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Elao 2011

Elao 2011

East Londoners Odyssey through Africa in 2011

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Going South

Day 59 – From Kimberley to East London

Day 59 – From Kimberley to East London

It was rather cold at wake up time in Kimberley and team Lipstick decided to have breakfast on the road and head straight towards Bloemfontein on the way to home. In Bloemfontein it was decided that due to the cold

Elao August 13, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 57 – from Ai Ais to the SA Border and Day 58 to Kimberley

Day 57 –  from Ai Ais to the SA Border and Day 58 to Kimberley

Ready to move from Ai Ais towards the South African Border the team discovered that Lipsticks right hand back tyre is flat and all attempts to pump it up fail. The spare tyre cannot be retrieved as the hole to

Elao August 8, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 56 – From Luederitz to Ai-Ais

Day 56 – From Luederitz to Ai-Ais

Team Lipstick went straight to Diaz point which is about 22 km South of Luederitz .Way back in 1448 Diaz must have discovered the bays of Luederitz and to claim his stake he did put a cross on a rock

Elao August 8, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 55 – From Windhoek to Luederitz

Day 55 – From Windhoek to Luederitz

Team Lipstick decided to skip breakfast and have brunch on this long drive to Luederitz and a nice roadside Wimpy was found just outside Marienthal. Never on the trip before did Lipstick experience such long straight roads and Keetmanshoop was

Elao August 8, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 54 – From Swakopmund to Windhoek

Day 54 – From Swakopmund to Windhoek

Polished and shiny Lipstick left Swakopmund driving along the coast towards Walvis Bay along the coastal road when Lipstick passed the 200000km mark – Happy birthday Lipstick! On route team Lipstick saw Tourists riding on Camels and about halfway towards

Elao August 8, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 52 & 53 (Rest day) – From Ojwarango to Swakopmund

Day 52 & 53 (Rest day) – From Ojwarango to Swakopmund

Quick breakfast and of to Toyota in Ojiwarango hoping that they can solve Lipstick’s fuel diet and get it up to speed again. Very friendly staff immediately attended to the problem and after a test drive by the chief mechanic

Elao August 8, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 51 – From Ondwangwa to Ojwanrongo (Namibia)

Day 51 – From Ondwangwa to Ojwanrongo (Namibia)

Armed with the map drawn the previous night by Teo (he also gave the team the name of the man in charge of the park – Mr Boas Eric)team lipstick went off towards the Etosha national park of Namibia. Leaving

Elao August 4, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 50 – From Namibe (Angola) to Ondwangwa (Namibia)

Day 50 – From Namibe (Angola) to Ondwangwa (Namibia)

The team left Namibe early morning and climbed up the mountain passes to reach Lubango again and from there the final stretch through southern Angola took place on beautiful long tar roads some of them being straight for about 5km.

Elao August 4, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 49 – From Lubango to Namibe (Angola)

Day 49 – From Lubango to Namibe (Angola)

Namibe is the most southern big town on the Atlantic coast of Angola and the team decide to check this out before heading south to Namibia. This proofed to be a good decision as the drive led Lipstick though some

Elao August 1, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 48 – From Waku-Kungu to Huambo (Angola)

Day 48 – From Waku-Kungu to Huambo (Angola)

At 7.30 and after a good breakfast team Lipstick was eagerly awaiting the local mechanic to arrive and without fail soon thereafter he was present with tools and an assistance. Lipstick was moved to a level gravel area inside the

Elao July 31, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 47 – From Luanda to Waku Kungo (Angola)

Day 47 – From Luanda to Waku Kungo (Angola)

Well rested team Lipstick set off to proceed to the southern parts of Angola possibly reaching Lubango today and then the following day further on to Namibe on the coast. The traffic was very dense and it took Lipstick about

Elao July 31, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 45 & Day 46 (Rest day) – From Nzeto to Luanda

Day 45 & Day 46 (Rest day) – From Nzeto to Luanda

As the B&B in Nzeto actually was only a B without the &B the team took off without breakfast on a nice tar road towards Luanda. Now Lipstick could prove again its true power achieveing speeds of over 150km/h on

Elao July 31, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 44 – From Matadie( DRC ) to Nzeto (Angola)

Day 44 – From Matadie( DRC ) to Nzeto (Angola)

After a good solid sleep team Lipstick proceeded to the border crossing between DR Congo and Angola which is about 4km south of Matadie. The procedures on both sides of the border went very well and 1 hour later Lipstick

Elao July 31, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 43 – From Brazzaville (Congo) to Matadie (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Day 43 – From Brazzaville (Congo) to Matadie (Democratic Republic of Congo)

It is 8.30am and team Lipstick waits at the office of the barge operator to arrive in order to proceed to the crossing of the Congo River. Patience is not the strength of team Lipstick and the red wine of

Elao July 30, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 42 – From Mindouli to Brazzaville

Day 42 – From Mindouli to Brazzaville

Shortly after 5am with a glimps of daylight appearing over the African sky Lipstick was put back into driving mode by packing away Cushions and changing seats from Sleep to Sit position. By that time some 20trucks behind Lipstick and

Elao July 30, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 41 – From Point de Noir towards Brazzaville

Day 41 – From Point de Noir towards Brazzaville

Last night the team met 2 South Africans at a restaurant who are busy mapping the IndianOcean around Pointe de Noir on a ship. This is in preparation for other crews to search for gas and oil. It was quiet

Elao July 29, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 39 and Day 40 (Rest day) – From Doussala to Point de Noir (Congo)

Day 39 and Day 40 (Rest day) – From Doussala to Point de Noir (Congo)

Point de Noir is the second biggest city in Congo and lies on the Atlantic coast and the team decided to drive there (some 160km) as they were told that it is fully tarred. The road was fully tarred indeed

Elao July 20, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 38 From Lambarene (Gabon) to Doussala (Congo)

Day 38  From Lambarene (Gabon) to Doussala (Congo)

After breakfast (today with real croissants) the team visited the Albert Schweitzer hospital which most probably is the most famous hospital in the part of the world. Wikipedia quote: The Albert Schweitzer Hospital was established in 1913 by Albert Schweitzer

Elao July 20, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 37 – From Libreville to Lambarene(Gabon)

Day 37 – From Libreville to Lambarene(Gabon)

First thing in the morning off to the Toyota garage for the brake repairs. To the disappointment of team Lipstick the garage could not offer any assistance as they were fully booked with other cares but they guided the team

Elao July 20, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 36 – From Oyem to Libreville (Gabon)

Day 36 – From Oyem to Libreville (Gabon)

The team decided to leave early and have breakfast on the road towards Libreville which would be a distance of 600km. This day saw Lipstick driving through very dense forest areas but on fairly good tar road winding itself through

Elao July 20, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 34 Rest Say & Day 35 (Rest day) From Kribi (Cameroun) to Oyem (Gabon)

Day 34 Rest Say & Day 35 (Rest day) From Kribi (Cameroun) to Oyem (Gabon)

 13 & 14 July 2014 The morning after a world cup win is by nature a rather tired one and in true German style had to be started with a good bottle of beer in order to boot up team

Elao July 20, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 33 – From Douala to Kribi (Cameroun)

Day 33 – From Douala to Kribi (Cameroun)

It is 8.30 am Sunday morning in Douala and team Lipstick eagerly awaits the arrival of the 2 automotive engineers in Cameroun… A little while later both arrive on a motorbike willingly wanting to take Lipstick to an unknown place

Elao July 14, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 32 – From Bamenda to Douala (Cameroun)

Day 32 – From Bamenda to Douala (Cameroun)

Before heading down to the coast team Lipstick decided to visit the palace of the FON in close by Bafut. Wikipedia quote: The Fon of Bafut is the fon or Mfor (traditional ruler) of the town of Bafut and its

Elao July 14, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 31 – From Cattle Ranch (Nigeria) to Bamenda (Cameroun)

Day 31 – From Cattle Ranch (Nigeria) to Bamenda (Cameroun)

Heavy mist covered the mountain on which the Cattle Ranch resort is situated and the temperature was a cool 22 degrees when Lipstick started this morning on the journey to Cameroun As the bottom of the mountain was reached the

Elao July 14, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 29 & 30 – From Calabar to Obutu Cattle Ranch (Nigeria)

Day 29 & 30 – From Calabar to Obutu Cattle Ranch (Nigeria)

10th July 2014   After a late wake up (due to soccer celebrations) the team decided to proceed to the Cameroon border and stay over in the mountains at the ObutuLodge.There was not too much traffic on the road but

Elao July 10, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 28 – From Makurdi to Calabar (Nigeria)

Day 28 – From Makurdi to Calabar (Nigeria)

A real rainy day today with the forecasts for the next days also showing a lot of wet weather but the team got off to a good start after saying goodbye to their newly found friends from South Africa. A

Elao July 10, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 27 – From Abuja to Makurdi (Nigeria)

Day 27 – From Abuja to Makurdi (Nigeria)

For the second time Lipstick could not be started due to empty batteries but with the help of jumperleads,battery charger and the assistance of hotel staff the problem was solved within an hour and thereafter the team went straight off

Elao July 10, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 26 – A rest day in Abuja

Day 26 – A rest day in Abuja

A late wakeup after yesterday’s horrendous drive was called for and after a good breakfast the team decided to visit the nearby Shoprite shopping complex. On the way to the complex the team enquired with the taxi driver about a

Elao July 10, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 25 – From Abeokuta to Abuja (Nigeria)

Day 25 – From Abeokuta to Abuja (Nigeria)

Knowing that some 700km lay ahead of team Lipstick today the team was ready to take off by 6.30 in the morning and was again surprised by Nigerian friendliness when they found out that the security guards must have given

Elao July 7, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 24 – From Cotonou (Benin) to Abeokuta (Nigeria)

Day 24 – From Cotonou (Benin) to Abeokuta (Nigeria)

To avoid having to go through the chaotic Lagos border control team Lipstick decided to go up the borderline between Benin and Nigeria and enter Nigeria close to the Benin town Ketou. The trip out of town in Cotonou went

Elao July 7, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 23 – A rest day in Cotonou (Benin)

Day 23 – A rest day in Cotonou (Benin)

After the horrendous drive the day before the team decided to have a rest today and explore the local area and especially the Ganvie lake village which is in close vicinity to Cotonou. This village is often referred to as

Elao July 4, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 22 – From Lome (Togo) to Cotonou (Benin)

Day 22 – From Lome (Togo) to Cotonou (Benin)

By taxi team Lipstick arrived at the Gabon embassy at 8.45h in order to obtain their visa for Gabon. By Taxi to the Gabon embassy   All cell phones had to be handed over to security at the entrance and

Elao July 4, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 21 – Accra (Ghana) to Lome (Togo)

Day 21 – Accra (Ghana) to Lome (Togo)

Click, click that was all one could hear when turning the key to Lipstick to start the engine and this was a clear sign of a totally empty battery system. The cause of this was most probably the fridge which

Elao July 4, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 19 & 20 – From Cape Coast (Ghana) to Accra (Ghana)

Day 19 & 20 – From Cape Coast (Ghana) to Accra (Ghana)

Late breakfast for team Lipstick as they only need to drive some 140km from Cape Coast to Accra. Nice road along the coastal area of Ghana and very little traffic until about 30km before Accra when the traffic again became

Elao July 3, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 18 – From Techiman (Ghana) to Cape Coast (Ghana )

Day 18 – From Techiman (Ghana) to Cape Coast (Ghana )

Early start today as the team needs to meet up with Marius to receive their second passports (They were couriered from SA to his office) Marius and his wife and 2 children live in Akumadan where he is part of

Elao June 30, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 17 – From Bobo Dioulasso (BurkinaFaso) to Techiman (Ghana)

Day 17 – From Bobo Dioulasso (BurkinaFaso) to Techiman (Ghana)

Early traffic in these bigger towns of Africa is really chaotic as everyone on bike,car,truck, donkey cart and scooter want to go from A to B at the same time. There is an endless sound of hooting and traffic rules

Elao June 30, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 16 – From Bamako (Mali) to Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

Day 16 – From Bamako (Mali) to Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

It was a bit of a battle to get through the traffic and out of Bamako towards Burkina Faso but after almost an hour later Team Lipstick was on the right road toward Burkina Faso. The prolonged stay in a

Elao June 26, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 15 – A rest day in Bamako (Mali) 25th June 2014

Day 15 –  A rest day in Bamako (Mali) 25th June 2014

Team Lipstick decided for a rest and admin day today in Bamako. The visa for Burkina Faso only allows entry as from 29th June so the task was to enquire from the Burkina embassy whether it would be possible to

Elao June 26, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 14 – From Tambacounda (Senegal) to Bamako (Mali)

Day 14 – From Tambacounda (Senegal) to Bamako (Mali)

After a nice continental breakfast (Andre missed his omelettes) team Lipstick took off toward the Mali border on most probably the only main road connecting Senegal and Mali. This could be seen by the massive amounts of trucks which were

Elao June 25, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 13 – From Dakar to Tambacounda (Senegal)

Day 13 – From Dakar to Tambacounda (Senegal)

As arranged on Saturday Team Lipstick was ready to arrive by taxi at the customs department on the place of Independence in the middle of Dakar Our friendly car guard duly wearing his Claas hat for ease of recognising was

Elao June 24, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 12 – Rest Day in Dakar 22nd June 2014 (Sunday)

Day 12 – Rest Day in Dakar 22nd June 2014 (Sunday)

Due to the fact that the team has to wait for customs clearing in Dakar on Monday morning a welcome rest day in Dakar came in handy to update the web page and to clean up Lipstick (it is amazing

Elao June 23, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 11 – From St Louis to Dakar (Senegal)

Day 11 – From St Louis to Dakar (Senegal)

A short distance trip (about280km) lay ahead today for team Lipstick taking them down the coast from St Louis to Dakar. Compared to Mauretania there were quite a few more cars of the road with the road itself in a

Elao June 22, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 10 – From Nouakchot Mauretania to St louis Senegal

Day 10 – From Nouakchot Mauretania to St louis Senegal

The task for today was to cross the border from Mauretania to Senegal so an early start at 7.30 was taken with the route planned to get Lipstick to Rosso from where a ferry would take the team over the

Elao June 22, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 9 – Nouadhibou (|Mauretania) To Nouakchott (Mauretania)

Day 9 – Nouadhibou (|Mauretania) To Nouakchott (Mauretania)

Today again saw team Lipstick driving through the dry lands of the Western Sahara – although on the Mauritanian side.   As previously mentioned it becomes a bit boring after w while and the only highlights are the police stops

Elao June 19, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 8 – Tarafaya (WesternSahara) to Nouadhibou (Mauretania)

Day 8 – Tarafaya (WesternSahara) to Nouadhibou (Mauretania)

18th June 2014 Team Lipstick had an early start at 8am as the task was to get as close to Mauretania as possible. Driving through the Western Sahara becomes a little bit monotones after a while as the landscape stays

Elao June 19, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 7 – Marrakech to Tarfaya

Day 7 – Marrakech to Tarfaya

Team lipstick bit farewell to David who needed to fly back to Dubai – it was really great for David to come over to start with team Lipstick’s 2014 trip especially so that he also was there when Lipstick went

Elao June 19, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 6 – Lipstick inclusive of David drives from Casablanca to Marrakesh

Day 6 –  Lipstick inclusive of David drives from Casablanca to Marrakesh

Team lipstick with Andre’s son David on board left Casablanca early morning on 16th June to drive through to Marrakech. The road taken was a beautiful highway and again it was decided to stick behind a recently speedy car so

Elao June 18, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 5 – A Day in Casablanca

Day 5 – A Day in Casablanca

5th June 2014 Today marks the arrival of Andre and David from Dubai at around 2pm so Willy decided to use the morning to explore the mosque and Rick’s Café in Casablanca. Rick’s Café is a rebuild of the original

Elao June 18, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 4 – Lipstick changing continents and drives to Casablanca

Day 4 – Lipstick changing continents and drives to Casablanca

Lipstick was ready to board the ferry in the harbour of Algeciras by 9am but had to wait before being allowed on board. Quick and highly efficient passport control but no customs officials available to stamp the carnet de passage

Elao June 17, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Day 1, 2 & 3 – Through Europe Towards Africa

Day 1, 2 & 3  – Through Europe Towards Africa

From Freudenstadt( Germany) to Lloret de Mar ( Spain )   On the 11th June at 7.45am Lipstick left Freudenstadt in early morning sunshine and proceeded through the mountains of the black forest which was a slow process due to

Elao June 14, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Lipstick going South – West Coast of Africa 2014

Lipstick going South – West Coast of Africa 2014

3 years have passed since team Lipstick went up north along the East Coast of Africa through Europe to Germany. During our return to East London the idea to completethe return trip from Europe down south along the west coast

Elao June 1, 2014August 28, 2017 Going South Read more

Find Lipstick
The password for access is:  Lipstick2016

Our Travel Maps

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silk road

2011 & 2014

"Click the map to view the large version"

The ELAO Expedition: Going Down Under 2019

Having driven through 5 of the bigger continents on earth it was just a matter of time for Team Lipstick to complete their world tour and explore the smallest of the 6 continents -AUSTRALIA. Read More..

The ELAO Expedition: Going East 2017


Having completed the Silkroad from China to Europe , going North and South on the African continent it seem only logical that the Americas should become the next adventure for team Lipstick.Lipstick was shipped out to New York in July 2017 fromwhere Andre and Willy
will join the well travelled Landcruiser and go on tour through Canada and up to Alaska before turning South again until they reach the bottom end of South America and then finally ship the car back to South Africa from Argentine or Brazil.
Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going West 2016


Inspired by Marco Polo the great adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia -dating 1271 to 1295-it was decided to follow his footsteps on this journey which is known as the Silk Road. The main travelers of the Silk Road at that time were merchants who organized various caravans to cross the Gobi Deserts. Overcoming all kinds of hardships.... Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going South 2014

3 years have passed since team Lipstick went up north along the East Coast of Africa through Europe to Germany. During our return to East London the idea to complete the return trip from Europe down south along the west coast of Africa was born...Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going North 2011

A trip through Africa…. Ever since Willy Gauss arrived by plane in 1974 in South Africa it was his dream to one day drive back through Africa by car. Dreams don’t come easy however and the time required is not...Read more

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