflix.    

Road bandit hold ups will extract and take everything and anything from victims without mercy. Bandits don't care, neither do most locals who carry nothing of value during transit, they already know the ropes. Foreigners on the other hand have baggage of goodies, like high end laptops, the latest trendy smart phones, cash and camera gear. Below, on board a bush bus during transit in the middle of nowhere, a perfect isolated transit route where banditry happens without warning. Totally forget about Google or other major search engines for highway banditry holdups. They will instead give blissfulness links or worse, hyper dramatised Netflix movies exalting famous crime figures as though they are the victims. Browsing through individual local news sites from countries listed below may give better search results in their own language. Even then, local links on crime will only remain for short time periods before vanishing. This has become normal procedure within the last few years by media hiding real-time negativity. Just watch Netflix and shut-up - Got it? 
Brazil : Venezuela : Colombia : Peru : Ecuador : Guyana : Nicaragua : Guatemala : Mexico : Kenya : DRC : South Sudan: CAR : Cameroon : Nigeria : South Africa : Papua New Guinea
Full on Red Zone militia regions is a different kettle of fish. They work by using and spreading fear tactics with religious overtures inside their designated groups to exalt their belief system by any means possible. More on that down the page.   

Forget Luxury Travel - Basic Transport Does The Job!

Through the decades, I've completed countless overland milage, transiting up and down through countries, and across continents. You name it, I've probably done it, including returning through the same regions several times over since '82.

Solo overland travel and transit using any available means of transportation through continents can't be matched. A few examples of real-time experiences in transit are the smell of sweaty armpit odours, vomit on the floor, wasted food scraps glued on seats, locals picking their noses flicking the contents near you, the sounds of deep farts with wicked aromas, constant loud snoring, blaring music at full volume, used as a pillow, cell phones constantly blaring, stale chewing gum stuck to your clothes, dog breath vapour, packed and squashed in tighter than sardines, deep throat coughing and spitting in all directions, bush-bus aisles jam-packed with mountains of luggage, smokey engine fumes knocking you out, spilt fluids flowing under the seat, irritating blowflies, mosquitos and insects trapped on board, random drug control baggage checks, drivers fighting with passengers, passengers fighting with other passengers, uncontrollable baby screams and the smell of loaded diapers, locals walking on top of baggage, goats, pigs and sheep crowding your space, random groping, toxic smelly feet in your face, baggage soaked in engine oil below deck, rattling clattering jammed windows, extreme high speed, holding out for load dumps and pee breaks, high altitude sickness, unbearable heat, the bitterly freezing cold, clouds of endless dust in your mouth, down your throat, and up your nose, non-stop vibrations, bad accidents, long breakdowns, highway bandit hold-ups, robbery, diarrhoea pressure on a non-stop moving bus, free sharing of ticks, fleas, and bed bugs.

Transiting on top of trains, plowing through the Tibetan plateau on the back of open trucks, crammed cargo ships, hitching rides on anything that stops, or using my own off-road motorbikes and various vehicles, or other basic transport to get through a continent. I've met some really inspiring travellers en-route during transit journeys - they know who they are. I'm sure others that have browsed through this site have received a boost of inspiration to do the same.

Overflowing crowded spaces, pollution fumes and unrestricted noise limits are usually the best locations where all the action is. Some foreigners coming from quiet controlled environments living with suppressed regulations quickly find out how hectic and uncontrolled the real world really is. Personally, it's the reverse for me. I get a culture shock whenever returning to NZ on quick visits. I've been used to hectic environments since '82, and still based offshore in 2021 within a vibrant location. Above image, a typical midday highway scene that's impossible to capture in the western world. DSLR Nikon D3.       

Internal overland transit journeys through the interior of Africa and central Asia are epic adventures normally on bull dust dirt roads without a bitumen tarmac in sight. Bouncing around all day in rattling vibrating transport with endless piles of road track bull dust comes as a free bonus. After two or three days of transit in sweaty blistering heat covered in dust and grime with the smell of stale odours from yourself and locals, one reflects back at the journey and says Yeah - Let's do it all over again! First long term solo overland travel journey - Europe-Middle East-Central Asia-Middle East-Africa 1982-85. 

Below, I took this SLR snap during a rugged overland journey in 1983 during the Iraq-Iran conflict. To save oneself from being struct with shrapnel, solid reinforced pipes were placed within town and city centres. It was a time when one could still see f-14 tomcats lying on their belly due to a lack of parts in Iran. The odd local kid could be seen push biking down the street with an Ouzi strapped dangling on his side. The US dollar was king, a fresh issued ten year passport had only cost me $3. Hotel swimming pools were turned into blooming gardens, and the famous Shiraz vineyards were all chopped up and destroyed. American Mack trucks were still running along highways, and even the odd Harley could be heard slowly chugging somewhere in the distance. Oven hot street naan and grilled Kiwi lamb was an everyday treat.      

I'm still doing overland travel milage, street photography and wildlife. In 2020, I completed a 4000km midwinter overland journey to extreme subzero high altitude regions in the Himalaya to photograph snow leopards within their natural habitat. Lowest recored temp was minus -33C. Self-tracking snow leopards without guides in the wild and actually capturing images of snow leopards is like finding buried treasure in your backyard.

Solo Overland Travel - El Dorado Is Real

While most foreigners during this time period were on the beaches sun-baking in Santa Margarita and Cancun, I was camped beside a rough rugged beach that had a dangerous undercurrent tow constantly washing up all sorts of illegal contraband treasure between Costa Rica & Mexico. Locals seemed more happy here on this lonely stretch of caribbean coastline than the rest of the country. There wasn't another foreigner in sight and no local mafia either... just the roar of the ocean and the contents it washed in. Colombian narco drug runners using powerful high-speed launches would throw their cargo over board to lighten their boats when U.S. coast guard marines were in hot pursuit chasing them between Rio Turbo and Vera Cruz. Bundles of cash dollars and blocks of cocaine wrapped in sacks had constantly washed up at this particular location because of strong directional ocean currents. The fishing vessel in the image had run aground months before I had arrived. It may or may have not been carrying narco bullion, if it had, the contents on board was well gone.   
As repeated many times through this website - Becoming a narco drug mule is a no brainer! Losing all forms of freedom rotting in hot sweaty jail cells isn't appreciated until freedom is completely taken away from you.

Looking for alluvial gold in rivers and streams around the world isn't everyone's cup of tea, but many do do it, with some having success. The grey area to legally prospect for gold or precious gemstones varies in each country. As the saying goes, the quieter the river or stream location is - the better it is. Northern Brazil, and Guyana still have untouched regions with gold deposits, including white diamonds. After heavy rains and flooding, certain areas in Bolivia and Myanmar are awash with fresh alluvial gold deposits. Trekking within very isolated regions in the Costa Rican highlands is also known for gold deposits, usually after heavy rainfall. All that's required prospecting for alluvial gold is a pan or dish plate. Finding gold in certain countries is straight out dangerous. Locals with gold fever are known to rob from each other, or the need to pay bribes to mafia for protection in areas where gold deposits are in abundance. Finding small isolated streams without other humans in sight is the best advice to follow. Massive gold deposits can be discovered by chance Luhihi DRC

Alluvial gold deposits are out there, time and patience is required, including basic knowledge of where to look, and how to extract it. Normally, if locals are legally allowed to prospect for gold, so can foreigners. Permits maybe required. Some of the known countries with alluvial gold deposits are as follows. Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, PNG, Angola, DRC, Ghana, Burkina Faso, South Africa. Below, a couple with a home made manual sluice extracting gold in Myanmar. The government banned locals to find gold, although I have never seen so many gold shops more than bakery shops just across the border in Mae Sot, Thailand. Some locals are making piles of cash. 

The below text is placed through various pages of this website as a warning deterrent to westerners offshore, who may end-up down a path that could have been avoided. The message is real - it's better to be stone broke and free, rather than wasting countless years behind bars - Laziness and Greed never wins!

Carrying personal supplies of any illegal drug during transit journeys may seem innocent enough until random highway road stops occur. The amount of western foreigners caught with drugs inside their baggage, or on person mounts to mega thousands year in year out. Highway drug squads know every hiding place one can think of, including their drug sniffing dogs. Strip searches do happen, arrests happen, on one escapes - just ask the locals. You have to ask yourself if it's worth the risk to be caught with a small amount of weed, hashish, or other illegal drug substances en-route on board local transport offshore. Many have regretted doing just that.     

Overland Transit Routes - Asia

There's a multitude of different transit routes through the Asian continent in all directions. Completing the entire Asian rim depends on timing. For example, if one were to start from Indonesia in October, this normally allows a 7 month window to reach the Chinese/Pakistan border when it reopens each spring. Completing an entire overland transit journey through Asia will take 12 months or more. It also depends how much time is spent in each country, especially with all the endless amount of detours off the beaten track that's available. The above map designates the transit direction which is more than enough to work out places of interest en route. Solo transiting through Tibet is virtually impossible today without a pre-booked guide, a driver, including a pile of paperwork bureaucracy and permits - good luck with that! A six month Indian visa is still obtainable in Laos, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka if it's a first visit with no record of a used visa. The new Pakistani online eVisa makes things easier to enter Pakistan by air. This will eventually filter out to land border crossings in the near future. The Consulate in Chengdu has issued tourist visas to non-Chinese nationals for a while. A bus ticket to the Chinese/Pakistani border will be denied unless a valid Pakistani visa has been issued. It's also advisable to apply for an Indian visa just before entering the country, an Indian visa begins its countdown the day it's issued. The Indian Embassy within Islamabad's security zone do issue visas. This occurrence of restricting visas for certain nationalities happens occasionally depending on each country's security measures with neighbouring countries. As a last resort passports can also be couriered to any country of origin to receive visas. The turn around time usually takes 2 -3 weeks. It's advisable to request a dual or multiple entry visa for China if crossing back and forth from Mongolia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos, or Hong Kong.
The usual overland transit gateways from Europe to Asia are through Pakistan to India, Kazakhstan to Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan to China (these 2 border crossings may or may not be open to foreign nationals). Avoiding Middle East chaos is through Urumqi at the border crossings from Kazakhstan or Russia This has been a favourite route by cyclists for decades. If a Pakistani visa has been issued in Southern Asia, the Myanmar-Indian-Pakistani overland route is a straight forward transit route to reach Jordan via Iran and iraq. The easiest overland route of them all is by train. The Trans Siberian railway connects a ferryboat from Vladivostok to Japan. There are also ferryboat connections to South Korea and China. 

Solo Overland Travel - Active Volcano Climbing

Climbing up live volcanoes is an addictive rush. Some volcanoes are more impressive than others hissing, spiting and spewing their contents at close range. Volcanic slope crevices covered in snow are out right dangerous. Avoid walking anywhere near them unless you're wanting to quickly disappear forever. The same warning applies for live active molten cores. Keeping distance from vertical rim edges, and avoiding backward standing selfie snaps is the thin line between life and death for narcissistic idiots.

Climbing live active volcanoes has been around for decades. I grabbed this snap from safe distance out of reach from harms way from flying debris and toxic sulphur fumes. Idiots pushing the limits to grab images, close-up selfies, or videos at the very edge of active volcanoes, only have themselves to blame if slipping into the molten core, or cindered by burning ash and hot rocks, or from sulphur fumes which can gas you out in seconds. Every volcano also has different levels of safety reaching their summits, care is required in both directions, or death becomes reality

I've climbed numerous live volcanoes around the planet over the years, and was even fortunate enough to watch an explosive live vent forming into a mini volcano. The below image, at the top of a live volcano, was captured by lying down with a soaked scarf dipped in water wrapped around my face to avoid breathing sulphur fumes. It's your own responsibility climbing live volcanoes. No one will come to your aid if in need at the top of isolated live volcanic craters. Foreigners offshore using travel insurance may find out in the small print their travel insurance policies excludes cover for Red Zones i.e. militia controlled territory and natural live-earth events.

​Cash In Transit - Bring Your Own Stash!

You Can't Eat with Bitcoin or Plastic Cards In The Middle Of Nowhere!

A backup cash money supply is always recommended in the middle of nowhere - ATM's are non-existent or days away when required. Latinos, Africans, and Asians through their respective continents use and handle cash every day. Cash US dollars  avoid rip-off ATM surcharges, and will also give better exchange rates. In general, this applies throughout all continents. When crossing international land borders, the exchanging of local currency from one country to the next is never an issue with minimal fee charges. The first to greet you at certain land border crossings are money changers. Haggling for the highest rate is normal procedure. Don't leave home base without a surplus amount of cash dollars. It's still legal to carry $10,000 dollars in cash without having to declare it. Carrying copies of original cash purchase transactions cash is recommended to verify proof of where the cash originated from.

$USD - Tick Tock 

As history records show, we all know what happens to countries that create and print too much paper money from thin air. The SARS-CoV-2 US stimulus trillion dollar payout packages, including other western nations propping up their locked down economies is the beginning of what will be the worst coming downfall collapse of burden debt in human history. The globalist cabal have already openly promoted their future plans. Digging deeper past the global SARS-CoV-2 crisis, the Globalist footprints are flat out busy with different forms of agenda lurking in the shadows. The underbelly of stimulus cash handouts may eventually cause Government to siphon pension funds, and bank grab personal savings over the course of the next three or so years. The USD is on its last legs, a planned collapse by internal default is all but around the corner. When the USD is let go, ensure you've exchanged every cent into solid investments, like property and sustainable food stocks before the plug is pulled. North Americans before 2030 will certainly suffer extreme pain!
The Global Reset aka Agenda 2030 NWO beast system have one initiative. To use climate change propaganda as a tool to wipe out fossil fuel usage in western nations, eradicate middle class, all cash, and enforce QR-Coded health and travel passports.  
​Having zero debt, and owing nothing is the best advice in the world we live in today. I've been saying this since 2008 warning others, but most have deaf ears. This upcoming Globalist 2030 agenda will screw rich nations into poverty. Middle class freedom and lifestyle affordability will become non-existent with complete dependency on Government by 2030.
The following quick list of countries exchange cash dollars by local money changers offering different exchange rates. One hundred dollar notes will give the highest rate of exchange. The more one exchanges at one given time increases higher rates for local cash.
​Tajikistan, Mali, Islamic Iran, Russia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Congo, India, Angola, Sudan, Guyana, Argentina, Venezuela, South Africa, Iraq, Nigeria, Angola, CAR, Nepal, Pakistan, Chad, Niger, DRC, Brazil, Nicaragua, Cuba, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, Turkey, Ecuador, Cameroon, Armenia, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Guiana, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Lebanon, Eritrea, Yemen.  

US Dollars Are Still Going Strong In 2021 - Still The Preferred Currency Of Exchange For Local Cash.

Whether you like or dislike using US dollars, it's still remains the most versatile paper currency to have in transit offshore. One can try using Bitcoin, but it won't get you far through Africa, or the Mid East paying for transportation, food and accommodation. The Euro is another option, but 100 USD Fed notes speak for themselves, and will still give the best exchange rates without even going to local banks. Until the USD faults - which many speculators have been predicting since the mid '70s, the dollar remains the top currency as a cash stash for overland travel and transit journeys through continents.
Will the US dollar become worthless by 2024? If it does, every other currency will fold as well - all down the toilet! The plan to get rid of paper currency by the globalist cabal is ongoing. 
Never advertise or expose bundles of cash in public places to anyone - including other foreigners running on empty, who can be your worst enemy if they're flat broke. Walking around after dark carrying a pile of cash is no-brainer! Foreigners who are robbed offshore happens by allowing it to happen by simple mistakes without acknowledging it until it's to late - even if in safe zones. 
Today, no where is safe, no matter the country or region. The only difference between Red Zones and Safe Zones are the types and level of criminal, banditry and terror activity within them.    

Backup Cash Supply

Running out of cash in the middle of nowhere happens to those who suddenly realise they're days away from the nearest ATM, or blind to the fact that cash is required to survive on a daily basis within certain regions around the planet. Having too much local cash should be avoided in countries with spiralling inflation. It's not unusual for freshly designed banknotes to suddenly appear, or the addition of added zeros printed on used banknotes with a value of 100 pesos that become 100,000 pesos overnight without notice. This has happened through recent time dating back to the '80s in Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Indonesia, Guinea, and Vietnam. The Serb Republic of Krajina broke all records issuing a 500 million single denomination banknote in 1993. Travelling with backup USD or Euros will ensure one has various ways of exchanging reliable currencies for local cash when required.   ​

Crossing Land Borders - Red Zone Regions

Update July 2021 - Afghanistan has now become impossible to cross, enter or even leave through overland border crossings. Russia, Turkey Iran and Pakistan have suspended their consulates in Mazar -e-Sharif. Pakistan has also closed the Torkham border until further notice. Tajikistan has also deployed 20k troops to the border for security reasons. US trained Afghan soldiers are fleeing their posts in droves. The Taliban are also shutting down local news media they infiltrate to conceal their violence. This update will be history within a few months due to the escalating ongoing insurgencies and conflict by Taliban and ISIS. With twenty years of US and Nato troops and training, and billions of dollars put into infrastructure, Afghanistan is once again being torn apart eradicating all freedoms for Afghans. Afghanistan once again will become under the cloud of Taliban Sharia law. History repeats itself time and time again, the English Empire, Soviets, America and Nato have all collectively suffered humiliating defeats.
​The Chinese red dragon will no doubt be the next great pacifying invader. They require to test their army, airforce and weapons in real-time live combat fighting. The massive Afghan drug trade may also switch under friendly terms with China, including the multi-trillion dollar mining of rare earth minerals  - follow the money!  

Overland transit entry into or out of Afghanistan can be done through six countries. The direct land crossing into China through the Wakhjir pass is known as a grey ghost border smuggling route for all types of illicit contraband. The border is a skeleton crossing only. Chinese visas maybe denied if visa itineraries show the overland route is entering via Xinjiang State. The Chinese government has clamped down on their own Muslim population sending an estimated million plus Uighurs to Internment camps.  In general, visa issues for neighbouring countries bordering Afghanistan have open time validations. The duration length of visas depends on nationality, and where, and who is issuing the visa. An Afghani visa extension is permitted only once, over staying in the country is expensive @$10 per day. 
Red Zone regions throughout Afghanistan has increased in 2021. Most foreigners are lucky enough to transit through Afghanistan along secure routes without issues whatsoever. All Red Zone regions are not called Red Zones for nothing. They share common values - Radical Islamic extremists, pro radical extremists, sympathisers supporting radical extremists, imported extremists, heroin cultivation, smuggling trade routes, arms smuggling and contraband goods. Normally, locals in these regions are more than over friendly with happy chit chat. The danger arises when any of these groups may decide to do an unexpected hotel call to your room during the middle of the night. Kidnapping happens, getting tortured and shot in the head also happens. News of any foreigner arriving and staying in any town within a Red Zone region spreads like wildfire. Afghan snitchers are many! Western Muslim converts who speak Afghani will get a free pass. Atheists, Christian and other faith groups are in the same bag - just ask locals for verification.
Like in the days of the mid 1960s-'70s hippie era, nothing much has changed. Westerners still flock to Afghanistan for one thing only, to consume cheap hashish, opium and local meth.       
The usual European overland transit route to Asia is through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan to China, and onward to the Irkeshtam pass on the Karakoram highway. In saying this, in 2018, a group of 4 cyclists from the Holland, Switzerland and the USA were deliberately mowed down and stabbed to death in Tajikistan by radical islamists. The now deceased American couple had been on the road for over a year cycling through "safe zones" in Africa. They were mistaken and had totally misjudged that evil was only a make believe concept with both ending up in body-bags. Jay Austin had quoted the following "Evil is a make-believe concept we’ve invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans holding values and beliefs and perspectives different than our own is a make-believe concept"
Other westerners travelling offshore thinking like this should remain within safe tourism zones. Don't expect others to have the same "free thinking" liberal values as you do! This is non-existent in the real world outside tourist regions.
Crossing Pakistan to India is through the Wagah border via Lahore to Amritsar. Entering Afghanistan from Iran is simple if an Afghani visa has been issued. The route from Mashed to the Taybad-Islam Qala border is the normal route used by foreigners. Avoiding Afghanistan completely is through the Mirjaveh-Taftan border into Pakistan. This is a Red Zone border region. Depending on how volatile the Baluchistan province is on the week of arrival, a military/police escort through to Quetta maybe required.
​Taken Hostage Kabul, 3 foreigners killed, Ambushed Tourists, Held captive for 5 years, Herat German killed, List of foreign Hostages, Afghan News

So you've just arrived in Egypt from a gruelling overland journey from Cape-Town, and now plan to continue onwards to Nepal overland through the Middle East. There's a choice of 3 different routes that will work without having to use air travel. Applying for onward visas through the Middle East maybe difficult for some nationalities, but usually with the correct itinerary and dress mode visiting Embassies, and the luck of friendly visa official staff, most visas do get issued. Having a passport half filled with freshly used visas from Africa also makes a positive impression.The quickest overland route is directly through Saudi. Ferryboats operate from Suez to Duba and Port Sudan. Hitching lifts through Saudi isn't difficult. Street photography in Saudi is still heavily regulated when it comes to capturing random portraits without prior consent and approval of subjects first. From Doha, Dubai and Muscat, there are various onward ferryboat connections to Iran and Pakistan. If arriving in Bandar Abbas, the lower border crossing from Iran into Pakistan (Mand-Pishin/Gabd-Rimdan) by-passes the border route further north at the Mirjaveh/Taftan crossing. The Mashed Herat Kabul route as from July 2021 should be avoided unless you're wanting a full on Red Zone travel experience with Taliban. Most Afghan consulates and embassies have restricted issuing visas until further notice, which basically means indefinitely.    

Applying for fresh Indian visas in Islamabad usually takes five days. Indian visas begin countdown the day they are issued. The choice of transiting through Iraq from Saudi into Iran is another option if Saudi visas have the stretch time to do so.
Route 2 is through the Sinai to Jordan (Nuweiba to Aqaba). Picking up Iraqi visas in Cairo is recommended without relying on the consulate, or embassy in Jordan. The Amman-Baghdad border crossing was reopened in February 2019. Crossing over to Iran can easily be done from the many Iraqi-Kurdish border crossings in the north of the country, or at Basrah in the south. From Iran, transiting through Afghanistan to Pakistan and on to India is now almost impossible. The latest situation in Afghanistan is a repeat of the 1979 and '88 Soviet invasion and withdrawal. When the Taliban take control of the entire country, border crossings and visa issues may resume. Until then, Afghanistan has some dark days ahead.

​Route 3 is the longest overland route. Finding passage on board cargo ships to Cyprus from Alexandria or Port Said sea ports is possible, but time consuming. From Cyprus, crossing the Med to Rhodes, and then directly to Turkey is also still possible. From Turkey, one can choose travelling through Iraq into Iran or directly enter Iran at the Bazagan crossing. The Iranian route through Afghanistan via Herat-Kabul-Peshawar is now impossible as of July 2021 until further notice. The lower crossing at Zahaden-Taftan-Quetta-Multan-Lahore-Wahga/Attari-Amritsar is open. 
​Transiting through Middle East Red Zone regions is at your own risk. Northern Sinai has Al-Qaida/Daesh terror cells, Syria contains Daesh/Al-Qaida /Hezbollah/ proxy terror cells, Iraq contains mixed Sunni and Shia pro-Islamic proxy cells, Iran has controlled undercover police and military closely watching western foreigners and their movements, Afghanistan has an ever growing expanded mix of Taliban/Daesh/Al-Qaida terror cell networks within their own territories. Kabul gets rocked by suicide bombers every week. Pakistan has always had various narcotic drug territories and smuggling routes. Abiding with local laws and religious customs is required!  

Knowing the art of interacting with total strangers offshore to capture closeup portraits of them becomes easier by learning how to master it. Sitting with people in public spaces is a great start. Inquisitive locals will normally ask all the same questions like, where you're from, where you're going and how long of you're intend visit. The above image is a quick example of a closeup street snap using DSLR camera gear. It took ten minutes before pointing a lens at the direction of the subject. Without prior interaction, it would be impossible to capture such images.
​Below, capturing random street images of Muslim women is a different story. Prior permission to photograph first must be granted beforehand. Western males pointing cameras at Muslim females in public can receive more than what they bargained for without mercy. Even though Saudi has become an open door for tourism, photographing locals - especially women is still forbidden. Foreign female street photographers on the other hand have more leverage capturing street portraits of Muslim men and women.  ​

Photo Gear - Don't Leave Home Without It!

Point & Shoot, Mirrorless, DSLR - So many choices to choose from - There's no Excuse!

What some good travel advice? Purchase a proper camera and use smart phone cameras for selfies - if you have that addiction. Have you seen cell phone images in photoshop enlarged @300% - Horrible and time wasting lacking sharpness and depth to render any image to poster size in canvas. Cameras have the options to capture images in jpeg & raw - which smart phone cameras lack. Shooting in raw is the way to go, and has been since the digital age. Smart phone cameras are also useless in wildlife parks, and even more useless to capture fast moving subjects at distance lacking quality focus. Low light captures with smart phone cameras without using flash are grainy. Sony, Canon, Fuji and Nikon have good DSLR photo gear with a broad range of different cameras to fit anyones budget. Make the right choice - you won't regret it.    

Crossing the line past warning signs like in this quick snap taken at a location in Saudi near the Aqaba coast will automatically end-up in expensive fines, interrogation, deletion of images, seized camera-gear, and the possibility of jail time and deportation. If caught, don't expect to receive any future Saudi e-Visas. This applies to any sensitive areas within the Middle East region wherever military, navy ports, and isolated airstrips are established. Iran, Pakistan and India are other examples to completely avoid being involved with local politics, anti-government protests, or taking images of sensitive locations of military, navy and airstrips. Use common sense, or suffer the consequences - Got It?          

Overland Transit - Driving Your Own Vehicle 

Are you considering to purchase your own vehicle for an extensive road trip through a country or driving through an entire continent? It's a great way to be self reliant without depending on public transport in certain countries. Buying private transport is the easy part, but how reliable is it? Do the tires have good tread? are they the same brand? Has the speedo been wound back to look as if the vehicle has done less milage? Is the engine oil jet black as if it hasn't been changed for years? Are there oil drops on the road where the cars parked? Does the engine start-up immediately sounding smooth, or does it take lots of cranking? Do all the gauges function showing oil pressure, temperature, and voltage? Does the engine blow smoke out the rear exhaust? Does the clutch slip when in gear? Does the rear diff make a whining noise? Do the brakes work immediately, or are they spongy and unresponsive?, Does the engine ping and unresponsive when testing it up a step hill climb? Depending if a vehicle is 2wd, 4wd, diesel, petrol, automatic, or manual, the above reference check will almost be the same. Safety comes first, your life depends on it. Reliability is a close second if you don't want to be stuck with a broken down wreck in the middle of nowhere, including your baggage and valuables. Never purchase any vehicle because you like the colour, or the fancy sound system installed in it. Reselling a used vehicle may get most of your investment back depending on the overall condition and appearance for interested buyers. 

Driving anything with wheels across different countries through continents without knowing basic knowledge of auto-repair, or weekly maintenance will determine if the vehicle will make it to it's next destination. Some who I've met en-route through South America, Africa, and Asia found out the hard way the importance of having working oil and temperature gauges operating in the middle of nowhere.
​Most had seized-up boiled cooked engines which could have been avoided if their gauges were functioning properly. Any quality brand aftermarket shock proof gauges like AutoMeter installed somewhere visible on the dash with visible warning lights will save engines from seizing or blowing to bits. This will also save mega-dollars of repair bills from bush mechanics for whatever amount of time it takes to repair.

Overland Road trip - South America : Africa : Asia 

Self Driving through countries in the middle of nowhere without basic tools is a no Brainer! 

Breakdowns happen when least expected. Travelling with a selection of basic automotive tools can get vehicles up and running again if the issue can be quickly identified and repaired. For instance, a loose or cracked radiator hose, broken fan belt, or clogged up petrol filters are easy roadside fixes, but without any tools or local traffic passing by, an easy 5 minute roadside repair can turn into days of waiting time without having minimum tools. Having numerous past breakdowns with my own cars, vans and motorbikes offshore, I personally know the importance of carrying basic auto-workshop tools. On the other hand, a few self-driving journeys worth mentioning that were hassle free without incident, was a six month road trip driving a van throughout Japan, hammering a sleek 5 speed Fiat through Turkey, a six month journey around Australia, a second self-driving road trip through South America with a classic VW Kombi, and a flawless journey with an MC in the Middle East.        

Buying any used vehicle off-shore to self-drive through countries across continents requires some basic knowledge of engine repair and maintenance. Vehicles no-matter the make or model can suddenly malfunction and will need roadside fixes until being operational once again. Becoming stuck in the middle of nowhere along isolated routes without a supply of tools and spare parts happens to those without a brain. It's even worse for those who have tools and replacement parts, but haven't a clue how to remove spark plugs, change fan belts, replace ripped radiator hoses, clogged up fuel filters or re-bleeding diesel engines because of running out of diesel fuel. Those thinking of self-driving in to the beyond right off the beaten track crossing isolated regions should already know basic quick fix roadside repairs. One can be fortunate enough to have someone stopping to your aid and do the job for you, but don't count or rely on it. 
​Above images, I've been doing full engine rebuilds on my own automotive junk since the age of sixteen. I've even pulled down a 1973 Ford V8 351 engine under an overpass during a rainy day replacing the hydraulic lifters and pushrods. Locals thought I was nuts, but hey, I had the tools and knowledge to get the job completed and done. Not just some dumb long haired tattooed Maori capturing street images around the planet as some may assume - rebuilding nostalgia  

Overland Transit VW Kombi - South America

VW Kombis are nothing new in Central & South America. Mexico & Brazil have been manufacturing kombi vans for decades, so there's still plenty of good used classic Kombis that can be purchased throughout the continent. Apart from the usual spares, the above list of engine parts are essentials for emergency breakdowns that may happen in the middle of nowhere. The Kombi engine shown above was running fine half way through the continent, until it blew an engine seal and required a replacement seal. It involved a 250 kilometre tow, and the engine removed to repair the issue. I was fortunate enough to have spotted the warning oil light blink on, acting immediately shutting the engine down saving it from total seizure. ​
​Purchasing a cheap rust bucket of bolts should be avoided for two reasons, the unseeable cost of repairs and breakdowns that may eventuate en-route, and the resale value of the vehicle a year or two later. Clocking up 30,000kms through South America mounts up quickly. Vehicles looking like wrecks will drop considerable in resale value. Pawning off vehicles to other foreigners is an option to retrieve cash back.
I've had two successive runs across South America using different gasoline kombi vans that were originally purchased in Brazil. Driving at night along the Peruvian southern coast in thick sea fog is one crazy experience never forgotten. On both road trips through the continent, I wasn't mugged, or held up by highway road bandits, but did have the odd breakdown roadside repairs. The normal corrupt bribes en-route from various highway officials was something one had to master without paying a peso. Driving kombis, or any vehicle with foreign rego plates crossing international borders is automatically regarded as an instant cash cow in South America. Locals know foreigners driving on their turf with a foreign vehicle already know there's stuff you have and and want it. Dummies out there will probably say "But I don't have anything of value" local thieves and bandits don't know that do they! Driving through the continent without losing nothing twice on two different road trips with two different Kombis shows it can be done. Those with non-alert minds, and who lack quick decisive decisions would be better off using local transport.
Below, rust buckets like this are cheaper than a packet of peanuts, but should be avoided. VW wrecks in this condition won't make it through Venezuela let alone completing the entire continent. More on SA Kombis further down the page.

Most of the second junk I've bought and used offshore since '78 wouldn't be up to roadworthy standards in my own country. New Zealand has one of the most draconian vehicle warrant inspections globally that apply to all registered vehicles every six months. The craziest thing about this, road accidents are still happening, and usually caused by driver error not the vehicle. Instead, the N.Z. government should re-test all Kiwi drivers instead. Automotive tax gathering in NZ is massive. The Kiwi government will certainly be introducing all types of new road taxes on BEVs (battery electric vehicles), because the removal of gasoline run engines will also deplete millions of tax revenue dollars.    

The most important advice purchasing secondhand vehicles offshore is the running gear. Trusting sellers when buying their wrecks should be avoided. A personal thorough inspection of vehicles involves checking the engine i.e. compression test, condition of oil & oil filter, valve noise, cam belt and gears, engine leaks, sump leaks, hoses and radiator condition, battery condition, starter motor, alternator voltage check, air filter condition, overall condition of hardware if bolts and nuts have been butchered using junky tools, fan belt wear, water pump condition etc. Looking at the underside of bonnets will reveal if the engine is a smoker, this is usually caused from collective engine oil fumes. The exhaust system should show no signs of decay. Manual geared vehicles are better than autos. A good hard test-drive will show any clutch slippage and gearbox issues. Driveshaft universals and tie rod ends should be well greased with no sloppy side play. Brakes should work with just a light touch. Applying pressure on the brake pedal in neutral with the engine at idle should have no downward movement or feel spongy. The usual cause of faulty brakes is the brake booster. Brake rotors and brake pads should be good condition. Leaking brake callipers will require replacement seals. Removing the diff side plug checking the oil volume is by sticking a finger inside the hole. If there's no oil at the tip of your finger, the diff requires a top up. This also applies to manual gearboxes and 4WD transfer cases. Suspension should be quiet with limited up and down bounce. If the front end is over bouncy, the shocks need replacing. Checking front wheel bearings is by jacking the vehicle up rotating the wheel back and forth from top to bottom. Wheel bearings will require adjusting or replacing if there's any side play movement. Tyres should be in good condition with minimum 70% tread. Considerable inner or outer wear on front tyres will require both camber and tie rod adjustments. All lights low, high beam, blinkers, temperature and oil gauges should be in working order. Oil, alternator and temperature gauges should be working perfectly.

Cosmetic appearance is a personal choice. Ripped upholstery and a few dents and scratched paint work here and there is normal with used wrecks. Knowing how to personally inspect, repair and do maintenance work on automotive running gear self-driving offshore is a priority. Vehicles don't breakdown when they're parked, they break down when least expected because of simple repairs that could have been avoided but were ignored. I've owned some pretty nasty looking second hand wrecks through the decades. Oldest owned running wreck was a '39 Ford V8 sedan @ 18 years old. The sound of a flathead V8 engine with the gas pedal push to the floorboards revving up hills in top gear was enjoyable.

Bullets & Ammo Shells - Self Check Travel Baggage!

A few links verifying foreigners who were caught carrying live ammo or spent cartridges in their baggage on departure or arriving at airports.  

Foreigners caught even with one small pea-shooter .22 caliber live round, or a spent .22 cartridge case will result with custom interrogations, fines and the chance of being on the next flight out of certain countries. Being caught with large cartridge rounds will result in expensive fines, court costs, deportation with a probable black ban for any future visits in many Asian, African, and South American countries. Foreigners ignoring this warning carrying ammo are literally shooting themselves in the foot!

Solo Travel and Transit - Onward Visas & Overland Routes

Grabbing a flight into any continent of choice is simple enough, but continuing overland journeys through continents crossing land borders into neighbouring countries should be planned well in advance. This ensures onward visa formalities for neighbouring countries aren't an issue at least two weeks beforehand. Depending on nationality, visa requests can be denied by the cover of your passport. Nationalities from around the planet have never been treated the same. This can involve extra paperwork runaround, bank statements, and flight tickets out of certain countries before visas are issued. In general, Consulates are easier to deal with rather than Embassies unless one fronts up in a suit holding a briefcase. Usually pre-booking bus or train tickets crossing international borders is sufficient enough, rather than purchasing onward air tickets arriving directly to a country's capital. This beats the purpose of overland travel.
South Africa, Ethiopia, India, North Sudan, Pakistan, China, Iran, Saudi, Russia, and Nigeria are a few examples with different levels of entry formalities which may or may not be requested at Consulates, or when entering at certain land border crossings. Positive interaction with officials usually works, although some land border crossings are easier to pass through than others without the need of being corrupted by officials.

One example is the Rwandan/DRC border crossing to Goma which has had a bad reputation for years from certain DRC officials siphoning and extracting cash from foreigners. Some have paid $200+ dollars or more - depending on nationality - with valid Congolese visas. I found travelling a little further south to the DRC border crossing located in Burundi by-passes corruption fee payouts. Corruption bribes depend on the day and hour one crosses - Not all border immigration officials are corrupt. Don't pay bribes! This makes it more difficult for other foreigners to cross without being subjected to cash hand-outs! Either return and cross at another border post, or patiently wait until other immigration officials arrive.
Argentinean highway police are notorious extortion hunters, including a few land border immigration officials, who go out of their way extracting cash from foreigners driving private vehicles. I've had the opportunity on many occasions to experience this issue first hand driving Brazilian registered VW Kombis. Having a pile of cigarettes and plenty of fresh avocados visibly spread on the dash, seat and floor always gave free passage without paying a peso. Argentinian-Chilean border crossings can also be an issue. Corrupt border officials want large bribe cash handouts to pass, not loose change. Some Argentinean highway police have even escorted foreigners driving their own vehicles to the nearest ATM to extract bribe payouts. I've never forked out corruption cash, unless a loaded gun is pointed at my head. Using skilled interaction techniques works. On one occasion, it took twelve hours at one border crossing until replacement border officials began their shift to leave Argentina avoiding bribe payouts.                
Overland continental transit routes still remain on the same bitumen and bush track highways as they always have been for decades. The only changes worth mentioning here are the short-cut transit routes that may head directly into red zone regions containing elements of insurgency, highway banditry, and local upheavals. Most red zones are well known by locals who reside on the edge of them. This is where the latest fresh information can be collected for any particular overland route. The chances of meeting other foreign nationals who may have just traveled through Red Zone territory that one is about to transit through is rare. Taking calculated risks are better than transiting blind through any Red Zone.
The following overland transit routes are considered extreme and do contain various levels of danger: Sudan to Mali through the Sahel region via Chad and Niger. Algeria to Nigeria. Iran to Lebanon via Iraq and Syria. Djibouti to Kenya via Somalia. Egypt to Tunisia via Libya. Turkey to Jordan via Syria, Iran to India via Afghanistan. Pakistan to Kazakhstan via Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Angola to Sudan through DRC. Nigeria to Sudan via Cameroon and Central Africa Republic.

Solo Travel - Street Photography

Getting The Best Out Of Big Cities

One thing large cities don't lack, are the endless flows of local buses passing through central metropolitan areas. Normally, city buses have their own routes to commuter passengers daily back and forth transiting in their specified directions. One thing I had learnt decades ago, was to Jump on board any bus and travel on it until the last stop. The interaction levels of meeting different locals en-route is rewarding. The unknown final destination on the out skirts of large cities will always have something of interest worth photographing. Machine workshops, auto repair garages, street portraits, vendors, and open markets are a few to mention. Some locations on the outskirts of large cities vary and may require a second visit.
By dissecting different bus routes, one can easily cover the compass dial from north to south, east to west over a week. Returning each time using the same bus route gets you back to the city centre where other foreigners often stay and hangout.

Reaching the edge of cities gives ample opportunities capturing street images and close-up portraits. With words of caution, there are certain risks involved for those who are not street wise and lack interaction skills. Caracas, Kabul, Sao Paulo, Lima, Lagos, and Jo-Burg do contain levels of different risk. The outer edges of big cities have limited police and security, so you're virtually on your own using your own brain. The majority of my own visits to the edges of large cities are normally positive. Since 1982, I've learnt the necessary interaction skills and alertness with all different kinds of people. There have been occasions when I've returned to the same location, because of it's unique isolated atmosphere that's impossible to find within city centres. Make shift machine workshops, auto garages, dusty roadside tea shacks, scrap yards, and endless possibilities of capturing street portraits are found on the outskirts of big cities. Arriving back to home base inside metropolitan districts becomes somewhat stagnate compared to what can be experienced on the outskirts of bustling cities through the continents.

Street Photography - In General

Parts of the Middle East and Central Asia resemble the yesteryears of the wild west. Both regions have an over-supply of arsenal and weapons. In saying that, depending where one is located, it can actually be safer within these regions than walking in the streets of Chicago, Rio or Jo-Burg. Mild Mid-East countries like Jordan and the UAE have been tourist havens without the need of worrying about car bombs, and IED's exploding to bits by various Islamic militant groups. Touch wood, because through history safe zones have been infiltrated at the drop of hat.
Random street photography outside tourist zones is generally friendly with minimal issues. Having basic interaction skills and permission to photograph is like anywhere else. Normally, foreign male and female visitors will have different advantages of photographing Muslim locals. Males can easily take street snaps of men, while females have the opportunity to photograph women in privacy or secluded places prohibited to men.
In other Mid-East countries, random street photography in rural regions will depend on real-time atmosphere from locals having the time to chat and interact. Getting out onto the streets without photo gear for a day or two feeling the vibe is recommended. Spending time at street chai hang-outs full of locals will draw plenty of attention to feel how the atmosphere is. This is when one can test their own interaction levels with locals. Speaking some Arabic will go a long way in remote areas. After walking through a few blocks of any town, the decision then to go out with cameras can then be determined. local Muslims will normally ask your nationality, and at times your religious beliefs. Americans can always say they're Canadian nationals. For instance, western foreigners staying in Jalalabad, Kabala, Aleppo, or El Arish will spread at supersonic speeds through town. Beware, Muslim snitchers are many. Some of the best areas for street photography in Baghdad, Damascus, Kabul, and Cairo are on the out skirts of these cities. 
Is it risky walking around alone in these zones? Yes and no, dress mode and interaction levels play an important roll. For most Western nationals, anywhere and everywhere can become a risk in the Middle East. It will depend on your own judgment, the ability of communicating in Arabic and Farsi, and who good your personal interaction level is to capture close-up portraits of locals. It's also very common from other locals close-by to watch what you're doing, and may warn you not to photograph certain subjects. Following local rules and customs will avoid a public street grilling. 

Capturing random street images like the one above are much easier to take by placing a tripod somewhere along a busy urban street and using the full 360 degree circle on a tripod to capture subjects passing-by. This keeps constant focus on any subject, and guarantees tack shark images. This image was taken from 30 metres distance in amongst locals waiting for a bus. This applies mainly for heavy lenses 3kg+ which become heavier as the day drags on. Moving from one location to another using this technique has worked for me resulting with 100's of random street images that would have been impossible to capture.

Random Street Photography - Portraits  

Close-up random street photography never changes, if anything, it has become a lot easier with all the different types of camera options available. Using the latest equipment is one thing, but to grab close-up snaps of someone can quickly backfire if the wrong approach is made. Depending on the subject, repercussions can cause all sorts of problems. The deletion of images, threatening behaviour, police involvement, or even a smashed camera are issues that have occurred from those who push over the boundary limit. Zero interaction is the root cause. Some of these occurrences may fester in your own country, so imagine the consequences in countries with strict religious laws through the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The breakdown to photograph any stranger is relatively simple using four main steps. The Atmosphere of where an image is about to be taken, the communication and dialogue between the subject and who they're with, and the amount and level of interaction time with the subject. Going ahead without using these steps is not only rude, but it makes it even more difficult for others to photograph the same person in the future if it ever arises. Understanding normal common sense to recognise if any subject rejects being photographed is by their actions. Images taken of subjects from a distance using a zoom or tele-lens is usually never an issue. To capture someone close-up with a lens less than a metre in distance will need the above basic steps for rewarding street portraits.

Solo Travel - Street Savvy

Like anywhere around the planet today, street crime never disappears - it's increasing, and become worse no matter the country or continent. Being street savvy on arrival into new urban sprawl different to your own surroundings will at least help keep you aware of what's happening around you. In every country, street thieves never use the same techniques. The level and intensity of city street crime varies block to block in different neighbourhood areas.
The best advice before walking out into streets in unfamiliar turf, is to walk around for a day or two without daypacks or photo-gear. Grabbing information from locals, of where dangerous zones are located is automatic. One can be fortunate enough to casually stroll through crime infested areas during daylight hours, but don't expect the same vibe within the same zones after dark. 
At the end of the day, it's all about luck, and how one uses their composure and interaction levels, and knowing their boundary level without taking the risk of crossing over it. Westerners, who normally take things for granted in their own country without a care in the world, will eventually end-up losing what they're carrying wandering through big cities in areas that have zero security. This is nothing new, docile foreigners who think they can do as they please are usually those who end-up being mugged, assaulted and robbed. Foreigners who are easily mugged and robbed within "safe zones" have no chance within Red Zone regions! Americans may have all the guns they can carry in the US, but forget about personal gun protection when heading offshore. 

Street Photography - Interacting

Have you ever ended up with disappointing street portraits? I used too, because of the lack of putting some effort into actually capturing the shot. Through time and motion, one begins to understand how important it is to use dialogue and interaction with the subject. If you're tall and the subject is small, getting down below eye level with cameras will usually give the correct angle of the subject. Capturing the subject in front of an open doorway will also make any street portrait stand out. Depending on what finished result one is trying to accomplish, moving the subject either back or forward a few steps will increase or decrease the amount of desired ambient light required. This simple technique requires no flash. Good positive interaction skills and using reasonable quality photo gear will give anyone random street portraits satisfying results - Try it.

Is it your first solo overland travel & transit journey through a continent? Can you handle interacting with total strangers outside your comfy zone? How good is your interaction levels? these are only a few of many questions you need to ask your self to understand the importance of interaction. Having low self esteem with limited interaction levels won't go far. You can forget about capturing close-up street portraits almost anyway. Imagine being within an open market area somewhere in the Congo, or down a narrow street laneway in India, or in an isolated village in Afghanistan, and spot subjects you really want to capture as close as possible, but haven't a clue or know the first step of interacting with them. Don't worry, you're not alone, I've seen many foreigners through the decades who have stumbled on this important issue. Interacting is actually easier than what it seems, just a quick smile at subjects can go along way. Holding your posture and looking directly at your subject shows you're open to dialogue. Taking interest of what a subject is doing is automatic. Pointing a camera at any subject too early may cause rebuke, or irritation, it's all about timing, the way one moves, sits, the vibe and atmosphere, and how one expresses themselves to capture close-up random street portraits. Every location and region has different vibes. Don't expect the same reception through Africa and the Mid East.

Solo Travel Overland - Tribal Lands 

Reaching somewhere into the the heartland of Africa is a mission in itself, but worth whatever effort it takes to get there. Interacting with isolated tribal groups will depend on your own personal skills. Shyness isn't an option, being introverted won't work either. Depending on the location, tribal groups are very responsive towards individual westerners who make an effort to interact amongst them. A positive open atmosphere usually happens immediately with children who generally have a steroid mix of unmatched adrenaline. In general, most isolated tribal groups have the freedom of being semi naked, or even completely naked. They don't adhere or follow western values of controlled dress mode or political correctness jargon. Untamed Africa still exists off the beaten tourist trails through the continent. If you're looking for more than lying on a beach in Zanzibar, or sick and tired of the usual touristy hangouts, the option of heading into the middle of nowhere awaits for those who want to feel and experience the real Africa.

In the West, People strolling around town semi-naked in public are frowned upon and against the law. Within African tribal territories, semi-nakedness isn't something unusual to see whether male or female. Those visiting tribal communities who dislike nudity will find themselves under the rule of tribal law void of western values. Keep away from these regions if semi-nakedness bugs you, or wear some dark shades.

Reaching tribal zones in the back regions of countries using basic overland transport takes time. Transit journeys reaching them may require several drop-off and pick-up points. Hitching lifts on anything moving in the right direction shouldn't be avoided, unless it looks like a bush-hack about to fall to bits. Hitching lifts in the outback are normally done at crossroad junctions, if any (transit-stops). In most cases, locals climb on board trucks, pickups and anything else passing-by. Don't hesitate to do the same within the middle of nowhere. Waiting for lifts getting out of tribal zones is the same procedure.

If you like or want to take images like these, you're going to have to do some serious overland transit milage to get them. Capturing random on the go snaps is something I've been doing for decades. Grabbing the attention of a truck load full of locals is only by interacting with them first. Those who do travel doing the hard yards, but end up taking more selfies of themselves rather than what's in the opposite direction, are usually narcissistic social media addicts. That's something I gave the boot down the toilet years ago!

Solo Overland Travel - Classic Street Snap

Those wanting to visit China should take the above advice seriously for any planned future trips into this communist country. The global PRC/CCP spying networks has fully integrated itself inside social media platforms around the planet. They don't only know when you've been to the toilet, but the weight of the load dump as well. This includes western countries by their governments, who either have slack protective protocol within their own data base networks, or who have sold out their nations, and in bed up to their necks with the CCP (as always, follow the money trail). I let China go as a travel destination years ago. The country is riddled with evasive in your face AI, controlled zones, land grabbing along its borders, plundering fish stocks around the planet (Galapagos islands of all places), minority groups and religious faith crackdowns, screwing over nations with accumulative debt burden (belt and road), and flooding the planet with cheap copy wing bling junk - enough said.   
Decades ago, I handed out images of the Dalai Lama for image captures in return of Tibetans through Tibet. Since then during overland journeys, no matter the continent, the odd request by locals to have images sent to them arises. This was difficult in the roll-film days, but in the digital age, images are easily done in an instant. There are those who reside within remote territories, who still don't use cell phones believe it or not - total freedom with zero spying spooks. Grabbing contact details, sending an A4 size laminated portrait at a later date is always appreciated.
The Fujifilm instax,mini camera is the perfect solution for on the spot colour prints on the go, if there's space enough in baggage. This is a great interaction tool in certain regions through continents. 

Overland Travel & Transit - FIRST AID

 Traveling with a small mini first aid kit is something that many don't really worry about until the moment it's needed. When over-landing through the continents, there will be times when a first aid kit comes in handy. Transport accidents, hiking fatalities, beach, ocean, desert and savannah cuts, including infectious bites are a part of a long list of hazards that can eventuate from one minute to the next. Here's a quick list of what I usually carry for emergency purposes - A tick extractor, band aids, plaster tape, eye drops, neosporin powder and ointment, antiseptic cream, portable water purifier, alloy wrap sheet, vitamins, tiger balm, tweezers, mini scissors, and a sharp knife.

When in India, how does one prevent getting the Delhi belly? A daily intake of freshly made curd helps protect the digestive immune system. Indian curd has strong probiotic proteins and nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B-2, B-12, and vitamin D. On arrival in India, the first thing to consume is a bowel of plain curd that will automatically begin to protect the intestinal tract. Above image, a local preparing lassi.    
Below, I received a medical prescription to kill-off a parasite in India. Ivermectin was one of the medical tablets used. Did it work - Yes, the parasite was 100% eradicated. Ivermectin can also aid weak immune systems for SARS-CoV-2, including heavy doses of Vitamin C, D, zinc and curd yogurt - Got It?

Overland Travel - Drinking Water

Many foreigners wonder if local water supplies seen readily available through the continents is safe to drink. In most cases Yes it is, if locals drink it - then you can too. Actually, in some instances, local water is probably safer to drink than what's contained in plastic bottles labeled with fancy selling logos. Have you ever considered how many microns of plastic is consumed from each bottle? Bottled water also loses most of its nutrients during the filtration process. This is also the main cause why some foreigners require to replenish their bodies with rehydration salts. Fresh squeezed lime juice mixed with pure rock salt works. Personally, I've drank from local water supplies from the streets when required through Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East over four decades without any issues. This is a good way to strengthen and beef up weak immune systems. One less purchase of plastic filled water bottles helps stop global plastic pollution.     

Above, a local at a typical street pavement watering outlet in Central Asia. When blistering temperatures reach 45C plus, these street water pit-stops are packed out. Face, neck washing, and guzzling down piles of water is common practice during the hot summer months.         

In extreme emergencies, a small lightweight carbon filled life-Straw comes in handy when no clean drinking water is available. A Life-Straw can handle one thousand litres of water passing through it before replacing. I've carried one in baggage for years without the need of using it as yet. In most cases, life-Straws will only be used when natural disasters occur cutting-off water supplies.

An age old tradition, Bhis†is carrying water filled leather bags delivering private to customers.

Overland Road Trip - South America

Driving a classic VW Kombi will get you through the continent - How do I know? - I've done it twice. 

Are you planning a long term overland road trip through South America? Purchasing a classic VW Kombi van in Brazil is one alternative. I've crossed the continent several times driving VW Kombis purchased in Brazil. These old road floaters can still be found in reasonable condition throughout the continent. There are different rules and regulations in each country, but foreigners can easily purchase and resell vehicles almost anywhere through the continent. I personally found Brazil to be the easiest country to purchase VW vans. The exchange rate plays an important roll. This determines where a vehicle can be bought at the cheapest exchange rate. Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia have different vehicle tax levels. It depends on the timing of the exchange rate, and the asking price where any vehicle can be purchased at a reasonable cost. There's more info further down this page. The images shown was a 2nd Kombi purchased in Brazil. This gasoline VW was purchased in Puerto Alegre for $900 bucks. It gave no issues throughout its entire road trip throughout South America. Parts are still available for these models in most Latin countries. The converted diesel version VW Kombis are also reliable machines, but expensive to purchase. Here's  a Brazilian link to purchase VW Kombis although most viewed on this site are newer models (2000-2014) in the price range of $2500-$6000USD. Some time and patience is required to purchase a vehicle. Don't buy any vehicle without inspecting it first. I've purchased classic Kombis from private owners in Curitiba and Porto Alegre without issues. A full maintenance checkover is recommended to ensure the running gear is in tip-top condition before any embarking on long duration transit journeys. A Brazilian gasoline powered vehicle will also need to have the ignition timing advanced for neighbouring countries because of higher octane gasoline. One can still be lucky enough to find a good classic Kombi without rust in good mechanical condition for peanuts - Good Luck.

Self-Driving Through South America

In South America, purchasing vehicles is one thing, but self-driving through various regions of the continent is not as simple as black and white. Breakdowns do happen periodically without any forewarning. I've experienced this on one occasion in the middle of nowhere during a previous road-trip journey in the continent. If vehicle breakdowns require towing, the chances of cell phone connections for assistance may arise off the beaten track. Within isolated areas, stopping any available traffic is about the only thing one can do. Don't expect all local drivers to stop after dark. One can only be fortunate enough to be towed to the nearest workshop garage for an agreed fee.
Vehicles with cross-border number plates is straight out advertising someone is visiting the country, and will give the impression the vehicle has a stack of valuables like photo-gear, cash, jewellery, designer clothes etc. This is one of the major downsides owning and driving your own vehicle through the continent, thus resulting with a higher risk level of losing valuables. Removing personal items during transit-stops is normal, but this doesn't stop highway bandits from taking everything, including the vehicle after dark - Just avoid driving after dark period!
Bribe pay-offs to corrupt officials and police is common amongst locals, so don't expect any free passes if stopped along highways or at control checkpoints. Countries well known for bribe handouts are Venezuela, Argentina, and Colombia. Countries well know for night banditry are Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Night driving should be avoided through the entire continent - including the Patagonian region. 
​Keeping awareness levels at a maximum, and by using smart safety tactics will get you through the continent in one piece. At the moment, driving through Venezuela should be avoided at all costs, unless you want to feel the full strength of bribery, highway corruption, and all out banditry holdups in all directions. 

Exercise Offshore - Keeping Fit

"losing weight - Walking around is a good start"

There's endless online info about losing weight, but actual data shows that foreigners off shore, mainly women, gain more weight than males. Whether this is caused by people's daily food intake, or from increased amounts of fetish sugary food and drinks, it has certainly been a growing trend over the last decade. The don't care attitude, or those with low self esteem only have themselves to blame - No one else. At least get out and about like locals do and do daily walks.

A non-serious work-out shedding unwanted fat tissue is simple enough to accomplish. Walking at your own pace all day does the trick. Africans are known for their long distant walkathons, including Asians, and Latinos. Many locals through the continents are super-fit, because of having to walk for days on end due to the lack of transportation. Walking workouts in cities or in rural regions is not only healthy, it also gets you from suburb to suburb, village to village without knowing who you may meet up with next. One can easily stop for a quick break, guzzle some water, chit-chat with locals, capture some close-up portrait snaps, and drop as much sweat at the same time. A 10 kilometre walk through any city does the same job, although this will depend on pollution levels. I do this often to keep fit. Cycling is great too. Carrying a camera, grabbing street snaps en-route clocks up plenty of kilometres without even realising it. Most will be surprised how much weight shedding will eventuate just by walking and sweating it out everyday. I've remained the same weight for more than four decades. Below image, a 70+ tribal woman cruising around daily with heavy ankle weights.   

Solo Overland Travel & Transit - Basic Transport

"Kiss goodbye comfy zones & soft lounge suites in transit mode off bitumen highways" 

Overland transit means what it says, screaming will do you no good when in the thick of it. Comfy zones are non-existent transiting through any remote region off the beaten track. Bush buses, trucks, 4x4's including boat transport all have their limitations. Major breakdowns happen, gearboxes explode, engines blow-up, and diffs fall apart. There's always something up ahead that dramatises overland transit that gives the addiction of doing it. Climbing on board anything that's moving in the travel direction is normal procedure with little choice of anything passing through for days on end. If you're game and want real adventure - don't even think twice to do it!  Solo overland travel crossing through continents using any available transport has no equal. Breakdowns, border closures, expired visas and highway banditry are part and package transiting through certain regions. No one can predict what's up ahead, anything can happen, and maybe nothing will happen at all.

Solo Overland Transit - Rough As Guts

Forget about tour companies and travel blogger packaged click bait deals if you're looking for real adventure crossing continents - there are none! Most cater for the tourism bubble market only along main transit routes. Going it alone transiting overland using basic transport crossing through countries will give you the best experience at minimal cost. Think about it - on most transit journeys you'll end up being the only foreigner on board. Interaction levels are easier, and locals will usually go out of their way to help or assist if required. Using rough as guts basic bush-buses becomes routine with each individual journey being different to the last. Don't think bush-buses are slow, some drivers will have their foot pressed hard down on the gas pedal all day non-stop, screaming the engine at peak revs without mercy - like flying a jet without wings with no suspension.
Some of the most amazing overland transit journeys are on board loud fuming rattling bush-buses falling apart. Photo-gear and other fragile items will also fall apart, if they're not packed down properly. A camera falling on the floor on a vibrating bush-bus doing 90 kph along a winding corrugated pot-filled dirt road will test it's reliability. Many cameras no matter the brand will fail to function on their first hard drop - choose wisely. All on the go , out of the window in transit images through this website were captured using various branded point & shoots. Thats what they're good for - point & shoot.

Every bush bus journey experience is different from the last. Some bush buses can manage 500km over 3 days without a single breakdown, while others have minor puncture repairs, or major engine, transmission, or rear end failures. I've been on board a few bush buses with crazy drivers, who try to break the world speed record. Forgot about telling drivers to slow down, they'll normally just smirk, and even go faster. The bush bus journeys vividly remembered are always those insane gas pedal crazy drivers.           

Those wanting to capture on the go snaps during transit first require hand holdable camera gear. Point & shoots are good for this because they're paper lightweight compared to DSLR gear. Forget using smart phone camera junk! Most overland transit snaps captured are usually along dust filled dirt track routes. Taking images with full frame cameras and expensive lenses will depend how much dust is flying around out the window and inside of buses, and the amount of bump and grind that can easily knock cameras out of your hands. During most rugged overland journeys, I spend more time out of windows while most other passengers are fast asleep. Bush bus rear corner seats get the best views and capture the shots without fail. Below, a $2 14 hour bush bush journey through the middle of nowhere.      

There's something special about traveling on board classic bush buses through continents. Most foreigners are always in a rush wanting the best comfort through their journeys reaching destinations at the quickest time possible. Older bush buses automatically add that nostalgia feeling deluxe buses can never match. Older bush buses are normally aged with ripped torn seats, cracked, jammed or missing windows, and the sounds of crunched gears, squeaky brakes (if any), with the roar and smokey fumes of a diesel engine at peak revs. Bush buses are also normally jammed packed with locals and sprawling luggage. How can one not experience transiting through the heartland of Africa using bush buses? You have to either be a yuppie, a fake travel blogger, or someone who prefers avoiding rough rugged travel journeys off-main bitumen highways.         

Those who haven't done any extensive offshore overland travel pre-2020 maybe out of luck for future plans of completing any long-term journeys shown through this website. The reality of travel freedom offshore is all but done and dusted of how it used to be. Avoiding MSM and social media fake propaganda using critical thinking, the great reset, mass migration, SARS-CoV-2, and the climate change rhetoric is the 2030 Agenda - Got It?  

​Dust In Transit - Get Used To It

"It doesn't matter what continent one transits across - Vibration & Dust Will Be Waiting For You" 

If you don't mind dust - no problem, if you do - tough. There's no escape from dust, dirt or grime in transit mode off bitumen tarmac. Collecting thick layers of dust is part and parcel of any travel journey through interior inland road routes. Grinding dust in your teeth, and having your nose and eyes caked up with dust becomes normal. Transiting in transport that actually have windows wound up doesn't matter. Dust will get in through the ventilation, or from doors with worn out rubber seals. The only issue worth mentioning, is photo gear and laptops. Equipment and dust sensitive stuff should be sealed and packed down. If not, the bouncing, corrugation, and vibration, including endless clouds of dust will destroy anything not properly protected. It doesn't matter what continent one transits across. The vibration, together with dust and grime affects people in different ways who haven't experienced days on end of non-stop rugged travel. Most hitched lifts, and local transport I've used through the decades transiting across interiors have ended up with the same result - Another journey to remember, with piles of dust or no dust.

A common travel fatigue, especially with woman on board rough rugged overland journeys during transit through the middle of nowhere is sleep dozing. During the first few hours they're normally full power chit-chatting non-stop, and then suddenly doze-off into a coma of deep sleep. I've seen this materialise first hand numerous times with females in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan and Central Africa and Andean block. Below snaps, uncontrollable transit dozing.              

Grabbing multiple dusty transit snaps en-route like below should be done with secondary back up point and shoots. Dust is one of the worst enemies for all types of semi and pro photo gear. Dust, especially fine dust particles can easily enter inside onto camera sensors when lenses are detached and remounted during ruff rugged journeys. Some using DSLR, 3/4, and other types of camera gear have found out the hard way with their camera sensors covered in spots and grime. Others have had issues with dust slowly grinding away inside their lenses. 

High Pass Overland Transit

Unpredictable weather abnormalities can happen at a moments notice anywhere anytime.   

Driving any vehicle within extreme subzero isolated mountainous terrain without previous driving experience should be avoided. Westerners who live and drive in subzero regions are spoilt with layers of sprinkled salt on roads with safety barriers and warning signs. Forget about the same treatment in the Himalaya, Patagonia, or along snow track routes in the Andes. Driving with snow chains during daylight hours is bad enough. During midwinter, melted puddles of ice quickly reform into black ice at sunset. Returning to home base - wherever that is, well before the sun sets is imperative in isolated regions like the image above. A simple breakdown can become nightmarish when temps suddenly drop consecutively down to minus -30C (-22F) above 4000 metres altitude.         

Heavy rains, flash flooding, avalanches and rock fall are normal occurrences during winter and monsoon season. Abnormal freak weather can cause havoc on high pass mountain dirt roads in Nepal, Peru, India, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Pakistan. Many high altitude bush track highways are usually closed during the winter months in Pakistan and India due to heavy snow drifts giving zero visibility with limited access to transit through these regions. Peru, Bolivia, and Ethiopia are known for erratic weather carnage along cliff top bush track highways with major slippages and rock avalanches. Blocked high pass transit routes can be closed for days or even weeks on end. India and Pakistan have issues with flash flooding during monsoon cycles every year within highland regions affecting roads that follow along the edge of valley gorge cliffs - which have collapsed in seconds. Buses sliding over the edge into swollen rivers does happen. Buses, vans, and 4x4's driving along high top altitude bush-tracks fall off the sides of cliffs every year. You certainly don't want to be transiting through any high pass bush track during heavy rain fall - It's a risk that has killed many locals, including foreigners. Always check weather conditions before departing - Your life depends on it.

Self-driving through high altitude regions during mid-winter in 2WD vehicles is a waiting death sentence. Those with common sense, will use 4WDs, with essential survival and safety equipment on board. Those who are ignorant ignoring basic safety rules with limited driving skills within harsh high pass remote transit regions anywhere around the planet only have themselves to blame, if taking risks beyond their own limitations  - This happens year in year out!    

Wet Season - Mud Bog & Breakdowns

Where the bitumen ceases, the reality of real overland travel and transit begins. The Amazonian wet season shows no mercy when continuous outbursts of tropical rain washes out bush track highways making it impossible for transport to pass through. Most dirt track highways within the interior of the Amazon basin become clogged and bogged endless mud pits. Screaming will do you no good at all during the middle of any bush track journey thinking it was a quick short-cut transit route. During the wet season through the Amazon, many bush track highways end up becoming long-cuts, with some routes wiped out, or impossible to pass, due to slips and severe flooding. Experienced bus operators won't risk getting stuck in the middle of nowhere for days on end.
There are some crazy drivers, who do gamble getting through and become bogged down stuck in mud. Passengers piling out of transport stuck in mud, sometimes well above your knees helping to push happens. Various breakdowns also occur with issues, like broken axles, electrical faults, blown engines, or transmission failures. Some buses do end up down ravines or over the sides of cliffs caused by driver error. A positive note is the exercise one gets lugging personal baggage from one bus to another across bog pits where transport can't pass. I've experienced this countless times on board deluxe and bush buses, trucks, vans, 4WD, trains,  and even on boats through continents. The Amazon region is untameable both for its wildlife and highway banditry, which is rife along certain routes, just ask locals, one certainly won't find local regional highway holdups on google search!
Below, one needs to be travelling within extremely isolated regions to capture images like this. The driver had crashed into the bank and then caught fire. It only takes a single accident, breakdown or malfunction holding up traffic in both directions along bush track routes. One from many rememberable holdups during transit was an eight day wait onboard a hitched truck lift in Iran. Iraqi jets had blown out the only river bridge crossing to Tabriz in '83.       

Dugouts - Not Great When They Sink With Baggage

Taking risks cruising up or down swollen rivers in dugouts can cost you your baggage.

A warning to those wanting to transit up or down rivers in dugouts solo with travel baggage. One should check the condition of dugouts before renting, purchasing and cruising-off down river loaded with everything they own. Old timber soaked dugouts do collect water and slowly submerge like subs. The image above was a dugout that was bone dry one day, and half submerged the following day. Any venture on rivers using dugouts on smooth flowing currents is fine. Only those who have had past experience will master a dugout when encountering rapids - which can flip dugouts on their side in seconds. If you value your life, and travel baggage (photo-gear included), take this advice as a precautionary measure. Some foreigners haven't been so lucky, and have lost everything they've owned in dugouts flipping on their side. Rivers can swell overnight caused by heavy rain further up stream. Don't even think using dugouts unless they're water tight in good weather. Losing possessions and drowning at the same time can be avoided by using watertight dugouts.

If you've got plenty of time on your hands and enjoy cruising down rivers using your own dugout or longboat, the Orinoco river from Ciudad Bolivar floating down stream along the Colombian frontier to the Brazilian border will keep you paddling for up to two months with stop offs en-route. This journey is through Red Zone territory. Only those who can handle rough travel with good interacting skills should do this river journey. It's the Deliverance movie on steroids. Discarding personal dugouts and longboats at the Brazilian border is mandatory. Only official registered boats are permitted to float on main Brazilian rivers.            

Those who think the Colombian Putumayo river route is hardcore, the Orinoco is double hardcore, especially now with limited fuel stocks in Venezuela. In this region, contraband fuel is under the control of militants. Researching fresh information for this particular transit journey floating down the Orinoco is only by being there. Local private boat owners through the Amazonian region will gladly take anyone up river for the right price. Pre-planned drop-off and pick-up schedules, one way inter connections, and transport to isolated areas should be agreed on before jumping on board any motorboat.

Isolated Amazonian wilderness jungle river camping requires the necessary food supplies including a reliable burner, like an MSR whisperlite, headlamp, and enough water supplies to last the duration of any excursion trip. River water can be used for drinking if boiled first. Knowing basic survival skills, like preparing quick campsites, catching fish, and treating emergency first aid are necessities in wilderness jungle. Avoiding coral snake bites, is done by hitting bush and branches when strolling through semi-dense forest using a stick. If bitten by snakes, spiders or scorpions, the use of a small hand held stun gun comes in handy, zapping across the bite several times will rapidly reduce pain and swelling, and avoid possible death. There are no doctors or cell phone coverage in isolated regions - you're on your own. Swimming or bathing in rivers, especially creeks should be avoided. Taking bucket baths to cool-off and wash is normal procedure.

Robbed & Mugged In Transit - Nothing New Here!

"When You Think You're Safe - That's When You'll Get Robbed - No Place Is Safe After Dark"

The amount of foreigners I've met in transit mode over the years who have been mugged, robbed, raped and bashed is beyond belief. Many lose their baggage because of simple mistakes. Some have been robbed because of using unsafe accommodation, or not keeping an eye on baggage when in cafes, bars or during transit journeys. Never think thieves and robbers are all the same! For example, in Central and South America they're not! Thieves, muggers, and bandits use their own techniques, with some working only in daylight hours, while others rob and mug through the night. Daylight thieves have their own areas and turf. So in most cases, experienced thieves are already stalking their targets without the victim even knowing they've become the next possible victim. Latino street thieves will strike at an appropriate time that always suits them. Repeat the last sentence again and again till it sinks in. 
Highway bandits in the middle of nowhere are the worst, they show no mercy and hold-up buses robbing the entire contents of buses which sometimes includes a strip-down of passengers down to their underwear. Hidden cash stashes in money belts, clothing and shoes all for the taking. Using street instinct, and learning the ropes of transit survival without getting robbed or loosing travel gear is a must do. If you don't bother to learn the tricks or use the basic skills of street awarenesses within any environment out from your own comfy zone, especially in South America you will eventually be mugged and robbed with no one to blame apart from yourself. 

You can read all you want from "fluffy travel blog-sites" who write about the same jargon on offshore travel safety, but they're only skimming the surface of premeditated robbery, rape and assault without getting into any in-depth detail of the root causes. There are reasons behind this, one, being the global billion dollar tourism industry itself.
If any country already has a viscous crime and rape rate, then don't expect local thieves, muggers and rapists to stop in their tracks giving foreigner visitors a free pass! They won't. They will continue without remorse doing what they're good at. Robbing and mugging foreign tourists has always been big business.
​Foreign tourists are easy targets, and spotted two blocks away by their western dress wear, and expensive looking boots and daypacks. Some shady hotels with light fingered staff are also in for the take, and are known for relieving items from rooms. Also, many bars, and music joints are magnet hubs for thieves and would be rapists where they can freely congregate, watch, analyse and target their next victim without the person acknowledging until it happens - usually after dark. So, it doesn't matter about how many surface level warnings you may read, and digest from trendy travel blog-sites. 
Safety is all about the country you're visiting. Countries that already contain high crime and rape statistics will automatically have a much higher risk factor targeted at foreigners.
Below image, I grabbed this quick snap of a local selling all types of different knives at the central bus station in Maracaibo. The seller even gave a quick demonstration how to defend oneself from assault, although, in South America, being shot dead by illegal purchased handguns is more common than being stabbed to death.

The tourism industry, airlines, hotels, and internet giants like Google would rather place negative tourism news feeds hidden well away deep inside search engines. By keeping a positive vibe of travel tourism within search engines, any negative travel data is more difficult to research unless it's the exact web link address. The majority of travel bloggers and You Tube travel fluff apply impressions of the same blissfulness on travel destination they're marketing. Travel bloggers require to keep their sponsors, and affiliates happy with positive clic bait. Being aware and alert within unfamiliar surroundings can easily become nightmarish for those only associating to hyped travel bliss by travel sharks. When everyones partying hard out, intoxicated, or stoned off-their faces, who really cares about worrying about being mugged, bashed, robbed, raped, or murdered? This is the last thing on anyone's mind. This is when foreigners do become victims. 
Personal safety offshore is your own responsibility! The tourism industry, the fancy online hotel advertising, and all those travel bloggers out there won't be around to help you out when any negative situation arises. If ignored or remain ignorant - you only have yourself to blame. ​

Like most other overland travellers, staying in cheap crappy hotels with thin walls, peeled paint and disgusting uncleaned showers is something taken for granted. I've stayed in some pretty worn out decaying hotels, especially through Central Asia, the Andean region, and both sides of Africa. For the price of a night and moving on at daybreak catching a smokey run down bush bus has no argument. On the other hand, crashing out at one location for a few weeks is a different story. I will usually pick a room well above ground level with a view, lockup security i.e. window latches, window security grills, and a healthy door showing no signs of knife marks or tampering. Choosing secure rooms in hotels and other accommodation has kept my travel baggage safe since '82 with zero loss.   

Blissfulness sounds great until it suddenly turns into a nightmare scenario that can't be imagined. Travel blogger influencers avoid covering the negative side of travel, especially on violent assaults and rape because it doesn't fit their narrative of what they earn from - total dreamy state travel blissfulness.  
Three bandits held 10 tourists (one a 16 year old Israeli girl) bearing firearms at a holiday house in Silonque Nature Reserve South Africa. All nine were robbed of cash, cell phones,  laptops,  jewellery and their car. The 16 year old female minor was taken to another room where she was gang raped before the bandits fled the scene.
locals at the park where the assault took place stated that this has never happened before. You hear this time and time again around the planet. Even a few liberal travellers say "there is no evil in the world" Huh, only fools, who have been totally dumbed down would believe such bullcrap. Depending on the location, the chances of being violently assaulted may be minimal on any particular given day, but it only takes an unlocked gate, an open door, or slack sleeping night security for such events to unfold. 

There's nothing like experiencing both sides of extremes temperatures. Personally, I prefer subzero temps more than blistering heat. At least one can put more clothing on to keep warm. If you can handle waking up in desert regions having hot morning washes in plus +40C for a few weeks, you can handle almost anything.   

Overland Travel - After Dark

The text in the above image may sound raw for some - Yes? It has to be. The increased level of foreigners off-shore who are robbed, mugged, bashed and raped happens non-stop, at full speed around the clock through the continents. Foreigners wandering around after dark by themselves intoxicated or stoned out of their heads are instant targets without acknowledging assaults about to happen until the damage is already done. Remaining vigilant sounds good, but useless in many situations. Being aware, is by using your own inner instinct that automatically acknowledges the boundaries of safety around you at any given location. Everyone has this gift, but many fail to recognise it, or completely ignore it. 
Many western foreigners become completely blinded and hypnotised traveling off-shore. Some quickly forget their own safety surroundings and environment from where they normally reside. This gives false impressions, that the same safety levels are not required and quickly forgotten.  
An example, are North American citizens, who feel safe in their own country with the right to bear arms, but forget about those little side-arm pistols as protection departing the USA - you're on your own, just like everyone else. Countless criminals, thieves, bandits and rapists are alive and well throughout the planet, within their own zones picking-off random targets as they choose. Foreign tourists become easy targets, because most foreigners after one month or two off-shore don't acknowledge how easy it is to become a victim. Cruising around by yourself, especially after dark thinking nothing will happen to you is a no brainer. An alleyway shortcut, or walking across a park are classic examples some do after strolling out from music bars, clubs and venues totally intoxicated. 
​Night thieves love western tourists, they know there's something of value worth taking for free. Females wandering after dark are more vulnerable of being raped, and mugged. One only needs to ask locals how many times they themselves, or know of others who have been robbed, mugged or raped.      

Have you wandered around the streets of Cali, Colombia after dark on your own? Try it, see how far you get before something happens from out of nowhere. Locals don't do it for obvious reasons. Don't expect any help strolling down side street alleys, or through dim lit parks, or taking short-cuts back to accommodation. 

Solo Travel Safety - Everyday is Different!

Forget about fear mongering or over exaggerated hype. Getting assaulted, robbed, mugged or raped happens, and usually occurs without warning when most least expect it to happen. There are many out there who know exactly what I'm talking about and probably remain silent due to embarrassment or the shock that something did happen to them. Those ignoring the warning alarm bells and blind to the fact of what is happening around them without reacting quickly can end up badly. In the real world anyone can become a target and victim within a few short minutes. Westerners that are easily mugged, robbed, or raped are usually those on cloud 9, heavily intoxicated, or have zero awareness levels day or night. This allows the vicious cycle of victimisation to flow on to other foreigners who also become targeted within the same region. Local predators offshore hardly ever move from locations that bear fruit - Got It?
Learning some form of self-defence, or carrying some type of protection is a personal choice. Using one's instinct and awareness when required will get most through an entire continent without  harm or any loss of baggage stuff. Just because you may come from the Bronx, Chicago or reside within no go zones in Europe doesn't mean jack shit in other neighbourhoods elsewhere. North Americans may have the right to bear arms in their own country, but when offshore they're on their own without handguns to defend themselves. Every neighbourhood zone through the planet uses their own street rules, tactics, and tricks. Westerners who come from safe protected lifestyles are more vulnerable of becoming the victim offshore in the real world because of pure blinded ignorance. 

A snap of a scorpion catching a centipede (both poisonous) during a 5 day solo trek in the Himalaya. Foreigners within the Amazon, or in certain regions through Africa and Asia have suffered excruciating pain from scorpion, snake and spider bites every year, with some dying, because of weak immune systems to recover in remote isolated regions. By using a stun gun on yourself, it will reduce inflammation, swelling and neutralise venom from poisonous critters.
Self inflicting high voltage doses of electrical current in the middle of nowhere on venomous bites and stings isn't a joke. It can save your life. Those who carry stun guns, one to two second zapps on fresh scorpion and spider bites will decrease heart beat and swelling within minutes, and neutralise poisonous venom. Holding a stun gun directly over bites, and zapping yourself 4-6 times across bites, and then rotating the contact points around the bite with a few more zapps is sufficient enough. Snake bites will require longer zapps within the first minute of being bitten. 
​Disclaimer, personally self-zapping with stun guns is at your own risk. 
Walking through Amazonian rain forest on your own without guides, increases the risk factor of being bitten by coral 
snakes. By using a stick hitting jungle brush and branches to create enough noise in front of you will make camouflage tree snakes move out of the way. One of the most dangerous snakes within isolated regions after dark, is the bushmaster snake, it will strike and bite at heights of up to 4 metres at anything producing light i.e. torches, headlamps, cigarette lighters. 
The following extract data by Dean Ripa (bushmasters.com)
People walking around using flashlights through jungle at night can be in for a startling experience, if a bushmaster is lying close-by. In a mild sequence, the snake merely raises its head up to considerable height in order to investigate the unusual phenomenon. But when the light is very bright, sudden and close-by, the startled snake attacks the light frenziedly, hurling itself at the "hot" object in a series of maddened, rapid strikes, one after another. This can be disconcerting in a snake that can strike four feet high! The strikes may be so violent as to propel the snake’s entire body toward the intruder. The sudden appearance of heat appears to cause of sort of sensory overload, and the snake literally goes berserk. Native hunters who had been searching for small game at night using various kinds of torch lights (electric, carbon, gas, etc.) have told me tales of bushmasters "rising up out of nowhere" to strike light out of their hands (after which the terrified hunters fled the scene, abandoning the torch light behind them). The sudden ignition of a match flame can have the same effect, as smokers visiting my facility have observed when an alarmed bushmaster (demonstrating the possible health hazards of cigarettes), made an unexpected lunge to bite them in the face—the glass front of the enclosure, however, protecting them from harm.
Native tales of bushmasters being attracted to fires built in the jungle probably have a factual basis; if a bushmaster were nearby when the fire was being built, one could almost expect it to come over to investigate. In my travels I was intrigued at the extreme caution with which some native persons approached the task of building a cook-fire while we were hunting bushmasters in remote areas at night.
Below, not all creepy crawlies are dangerous, even if they look nasty. Being bitten from Golden Orb spiders is harmless with minimal swelling.    

In Transit - Do You Watch Your Stuff? - Many Don't

The chances of loosing items from inside daypacks, or having a daypack suddenly disappearing altogether can happen during any overland transit journey through the continents. How do I know this?  By all my extensive overland travel and transit journeys over four decades from the amount of foreigners who have had their daypacks pilfered or stolen when dozing-off, or from those who had left their daypacks unattended while taking a quick pee-break on buses and trains. Buses with slide open windows are one of the fastest ways to loose daypacks, which are quickly thrown directly out the window during chaotic mid-night bus pick-ups at terminals en-route. This has happened on night buses in the Andean highlands, bush buses through Africa, and on trains across Asia. It takes under 3 seconds to remove an unguarded daypack out of any open bus window. Deluxe buses may feel safer with sealed windows, but on countless occasions the pilfering of daypack contents does happen without the owner knowing about until it's too late. Keeping daypacks from being razor bladed will depend where daypacks are placed, and positioned during night transit journeys. Never think everyone on buses are honest just because you're a woke feel good foreigner. Local bus thieves know very well foreign tourists are easy targets, and will take what's not theirs in seconds with a smile.

Solo Travel - Gold & Gemstone Bling

Is it worth the risk wearing expensive jewellery roaming the streets in South America, Africa or Asia?  This is certainly not recommended in most cases, unless one is totally street-wise, and can quickly defend themselves from being attacked. Why cause yourself unnecessary grief being mugged of stuff just because of wanting to show-off or just to feel good wearing bling. Professional street thieves have eyes sharper than hawks, they can spot a set of gold earrings or gold rings and necklaces street blocks away. Giving potential street thieves that option in the first place to remove stuff is a no-brainer attitude with only yourself to blame. The chances of being watched by hotel staff, or when leaving trendy up-market cafes or night bars are normal occurrences that happen without potential victims realising it until they've become victims. Hiding expensive bling and cash in hotel rooms is usually safe with rooms that have shaft bolts doors using your own locks. Even then, rooms can still be broken into if there's no camera surveillance. Getting a knock on the door during the middle of the night, and opening the door without first recognising who it is, is another no-brainer that's caught out many foreigners.
​Getting robbed of stuff at gunpoint in hotel rooms by bandits isn't so common in cheap lodging. Although I vividly remember a trendy upmarket backpackers opposite of where I was staying in Cartagena full of foreigners who were all individually robbed of their possessions by local bandits during the night. Inside snitching by hotel staff in collaboration with bandits is something that is impossible to detect. The same occurrences have happened sporadically in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela.     
Purchasing and designing your own jewellery offshore is common. I've personally done this many times throughout decades of travel without any issues whatsoever. For instance, finding reputable gold craftsman in Bogota, Colombia is simple enough. One can also find authentic used jewellery, gemstones, and old gold watches at bargain prices in various pawn shops through the continents. An example, I had purchased an original 78 Rolex Oyster 18 carat men's watch for only its gold weight value due to scuffs and minor repairs. It was repaired and resold for more than double the original buying price. When offshore, it's important to have receipts for jewellery.
Wearing expensive bling offshore depends on location, and whom one associates with. Strolling around walking around after dark exposing expensive looking bling is the fastest quickest way to lose jewellery. Knowing the ropes of being street wise, especially during transit journeys with stuff is a learning curve. SARs-CoV-2  has increased the robbing risk factor to triple in most countries. The planet has now become a robbers paradise, watch your stuff!

Below, the agate jade ring has a 35+ year overland history record probably unmatched by most. It was first purchased in Burma in '85 from a local who was wearing it at the time. The ring was hand made by the owner, who really didn't want to part with it. After an hour or two haggling a price, the ring was then worn daily through central, south and north Asia. In '86, while travelling through the north of Japan, a night street seller wanted to look at it. I had taken the ring off handing it to him, but within seconds, he fumbled, and the ring dropped to the pavement shattering into pieces. Yes, he was very apologetic like most Japanese are, but the ring was history. I kept the top part, and ended up carrying it through South America in '88. In Bogota 89, I had found a gold smith, who made a band to fit the head snug tight in silver. The ring had lost part of its charm, but it was worn again through central America, the USA, Europe, west and south Asia, Europe once again, and New Zealand. By then, the silver band had looked like a truck ran over it. It was overdue for a replacement band, this time in gold, I had a few other pieces of gold, which were melted down to make a new band. It was then worn once again through South America, up and down through Africa, the Middle East, and back through south and central Asia. Almost everything I've travelled with has its own sentimental history record. The ring is still being worn as of 2021. The Colombian ring has also clocked up plenty of overland travel and transit milage since being made in Bogota. On one early 4am departure Mekele, the ring was left behind, but retrieved an hour later. Another close call, was on board a train in Malaysia, when the ring slip off my finger while having an early morning wash. It had slipped down the wash basin sink hole. I had managed to hold it with a finger slowly edging it back up out of the hole. They say that railway tracks through Asia are gold mines. I designed the ring and had it crafted by a trusted Colombian goldsmith. During the '90s, I used to purchase used gold necklaces, rings and gold coins from pawn shops in Colombia, and then resell it in Costa Rica. 18k & 22k gold in Costa Rica at the time was double the price per gram weight. 

Taking a quick snap of bling beside freshly issued visas where entry and exit stamps will be rubber stamped is a precautionary measure to show proof, if required in certain countries who may suspect it was purchased while traveling within these countries. 
Those who have accumulated a stack of used passports like I have should keep a log data of every passport number, including where passports were issued, date of issue, extensions, and expiry dates. Now and then, an occasional hiccup delay arises when applying for new passports offshore. I've had my fair share of weird Embassy dealings. One I remember vividly, at the NZ Embassy in Lima, where I was semi-interrogated by the Ambassador himself. He had actually asked, if I knew how much a NZ passport was worth in the Middle East. Of course, I knew he had official record data on my global overland footprints. I took his insulting question seriously, as if he really thought I was selling passports. I returned fire at him, and asked if he had a blank piece of paper and a pen. I then verbally gave him all the used passport numbers, one after the other dating back to 1978, including where they were issued, the dates of issue, and cancellation dates. When travelling long term, one can usually memorise passport data, as this Ambassador found out I certainly wasn't a brown skin who had just walked out from Kiwi bushland.

Have you ever bumped into foreigners offshore that have invested large sums of cash into real estate, hotels, or backpackers? I certainly have through the decades in South America, South East Asia and Africa. Some have lived out their dreams residing offshore without a care in the world. Others have suffered from bad startup deals, or from 49/51% local partnership bust-ups, or even worse, half-completed real-estate with sudden disputed land ownership. My advice, steer clear of any investment that has million dollar views with invisible paperwork that will bite your arse at a later date. With the latest SARS-CoV-2 travel bubble rules running amok around the planet, it's a no brainer to even think seriously about investing in offshore real estate. Hey, remember that you got this advice from a long haired tattooed Maori.       

Solo Female Travellers - In Transit

"Never take things for granted after dark, if you do, something eventually will happen to you!"

The majority of foreign solo female travellers who have already been raped, mugged and murdered has happened either in isolated areas or somewhere after dark. Just because you may have walked a certain route a few times strolling along a beach back to a bungalow, or down a quiet laneway returning to a hotel after dark at the same location doesn't mean it's safe - It's Not! This is a grave mistake, an illusion that causes foreign solo females to become victims. Feeling free and letting your guard down thinking nothing will happen is when something does happen! 
The amount of online reports of foreign female victims who have been raped, mugged, and murdered through the last two decades shows no decrease. For instance, a woman is murdered in Argentina every thirty hours, and every six hours in Brazil. So what are the chances, or risk factor for foreign females becoming victims wandering around after dark in these countries? - Think about that for a second.
One can believe and trust the many click bait "fluffy travel bloggers" that rape statistics off shore are minimal, but what they can't tell you, is how many foreign females offshore, who have been raped have kept silent about it. 

There is no clear global data of the scale of rape attacks against female travellers - Many keep silent!

Most countries do not comprehensively track violence against female travellers. There are more chances and greater risk for solo female travellers becoming targets after dark. As a warning with good advice, never take risks to walk to, or from any isolated area after dark unless accompanied with companions. It's not the amount of risks that you may have gotten away with during the past, but rather a moment lurking somewhere into the future that can easily eventuate and happen - because of letting your guard down thinking that nothing will ever happen to you. Deserted secluded beaches are prime areas for rape attacks.   
At the time of posting this (Dec 2018), two Scandinavian woman in Morocco were raped and murdered within a well-known hiking region in the Atlas mountains. In India, a British woman on her 10th year visiting Goa in India, was raped and robbed while she was walking towards a beach at 4am in the morning. In New Zealand, a solo British female backpacker had hooked up with a local on Tinder, and was murdered and buried the same evening. Geo tagging your location with any snaps or selfies posted online should be avoided. This also includes solo female travel bloggers
It doesn't matter which region in the world one travels, solo female travellers are more vulnerable of being targeted and becoming the victim after the sun sets. There's no quick-fix remedy to heal a person who has been gang raped and mugged, no matter how tough they represent themselves through social media platforms. There are ways to keep such scenarios from happening after dark. Don't walk or stroll off alone somewhere at night thinking it's safe. Plan evenings with other foreigners, or at least be within surroundings which have a presence of local activity in lit-up areas after dark. Never accept free drinks, food, fruit, or sweets from friendly strangers no matter how good it looks. If intoxicated, or stoned-off your head parting hard-out somewhere in public - get someone you already know to accompany you back to the hotel. It's your own personal responsibility to keep safe as possible travelling and transiting as a solo female - this includes couples!
South Africa has an estimated 500,000 rape cases every year, It's estimated that 40% of South African woman will be raped in their lifetime. Peru has 3 rapes an hour according to the Peruvian public prosecutors office, South Africa is following close behind with an average of 4 rapes an hour. 
Central and South America combined only have 8 percent of the world's population. Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela account for a quarter of all the murders on the planet. 17 of 20 countries with the highest murder rate globally are from Latin countries. South Africa, India and Costa Rica are also plagued with random attacks on foreign women with robbery, rape and murder.

Exotic places around the planet always look "so exciting" when viewed online by travel companies, airlines, tour guides, government tourism adverts, and especially from the countless "travel bloggers" out there. They just forget to mention...

Every year New Rapists, Muggers & Murderers are out there somewhere!

Below, links of brutal attacks of foreign females who thought they were safe within "Safe Environments", but suffered the consequences of rape, robbery with many ending in a brutal death. Global statistics of western females raped off-shore who keep silent is unknown, but estimated to be in the thousands every year. I've personally met a few females who have been raped offshore, which verifies the above as factual.

Fluffy travel bloggers will never show links like below on their blog sites - It doesn't sell well.

AUSTRALIA: German & Finish females gang raped and robbed  PERU: Israeli solo female raped and murdered
BOLIVIA: Russian solo female gang raped  KENYA: British solo female gang raped and murdered  
SENEGAL: Spanish females raped and robbed  COSTA RICA: Mexican solo female raped and murdered  
SOUTH AFRICA: German female gang raped and robbed  COSTA RICA: Spanish female raped and murdered
TURKEY: Japanese female raped and murdered  SENEGAL: 3 Spanish females raped and robbed
ARGENTINA: French females raped and murdered  INDIA: Danish solo female gang raped and robbed  
SOUTH AFRICA: South African female gang raped and murdered  MEXICO: German female raped and murdered  
INDIA: Irish solo female gang raped and murdered  BALI: Australian solo female raped and robbed  
TURKEY: Japanese female raped and murdered  NEPAL: Belgian solo female beheaded
MOZAMBIQUE: Australian solo female raped and murdered  INDIA: South Korean female drug raped
AUSTRALIA: Israeli solo female raped & murdered INDIA: Japanese solo female kidnapped raped and robbed
SOUTH AFRICA: British female gang raped  MEXICO: 6 Spanish females gang raped for hours
AUSTRALIA: British female beaten and raped  INDIA: US female drugged & gang raped Delhi
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: American female butchered and gang raped  NEPAL: American female beaten to death
TURKEY: Italian female raped and murdered  PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Philippine female brutally gang raped 
​SOUTH AFRICA: Norwegian female gang raped and robbed  MALAYSIA: American female multi gang raped and robbed  
INDIA: Swiss female brutal gang rape  SRI LANKA: Russian female gang raped​​
THAILAND: Scottish female gang raped  ECUADOR: Argentinian female raped, robbed & murdered
INDIA:  Canadian female raped  ​INDIA: Japanese female raped
THAILAND: Thai female drugged, gang raped and murdered  COSTA RICA: American female gang raped
THAILAND: British female gang raped and robbed  SOUTH AFRICA: German female gang raped
INDIA: American female gang raped  ​BRAZIL:  American female gang raped
NAMIBIA: German solo female raped and robbed   DUBAI: British female gang raped   
NEW ZEALAND:  German solo female raped  NEW ZEALAND: Dutch female brutally raped   
IRAN: French female gang raped and robbed   INDIA: Latvian female drugged, raped and beheaded   
PHILLIPINES: British female  raped  AMAZON: British female tortured, gang raped and murdered  
TURKEY: American female Bludgeoned to death   INDIA: Australian female gang raped and murdered   
SOUTH AFRICA: 2 Swedish females knifepoint raped   BRAZIL: Lithuania female robbed and raped 
THAILAND: German female raped and brutally murdered   THAILAND: British female raped on Koh Phi Phi island
INDIA: Chinese female drugged and gang raped Agra  INDIA: Japanese female raped
SOUTH AFRICA: Israeli female robbed and gang raped  INDIA: Japanese female gang raped 
INDIA: Russian female gang raped Manali  THAILAND: American​ Female raped Krabi Is.
INDIA: Russian female drug gang rape  INDIA: German female raped on deserted beach
SOUTH AFRICA: Israeli female gang raped and robbed   CAMBODIA: French female abducted gang raped
SOUTH AFRICA: Irish female raped  MEXICO: Italian female gang raped by cops
GRENADA: American female raped and murdered  SRI LANKA: Spanish female raped  
CHILE: 2 British females attacked raped tied to tree  BRAZIL: Lithuania couple both raped - partner murdered   
INDIA: Israeli female gang raped  PHILIPPINES: Russian female raped at Panglao beach   
THAILAND: Chinese female raped and robbed  INDIA: British female raped and robbed

The above links are a drop in the bucket compared to the many thousands of links that are either hidden or slowly drained off the internet on purpose! Trip advisor is one of them! The obvious reasons for this, is the "Bad Publicity" it creates within the entire global travel industry, which is now ceased by the latest Chinese CV. The majority of far away exotic countries soaked as blissful destinations will already have their hands full of their own local rapes and murders. Here's one from 1981. One only needs to use Google search results for any country, which will show pages on pages of images of the bias tourist trade. Travel blogger influencers are the worst culprits. They require to sell blissful travel click bait having that "feel good" to compete amongst themselves. Hey Travel Bloggers - copy & paste the links above and post them on your blog site - Title it "The Other Side Of Travel Blissfulness"  or "Murdered Female Rape Victims Don't Talk" - No? Thought Not! It eposes the global travel blogger deception. All the female victims above means nothing to you! 
The majority of negative search results of rape and murder of foreign tourists must be individually searched in local news media which are also removed off search engines.
Google : Thailand images   N.Z. images   South Africa images   Costa Rica images   India images   Peru images
The same tourist trade bias also applies to the majority of airlines and the hotel industry. Today, negative rape information that doesn't fit the narrative of happy travel offshore is placed on the back burner, or classified as "one-off events" to keep tourism cash flows spinning at a maximum. A quick example, a vanishing rape internet link, a Lithuanian female cyclist who was raped while cycling through Itarema, Ceará state, Brazil.
Covid 19 future travel restrictions throughout the planet will create a future of uncontrollable disappear within blissful destinations. Female tourists heading offshore, will become even more targeted outside safe zone regions (safe secure hotels, police presence, secured beaches, street surveillance). Local rapist, muggers and murderers all have one thing in common - if you're in their turf, you automatically become a targeted victim, and have something of value they don't have.
​If you are unable to think just like a would be rapist, a mugger, or a murderer, the other side of travel blissfulness is null and void until it personally happens to you. Safe secure hotels are cool, until stepping out onto the streets wandering around through unfamiliar territory. Those who actually think evil doesn't exist in the world have narrow warped gauged tunnel vision of the real world. Remaining staying in safe bubbles down in basements online within social media circles works fine for most, until confronting real time reality outside their comfy zones.

Solo Travel Female - Red Zones

Hey G.LT. - Iraq has endless cemeteries full of innocent victims - Don't forget to visit a few!

An image of a western female holding a hand written sign IRAQ "Girls love travel" (image location not confirmed if it is real or fake) HITCHHIKING IRAQ

I just wanted to share there is love and warmth everywhere in the world. You just need the wisdom and courage to reach out and grasp it. Open your minds and hearts! We are the people that are showing that the world in which solo females can travel to its far corners. Happy 2019. Let's hit the road".

​Solo female travellers advertising themselves off as vivid travellers with selfie snaps taken within Red Zone regions may look tough and appealing. This promotes a totally false illusion for anyone who may think they are capable of travelling through Red Zones as if nothing will happen to them. A word of advice, any country having internal conflicts, warfare, or random suicide attacks is out right dangerous for all western foreigners - male or female. Western females who wish to travel within volatile regions through the Middle East and Sahel regions are doing so at their own risk. Don't think "Love & Warmth" is something you're going to expect if taken hostage during transit in the middle of nowhere by various Islamic militia groups! 
​Remember this post if it happens to you!

Are you full of yourself? addicted to social media? can't stop posting selfies for likes? require clickbait posts to get status? Best quick fix if you have any of the above symptoms is to walk away from social media! The primary interest people pursue on social media today, is to be liked and accepted at all costs. We do live in the self-entitlement age eradicating critical thinking values. The Gen Z generation missed out by a decade or two of what they are now desperately trying to recreate that was already enjoyed by previous generations. Good old fashion overland travel with total freedom taken for granted to do as one pleased. Hand holding Red Zone travel destinations posted on social media tells you how desperate some people really are. The younger travel generation travel more milage inside their smart phones dreaming endlessly away until their batteries are flat. Below, during several different overland journeys through war torn Middle East regions, I've never seen once any "Girls like travel" during times of heavy conflict. Holding a sign with "Nearest Beach" makes more sense.          

Solo Overland Travel - Red Zone Regions

So, you've just arrived at a crossroad deciding if it's worth the risk to travel through Red Zone territory, or to deviate around it. You've just met another foreign westerner who just recently travelled through the intended Red Zone region who had no issues. You're excited, you're feeling lucky, the sense of danger becomes unapparent, because nothing had happened to another fellow traveller. This is how deceiving it becomes! Just because someone else had passed through a Red Zone a few days before, means nothing will happen to you as well - Right? No Wrong!  Entering into any Red Zone region works like Russian Roulette. It also depends on the type of group, or militia insurgency controlling the region, and what their own personal rule books follow. Drug militia controlled regions will normally extort as much cash as they can extract before releasing captives. Red Zones held by Islamic militia groups through Africa and the Mid-East go beyond cash extractions. Western females may be subjected to all kinds of sexual victimisation on a daily basis.  
Edith Blais, a Canadian female traveller with her boyfriend were taken hostage in the Sahel region in 2018, the couple were reportedly kidnapped and taken to Mali by Islamic militia. The possibilities of the couple being tortured, beaten, sodomised, raped and killed is extremely high. The couple transited overland through Morocco, Mauritania and Mali before arriving in Burkina Faso, and were continuing to Togo - They never arrived. Meanwhile in the same region, another Canadian national was also abducted in Burkina Faso and was later found murdered. The saying by solo female travellers "there are no dangerous countries, just dangerous people" is completely the wrong attitude and advice to give to others who lack judgement, instinct, and the sense of danger. The risk factor multiples and increases greatly within countries lacking security, or having no security whatsoever. Local gang rape murders happen more often than what is officially reported through mainstream media. You have to ask yourself why hotel and backpacker establishments located within semi-safe regions have front entry camera visual auto-lock security systems, razor wire, night security, and 24 hour internal camera surveillance. Is it for decoration only? If you lock and wedge your door wherever it maybe, there's obvious reasons for doing so - right?
Today, any westerners having the urge to travel or transit into Red Zone territories, like through or near the Sahel Region, or working as volunteers on the African East Coast should understand the risk levels are far greater than it was only a year ago. 
​If it's only your life on the line - and no-one else's, so go for it. Westerners travelling together with partners or with a female friend who wind up being taken hostage may also suffer listening to their female partner or friend being gang raped each day, and then live with the guilt of regret for the rest of their life - think about that a few times!  Is it worth to travel through Red Zones that could have been avoided? - A personal choice that one decides their own future fate!  

Hooking Up Offshore - It May Not Be What You Expected!

Befriending someone in bars or online offshore via Facebook, Tinder, or thru Dating sites with someone you have never met in person may give totally false impressions of who that person actually is of their real intentions. Meeting up with other guests in the same hotel can also become your worst nightmare.
Antony de Malmanche, a Kiwi ended up receiving 15 years jail time for smuggling 1.7Kg of crystal meth into Bali. His online romance affair with a Chinese female brought him to China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Antony didn't even meet his online lover. He was scammed Big-time without even doing a "brain check" if in-fact the woman was a fake. He didn't recheck his own baggage before departing mainland China before boarding a flight to Denpasar.
Don't accuse of being gang raped unless you were really gang raped, this is what happened to a 19 year old UK female tourist recently on the Island of Cyprus in July 2019  - you can be the judge and determine the facts of the event yourself. 
(Jan 2019) a 30 year old Australian woman, a practising lawyer was seduced by a Pakistani national named Sajjad, who was also a lawyer. She had flown to Pakistan to hook up with Sajjad to form a cool relationship. Both had been Facebook friends for a few years, but had never met in real life. The 30-year-old Australian was abused, humiliated, beaten and raped repeatedly by Sajjad, and starved for days. She was even forced to lie on her back with her legs open to “air out” her vagina. He also smashed her head against a bathroom sink because she missed a bit of shampoo. The Australian High Commission in Pakistan ignored her urgent request for help, (which isn't the first time this has happened to an Australian citizen abroad), and probably because the situation was classified as an internal civil matter.
An Egyptian tourist rapes 3 women in Australia hooked up with them on OKCupid and Plenty of Fish.
Be careful of other foreigners off-shore who may go into a frenzy and stab you to death Queensland  Australia.
Be careful of jealous younger lovers off-shore - an American female was stabbed to death from her Latin lover Costa Rica  
The lure of foreign females thru dating sites by Latinos in South America to smuggle narcotics in their baggage without them acknowledging it has been active for a few decades. A middle aged Kiwi woman was caught in Argentina carrying a 5KG stash of cocaine in a suitcase at the airport. This was before she even had the chance to meet her online lover who was based in the UK - how stupid can anyone get? 
​Be careful who you meet up with in bars, it can cost jail time and painful injury!  
​In short, it's said that love is blind, it has caught many foreigners off-guard, allowing their latin lovers to pack their baggage before departure. The occurrence of foreign western females falling victim as drug mules still continues toady. The baited lure and promise of having a lavishing lifestyle offered by drug lords may sound good, but greed will always win in the end - It's your own responsibility to check and pack your own baggage before any departure!
Don't cry rape with married men in Dubai, a 24-year-old Norwegian woman who had reported her rape to police in Dubai found herself charged with engaging in extramarital sex, alcohol consumption and perjury. She was sentenced to 16 months in jail. The incident was just the latest in a long line of cases involving women who have claimed to have been the victims of rape and have then suffered prosecution themselves. 2006 Kiwi lover wife cold case killer Nov 2020
It's fact, that certain events keep repeating themselves over and over again - just a timeline difference with new victims! 

Solo Male Travellers - Use Your Brain!

If there's one thing that repeats itself time and time again non-stop through the decades, it's certainly the amount of foreign western males travelling solo through continents who are robbed silently while fast asleep by strangers they themselves self invited into their hotel rooms. No joke, through the decades of many long-term solo overland travel journeys through South America, Africa and Asia, I've reached the conclusion that the last idiot hasn't been born yet.
There have been many instances where I've met foreign males who were robbed of all their personal possessions, because of the urge of some fast overnight casual sex with local females. Some have lost laptops, expensive watches, smart phones, gold, cash, watches, credit cards, daypacks, camera-gear, including entire backpacks that have vanished out the door under the hours of darkness from hotel rooms. How embarrassing is that? Imagine how many 1000's of foreign males who would rather keep silent about their sexual adventures off-shore that ended up as valuable baggage loss.
This quick post are to all those males out there, who become sexually motivated with local females picked up in bars, or out on the street - You only have yourselves to blame and no-one else if an event like this occurs. I could write a book on this particular subject with endless amounts of recorded data on foreign males who have been robbed of valuables and baggage in Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, Guyana, Costa Rica, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, including other countries. 
I know what some may be thinking, has something like this ever happened to me? No-not once, because I don't place myself into this type of situation avoiding it to happen. There are western foreigners out there from both sexes who do the exact opposite without even realising they've already become a victim through their own uncontrolled sexual pleasure with total strangers. Don't worry, you're not alone - many out there are fleeced usually by being bonked till they've fallen asleep.     
​Maybe, just maybe some might learn from their mistakes, and refrain from their personal sexual desires and lusts when they've been robbed of everything silently in dream state. Guys, raping and gang raping leads to jail-time!  
Sex tourism is a multi-billion dollar global cash-cow, the chances of it of ever reversing is an impossible task because of the fast lucrative cash flows by all those eagerly funding it from both sides of the industry.
Zanzibar, Kenya and Tanzania are popular sex tourism destinations for European women. A hot spot region well known for decades for middle-aged women looking for wild holiday romance. Young African men (beach-boys) hang around hotels, trendy cafes and bars hoping to catch the eyes of female tourists. A typical scenario involves the female tourist being chatted and courted, having daily companionship with endless amounts of sexual pleasure in exchange for gifts and cash donations. The ultimate aim of African male sex workers is to form a quick relationship to strike gold with marriage to Europe. Western woman into off-shore African sex should be aware that many beach-boys have cycled themselves through the sexual grinder with hundreds of other women - No protection during sexual pleasure may give you free gifts that weren't part of the holiday.

Solo Travel Getting Spiked - Watch Out!

Spiking has quadruped over the years with many western foreigners falling victim of waking up in travel accommodation with either being robbed of their stuff, or robbed and raped, or raped elsewhere at another location. There are countless western foreigners out there who have experienced the above and would rather remain silent because of shock and embarrassment that it happened to them. Spiked alcoholic drinks are dosed-up with different drugs like Rohypnol, Ketamine (an odourless anaesthetic) and GHB. Eye drops are another product used in alcoholic drinks. Anyone alone out and about already half intoxicated are the usual targets chosen - male or female! Street and beach bars and trendy chill-out nightclubs is where it all happens. Going out together with others as a group can avoid becoming an easy victim by watching each others back. Depending on the professionalism of any Spiker - they already know who are easy targets. Fresh plane loads of new potential victims arrive into South America and Asia every day non-stop. Solo travellers heading out into the night will have to use their own judgment and instinct. America female blogger date raped

Chaining stuff up keeps gear from disappearing whether on the go or stationary. Big city street thieves get rich from others ignoring their own fate when their camera gear, day packs and travel bags suddenly vanish into thin air. A simple chain tied through baggage attached on mopeds and MC's does the job. This becomes a normal habit with backpacks and photo-gear transiting anywhere on trains, bush buses, and vans. Nothing has changed. Alert street thieves still rob those who don't chain up their stuff.
​Placing a foot on baggage in public places, and keeping shoulder bags around your neck in front of you when sitting at side street cafes is normal procedure travelling through continents. It only takes one forgetful moment of not following these tips and your stuff is gone. Street thieves will move on to other easier targets instead and take their stuff.   

Overland Transit - Bush Track Highways

Soon, there will be no more original bush track highway routes thru Africa and South America if the Chinese get their way. The Far East belt & road initiative has already destroyed many great dirt track highways replacing them with bitumen tarmac. Don't worry, there's still a few dusty potholed filled transit highway tracks the Chinese haven't touched as yet. Bush track highways usually keep regions isolated well away from plastic tourism. In most cases, many Chinese belt & road projects have run countries completely broke placing them into an endless burden of debt. A major part and enjoyment of any long-term overland travel are the dirt track highways cutting thru uninhibited jungle terrain or along high altitude passes. Others out there will probably agree that most will hardly remember a 2-4 day transit journey on bitumen, but will never forget any rough rugged bush track transit through the middle of nowhere.

Through Asia, original rough high altitude bush tracks are disappearing. The only part of what is left of one of the greatest original routes to experience cliff-edge travel, is the Rekong Peo to Kibber route during mid-winter. The journey will give anyone hair raising graphic visual vistas lasting a lifetime. Transiting in Sub-zero temps (-10C to -35C) on rugged road tracks cut out from the edge of high pass cliffs @ 4000m+ altitudes is extreme as it gets. - Do it before the route becomes a bitumen highway like the Ladakh - Leh expressway. Soon, Kaza will also have an airport hub destroying what ever isolated serenity Spiti Valley had!  Below image: on the go snap mid-winter transit to Spiti Valley via Rekong Peo.         

Self Driving Road Trips - Red Zones

From one day to the next, driving your own vehicle through volatile regions in certain countries has a higher risk than Russian Roulette. We're not talking about the usual road trips through national wildlife parks, or over-crowded coastal touristy hot-spots here. It's about getting through along highways in the middle of nowhere unscathed without loss of life and baggage. Many foreigners aren't too concerned about the risk factors that may lay waiting up-ahead. Safety and weather conditions play a roll, but only skim the surface. Local snitchers are your worst enemy!

Breakdowns are asking for trouble. The freedom of driving your own vehicle along open dirt track highways without seeing another westerner for weeks on end is rewarding for most. The elements of surprise of sudden makeshift road blocks, or hold-up doesn't register until it actually happens and too late to escape. The loss of vehicles, baggage, cash, photo-gear has no meaning until you've already become a victim of it. This is what one has to question to themselves, before endeavouring driving down highways, or isolated dirt track road routes within volatile regions, disputed territory, or rebel bandit infested regions thinking nothing will happen.
How lucky do you feel? How much do you value your life? Can you handle watching your girlfriend or other female passengers being gang raped by bandits or militia and do nothing to stop it? Who is to blame for such events to happen in the first place? Is it worth that new You Tube vlog-clip you want to complete to increase click bait followers? or posting updated selfie snaps on social media for likes? Is it worth the risk for you and others to end-up in body bags?  
Think, before driving into Red Zones. I've personally driven through volatile regions numerous times, and made it through each time unscathed. Every day has different outcomes and endings - some good, others bad. Who knows what the roll of the dice may bring forth for those deciding to travel along the same route a day or week later.
Today, It's become extremely difficult to even transit coast to coast from Djibouti or Algeria to Nigeria without being harassed, corrupted, robbed of everything, gang raped, held hostage, or completely disappear. Only you can decided if your inner instinct, intuition, and travel experience says - Yes Lets Do It. Don't scream if something happens en-route transiting through isolated volatile regions - no one will be able to help you! you're on your own, and also bear the guilt of those with you who may end=up suffering long-term post stress disorder, or worse flown home in body bags.
P.N.G. Oct 2020 - Locals know very well of the risks driving along isolated road routes, foreigners will be treated in the same manner, including brutal rape. Foreigners being targeted taken hostage and killed along road routes is nothing new in Red Zone regions. Examples Yemen 1998, 9 foreign hikers shot dead Pakistan 2013, 6 french nationals & 2 guides shot dead in Niger Giraffe park Aug 2020.
The stupidity of certain countries warning foreigners against travelling with large amounts of cash doesn't mean jack crap to local thieves and highway bandits in any continent. Bandits don't know what you're carrying, but they certainly know if you're a tourist, you've got something they don't have. Smart bandits already know all the hiding places from years of robbing experience, so don't expect hiding your stuff inside transport to save it. Westerners transiting through Syria on board local buses are playing out their own hardcore death wishes ISIS Nov 2020  ISIS Dec 2020 Snitching is the most predominate means of being held-up further down the highway. It only takes one quick cell call notifying accomplices that foreigners are heading in their direction.   

Solo Travel Red Zones  

Transiting Through Red Zones Is At Your Own Risk - Even If Permission Is Granted Allowing Passage. 

Nothing much has changed through the decades regarding Red Zones regions. Many Red zones have remained in the same locations since the 1980s, while other newly formed Red Zones have been quietly expanding elsewhere across international borders, usually unnoticed, until festering under territorial control of various militia groups. Red Zones are commonly created from upheaval and chaos, drug producing, tribal  disputes, Islamic militia proxies, political instability, and religious infighting. Overland transit through the Mid-East (apart from Gulf states & Jordon) may require deviations using alternative routes from one day to the next, or from week to week. Sporadic attacks, and upheavals do happen with minimal notice. Hitchhiking with locals, or taking random street snaps within unsecured regions is at your own risk. Never think one group of inhabitants having positive interaction has the same ambience at the next location stop. The Middle East contains numerous on-going integrated terror cell networks in conjunction with endless splinter factions spread far and wide through at least 15 countries. Military and police security control check points are usually straight forward, although westerners maybe refused entry into certain Red Zone territories. Those who continue into Red Zone regions with zero security are on their own.          

Africa, and the Middle East have their fair share of Red Zone conflicts. Westerners over-landing through continents at some stage will end-up having to gather fresh on the ground information, if travelling directly through Red Zones. Researching levels of safety and security, if any, before passing through Red Zone regions may or may not help. Keeping informed in advance before transiting through Red Zones will only help to a certain degree. It won't stop live fire at moving bush buses, or anything else on wheels deemed as target practise. I've had the experience of being shot at after dark on a moving bus with projectiles just missing my head by a few centimetres. Red zones are not called Red Zones for nothing. Locals being slaughtered and killed inside Red Zone territories happen everyday. Just ask local residents. Don't think being a foreigner travelling through Red Zones will save your skin. It will depend on the day, and who's doing the attacking.
​Travelling through Red Zones, or through any unstable region is entirely at your own risk, even if permits, or permission has been granted to enter. One can be lucky to travel through Red Zone regions without any issues or problems, but then maybe not. One has to decide for themselves if a flight home inside a body bag was worth it. Below, a Red Zone quick snap on board a bush bus during transit coast to coast Africa.  

Travel Snaps & Selfies In Red Zones

The complexed world we live in today has created all types of hysteria easily triggered by verbal or physical expressions. This is political correctness gone mad. For instance, these two images may give the reader false illusions completely off-kilter without knowing the full story behind them. Decades ago, no one blinked an eyelid - not even my mother, because various overland travel journeys back then passed through Red Zones. Westerners grabbing location snaps like these today may receive all types of scrutiny from government authorities , employment, immigration, and social media platforms. One could quickly be labelled as suspicious, a criminal, an illegal drug or arms supplier, dealing contraband goods, or affiliated with militia. Foreigners travelling offshore snapping-off selfies, or taking location shots within Red Zones should be aware of the negative repercussions and impact that may arise.
Posting certain images on social media platforms can backfire resulting in loss of employment, a security threat, visa refusal, including being black banned in countries limiting future travel.

The increased upsurge of Red Zone regions scattered through the Middle East and especially across Africa has quadrupled since the first Arab spring in 2011. The entire Sahel region alone contains all types of Islamic militancy. The overspill of attacks, plundering, hostage taking, looting and sporadic killing across into neighbouring countries have become weekly occurrences. Westerners travelling through volatile regions can become easy targets by their apparel dress-mode, skin colour, and lack of communicating in local languages. Today, getting through any major Red Zone region unscathed will depend on militia activity en-route on any given day. Road blocks and highway incursions can suddenly happen during transit. Westerners ignoring the risks, are likely to be dragged out of vechiles, and suffer what ever consequences that lay waiting ahead. Accommodation en-route is one of the weak links. Passports automatically reveal nationality. It only takes one hotel staff worker affiliated to any given insurgent group to sell out a western foreigner at the drop of a pin for cash handouts and protection. Travelling through Red Zone regions, even if official permit clearances have been issued has zero security. Assistance or help from Embassies is virtually limited for western nationals if kidnapped. 

Today, capturing snaps of locals carrying machine guns hasn't changed much in Red Zone regions, but western foreigners offshore posing holding machine guns are asking for trouble. Those posting images brandishing weapons within volatile regions in conflict onto social media are committing self-suicide for future travel. Times have drastically changed since the '70s. and 1980s overland travel era. There was no internet, no tracking, no cloud snooping, no sharing of data with minimal spying spooks. Above images, Peruvian civil defence, a European national posing with an AK-47 1980s.      

There are more overland transit routes through Red Zones today, than there was during the 1980's and 90's. This has been created by the increased movement and activity from countless militia groups on the move. The chances of being kidnapped still remains as valid as ever. Red Zones controlled by joint militia groups can have varying degrees of internal strife, thus causing insecurity issues. Even if a particular Red Zone allows visitation, and travel through it, the safety level remains at zero. Arriving through the other side of Red Zone regions can also be more troublesome than entering them. Neighbouring countries sharing cross-border Red Zones can refuse foreigners onward travel. One should expect thorough interrogations, searches and even deportation, including black-bans for those without legal permission or permits. Any personal affiliation with militants inside Red Zone territories should be avoided.  

Red Zone regions expand, shrink, disappear, move, reform and multiply. Just because you may have heard of a solo traveller passing through a Red Zone a week or so before, this will not guarantee a safe passage a week later. Militias, terrorists, and bandits move around through their own turf with a substantial snitcher base. Believe me, you don't want to be caught and taken hostage by militia groups unless it's a gruesome death wish you're looking for. Knowing verses in the Sunni Koran may save your skin within Red Zone regions controlled by Islamic insurgents, but this is something that can't be guaranteed. This also applies to foreign western cyclists who become easy targets within regions that aren't even classified as Red Zones in Muslim countries (NYT 2018)
​Below, I won't go in to detail about where the image was taken, it's what took the low subpar image in the first place, an expensive crappy smart phone camera. If a proper camera had been used instead, the finished result would of been crisp and sharp. Even roll film cameras from the 1980s would've given  better results. Never rely on smart phone cameras to get the shot in low light conditions.  Using camera gear instead will guarantee positive results. Got it?

African Red Zones Expansion 2021

Safety Isn't Important Transiting Through Red Zone Regions - Safety Doesn't Exist!

If the above map triggers you - You've got no understanding what's happening in the real world.

So, you really want to feel the vibe of transiting through Red Zone regions? The Algerian overland transit route through the Mahgreb and Sahel region to Abuja-Nigeria will give you that choice hands down - if you're game enough to take whatever risks that may occur along the way. As the saying goes - the law of the jungle can never be tamed, so don't expect any mercy if incidents occur en-route via the Sahel region. The further one continues along this route beyond the Algerian border may encounter high risks of being kidnapped, car-jacked, mugged, robbed, or raped, or worst case scenario - everything  mentioned in one hit! Travelling in the other direction from Abuja north ease towards towards Somalia contains the same risk factor. If one speaks Arabic, or has converted to Islam, and can cite Koranic versers, the chances of getting through without incident is higher. Non Muslims in transit within Red Zone regions are systematically removed from buses. Foreigners of Christian heritage caught by Islamic militia groups within Red Zone regions maybe forced to convert to Islam, or suffer whatever severe punishment militia groups may use at will.
​Westerners transiting through Red Zones have no choice, but to follow the local rule of law and authority by whoever is in control of the region - Repeat the last sentence a few times to let it sink in!  

Border crossings do close without warning. Reaching another point of entry is the only choice. If all else fails, travel to another entry point through a neighbouring country. I've had issues like this on different South Sudan and DRC border crossings, but eventually got through. Onward visas should be issued well in advance. If any particular visa reaches its expiry date, because of an early issue, or from delayed travel time with only a few weeks remaining, extensions can be made if one has already entered into the country. Already expired visas in passports can also help fast-track new visa issues for the same country at "friendly Consulates" - Avoid Embassies, unless  there's no other alternative.  

I had briefly warned about the risk factors for western non-Muslims travelling overland through Red Zone regions in January 2013. Those contemplating overland travel journeys through Red Zone regions in Africa should be aware of the consequences if kidnapping occurs. The chances of being abruptly held-up along transit routes, or dragged out from sleeping accommodation during the night is as real as it gets. Remaining vigilant and alert won't help within Red Zones controlled by militia groups. Snitchers are your worst enemy, they can be anyone who wants a fast buck. Any decision of travelling into these regions is at your own peril and risk.  

The Spread Of Islamic Insurgency Throughout Africa Is On Going! 

Global mainstream media, overland tour operators, and fluffy travel bloggers paste their own narrative views on terror insurgency plaguing throughout the African continent. Headlines & titles such as "infighting amongst farmers and herders", or "tribal insurgency amongst villages".
A U.N. report published in February 2020 "ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s Puntland state is now the command centre for “affiliates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique and is in charge of loose networks of supporters of the affiliates" UN B. Regional Trends 1. Africa 26 
The quick list below paints a different picture showing the root-core of who and what groups are actually behind the on-going conflicts across the northern Sahara and sub-Sahara regions. The push of major Islamic terrorist groups amalgamating with local militant support groups has gained momentum at lightning-speed over the last two years, and is now moving through DRC (ADF Uganda) into Mozambique. Al-Qaeda, Boko-Harem, Isis, Hezbollah and Al-Shabaab are the main leader groups radicalising local Muslim communities through the continent. The weapon suppliers and contributors are many, with Iran, and Turkey right up there. African nations had sold themselves out to China years ago. Geo political affiliation with China versus Islamic advancement is where it stands today.     
​Islamic groups use their own ideology and rule of law within territory under their influence and control. Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)-a coalition of militant Islamist groups founded in 2017. The Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Macina Liberation Front (MUJAO) (MLF), AQIM-Branch of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al Mourabitoun-a merger group of unity and Jihad (MUJAO), Boko Haram-Fulani/Salafi Muslims-the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP)-(killed over 6000 non-Muslims since 2018), Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahidee - Somali based, an official affiliate of al Qaeda. Abnaa ul-Calipha-Somali Islamic state splinter group, Islamic State Central Africa Province-ISCAP (ADF & al Shabaab-Mozambique & DRC)

Foreigners Kidnapped - Maghreb Sahel Region

NIGER: 2 French tourists kidnapped from restaurant murdered    MALI: British tourist kidnapped beheaded
MALI: French national kidnapped murdered    MOROCCO Marrakesh suicide bombing 16 dead (11 Tourists) 
MOROCCO: 2 Scandinavian females gang raped & beheaded    ALGERIA:  31 European tourists kidnapped
​NIGER: 22 tourists robbed by bandits​    MALI: 4 tourists kidnapped from hotel 1 shot dead 
MALI: 2 French journalists both shot dead    ALGERIA: French tourist kidnapped and beheaded
BURKINA FASO: Canadian Italian couple kidnapped on highway  2018
MALI: Swiss female held hostage since 2016 killed - 2020

Islamists Africa - 2019  

The below victims were either tortured to death, butchered, shot, beheaded or blown to bits. 

The following list is verified from local news sources. This excludes thousands of victims who suffered injury during these attacks. There have been hundreds of other atrocities through the continent during 2019, and has continued non-stop through 2020-21. Islamist insurgents do as they wish, and continue to do what they're good at - chaos, fear, and slaughter.

2019.01.03 Nigeria  Banki 2 dead - Boko Harem    2019.01.02 Nigeria Kwata 6 dead - Boko Harem  
2019.01.07 Nigeria Sajeri 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.01.07 DRC Malvivi 10 dead - ADF    
2019.01.09 DRC Beni 7 dead - ADL    2019.01.10 CAR Bambari 2 dead - Muslim Rebels    
2019.01.11 Burkina Faso Gasseliki 12 dead - Muslim Rebels    2019.01.14 Nigeria Rann 14 dead - Boko Harem  
2019.01.20 CAR Zaoro Sangou 13 dead - Muslim Rebels    2019.01.20 Mali Aguelhoc 10 dead - Al-Qaeda
2019.01.24 DRC Beni 3 dead - ADF    2019.01.25 CAR Ippy 18 dead - UPC  
2019.01.27 Burkina Faso Sirkire 10 dead - Jihadists    2019.01.28 Niger Bossa 4 dead - Sharia Proponents  
2019.01.28 Burkina Faso Soum 4 dead - Jihadists     2019.01.28 Nigeria Molai 4 dead - Boko Harem    
2019.01.28 Nigeria Rann 60 dead - Boko Harem    2019.01.29 Mali Tarkint 2 dead - Muslim Rebels    
2019.01.30 Nigeria Dikwa 8 dead - Boko Harem    2019.02.01 Niger Bague Djaradi 6 dead - Boko Harem    
2019.02.04 Burkina Faso Oudalan 5 dead - Jihadists    2019.02.04 Burkina Faso Kain 14 dead - Jihadists    
2019.02.04 Nigeria Tubba 3 dead - Islamists    2019.02.05 Mali Hombori 3 dead - Jihadists    
2019.02.08 DRC Rwangoma 7 dead - ADF    2019.02.08 Nigeria Ngwom 3 dead - Boko Harem    
2019.02.09 Nigeria Madagali 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.02.10 Nigeria Angwan Barde 10 dead - Muslim Militants   
2019.02.12 Nigeria Madagali 5 dead - Boko Harem     2019.02.12 Mali Mopti 3 dead - Jihadists    
2019.02.13 Nigeria Gajibo 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.02.13 Niger Bagaji 3 dead - Islamic militants   
2019.02.14 Nigeria Karamai 41 - Fulani Militia     2019.02.15 Burkina Faso Nohao 5 dead - Jihadists    
2019.02.15 Nigeria Kushari 6 dead - Suicide Bombers     2019.02.17 Nigeria Buni Yadi 9 dead - Jihadists   
2019.02.18 Nigeria Koshebe 18 dead - Islamists    2019.02.19 Chad Baubaura 5 dead - Sharia Proponents    
2019.02.24 Mali Aguelhok 8 dead - Jihadists    2019.02.26 Nigeria Maro 32 dead - Islamists   
2019.02.26 Mali Diankabou 18 dead - Jihadist    2019.02.28 Nigeria Kardamari 4 dead - Boko Harem   
2019.03.01 Nigeria Borno 4 dead - Boko Harem    2019.03.01 Mali Boulkessy 9 dead - Al Qaeda    
2019.03.04 Nigeria Mbacohon 23 dead - Militant Muslims    2019.03.06 Nigeria Addamari 5 dead - Boko Harem
​2019.03.08 DRC Beni 6 dead - ADF    2019.03.09 Niger Gueskerou 7 dead - Boko Harem    
2019.03.11 Nigeria Dogan Noma 71 dead - Fulani Militia    2019.03.14 Niger Toumour 4 dead - Jihadist    
2019.03.14 Cameroon Sandawadjiri 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.03.16 Nigeria Nandu 10 dead - Muslim Militants
​2019.03.17 Mali Dioura 23 dead - JNIM    2019.03.17 DRC Kalau 6 dead - ADF    
2019.03.17 Burkina Faso Djibo 3 dead - Militant Islamists    2019.03.18 Nigeria Gwoza 8 dead - Boko Harem
​2019.03.18 Nigeria Michika 4 dead - Jihadist    2019.03.20 Nigeria Lassa 4 dead - Boko Harem    
2019.03.22 Niger Dewa Kargueri 8 dead - Boko Harem    2019.03.23 Nigeria Mante  1 dead - Militant Islamists
2019.03.23 Somalia Mogadishu 11 dead - Suicide Bombers    2019.03.23 Niger Diffa 7 dead - Boko Harem
2019.03.26 Niger N'Guigmi 10 dead - Suicide Bombers    2019.03.27 Nigeria Miringa 2 dead - Boko Harem
2019.03.28 Somalia Mogadishu 15 dead - al Shabaab    2019.03.28 Burkina Faso Barani 4 dead - Jihadists
2019.03.30 Burkina Faso Yendere 3 dead - Jihadists    2019.03.31 Somalia Kamsuma 4 dead - al Shabaab
2019.04.01 Nigeria Baga 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.04.03 Burkina Faso Arbinda 32 dead - Jihadists
2019.04.05 Burkina Faso Dori 4 dead - Muslim Extremists    2019.04.06 Nigeria Anambra 6 dead - Fulani Militia
2019.04.07 Nigeria Muna Dalti 3 dead - Suicide Bombers    2019.04.07 Cameroon Sagme 3 dead - Boko Harem
2019.04.10 Niger Diffa 2 dead - Boko Harem    2019.04.10 Nigeria Lake Chad 5 dead - Islamic State
2019.04.11 Nigeria Monguno 2 dead - Suicide Bombers    2019.04.14 Nigeria Numa 17 dead - Fulani Militia
2019.04.14 Chad Bohama 7 dead - Boko Harem    2019.04.16 DRC Kamango 8 dead - Islamic State
2019.04.17 Somalia Mogadishu 4 dead - Islamists    2019.04.17 Somalia Wadajir 5 dead - al Shabaab
2019.04.19 Nigeria Katsina 11 dead - Islamists    2019.04.19 Cameroon Tchakarmari 11 dead - Islamists
2019.04.21 Nigeria Gombe 10 dead - Islamists    2019.04.21 Mali Guire 12 dead - al Qaeda
2019.04.23 Burkina Faso Liki 4 dead - Jihadists    2019.04.23 Somalia Baidoa 6 dead - al Shabaab
2019.04.26 Nigeria Mararrabar Kimba 5 dead - Boko Harem 2019.04.26 Burkina Faso Maitaougou 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.04.27 Nigeria Nzehrivoh 2 dead - Fulani Militia    2019.04.27 Cameroon Kofia 4 dead - Boko Harem
2019.04.28 Burkina Faso Silgadji 6 dead - Islamic Extremists    2019.04.29 Nigeria Kuda-Kaya 25 dead - Boko Harem
2019.04.30 Nigeria Duwabayi 14 dead - Islamic Militants    2019.05.02 Nigeria Baga 3 dead - Boko Harem
2019.05.02 DRC Tshabi 6 dead - ADF    2019.05.03 Benin Pendjari 1 dead - Muslim Extremists
2019.05.03 Nigeria Magumeri 15 dead - Boko Harem    2019.05.07 Nigeria Molai 11 dead - Boko Harem
2019.05.07 Burkina Faso Sahel Reserve 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.05.08 Kenya Wajir 1 dead - Islamists
2019.05.10 Mali Bandiagara 4 dead - Islamists    2019.05.10 Nigeria Gajiganna 11 dead - al Qaeda
2019.05.10 Mozambique Pemba 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.05.11 Mozambique Mangoma 2 dead - Islamists
2019.05.11 Nigeria Moranti 4 dead -  Boko Harem    2019.05.12 Burkina Faso Dablo 6 dead - Islamic Extremists
2019.05.13 Burkina Faso Ouahigouya 4 dead - Extremists    2019.05.13 Nigeria Damboa 3 dead - Boko Harem
2019.05.14 Somalia Mogadishu 4 dead - Suicide Bomber    2019.05.14 Niger Tonga Tonga 28 dead - Anser al Islam
2019.05.16 Nigeria Adamawa 14 dead - Boko Harem    2019.05.16 Chad Ceilia 13 dead - Islamic Militants
2019.05.18 CAR Nola 1 dead - Muslim Militants    2019.05.19 Mali Timbuktu 1 dead - Islamists
2019.05.19 Mali Koury 7 dead - Jihadists   2019.05.20 Somalia Bakol 4 dead - al Shabaab
2019.05.21 Nigeria Gubio 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.05.21 CAR Pahoua 34 dead - Muslim Militia
2019.05.22 Somalia Mogadishu 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.05.22 Somalia Mogadishu 9 dead - al Shabaab
2019.05.22 Burkina Faso Koury 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.05.22 CAR Ouham Pende 16 dead - Muslim Militia
2019.05.22 Nigeria Maiduguri 9 dead - Islamic State    2019.05.23 DRC Nola - nun beheaded - Muslim Militia
2019.05.24 Nigeria Sabon Garin Kimba 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.05.25 Nigeria Borno 25 dead - Islamists
2019.05.25 Chad N’Gounboua 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.05.26 Nigeria Jos 7 dead - Radicalised Muslims
2019.05.26 Burkina Faso Toulfe 4 dead - Muslim Militants    2019.05.27 Nigeria Jere 7 dead - Sharia Militia
2019.05.28 Mozambique Macomia 16 dead - Islamists    2019.06.04 DRC Beni 13 dead - ADF Islamists
2019.06.09 Burkina Faso Arbinda 19 dead - Jihadists    2019.06.10 Sudan Deleij 17 dead - Janjaweed Islamists
2019.06.10 Mali Sobame Da 95 dead - Fulani Islamists    2019.06.10 Cameroon Darak 26 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.10 Burkina Faso Namentenga 10 dead - Militants    2019.06.10 Cameroon Kolfata 2 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.12 Nigeria Kareto 20 dead - Islamists    2019.06.15 Nigeria Gubio 13 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.15 Nigeria Tcholori 2 dead - Militants    2019.06.15 Kenya Konton 12 dead - al Shabaab
2019.06.15 Somalia Mogadishu 11 dead - Suicide Bomber    2019.06.16 Nigeria Maiduguri 30 dead - Suicide Bombers
2019.06.16 Mali Sokolo 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.06.17 Nigeria Nakai Danwal 6 dead - Islamists
2019.06.17 Nigeria Kangbro 3 dead - Militants     2019.06.17 Nigeria Ungwan Rimi Kamuru 4 dead - Militants
2019.06.17 Mali Gangafani 38 dead - Militants    2019.06.17 Nigeria Monguno 18 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.18 Niger Niamey 2 dead - Sharia Militia    2019.06.18 Cameroon Grossi 2 dead - Islamists
2019.06.19 Burkina Faso Belehede 17 dead - Jihadists    2019.06.21 Chad Mbomouga 11 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.22 Burkina Faso Sagho 13 dead - Jihadists    2019.06.22 Burkina Faso Toekodogo 2 dead - Jihadists
2019.06.24 Burkina Faso Arbinda 2 dead - Militants    2019.06.24 Nigeria Ngamngam 20 dead - Boko Harem
2019.06.24 Nigeria Guzamala 9 dead - Islamic Eextremists    2019.06.25 Nigeria Koton-Karfe 7 dead - Miyetti Allah
2019.06.26 Tanzania Itole 11 dead - Ahlu Sunnah Wa Jama   2019.06.27 Burkina Faso Bani 4 dead - Militants
2019.06.29 Nigeria Gamurai 4 dead - Boko Harem    2019.06.30 Mali Yoro 12 dead - Islamists

Atrocities to Non-Muslims  Nigeria 2010 - Kenya 2015 - Nigeria 2018 - Mali 2019 - Mozambique 2020

2019.07.01 Niger Inates 18 dead - Suicide Bombers    2019.07.03 Mozambique Lidjungo 7 dead - Islamic Extremists
2019.07.03 Somalia Hagar 4 dead - al Shabaab    2019.07.04 Somalia Salagle 6 dead - Sharia Executions
2019.07.04 Nigeria Damboa 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.07.06 Somalia Kurtunwarey 3 dead - al Shabaab
2019.07.07 Somalia Jamame 4 dead - Mujahid Bombers    2019.07.08 Somalia Mogadishu 2 dead - Fedayeen Suicide Bomber
2019.07.08 Somalia Mogadishu 5 dead - al Shabaab    2019.07.12 Somalia Kismayo 26 dead - Fedayeen Bomb Blast/Attack
2019.07.13 DRC Mukilia 2 dead - ADF    2019.07.14 Nigeria Tafigana 2 dead - Miyetti Allah
2019.07.14 Nigeria Kankara 6 dead - Militants    2019.07.17 Nigeria Jakana 6 dead - Boko Harem
2019.07.17 Nigeria Muna Dalti 6 dead - Islamists    2019.07.22 Nigeria Abuja 2 dead - Shite Extremists
2019.07.22 Somalia Mogadishu 17 dead - Shahid Suicide Bomber    2019.07.22 DRC Eringeti 3 dead - ADF
2019.07.23 Somalia Wanlaweyn 6 dead - al Shabaab    2019.07.23 DRC Oicha Mabasele 9 dead - Islamic Militants
2019.07.24 Somalia Mogadishu 7 dead - Suicide Bomber    2019.07.25 Nigeria Dalori 2 dead - Islamists
2019.07.26 Burkina Faso Diblou 15 dead - Jihadists     2019.07.27 Nigeria Nganzai 44 dead - Islamists
2019.07.27 Nigeria Nganzai 23 dead - Islamists    2019.07.27 Somalia Middle Shabelle 10 dead - al Shabaab
2019.07.29 Nigeria Benisheikh 25 dead - Boko Harem    2019.08.01 Somalia Mogadishu 1 dead - Mujahideen   
2019.08.05 Mali Koro 3 dead - Jihadists    2019.08.05 Nigeria Monguno 5 dead - Boko Harem
2019.08.06 DRC Kisima 2 dead - ADF    2019.08.06 Nigeria Mafa 3 dead - Suicide Bombers
2019.08.07 Somalia Lower Shabelle 10 dead - Mujahideen    2019.08.10 Somalia Msambweni 2 dead - Radicals
2019.08.10 Mozambique Simbulongo 3 dead - Islamic Extremists    2019.08.10 Nigeria Gubia 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.08.11 Nigeria Ngwom 2 dead - Boko Harem    2019.08.14 Somalia Awdhegle 7 dead - al Shabaab
2019.08.14 Chad Kaiga Kindjiria 6 dead - Suicide Bomber    2019.08.15 Nigeria Molai 3 dead - Boko Harem
2019.08.15 Kenya Fino 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.08.17 Somalia Daynunay 2 dead - al Shabaab
2019.08.18 Nigeria Mogul 4 dead - ISWAP    2019.08.18 DRC Oicha 2 dead - ADF
2019.08.19 Burkina Faso Koutougou 24 dead - Islamic State    2019.08.20 Uganda Nakaseke 4 dead - Islamists
2019.08.21 Mali Hombori 5 dead - Militants    2019.08.22 Niger Boulahardé 1 dead - Boko Harem
2019.08.24 Nigeria Nganzai 4 dead - Islamists    2019.08.24 Niger Gueskerou 12 dead - Boko Harem
2019.08.25 Cameroon Wum 7 dead - Fulani Militants    2019.08.27 Nigeria Wajirko 11 dead - Boko Harem
2019.08.27 Burkina Faso Kaurao 3 dead - Jihadists    2019.08.29 Nigeria Kiri 5 dead - Militants
2019.08.29 Nigeria Attaka 8 dead - Miltants   2019.08.30 Nigeria Monguno 8 dead - Islamists
2019.08.30 Nigeria Balumri 4 dead - Islamists    2019.08.31 Nigeria Gidan Waya 4 dead - Militants
2019.09.02 Somalia Mogadishu 2 dead - Suicide Bomb    2019.09.03 Mali Mopti 14 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.04 Nigeria Gajiram 2 dead - Boko Harem    2019.09.05 Burkina Faso Soum 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.05 Somalia Awdhegle 3 dead - Islamic Landmine    2019.09.05 Somalia Afgoye 5 dead - al Shabaab
2019.09.05 Nigeria Gajiram 4 dead - Islamists    2019.09.08 Cameroon Talkoumri 4 dead - Boko Harem
2019.09.08 Somalia Mahaday 5 dead - al Shabaab    2019.09.08 Burkina Faso Sanmatenga 14 dead - Islamists
2019.09.08 Burkina Faso Barsalogho 15 dead - Jihadists    2019.09.09 Nigeria Mallam Kaleri 3 dead - Boko Harem
2019.09.09 Nigeria Shamawa 5 dead - Militants    2019.09.09 Burkina Faso Soum 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.10 Kenya Elwak 5 dead - al Shabaab    2019.09.10 Nigeria Gudumbali 9 dead - Muslim Radicals
2019.09.12 Somalia Dinsor 5 dead - al Shabab    2019.09.12 Nigeria Borno 7 dead - Boko Harem
2019.09.13 Cameroon Soueram 6 dead - Boko Harem    2019.09.14 Somalia Bal'ad 14 dead - Militants
2019.09.14 Somalia Gololey 3 dead - Islamic Radicals    2019.09.14 Somalia Marka 2 dead - al Shabaab
2019.09.14 Somalia Qoryoley 9 dead - Islamists    2019.09.15 Somalia Shalanbod 2 dead - Islamists
2019.09.15 Somalia Bal'ad 5 dead - al Shabaab    2019.09.18 Somalia Mogadishu 2 dead - al Shabaab
2019.09.18 Nigeria Aljilati Ngomari 9 dead - Boko Harem    2019.09.19 DRC Nyaleke 3 dead - AFD
2019.09.19 Burkina Faso Toeni 5 dead - Jihadists    2019.09.21 Burkina Faso Pissélé 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.22 Somalia el-Salin 23 dead - Fedayeen    2019.09.22 Burkina Faso Bool-Kiiba 9 dead - Militants
2019.09.22 Nigeria Maiduguri 2 dead - Boko Harem    2019.09.23 Burkina Faso Bourzanga 10 dead - Radicals
2019.09.23 Nigeria Hukke 3 dead - Fulani Militants    2019.09.23 Mozambique Mbau 10 dead - Radicals
2019.09.23 Mozambique Mindumbe 2 dead - Islamic Extremists    2019.09.25 Burkina Faso Zimtanga 6 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.25 Somalia Mogadishu 3 dead - al Shabaab    2019.09.25 Nigeria Gubio 14 dead - ISWAP
2019.09.26 Mali Douentza 7 dead - Islamic Militia    2019.09.26 Nigeria Damaturu 7 dead - Boko Harem
2019.09.26 Nigeria Mafa 2 dead - Jihadists    2019.09.27 Egypt Bir al-Abed 8 dead - Islamic State
2019.09.27 Nigeria Gajiram 8 dead - Islamists    2019.09.28 Burkina Faso Komsilga 9 dead - Radicals
2019.09.28 Burkina Faso Deneon 7 dead - Jihadists    2019.09.29 Nigeria Gubio 13 dead - Boko Harem
2019.09.30 Burkina Faso Kangro 6 dead - Jama'at Nasr al-Islam    2019.09.30 Mali Mondoro 2 dead - Jihadists
2019.09.30 Mali Boulikessi 38 dead - al Qaeda    2019.10.03 Nigeria Mauro 11 dead - Boko Harem
2019.10.03 Mozambique Sofala 3 dead - Jihadists    2019.10.04 Burkina Faso Dolmane 23 dead - al Qaeda
2019.10.05 Nigeria Banki 2 dead - Radicals    2019.10.07 Burkina Faso Bouna 8 dead - Islamists
2019.10.07 Niger Dogon Kiria 2 dead - Militants    2019.10.09 Somalia Siinka Dheer 4 dead - al Shabaab
2019.10.10 Mozambique Macomia 2 dead - Islamists    2019.10.12 Niger Sanam 5 dead - Jihadists
2019.10.12 Egypt Bir al-Abd 9 dead - Islamists    2019.10.12 Kenya Damajale Harehare 11 dead - al Shabaab
2019.10.12 Burkina Faso Salmossi 16 dead - Jihadists    2019.10.13 Somalia Hirshabele 2 dead - al Shabaab
2019.10.13 Burkina Faso Samboulga 4 dead - al Qaeda    2019.10.14 DRC Oicha 3 dead - ADF
2019.10.16 Nigeria Cross Kauwa 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.10.18 Mali Aguelhok 6 dead -Jihadists
2019.10.19 Egypt Sheikh Zuweid 4 dead - Militants    2019.10.19 Burkina Faso Boulga 4 dead - Militants
2019.10.19 Burkina Faso Bahn 5 dead - Jihadists    2019.10.20 Burkina Faso Zoura 9 dead - Islamic Militants
2019.10.20 Cameroon Wum 1 dead - Militants    2019.10.22 Burkina Faso Guembila 6 dead - Islamists
2019.10.27 Mozambique Muidumbe 25  dead - Islamists    2019.10.28 Burkina Faso Pobe-Mengao 16 dead - Radicals
2019.10.29 Kenya Wajir 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.10.30 Ethiopia Sebata 2 dead - Radicals 
2019.10.31 Cameroon Kotserehé 6 dead - Boko Harem    2019.10.31 Mozambique Mbau 10 dead - Jihadists
2019.10.31 Burkina Faso Sanaba 2 dead - al Qaeda    2019.11.01 Mali Bamako 54 dead - Islamists
2019.11.02 Mozambique Mumu 4 dead - Radicals    2019.11.03 Burkina Faso Djibo 4 dead - Militants
2019.11.05 DRC Kivu 10 dead - ADF    2019.11.05 Burkina Faso Oursi 38 dead - Jihadists
2019.11.06 Cameroon Moskota 2 dead - Islamists    2019.11.06 Nigeria Damboa 10 dead - Boko Harem
2019.11.09 DRC Eringeti 4 dead - ADF    2019.11.13 Mozambique Ngongo 6 dead - Islamists
2019.11.13 Somalia Adayga 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.11.13 DRC Virunga 2 dead - ADF
2019.11.14 Nigeria Agban 4 dead - Fulani Militants    2019.11.14 Nigeria Agom 2 dead - Militants
2019.11.14 DRC Oicha 6 dead - ADF    2019.11.16 DRC Mbau 8 dead - Kebi keba 7 dead - ADF
2019.11.17 DRC Mavivi-Kainama 25 dead - ADF    2019.11.17 Nigeria Gwoza 3 dead - Islamists
2019.11.17 Nigeria Song 6 dead - Boko Harem    2019.11.18 Mali Tabankort 24 dead - al Qaeda
2019.11.19 DRC Beni 7 dead - Islamists    2019.11.19 DRC Mavete 3 dead - ADF
2019.11.21 Algeria Tamanrasset 8 dead - Islamic State    2019.11.21 Burkina Faso Sahel 3 dead - Militants
2019.11.21 Burkina Faso Tabankort 13 dead - al Qaeda    2019.11.24 DRC Beni 8 dead - ADF
2019.11.27 DRC Maleki 28 dead - Islamists    2019.11.28 DRC Biakato 4 dead - ADF
2019.11.29 DRC Kukutama 14 dead - ADF    2019.12.01 Cameroon Kotserehé 4 dead - Militants
2019.12.01 Burkina Faso Hantoukoura 14 dead - Jihadists    2019.12.02 Chad Lake Chad 4 dead - Islamists
2019.12.02 Cameroon Zangola 3 dead - Militants    2019.12.02 Mali Diougani 2 dead - Mujahideen
2019.12.02 DRC Orototo 11 dead - ADF    2019.12.05 DRC Mantumbi 14 dead - ADF
2019.12.05 DRC Oicha 3 dead - ADF    2019.12.05 DRC Kolokoko 3 dead - Islamists
2019.12.06 Kenya Kotulo 9 dead - Islamists    2019.12.09 Mali Agando 3 dead - Militants
2019.12.10 Somalia Mogadishu 3 dead - Islamists    2019.12.10 Nigeria Benisheikh 3 dead - Militants
2019.12.10 Cameroon Werwack 5 dead - Boko Harem    2019.12.10 Mali Inates 71 dead Islamists
2019.12.11 Somalia Hilweyne 4 dead - al Shabaab    2019.12.12 Nigeria Magumeri 15 dead - Boko Harem
2019.12.13 DRC Beni 6 dead - ADF    2019.12.14 DRC Beni 22 dead - ADF
2019.12.14 Nigeria Fuhe 19 dead - Boko Harem    2019.12.15 DRC Kamango 10 dead - ADF
2019.12.17 Kenya Fafi 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.12.17 Chad Kaiga 14 dead - Boko Harem
2019.12.20 Mali Mondoro 4 dead - al Qaeda    2019.12.20 DRC Rwangoma 3 dead - ADF
2019.12.22 Nigeria Gasarwa 10 dead - Islamists    2019.12.22 Nigeria Tungushe 6 dead - Boko Harem
2019.12.23 Somalia Bay 7 dead - al Shabaab    2019.12.24 Nigeria Kwarangulum 7 dead - Jihadists
2019.12.24 Nigeria Maina Hari 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.12.24 Burkina Faso Arbinda 35 dead - Radicals
2019.12.24 Burkina Faso Soum 7 dead - Jihadists    2019.12.25 Burkina Faso Hallale 11 dead - Jihadists
2019.12.25 Nigeria Borno 11 dead - Islamic State    2019.12.26 Niger Sanam 14 dead - Islamists
2019.12.26 Nigeria Gwoza 3 dead - Boko Harem    2019.12.26 Nigeria Gonori 2 dead - Fulani Militants
2019.12.27 Kenya Wajir 2 dead - al Shabaab    2019.12.28 Somalia Mogadishu 90 dead - Fedayeen  
2019.12.29 DRC Apetina 18 dead - ADF

Westerners travelling through any of the above mentioned towns and villages have the risk of being kidnapped en-route within these locations. Owners and staff at certain accommodation in these regions may have affiliated links to militant groups and will snitch. Snitching on foreigners is what catches most foreigners out around the planet. Most foreigners traveling through volatile regions wouldn't have clue they've been snitched on. South American road bandits have been using the same techniques for years with the aid of invisible snitchers. Hotel snitchers, cafe waitress snitchers, bus ticket snitchers, bus baggage handler and bus driver snitchers, taxi snitchers, etc. The invisible snitcher is the travellers worse nightmare. The longer one stays at any given location within Red Zones raises the chances of becoming targeted, and then a victim - just like those above. In Borno state, Nigeria on the 12.25.19 ISWAP (Islamic State affiliates) held 10 non-Muslims captives - each by the face or hair, and slit their throats. Those actually believing what mainstream media publish, or from overland tour operators or trendy travel bloggers i.e. "infighting amongst farmers and herders" should re-evaluate by researching truthful facts! In DRC, two western foreign observers - American Michael Sharp, Swedish-Chilean dual national Zaida Catalán and their interpreter Betu Tshintela were executed in public. The Swedish female was then beheaded. Western non-Muslims deciding to travel, explore, or who are funded NGO's transiting through regions mentioned above only have themselves to blame if taken hostage, robbed butchered or raped - Only you can decided, if it's worth the risks involved which happens on a weekly basis to locals.
Even through 2020, the killing continued effortlessly. In 2021, the slaughter of non-Muslims is hitting new highs. Global MSM have always been an embarrassing joke. They don't report informative news, they report news fitting their political values. A simple solution is to reverse MSM news pointing its narrative and opinions in the opposite direction to find some truth. The following links are quick reminders of the continuing slaughter by various Islamist groups through Africa is on-going.
Burkina Faso Jihadists kill 24 Christians Feb 2020 Sudan Darfur 60 dead July 2020 Nigeria Islamic Boko Haram kill 40 Nov 2020 Cameroon 2 female Islamist suicide bombers kill 28 Christians Aug 2020 DRC ADF Islamists kill 26 injure 29 Nov 2020 Mali Islamists kill 33 July 2020 Nigeria Islamic Boko Haram kill 110 Nov 2020 Niger Islamic Boko Haram kill 27 Dec 2020 Somalia suicide bomber kills 15 Dec 2020 Nigeria Islamic Boko Haram kill 10 injure 60 Feb 2021 DRC ADF Islamists kill 24 Feb 2021 Nigeria Islamic Boko Haram kill 10 Feb 2021 Niger Boko Haram kill 8 May 2021 Burkina Faso 160 massacred June 2021

Solo Overland Travel - UFO & ORBS

You just never know when something will make your hair stand on end. UFO Orb sightings have become more frequent over the past few decades. In saying that, my first close visual Orb experience dates back to 1974, within a remote region in the lower south island of New Zealand. Three other friends had also watched and witnessed the orb for approximately 20 minutes. It was a midnight goosebump event, especially when the Orb suddenly began darting back and forth sideways along the front of close-by mountain ranges, and changing into different bright metallic colours at the same time in total silence. Although a young teenager at the time, I still remember this event vividly.
The above snap was taken during a moonless night in the middle of nowhere within the Sahara desert. No, it wasn't a helicopter, or anything with combustible engines, because it was dead calm, and totally silent. Some may assume it was lens flare, but then what were the moving subjects I was looking at? These Orbs, the two of them produced their own bright metallic colours, and moved using their own energy source following each other across a cloudless night sky. There were no other airborne craft within a 360 degree eye vision circumference. You could be lucky enough to spot your own Orbs next time you're out in the wilderness. Have a camera close-by and ready.
​Below, I was grabbing a few quick snaps of a full moon and didn't realise the moon had tilted, and had swung to the right between shots. I think they call this a moon wobble? These low res snaps show the event within a 2 minute time space.  

Need A Culture Fix? - The Indian Rush Will Do It 100% 

If you're looking for unmatched street adrenaline, India will certainly get you pumped-up and started! The Indian rush is alive and active and will wear out most foreigners within a very short time period. Busy bustling market areas outside and around train stations in large cities during peak periods will give anyone the feel of how vibrant India is. Going to India? The Indian overland page is worth a look.

Absorbing sunrises and sunsets through the planet is what we all enjoy. India is known for as the sun paradise. Clear skies through the lowlands will capture random snaps like these examples. Do yourself a favour and use real camera gear instead of smart phone camera junk. 

Feel the Indian city vibe closeup, and absorb endless stunning sunrises and sunsets in the middle of nowhere. 

 In Transit - Grabbing Snaps

"Don't think twice grabbing snaps in transit mode - It's a part of the overland journey" 

It doesn't matter what continent one travels through, image snaps en-route are mind-blowing. Taking random captures is a part of any overland journey. Don't be hesitant photographing the weird, unbelievable, or unusual humorous scenes. In most cases, capturing something in motion amounts to 3 seconds, and then lost forever. The 1st second is when you see it, the 2nd second is when it's captured, the 3rd second - It's gone for good.

I could easily post thousands of different kinds of on the go transit snaps I've taken since '82, but these will do for now. 

Grabbing Snaps Offshore - Sensitive Regions 

As a foreigner myself who has done the hard yards travelling through countless Red Zone regions through the decades, the best advice for any westerner, is to avoid passing through sensitive territories unless there's good reason too. One thing Red Zone regions aren't lacking, are local onlookers and snitchers watching, and informing on every move you make. It's at your own risk to travel and transit, including taking images within Red Zone regions. Everyday staying inside Red Zones has a different outcome with zero grey area to manoeuvre. Those who have been addicted to Netflix movies should keep well away from any Red Zone territory.  

In certain locations during transit, military on the move and sensitive satellite communication bases can suddenly appear. Grabbing snaps of sensitive bases should be avoided in the countries listed on the below images. Non nationals wandering too close to sensitive bases will cause rapid security interrogation, seizure of camera and cell phones with the possibility of deportation. In today's world of secrecy, border skirmishes and espionage, avoid taking snaps of any bases - Got It?

Those grabbing snaps of military vehicles or military personal, especially along sensitive border regions can be arrested, interrogated, and deported within a very short time period. Lifetime black bans reentering countries has happened to those pushing the boundaries, especially those who think they weren't spotted grabbing sensitive images. If caught, be prepared for a long hot grilling!    

Hitchhiking Through Continents​ ​

Three most important things when hitchhiking - Driver, Speed & Safety

Hitching lifts transiting through countries, and across entire continents can be done, but with caution. Every hitch is different to the next depending on the driver and region. There are times when free lifts comes in handy. It's not about saving cash, rather the possibility reaching isolated locations on any particular day.
Through the decades, I've hitched lifts with locals within South America, the Middle East, Asia, and regions throughout Africa without to much hassle. Two most important things with hitching, is the driver, and other occupants, if any. Safety has a dual meaning, which applies to the driver's heavy foot on the gas pedal, and personal safety factor and transit baggage. It's difficult to assume from those who pick up hikers, if pre-meditated plans, is to rob baggage, or assault and rape passengers, but sadly, this does happen from time to time through the planet.
The best hitchhiking place to grab lifts, which applies to any country, are at gas stations, usually at the last fuel stop out of any city. This allows enough time to chat with drivers, including the drop-off point, and also gives enough time to analyse the driver, and other passengers. Using ones basic instinct usually acknowledges if a ride is safe or not.
​One can still be lucky enough to hitch rides on board T.I.R. trucks from Turkey to Iran, Iraq, and Saudi, which I've done a few times. Hitching lifts has always worked for me from the last gas station out of town. Cars and trucks need to fill-up their tanks somewhere before journeys. As for foreign solo western females who intend to hitch, it would be safer to grab rides with a couple with children, or with female drivers. The image above was a successful hitch-lift through the desert from a friendly Saudi.

I've personally hitched lifts through the Mid-East each time I pass thru the region. Hitching lifts in the Middle East is no different than anywhere else around the planet. As always, grabbing lifts is at the last gas filling station out of town in the direction of transit. Being cautious and aware of who offer lifts is 1st priority. Baggage and photo-gear can easily be stolen, if drivers decide to take-off leaving you stranded at any pit-stop en-route. Taking the number plate (cell phone snap) is recommended. Single foreign western females should avoid hitching lifts with male drivers, if they can't understand or speak Arabic, Farsi, or Urdu. As always, hitching lifts into Red Zone regions is at your own risk. In most cases transiting directly through Red Zones on board a local trucks will pass through "certain" regions without being held-up, attacked and robbed, but on the other hand, one just doesn't know what's up ahead in waiting.

Hitching lifts in Afghanistan and Syria should be thoroughly thought out, if deviating off main routes, your life depends on it. Grabbing lifts in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi, Iraq and Iran is normally straight forward. Hitching lifts within tribal zones along the Afghan-Pakistani border, if transit is allowed is risky. Police military checkpoints are many, and normally do not allow foreigners to travel independently on their own. A dual passport will be required if Israeli stamps have been plastered in passports. Getting through Saudi will depend on the validity of visas. Overstaying in Middle Eastern countries will become harsh, unless one enjoys interrogations, lot's of screaming by officials, and forking out overstay fines. Onward visas for neighbouring countries should already be in order well in advance.

Hitchhiking - Through the Middle of Nowhere

The last gas station out of any town in the direction of transit is the best place to grab a lift - Try it

If you can tolerate endless bump and grind, random pitstops and breakdowns, hitching rides on board local trucks across Africa is always an option well worth considering. African truck drivers are more than happy to offer foreign visitors lifts if they have an empty passenger seat. Some truck drivers I've hitched with are total speed freaks, while others have the usual breakdowns with overheating, loose loads, punctures and drive dead slow antique trucks. If you're not in a rush and have plenty of time on your hands, hitching lifts on trucks is one alternative to transit cross Africa instead of using local bus-buses. Covering the costs for food stops en-route for drivers is always appreciated, it also gives the opportunity to easily hook-up with the same truck drivers if returning along the same route at later dates. Finding loading depots with plenty of trucks is relatively easy, they're normally situated on the outskirts of towns and cities. It's also the area where most African truck drivers fill up their tanks with diesel before heading off across country. Hitchhiking thru Africa is at your own risk, including whatever baggage one drags along with them. I've had more than my fair share of hitching lifts through the continent without issues. In saying that, it will depend on the region, location, and trusting the driver for safety. Africa has triple more Red Zone regions than the Middle East. It's the luck of the draw to get through without loss or injury. In Africa, each day is different to the next when travelling off the beaten track through in to the middle of nowhere, thus making it one of my favourite continents hitching lifts. Below, on board the back of another truck capturing a quick snap of a freshly painted classic bull nose Benz (kenya - South Sudan route)

The ultimate real feel experience transiting through countries across continents, is no doubt hitching gratis rides on board vehicles and trucks. Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia offer the opportunity of grabbing lifts with limited time delays. All you need to know is where to find the right locations where trucks are ready to go. Fussy foreigners who can't handle noisey smokey trucks that often break down en-route should stick to deluxe buses.       

Hitch On Anything Moving

Transport costs transiting through Asia is still relatively cheap, but there are times when hitching lifts can't be avoided. Reaching certain isolated regions within the Himalayas can only be done on board anything available on the day. Packed out trucks full of locals is a normal occurrence in these areas. Hitching rides on the back of trucks will come with the normal fee. In remote regions, hitching with private vehicles can be pre-arranged the day before if youre lucky enough to meet someone having spare space. The usual places to grab lifts like in Africa, South America and Middle East are at gas fill stations, border entry/exit control points, crossroads and truck stops. Holding a hand written sign out along highways is the last preferable choice.

Hitching lifts in tribal zones will depend how much available transport there is on any given day. Normally, locals will pack themselves bundled up together on the back of anything available moving in their direction. Reaching isolated tribal villages off the beaten track well away from touristic areas within tribal zones takes patience. Locals in tribal zones normally rely on trucks and pickups to return to villages 50-100 kilometres from supply hubs. Chatting with drivers just before departure into the wilderness may get you a seat. Journeys are raw and rough in tribal regions, roads are dirt tracks full of bull dust, corrugation and endless pot holes. Protecting sensitive gear is essential. Returning from isolated villages can be a mission, it it will depend what passes through, if there's room, and if drivers wants to stop.

Hitching lifts through Asia solely depends where one is located, and if public transport is virtually non existent. Local truck drivers will normally pick up solo foreigners if there's enough room on board. I've never had difficultly hitching rides when required. All it takes is positive interaction with drivers, and common sense where to grab lifts.         

Those who have never hitched lifts in their lives in their own countries will have no choice, but to do so transiting across central Africa. Locals residing within isolated regions through the continent grab lifts on anything moving in their direction. Waiting for public transport passing by, if any is optional, but one finds out quickly when transiting through the heartland of Africa, that anything with wheels on it offering a ride maybe the last for that particular day, or even a few days. Trucks, like in the below image, maybe slow, and end up packed out en-route, but as long as it's moving - what's the problem? There is no problem - try it, its worked fo me countless times.  ​

Like many other solo overland travel fanatics, hitching lifts through the decades is nothing new to me. Although most lifts have been on board trucks, the odd lift transiting in flash new four wheel drives has happened in various countries. Below quick snap, a hitched lift in the highlands of Ethiopia. One of the longest classic hitched lifts I've encountered, was from the Iranian border to Tehran during the Iran-Iraq conflict in 83, taking seven days in total on board a TIR from Italy. Another, was a lift in Chile with a corpse laying in the back of a station wagon. Each individual hitched lift has its own story record. 

  In Transit - African Heartland

"Transiting can be extreme if there's no other means of transport - Don't miss it - Enjoy the ride"

Anything with wheels on it that's moving in your direction of transit shouldn't be missed. It could be days away before anything else comes along. If locals jump on the back of trucks, then jump on board too! Goats, sheep, cattle, and even the odd camel maybe in your face for a day or two, but hey - It's the heartland of Africa. Don't expect royalty being a foreigner, locals will always grab the best places to sit to avoid the least vibration and dust.

Because of the on-going changing situations in south Sudan, fresh up to date information from locals on the ground will confirm the level of safety to transit from Kosti to Juba. This region  is still a Red Zone after dark. The Darfour region is sensitive. Permits with onward visas crossing into Chad, or the C.A.Republic must be in order. The north Sudanese military, police and government administration are pretty straight forward towards foreigners, but don't push your luck. The Darfour region is still super sensitive, any photography in Sudan still requires permits.

The options of choosing your overland destination route from Sudan are many. Crossing over to Chad through to Nigeria can be done if visas have been granted and Red Zones are at a minimal. Travelling to South Sudan via Kosti, Malakal to Juba by slow boat, or by train (on the rooftop) from Babanusa to Wau and on to Juba is a great journey. There's an overland route to Gabon through the Central African Republic, via Cameroon, or the Republic of Congo, this route is riddled with Red Zones. Getting to Egypt from Wadi Halfa port is either by ferry boat or by bus via Abu Simbel to Aswan.
​The Eritrea border crossing is just beyond Kasala. Getting too Ethiopia is a straight forward transit route from Khartoum to the Gallabat/Metema border crossing.

  In Transit - Colombia

"One gets spoilt in transit with Colombians in isolated regions"

"Salsa screaming, loose pigs on board with 10 conversations all at once… Awesome"

Colombia's rough and rugged terrain within the interior of the Silva has an expansive network of bush-buses, trucks, and boats through jungle tracks towards Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuelan frontiers. Well away from bitumen tarmac, one encounters how Colombians are accustomed to rough bush transport. The Colombians are more alive and up tempo than their Latino neighbours. Colombian internal transit journeys are proof of that. There's nothing like having ten conversations at the same time, with the aisles full of loose pigs and chickens with cumbia or salsa screaming in the background. Those leaving Colombia without experiencing local rural transport don't know what they're missing out on.  Colombia ezilon map

Grinding slowly along isolated dirt tracks on top of Colombian bush-buses is hard to beat - Try it! ​

Main transit routes through Colombia are easy to drive on in your own vehicle. Driving off towards the Amazon or within the Darien Gap - especially after dark is dangerous, and at your own risk if breakdowns occur. Since the fall of Socialism in Venezuela, banditry has increased considerable. Millions of Venezuelans seeking refuge across the borders in Colombia, Brazil, and Peru has increased the surge of criminal activity. Organised crime groups from Venezuela specialising in kidnapping, extortion, mugging and robbing has multiplied over a short time period. Don't listen to all the fluffy jargon from "travel bloggers" painting rosy pictures for Colombia. Fluff travel bloggers are usually found drinking Pina Coladas on the Colombian Caribbean coast near beaches well away from the real cycle of crime and violence through the country. Getting the latest information from locals within mountainous regions of the country where rebel held groups (FLN, FARC) are established will determine the safety levels. Cautionary measures change from week to week. Rebel and splinter groups, and affiliates are always on the move. You don't want to bump into these people in isolated areas day or night.

The main border crossing into or from Venezuela is the Cucuta crossing. Most western foreigners won't bother about any travel into Venezuela, because of the high risk of getting mugged, robbed or extorted within a couple of days. Due to the heavy influx of Venezuelans using this particular border crossing, it's advisable to check time durations, and available transport to and from Cucuta and San Antonio (Venezuela).
Those pursuing overland travel into Venezuela through to the Brazilian border, should collect fresh information on transportation, and if transportation is reliable. More importantly, finding out how many random spot checks there are en-route i.e. night transit versus day transit. Westerners over-landing through Venezuela will have to personally deal with police and military personal at checkpoints. Bribes are common if you allow it. Officials at checkpoints automatically assume you're carrying fist full of dollars through the country. Hide your cash stash well or lose it - all of it! I made it twice through Socialist Venezuela on two separate journeys without paying one peso - Good luck!

When it's a boiler, isolated Colombian jungle waterfalls well away from tourist areas are perfect spots to cool off. 

Militia Territory - Colombia  

Above, 2021 list of mafia militant militia groups operating through the country. Colombia may sound safe with all the heavy tourism that has engulfed the nation over the last 2 decades, but in reality, it's slowly loosing the battle with the continuing expansion of red zones scattering through the country since Venezuela fell apart, caused by raw Socialism. As the saying goes "things have a habit of repeating themselves over and over again".

Foreigners moving in circles within the usual touristy hangouts don't have much to worry about apart from being mugged and robbed. Entering into isolated active rebel controlled smuggling and drug cultivated areas is pushing the limit for those assuming they're in a safe zone. Entering regional areas controlled or inhabited by FARC or ELN, or affiliates to these groups from neighbouring Venezuela and Ecuador is at your own risk. You never know what may eventuate to save your skin. Locals are murdered, butchered and raped in these territories around the clock. Is it really worth ending up in body bags just because you need that "wonderful blissful selfie snap" to blog about on social media taken in red zones? You may get a free pass, but then maybe not. Colombians don't get free passes, they either pay-off their handlers, or try to avoid becoming victims themselves. The many idiot Western tourists exalting the likes of Pablo Escobar and Che Guevara is beyond belief. They ignore the hard  facts that both of these rats were vicious murderous killers for greed and power.    

Above, an image that looks like it was captured in the 1940s. Veracruz de los Forasteros, central Medellin 1989. It was taken during the time of Pablo Escobar's terror campaign throughout the country. I didn't meet any other foreigners in Colombia on this first visit because there were none. During my stay, I had also felt, heard and witnessed Pablo's massive bomb explode in central Bogota that killed and injured hundreds of locals. One thing I had noticed on many occasions with the Colombians in '89 and '91, was how they would spend more time looking around in restaurants while consuming their food dishes. 

Amazon river highway traffic is like anywhere else around the planet. Cargo ships sail up and down through the Amazon basin in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. Fully laden container, lumber and vehicle ships are seen in transit around the clock. Below, Leticia port, the gateway of Amazonian river transit in either direction. ​

Solo Overland Africa - What Are You Waiting For?

Using any transport no matter what it is or what it looks like will usually get you through the heart of Africa in one piece. Most of the time one has no choice but to use what's available on the day within totally isolated regions - Good Luck 

A large part of any solo overland transit journey through African terrain are on rugged bush buses - It's one of the easiest ways to meet, interact, and chit-chat with locals. What would you prefer? to be on an organised tourist overland bus with other foreigners? or to be on your own and experience how locals travel and interact with one another?  I know what i would choose hands down without even thinking about it in less than a second!  

Taking quick snaps of locals during transit is easier than you think, a little interaction goes a long way. 

Overland Transit - Singapore To India

Overland Transit from Singapore to India - it's a blast all the way to the Pakistani border!

The overland transit journey in to Myanmar onward to India begins from the Mae Sot - Myawaddy border, which is alive and active every day. A new highway from the Myanmar border is already operating. A full length visa/eVisa is required to continue in to Myanmar. If the old road track is still open and operating, take that route instead if you want to enjoy the transit views on the back of a truck or a van over the Dawna mountains. Grabbing lifts is simple - just ask any van or truck driver in Myawaddy township who still use it. The original dirt track route was an alternating one way route.

The landmark Border Crossing Agreement between India and Myanmar was signed on May 11, 2018. This has been brought into effect with the simultaneous opening of international entry-exit checkpoints at the Tamu-Moreh and the Rihkhawdar-Zowkhawtar border. Myanmar overland border crossings with issued eVisas are the following: Tamu land border checkpoint, Rihkhawdar land border checkpoint​, Kawthaung land border checkpoint, Tachileik land border checkpoint, Myawaddy land border checkpoint.

Below, the classic days when visitors only received seven day visas for Burma. It was a slow rush getting from one location to another. The single trunk line bush train from Pegu to Mandalay at the time couldn't be matched for its originality. It was the most buckled wobbled line I've travelled on, even today out performing Bolivian, DRC and Sudanese train tracks.    

Capturing random street portraits is enjoyable through Myanmar. Interaction levels with Burmese is straight forward and friendly. More images in the Asia page.

Getting around Myanmar using deluxe buses up and down, and across certain routes through the country has flourished in recent years. There are still plenty of  local bush buses in service operating off the tarmac along rough dusty dirt roads within the interior. Applying for permits to visit remote sensitive areas is difficult, especially along the Bangladesh border. Panning for gold in rivers, and fossicking around digging up the ground looking for emeralds or sapphires is prohibited - even for locals. This includes the use of any metal detectors. Myanmar is well known for it's excessive gold, jade and mineral deposits scattered just below the surface. Buyer beware, the majority of random street sellers offering precious stones, like rubies or sapphires are usually flawless fake flame fusion glass. Myanmar has a reputation having numerous types of venomous snakes slithering around after dark.

 In Transit - The Tibetan Plateau

 "Solo Overland Transit into Tibet Hitchhiking on the back of an open truck in the middle of winter - Insane!"

The Chinese road crossing to Nepal from Tibet was completely upgraded to a new tar sealed highway in 2017. Is still worth going to Tibet? Yes and no! Solo overland travel has been prohibited inside Tibet for decades. If one can arrange a small group together from the few choices of different operators based in Katmandu for the right price then don't hesitate to go. The ultimate time and season to travel to Tibet is actually in mid-winter for the timing of Tibetan New Year. This is when Tibetan pilgrims flock to Lhasa for celebrations and festivities.
One has to be lucky to pre-arrange an overland journey that's timed for Tibetan New Year in Lhasa. The historical original high pass dirt track highway shown above is no longer in use. If travelling from Nepal to Tibet during winter, choose your travel companions wisely - screaming or arguing about any issues en-route won't help at all when half way through the transit journey i.e. those wanting to stop to grab images. Altitude sickness, food issues, extreme cold, and small dislikes with other foreigners are some of the short-term travel syndromes that do arise when in transit with other foreigners. This is why I've always chosen to go it alone since the 1980's. I travelled through Tibet on my own, so I didn't have that problem. Sorry guys, solo travel in Tibet is done and dusted - thank the CCP for that!

Going to Tibet today, is actually like visiting an open prison camp with restrictions of where and what one can do, as soon as one crosses into Tibet. I was fortunate enough to hitchhike, and travel and transit freely throughout Tibet before it became a full on tourist prison camp with heavy restrictions. There's nothing worse than travelling and transiting through a portion of a country that has a systematic order of restrictions in certain regions.

There's actually more Tibetans that dwell within the mountainous regions in Nepal and India with no restrictions or permits required to visit hill stations, which are full of Tibetans. This is an alternative that should be considered before splashing out a pile of cash on a fully controlled 10+ day tight excursion, although those desperately needing a selfie of themselves in Tibet will pay whatever the price without question. Tibet does hold its own status for what it was, but travelling freely through Tibet without restrictions is a bygone era written into the history books. The image below was taken during Tibetan new year in Lhasa, well before Tibet was recycled and reformed with millions of Han Chinese from neighbouring provinces - Thank the CCP for that.

On & Off-Road - MC Offshore

Getting around at your own pace offshore is simple - Use An MC

Arriving to most isolated regions through any continent can be a mission in itself, and then, to get further where transport is unavailable - what then? Hiring an off-road dirt bike to continue off the beaten track into extreme areas is the way to go. Renting motorbikes is usually a straight forward procedure for those with MC licenses and having enough experience to ride them. Riding safety offshore is solely dependent on the person riding the bike. Having the riding skills to quickly manoeuvre avoiding possible accidents, and basic knowledge to do roadside repairs is imperative.    ​

Riding off-road MCs offshore allows total freedom to stop and start and go almost anywhere one pleases.  

Choosing the right machine must be able to handle rough terrain, and robust enough with plenty of height to cross through streams and rivers. It should also have plenty of power and be reliable. Any breakdowns in the middle of nowhere will become frustrating. A valid motorcycle license is all that's required for most rental companies. Personal insurance cover isn't required, but recommended to the weary incase of injury. Those without MC licenses maybe lucky to find other fellow travellers with MC licences who could be interested to double up and share rental costs.​

Above, a reliable classic Yamaha TT600 dirt bike that ran like a wild horse. I was fortunate enough to rent it from the owner's private collection instead of the usual junk heaps on offer. I had zero issues of any breakdowns and managed to pass through random daytime highway corruption road stops using the necessary interaction skills required. I refrained from riding after dark in this region due to armed holdups and banditry. 

Above, an off-road Honda 250cc that was rented as a run about for a few months. It's normal to get discounted rates for long-term rentals, although one must be good at bartering an agreed price and prepay the entire amount beforehand. Never leave passports at rental agencies, instead give them photocopies. If certain rental agencies disagree find one that does.
Also, never rent electric powered motorbikes if riding exceeds past their low voltage capacity rate. Used rented electric motorbikes all have one thing in common - they run out of power when out and about all day in the middle of nowhere! Instead, rent two or four stroke gasoline motorbikes to get around - Got It?      

Sometimes renting anything to get around with photo gear in certain regions means exactly that - anything. The above moped was the only means of two wheeled transportation available to rent. There were no bigger bikes, so as the saying goes, its better to have something to run around on than nothing at all. Riding this wreck in rain, or off-road down mud bogged tracks was avoided. There's nothing worse than becoming stuck somewhere with baggage stuff.   ​

Common on the go MC roadside repairs like punctures and cable adjustments are simple fixes. Major engine failures are a different story. At times, it's far quicker to fly in the exact replacement parts from your own country rather than depending on local supply shops. The majority of MC service centres through Africa, Mid-East, South America and Asia would have to order the same parts offshore anyway. Have I personally had MC breakdowns offshore? Sure have. The Nullarbor plains, El Salvador, Israel, and Scandinavia are a few places to mention.          

Renting or purchasing second hand Royal Enfield motorbikes is easily done within most big cities through the country. It can take a few days deciding which bike is right for the asking price. Standard MC 350cc Bullets without modifications are recommended. Bartering prices down may or may not work. Valid registration and ownership papers must be in order. Foreigners also must have valid MC licences and international driving permits. India is vast on two wheels, one must have their timing schedules correct for Ladakh (summer season) and to avoid the monsoon season (May-Sept).

Transiting overland offshore with your own motorcycle is no different today than it was four decades ago. Purchasing 2nd hand bikes is relatively simple in your own country of origin. Getting Insurance, and other necessary documents (Carnet de Passages en Douane) is straight forward, and is required for various countries through the continents. A tough reliable off-road machine that can handle extreme hardcore conditions is of uttermost importance for any long-term continental overland transit MC road trip. A selection of spare parts and tools (chain, tubes, ignition, plugs, bulbs) are must have travel items. Carnet de Passages information 

Below, I'm one of those old school overland travellers still kicking up dust somewhere on the planet. Everything you see online today has already been completed well before selfie addicted cell phone snappers were born. Nothing has changed, highway transit routes still remain in the same place as they have always been. Hustle and bustle is in your face if you're looking for it, and interaction skills with total strangers still works the same way. 
Below, a rare snap of my XT 600Z Tenere at Masada, Dead Sea, Israel that originated its journey from Australia during the mid 80's. Sadly, the majority of my original overland travel and transit images through central Asia, Africa and the Middle East had suddenly vanished while in storage during the '90s.  ​

My 1st MC was an old worn out 1973 Triumph Daytona twin at the age of 17, it was completely pulled down and rebuilt and totally restored. One thing I had learned quickly in my teenage years, was to complete whatever plan, design, project from start to finish no-matter how difficult it was before moving on to something else.
Accomplishing overland journeys through continents is no different.  
Being a self-taught Maori at an early age, it was either, to go with the flow following the crowd using drugs ie. heroin, acid, pill popping, and partying and drinking till you drop, or joining gangs i.e. mongel mob, black power, satan slaves.
What ever intellect I had back then, as a teenager, was enough self-esteem to go my own way, do my own thing following my own path and not others - the same group think mentality we see today - But now with Woke inducement. Life's what you make it. One can be baby spoon-fed through their entire life, and blame others for their own mistakes. Becoming easily woke triggered is the new norm. Screaming at others who have different opinions, or who may have different political viewpoints, or follow different faiths has reached boiling point. Today, many are wasted because of misguided programmed educational institutions. One doesn't need to go far, just take a quick look at western society, especially inside American universities, a hot oven breeding bubble of dumbed down syndrome. It's also who one associates themselves with for the better or worse outcomes in life. 
Disconnecting from the herd group think woke type mentality works for me. I gave popular social media platforms the boot years ago, and haven't looked back, thus eradicating narcissistic behaviour with zero addiction. That's how simple it is - Shut down all forms of social dopamine addiction! 
The grass may appear greener elsewhere on the planet, but in reality it's actually not. It's yourself! A few things I quickly learnt off-shore in the early years, is having an open mind, question everything, positive interaction skills, zero debt, avoid hard drugs, and don't feel sorry for yourself.
​How many different facets a person creates through life solely depends, if one can turn the page on one part of their lifestyle, culture, circle of friends, and educated paper receipts, to learn something completely different without looking back. The Millennial/Gen Z generation certainly have no excuses to be creative in so many different ways - The sick entitlement generation! They worry more about what others do that may hurt their feelings, a fragile egg shell generation of all time! Life is short, quicker for some than others. Be a doer - not a complainer.

Everyone's born with some form of creativity - what have you designed, created and completed? About 

Below, I rarely put images of other people's accomplishments in this website. Heiko Gatenberg from Germany is an exception getting 10/10 for his longterm solo overland journey. Heiko completed an epic road trip riding his V Twin Honda VRT1000 through Europe, the Mid East, Central and  South Asia, Australia, NZ and the USA (Alaska included). We had shared time together in Asia, and then met once again in Aotearoa NZ (image below) before we both departed and disappeared in different directions on the planet. 

  MC OffShore - Don't End Up In Bodybags 

Fatal motorbike accidents happen everyday. The amount of Victims suffering spinal and head injuries caused by motorcycle accidents can be witnessed in hospital wards around the planet. Foreigners off-shore in countries having slack rules and regulations, allowing permission to rent, hire or purchase motorbikes without MC licences place their lives on the line. The amount of foreigners involved in MC accidents through Asia is above the roof. Africa and South America tie in at second place. Knowing how to ride and handle a large MC comes with rider experience. Wet tarmac asphalt and oil slick roads will drop an MC on its side quicker than lightning by inexperienced riders. On coming traffic along highways without centre safety barriers like in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, Colombia, Brazil, Peru etc, share common road values - the smaller the vehicle the lesser influence it has on the road, which puts motorbike riders, to either move out of the way avoiding an accident of suffer whatever fate materialises. Riding scooters, mopeds and motorbikes under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the fastest ways to end-up in a bodybag. ​The above image was captured on a crossroad intersection. Below image was taken during monsoon rain. Israeli male BOLIVIA  Israeli male INDIA  Israeli female INDIA  Israeli male INDIA  German male THAILAND French female TAILAND  UK male THAILAND  Australian male BALI  Canadian female THAILAND  2 U.S. males PERU  Swedish male THAILAND  Australian female BALI  Irish male THAILAND  Danish male THAILAND

In Transit - The Amazon

Brazil's Amazonian ferryboat transport is unbelievably the best water service provider for any isolated region globally. The connections to river villages and ports are busy like tarmac highways. Brazilian port authorities are strict and conscientious, limiting passenger numbers and cargo to each vessel before sailing. You don't hear of many Amazonian passenger ferries sinking or colliding like in Indonesia, or the Philippines. Slow boats from Belem via Santarem to Manaus and onward to Tabatinga takes six days. Sailing down river towards the mouth of the Amazon towards Belem takes half the time in total.

Running Late? The fastest riverboat transit transport in South America will get you there on time! Transiting onboard Brazilian fast boats up and  down the Amazon is a total adrenaline rush for speed junkies who like flying on water. A powerful inboard supercharged engine with the throttle pushed on full power for 10 hours will make anyone want a second journey. The ultimate seat, is right at the rear of this water rocket - where this image was taken. Give it a go, you'll be hooked, if speed and the roar of jet propulsion thrust is your thing. An Amazonian fast boat describes what it is SUPER FAST! It will get you from Belem to Manaus via Santarem, or from Tabatinga (Leticia) to Manaus on time.

In Transit - Belem-Santarem-Tabatinga

Chilling in hammocks watching dolphins swim by enjoying sunset vistas are a small part of the Amazonian transit.

Boat travel is the only means of reliable transport through the Amazonian estuaries, although there are local jungle bush-buses operating on dirt roads tracks connecting to rural villages. During the wet season, most road tracks turn into mud bogs. Banditry is also alive and well through this region within any isolated areas connecting villages. To verify, one just needs to ask locals about mugging and banditry in their region.

Brazil's landmass is impossible to complete in one rotation. Lots of time and energy is necessary, including planning well ahead for seasonal weather changes and festivities. Border crossings into Brazil are straight forward and very organised. Transiting through Brazil driving your own vehicle is recommended for long-term travel. Entering into Venezuela from the La Guadalupe crossing is at your own risk. 

The most essential item on board any Amazonian slow boat, is to have a good quality hammock to chill out on. Grabbing an space early before departure is ensured by tying a hammock in place guaranteeing a position. Roof deck tops are by far the place to get clear open views. Securing hammocks must be done early, or you'll end up downstairs in an over cramped environment. If you value your boots, and stuff, ensure they're secured before dozing off into dream state. Expensive labelled brands won't be there in the morning, as some have found out!

In Transit - Mid East

Looking for some space to hangout? The Egyptian Desert is a great place to start.

Transiting through the Egyptian desert is certainly off the beaten track instead of up and down along the Nile. Local transportation can be time consuming at certain stops, but what's the rush? The transit journey from Siwa, situated 50 kms from the Libyan border to Asyut crosses the Western, and Great White Deserts. The transit route passes through the desert townships of El Harra, Farafar, Al Qasr, Balat, Baris, Dhaklha, and El Kharga. I've successfully hitched lifts through this region.

Egypt overland has minimal issues or hassles not like neighbouring countries. Getting around using basic transport including hitchhiking in remote regions works. I've hitched lifts in different regions of the country with positive results during three different visits. One dislike worth mentioning, are the rip-off menu prices within tourist areas at double the price, all displayed in english. Most food street stalls and eateries usually show the cost of grub in both Arabic and English. Knowing how to speak and read basic Arabic helps in more ways than one.

Transiting through the Sinai peninsula is straight forward with buses and transport vans passing through this barren region everyday. Travelling and transiting along the southern costal route will encounter control checks for contraband goods, including the usual militia security checks. Travelling at night or free camping between the Nekhel-Al Arish-Israeli border region should be avoided unless you're wanting to meet unexpected Islamic militia proxies appearing suddenly from out of nowhere.

Self Driving through South America

"Driving your own vehicle through South America has dilemmas and limitations"

The images shown are self-explanatory showing a comparison of different South American highway tarmacs. Some are smooth just like landing strips, while others are being slowly eaten away due to land erosion caused by natural climate conditions within arid regions. Highway erosion has taken its toll on many routes destroying road infrastructure within the Andean and Amazonian regions. Poor maintenance and cheap quick fixes have done nothing to rectify many highways that are at the very least - safe to drive on. Buses and trucks driven daily on unmaintained roads has also added constant stress, causing busy transit routes to become corrugated highways of pot holes which can't be avoided through the wet season. This is why owning and driving private transport through the Andean block does have safety downsides. One of them being the road conditions themselves, which causes on-coming traffic to deviate over rough patches into on-coming traffic. Many narrow gauge highways are also the common causes of accidents when on-coming buses and trucks hoard the highway without giving any leeway, unless it’s another large vehicle moving towards them in their face. During the daylight hours South American main transit routes are congested with traffic in both directions, but as soon as the sun sets, highways become ghost roads, apart from long haul night buses, and trucks that don't stop for anything. The countless amounts of past carnage caused by irresponsible drivers is easily witnessed on dangerous blind bends with multiple crosses plastered along the edge of roads.
Along mountainous bush track roads, multiple crosses are placed along the edge of roads from trucks, buses. vans, cars, and 4x4's that have ended-up over the side down ravines. Driving through the night on any rural highway (which I've crazily done a few times) is outright dangerous and not recommended. This is like playing Russian roulette with sudden disaster that can lead to death. Night driving with poor visibility from thick fog, or atrocious road conditions with oncoming trucks or buses after dark will frighten the life out of you. Locals at night normally drive in the middle of the road.
​If that doesn't scare you enough, a blocked mountain pass with rocks and branches suddenly appearing when driving around a bend within a remote region will - as you next discover, waiting bandits ready to rob everything you've got, including the clothes you're wearing. Also, beware where one parks-up camping for the evening. Luckily, this has never happened to me, but it has happened to other foreigners, including locals who took risks that could have been avoided. If you value your life, don't drive any vehicle at night through any isolated region in South America.

In Transit - VW Kombi - South America

Transiting through South America in your own VW Kombi is a blast...A cheap hotel on wheels!

Brazilian petrol or diesel VW Kombis will get you through the continent. 

Besides the negative issues already mentioned, it’s overwhelmingly beneficial to use a private vehicle instead of public transport if the stay in South America is long-term. The first task is to find a good Kombi in Brazil. Kombi vans are originally manufactured in Brazil, so the chances of finding an old classic VW in good condition is easier than elsewhere through the continent. There's still plenty of classic Kombi vans running around throughout Brazil. Kombi VW vans converted with diesel engines are the best option, but they do cost a lot more (double to triple the price). Don't even think of purchasing an alcohol version Kombi. Alcohol fuel is only used in Brazil. 
Driving around the continent in a VW Kombi is luxury, but they're also restricted to bitumen highways preventing any form of extreme road transit off the bitumen tarmac. Modified gear train and off-road wheels and tyres will be needed for rough bush tracks and desert terrain. Leaving vehicles in secure compounds throughout the continent is straight forward. This then allows some free movement to explore areas in “hard to get to” places by using other means of transport in rugged regions. With good maintenance - like changing oil, greasing the suspension and using heavy duty road tyres, most Kombis will remain reliable from Ushuaia to Cartagena and back to Brazil. The problem to complete an entire road trip with any private vehicle is within the Amazon region. The only way to zig-zag, and complete a full circle around South America is from Colombia through Venezuela to Brazil via Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Heading south from Boa Vista will involve loading the vehicle onto a barge at Manaus, and sailed half way down the Amazon to which beats the purpose of completing an entire South American road trip.
Alternatively, passing through Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana to Brazil (in the dry season only) is the only other option. The issues now (2019) are the high corruption levels in Venezuela, lack of gasoline, and out of control corrupt tariffs at highway blockades that will break most bank accounts.
Until Venezuela returns to what was once a vibrant bustling hassle free country to travel and transit through, the chances to be corrupted, robbed, mugged, or raped driving through the country in either direction ( from Colombia or Brazil) is a guaranteed 90% risk factor to happen! 
The best aspect about owning and driving a classic VW Kombi are the spare parts that are still available throughout the continent if breakdowns should occur. I’ve crossed the continent a few times with different Kombi vans originating from Brazil. The ultimate benefit using a van is the option to stop and hang out at any given location for as long as one wants. Using the rear back section for a bed, and sharing the fuel costs with another fellow traveller who appreciates the comfort of transit is a bonus. Image: My 1st Kombi purchased in Curitiba that was receiving a replacement engine oil seal.  

As mentioned, there's nothing like owning your own set of wheels transiting throughout South America. Driving through South America is a total adrenaline fix everyday on the road. Highways vary differently through each country with some maintained while others are neglected. Washed out dirt roads riddled with massive bog holes are very common within the Amazonian region. These same areas can even be difficult for 4x4's to get through if half the road is missing and blocked. Rules and regulations for speed limits are virtually non-existent outside major cities, which  locals do use to their advantage driving as they wish. This is normally at high speed without calculating the risks involved for themselves and other drivers on highways. The amount of head-on accidents with on-coming vehicles, buses, and trucks through the continent is witnessed by the amount of debris and wreckage strewn on the side of highways. Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela and Peru have had this issue for decades.
As a foreigner driving through South America several times, below are a few important points to follow.
Drive defensively with Quick Reaction time to avoid an accident by calculating any on-coming traffic that looks erratic that may cause a collision. When stopping along a highways - park right off the road for traffic to pass freely without causing other vehicles to veer-off over into on-coming traffic. Don't play chicken, that can cause road rage. Never think local Latino drivers will abide by safety rules - which are taken for granted in western countries. Refuse, and don't pay corrupt highway police for non-existent infringements - even if it takes all day! This has been an on-going issue for decades with foreigners using vehicles from neighbouring countries. Argentinean highway police assume all foreigners driving their own vehicles are easy prey, and cash cows to suck from. The cause of this, is directly blamed on foreigners who pay-out large sums of cash - Just don't do it! Night driving anywhere throughout the continent is a no-brainer, and right out dangerous for accidents and random highway banditry. Getting robbed losing travel-gear from road bandits Happens! 

In Transit - Pan-Americana

Transiting through the southern parts of South America can't be easier - Rapido non-stop Transit

The Chilean transit map routes below will get you through the entire country at your own pace. I've lost count how many times I've passed through Chile, but it's at least 12 times or more. If you're a ski freak, a mountain climber, hiking fanatic, or wildlife lover, Chile will give you more than most can handle. The winter season in southern Patagonia is like a windblown freezer. Hitchhiking in Chile relatively easy.

Overland travel and transit grabbing luxury deluxe buses from any of the big cities in Argentina is fast and simple. Their bus network is more organised than many western countries when the Argentinian economy is working in a positive manner. Chile and Argentina both use modern fast buses on all their major road routes. It's luxury all the way from northern border regions to Patagonia in the south. These two Latin countries had set the example of fast comfortable long haul transit journeys decades ago, which their neighbours still envy. The highway infrastructure in both countries are normally upgraded and maintained consecutively. Jumping on a bus from Arica to Santiago takes approximately 27 hours to complete the 1666 kms, including meal stops. There's even a champagne breakfast offered on some Argentinian routes. 

Below are the main Argentinian road route directions to get through the country, including major border crossings into neighbouring countries. Each province has their own highway control checks. Driving your own vehicle without paying a bribe will depend how good your Spanish is, and whatever else you can offer without handing out cash bribes. You can be lucky on the day with uncorrupted control police letting you drive straight through - Buena Suerte.

Fatigue Syndrome - Night Driving

Driver Fatigue is a weapon of death, and is the main cause of highway accidents from foreign visitors!

Renting and driving a vehicle after dark in countries that drive on the left side of the road is a No-Brainer. If you come from a country that drives on the right hand side of the road (USA, Canada & EU), then Don't Drive after dark if you have been driving all day. Driver Fatigue is a weapon of death, and is the main cause of highway accidents from foreign visitors who normally drive on the right side of the highway. This also refers to those that normally drive on the left side, and are in a country who drive on right hand side of the road. The cause of fatal head-on car accidents after dark by foreigners is related to fatigue syndrome. The auto-response to swerve across into oncoming traffic is when a driver thinks they're on the wrong side of the highway without acknowledging they're not. New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and India have all had fatal accidents caused by foreign visitors swerving across highways or driving on the wrong side of the road.  Long haul flight fatigue is also another cause for road accidents. It's also safer for those arriving on long-haul flights to avoid driving due to jet lag for the first day or two.

AUSTRALIA: German tourist killed driving on the wrong side of the road after dark. 
​NEW ZEALAND: American tourist killed including 3 others driving on the wrong side of the road. 
NEW ZEALAND: Chinese tourist killed driving on the wrong side of the road. 
NEW ZEALAND: Israeli tourist killed driving after dark on the wrong side of the road.
NEW ZEALAND: Polish tourist driving at high speed on the wrong side of the road
AUSTRALIA: European tourist killed caused by the van veering onto the other side of the road

Self Driving Offshore - At Times Insane 

Through experience I've found that driving like how locals drive through individual countries is the best advice to pass-on to others deciding to hit the highways using their own vehicles through the continents. Blasting on a vehicles horn all day is normal procedure, and will warn truck drivers and locals on foot along the side of congested roads that a vehicle is approaching from behind. If a truck or bus decides to overtake extremely slow moving vehicles, it's also normal to follow directly after it without hesitation if there's clear enough vision up ahead to do so. Speed regulations don't exist in many countries, and if they did most local drivers don't follow speed limitations anyway.
​Aggressive defensive driving means what it says, act and drive accordingly within the boundaries of safety on any road without risking or causing an accident. Turkey and India are classic examples of crazy local driving habits, but as a foreigner don't expect to bend the rules into western road codes. Driving through the night in the countries mentioned in the above image should be avoided unless you're game enough to handle pitch black highways without reflective markers, wandering stock, locals driving on your side of the road with headlights switched-off, trucks and buses with high beam pointed in your face, including the odd banditry holdup in certain isolated regions.

Foreigners self-driving should always be up to date with prevailing weather shifts that can materialise in short notice. Driving up through mountain passes showing signs of torrential weather should be avoided. Slips and washouts can occur around the next bend on mountainous roads. Driving on dirt track highways through rugged terrain in stormy weather is asking for trouble. It's safer to hold-up instead of taking risks that could cause accidents that may have been avoided. Driving after dark in mountainous regions anywhere in South America, Africa and Asia should be avoided - even in good weather, unless an isolated bandit highway robbery is something you're want to experience. Sliding or braking on black ice can easily happen driving after dark within sub-zero regions. The image below shows a high altitude road track where black ice can easily form from melted snow during the day becoming frozen through the night.  

Night Driving - Africa-South America-Asia-Mid East

The risk factor multiplies 100x driving at night through countries having zero rules or regulations outside urban cities. Colliding head-on with a cow won't only write-off the front end of vehicles, the cost of the cow will be an added expense. Hitting and killing a local can result to payback or jail-time. Breakdowns after dark within rural isolated regions in South Africa, Nigeria, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Mali, Afghanistan, Turkey, including numerous other countries all have high risk levels of being robbed of everything including your footwear. After dark, driving directly into wild animals crossing roads is sometimes unavoidable due to low visibility, and the lack of highway reflectors and roadside markers. Swerving to avoid hitting animals or wandering stock can result ending up over the sides of cliffs, down ravines or head-on hitting another vehicle. This happens, I've seen it on numerous occasions. One gets to witness and visualise first hand risks and dangers that suddenly appear without warning. Take some free advice - Never drive after the sun sets offshore, it's pushing the risk limit right to the edge. This South African website alone has hundreds of "Arrive Live" incidents and accidents.

The above hyena had no chance of survival, it was mowed down during the night hit by a truck at full speed. As normal, locals just leave carcasses in the middle of the road without removing them. Eagles, vultures, and other meat eating carnivores also end up being mowed down from their hypnotised fetishes of devouring road-kill, by not moving until it's too late. Driving head on hitting large carcasses with cars or 4WD's will damage front ends, steering gear, and cause drivers swerving to avoid hitting road kill, but then, seriously injure someone walking or cycling in the dark along the sides of roads. Wandering stock and wildlife have a habit of using roads at night, hitting a buffalo will right-off most vehicles. Below, when driving in the middle of nowhere through Africa or the Mid-East, road signs that say stop means Stop! Ignoring stop signs at checkpoints will lead to fines, and endless wasted hours of verbal energy with local authorities. 

Protests African Style - Spades And Pitchforks

"Keeping a safe distance from protests through the continents is recommended" 

Clashes and skirmishes are witnessed from time to time through most continents, but in Africa, protests can turn nasty at a moments notice with incitement and insults at those against them. Spades, sticks and pitchforks are the common tools used as weapons to bash and injure anyone in their path. Believe me, you don't want to be around when flying spades, rocks, and shovels are swinging from all directions. Take some good advice, keep clear and well away from brewing protests that are about to explode into an all out battle without any remorse of who gets bashed, badly beaten or killed. I've witnessed these events close-up through Africa and other continents - not for the faint hearted! I didn't hang around after taking this quick snap, the other opposition group were approximately 500 metres down the road.   

International Travel Vaccinations 

In the near future, the UN/WHO will roll out innovated personal ID VAC QR health passports. Without one, forget about air/land/sea travel, including within your own country. Above, an original '85 health vaccine document that was issued in Nairobi. Getting jabbed with any vaccination is at your own risk! It's your body, it's your choice.
Mosquito nets will save anyone from being drilled by hungry mosquitos when fast asleep. Tucking the net in properly sealing the bottom will stop mosquitos from entering. A net should also be wide and long enough to avoid body contact, mosquitos have no issues sucking blood through a net if a foot, arm or hand is touching the net. Checking for rips, holes and overall condition of supplied mosquito nets is another priority when staying at basic accommodation within regions known for Malaria, Yellow Fever, West Nile, Zika, and Dengue.

Solo Overland Travel - Hepatitis A B C

Strain variants of Hepatitis A (HAV) B (HBV) C (HCV) viruses give different levels of irreparable damage to the liver. Over the years, I've met foreigners who have caught Hep A/B/C from contaminated shellfish, bad unhealthy prepared food or from other forms by human contact. Hepatitis A/B'C causes both acute and chronic infection to the liver. Offshore, It is mostly caught by eating contaminated food, raw shellfish or from sewage-contaminated water. Hepatitis can also be spread through close person-to-person contact. Raw or semi-raw uncooked shellfish includes oysters, clams, abalone, crayfish, mussels, shrimp, scallops, crab, and lobster. It's difficult to ensure if shellfish was immediately chilled or frozen when caught before being distributed to food outlets within certain environments. Hepatitis A/B/C symptoms are more common than cholera and typhoid among international travellers. One can either get jabbed, or be aware of what is consumed, and to wash hands thoroughly before food fingering anything.

Solo Overland Travel - Rabies

If you afraid of dogs, you had better get rid-off that fear factor before travelling through Africa and Asia. Dogs are scattered all over place freely roaming around. Dogs can easily sense humans with fear issues. The best advice, is to steer clear from dog packs. Walking around alone in isolated areas will always encounter a dog or two. Throwing rocks, or using a stick - like some foreigners do, will only create the dog(s) to become even more wild, with the possibility of being attacked and bitten. Getting rid of dog-fear is by ignoring them.

Patting stray street dogs and cats in urban cities or within the middle of nowhere happens. If an animal bites, the chances and risk of receiving rabies is defiantly possible. Some animals freshly infected with rabies may not show signs of infections. Symptoms of high fever begins and can vary from 10 days to 8 weeks with added insomnia and hallucinations. Without seeking any immediate medical assistance, a persons nervous system will begin to slowly break down and fail, including permanent organ and brain damage. 
There are times when large stray dogs will growl and warn someone passing into their turf, one can either ignore the dog and continue, or deviate around its territory. Throwing stones, or using something to defend yourself if attacked is a last resort. Normally stray dog packs will fight among themselves over food. Most dogs have an inbuilt sense of anyone who are afraid of them.

Now and then I witness westerners off-shore patting or allowing stray dogs to lick them. If these foreigners only knew where some stray dogs chill and hang-out, they would re-think about letting street dogs lick their hands or faces. Becoming sick from a full dose of diarrhoea just from a quick dog lick happens.

In Transit - Is your passport getting full?

 Never rubber stamp passports to the last blank page  - Replace it well in Advance!

The worse scenario over-landing through any continent, is running out of space in passports. Being refused visas because passports have reached their limitation (2 blank pages) happens. Never leave it late replacing passports that are reaching their last six months of validity. Some countries may not have embassies, consulates, or missions abroad with nations whom they don't trade with. Imagine being in a country, and requiring onward visas to neighbouring countries with insufficient pages, and no embassy to replace fulled passports.
Immigration officials don't care where they stamp. Asking immigration officials "politely" to enter entry and exit stamps on the visa itself, or on to pages with other entry and exit stamps will save page space. If you don't request this, passports will become full of entry and exit stamps on blank pages quickly. Updating or replacing, passports before departure saves wasted wait time and energy offshore. Above image, a few of my own global overland travel and transit visas through the continents.
​Below, in the early 1990s' freedom was taken for granted. Today, freedom to travel, freedom to voice an opinion is dead and buried down the toilet. Classic location snap Nikon F2AS Bolivian -Chilean border region.

In the early '90s freedom was taken for granted. Today, freedom to travel, freedom to openly voice one's opinion is dead and buried down the toilet. We now live in a world that's desperately trying to self-destroy critical thinking as we have known it. Since departing from all toxic social media platforms, life is good, life is better. Above, classic location snap, Nikon SLR F2AS and 80-200 f/2.8 AIS Bolivian-Chilean border region.
​Below, many like myself capture random street subjects within busy bustling environments like the example below. Professional photographers, which I'm not one, tend to all agree that street portraits should be captured without the subject knowing they're being photographed. Personally, I do the exact opposite making sure subjects look directly at me before pressing the shutter. It gives the finished image more focus from both sides of the camera. The capture below, a refined Muslim would have looked boringly flat if he wasn't glancing with his eyes wide open at the lens. The out of focus street blur in the image adds even more enhancement pointing at the subjects eye. The majority of street subjects I've captured and posted on this website all have one thing in common - they're all directly looking into the lens.         

Overland Transit Page 2