Lang's you read her her something new about our Trans Africa could you. Now, finally, after five countries have so far ...
Last time you've followed us to Yaoundé where we were once again on visa shopping. The two missing visas for Gabon and DRC, we should have had in a week. Unfortunately, we had completely forgotten that was Easter and we know we deposited our passports at the Gabonotbschaft in that it would probably take longer. But with what schlussedlich with our passports had happened no one expected of us. When we appeared on Tuesday at the Gabonbotschaft, certainly early in the morning to pick up our passports, including Visa, we share with the friendly message receipt officials that our passports still not finished be. We will come again at two clock, then everything was ready. The waiting time we left, right Swiss, not wasted. So we made our way to 500 yards away at the DRC Embassy visa application forms for the request. Here we wanted the friendly message input DRC officials involved not at first because we were able to identify not us. After coaxing left to soften the old man and left us one. As a happy owner of the forms and reinforced with a cool cola we went back on the way to the Gabonese. This was explained to us, that we should be patient for a moment, please take a seat outside (on the street in bright sunshine). What we did not like to grumble. Very slowly the hours passed, on repeated questions on the passports, we always received the answer, be patient, it was the same extent. As it was getting dark we were sent home with the promise of tomorrow are the visas ready. Disappointed, we withdrew, however, had always nor the hope of both visas have until Friday, because a DRC visa is issued in Yaounde within 72 hours. The next day we found ourselves once again in the morning before one of the embassy. Again, we were like a place on the bench on the roadside and waited. And waited. And waited ...
As always the day before we received the invitation to us to be patient. The time we used to fill the application forms of the DRC and to make copies. When she was 19 clock, they sent us home. But not without the promise of tomorrow, it is guaranteed so far.
The third day before the stupid message went exactly according to the same scheme. The difference is that gave us the message of input clock 16 officers short his phone number. He told us we should call him to ask after 18 clock and that the passports are ready. We used the an evening off and went for a drink in a small African bar where we met Mike and Jean-René. An Alsatian-Dutch couple, who were half a year in Cameroon. The two were set up in the middle of preparing a crocodile farm in deepest Congo. With them we fallowing a fun, exciting evening. Forgot not to call the Gabonese and ask for our passports. With an oral guarantee wholly owned tomorrow get our passports we got tired on the way back to the mission.
so broke on the fourth morning, after breakfast, we decided for safety's sake the friendly message receipt officials to call it again. After this we again wanted to put off this ZIP day, it haute Flo finally out the pacifier. We went to the Swiss Embassy schnurschtraks. Also wanted at the entrance that we identify ourselves. After a short explanation why that was not possible, they left us one. The woman ambassador came to welcome us personally. After they heard our story, she tried to call the Gabonese. Without success. Spontaneously they seized our embassy in their mobile with a private driver. With pomp, we went directly purely in the Gabonbotschaft. Ignoring the protesting officers Embassy entrance, Mrs. CH Consul Consul woman marched to Gabon. Five minutes later we were lucky again holding our passports, including visas.
same day we gave our passports with a queasy feeling at the DRC embassy. Later we met up with Mike JR us for a trip to the Mount Febe. We thoroughly enjoyed the view over the city of Yaoundé.
evening, Flo and JR were tired and stayed home, wanted to harm, Mike and Sarah on trousers go looking for Harm. In a bar we waited for the street vendors. However, it was just his Friday and he did not appear. It was dark and we were still without success. Meanwhile, Flo slowly began to worry. We, however, unaware, met another friend of Mike and verquatschten us in a different bar much too late, we went back to the mission. No Flo there, now Sarah also got scared. Harm finally found a note was at that Flo made himself so worried that he look for us went. He took a taxi to JR, which was not easy because he had not the address. Together they drove to the police to ask after three white men, who were traveling without passports. The friendly officials could not help them further and said that if you are not missing the three to 12 clock back, would make a missing person. Thus did the first two times eating supper. Then they went back to the mission for a possible return of the missing check. Lo and behold, they were back. Flo stomped furiously into the garage. Following a thunderstorm and a cigarette The situation calmed down slowly and we went to sleep.
The next day we spent with Tchova mend what has cost us a fortune with a 10 `000` 000 instead of 140 CFA CFA. But the work was done at a gas station instead of in the Toyota garage.
Also a dug-out canoe with a host of friends and acquaintances of Mike and JR shortened the waiting time for us, the DRC visa. 
Rumkurven When in town, then where's it! 
Finally, after 2 weeks in Yaoundé, we all had our visas for the onward journey together. Unfortunately, we had the whole Gabonvisageschichte not much time in Cameroon. And so we said goodbye one morning of Harm and his motorbike. But not without being cooked by him the night before (Harm, not the motorbike).
The next stop of our trip was just a few kilometers away Mbalmayo. The small town where Elisa was the age of 24 years of school. We wanted to investigate here the footsteps of mom-Flo and see if anything is left over from the old days. By Elisa
we knew only the old name of the school. The Lice mixte, which today we finally found Lice bilingue heist with the help of a moped taxi.
Arriving at the school, we asked ourselves up by the rector and told him our history.
in the Rector's room we found the first evidence that we were in the right place.
Although Mr. Etoundi had to do very much, he was just about the students ID cards of about 1,000 students to sign. He helped us with our inquiries. Unfortunately, we found anyone who could still remember Madamme Elizabeth. But Monsieur Etoundi instructed his secretary in the archives to find old documents in which we could possibly find a trace of Elisa.
The archive was found to resemble junk chamber. were between the old school desks and books but also yellowed old files, some in cabinets, some scattered on the ground to find.
Archive, Library and junk chamber
Eventually we found an old, dusty music book in 1972. The tension increased immeasurably, and finally we found a well-known signature.
shame really that we have not found anyone who could still remember Elisa. But it was a very nice experience, after all this time, a small footprint of to find mom in the middle of Africa.
We spent the night in Mbalmayo also in a Catholic mission and drove next day towards Gabon.
now made us the rain are something, because there was never a day when it's not like at least once rained down with rain.
In a small shopping stop in Ebolowa, we found a supermarket in the following (and this is not a joke, or downloaded from the Internet Photo: o))
One should these photos for a lot of money sell Migros o)
24th Gabon April 2009
limit the Ambam-Eboro was boring, nothing going on. The formalities were soon completed, but gave the stamp in passport's only 30km to the border in the next dump. Since we first have to wait for the officials, because the Lord was at lunch. After an hour, was also the done and we were able to legally drive on.
In Oyem we spent one night, again in a mission. Showers we had in the bathroom of an employee who had cooked us even hot water for the bucket shower! If there had not provided the weather for an unforgettable night shaking, this would stay not been so special. Rain's has as of this bucket showers and horizontally. Sun has stormed's that our bed was in a tent on the roof of Tchova Sun shaken and shaken, that we felt like in a washing machine. However, we were erstaundlicherweise almost completely dry.
The next morning we drove to Lambarene, where Albert had built up to be a Swiss leprosy hospice. On a beautiful paved road, suddenly it was ready. A sign on the roadside us kindly pointed out that we cross the equator. 
was about one kilometer after crossing the equator from the wonderful tar a pothole infested road, which, however, soon then again improved. So we arrived early afternoon Lambarene.Einen beautiful place we found, what a surprise at a Catholic mission.
That night we experienced our second incomparable thunderstorm. Our concerns about the transit and road conditions grew. Here we had to decide which way we wanted to enter the Congo or Angola. At issue were two alternatives. Variant one, directly south of Lambarene and thus after about Cabinda Angola. Variant or two, east of Franceville to Brazzaville, Kinshasa to Angola. The first route offers the advantage of being shorter with small quiet Grezübergängen. But Cabinda is an exclave of Angola in DRC. Means that you must enter twice in Angola. What our five-day transit visa for Angola would be used up in Cabinda. We also knew from other travelers that the direct course are, about 550km to the south in the rain virtually impassable. Variant two offers the advantage that at least the track is extended to the border to Congo and good only 200km are poor to impassable congolesischen on the page. We also heard that a new paved road that connects the Congo with Franc Ville is in the works (of course, the ubiquitous Chinese). The rest of the route to Brazzaville, we know, is paved. Drawback is the infamous line between Brazzaville (Congo) and Kinshasa (DRC). This transition provides material for many a horror story among travelers. Since we had enough of the rain and mud, we decided relatively quickly the Franc Ville-Brazzaville-Kinshasa route. Our experience had shown that many stories are so bad and it is worthwhile to make itself an image. So we spent another day in Lambarene with Tchovapflege and a visit to the Albert Schweitzer hospice.
uncanny the whole, and I must say, I'm happy to not have to hold out!
The hospital still functions today. With the museum only a little money to be earned. The location is incredibly beautiful.
Previous Alembik, the crossroads leading to the East made our way towards Franc Ville. In Lopé we stayed fantastic after a day road trip. The night watchman of the motel told us the next morning by a Swiss couple in the nearby luxury hotel the night. The two were also on the way south. So we drove off in the wrong Direction, looking for two. Soon we met a Pick-Up with Algerian license plates. Hmm ... Does not look over countries, but they do and so do we. The Peter speaks to us on züüridüütsch, Marcia, originally from Brazil, is greeted by Flo Diaz with a bom. Bello curious looks from the front passenger window. No long speeches, we decided to go the long route to Brazzaville to meet together.
Then I went without incident after about Franc Ville Lékoni on a good track and road.
Immediately after the Gabonese border post is from the highway a deep sandy track. About this we reached the border with the Congo. What was the most beautiful and most peaceful so far on our trip. In the middle of nowhere were Afro cozy cabins with beautiful wicker chairs. The officers chatted and joked with us, making the entire back was sometimes very time consuming. But there is indeed such a remote border officials not every day that passes so much interesting in de hand.
28th Congo April 2009
Now begins the adventure mud! High spirits we set off from congolesischen checkpoint. The deep sandy road we thought was not so bad. We soon learned better, the ruts were deeper. The sand still wet and heavy. Peters Chinese, which is quite low, always had more trouble. Before long we went, and he stuck by ascended. The wheels in the air, jacked up the diff, but here's went relatively quickly. With Tchovas blade muscle tension and our work, we maneuvered us out again and again. Since we did the mud holes and puddles in the road.
in the mud now Tchova had the disadvantage of being quite heavy. If Peter was still with the critical points with energy and start-up, we were equipped with not too heavy and too much power. It was not until we put in an innocuous-looking hole remained.
best opportunity to bring the winds in Action. Tree search, find, rope drum, Wutsch ... With roots pulled out. Hmm ... Okay, searched the second tree, were found. But unfortunately occupied by a giant ant nest. After a long attempt from Flo, paid for with numerous bites, he had to abandon it. We did not continue, as we locals came to the rescue. Showed us greenhorns first time how to free a car from the mud.
As already slowly walked back to the late afternoon, we silty us so angry that we had not a single photo. Tchova the water was literally up to his neck. He was completely slanted in a lake. To get off, we had to take off their shoes and rolled up their trouser legs extremely high. To make matters worse it was really getting dark, the air buzzing mosquitoes. Peter wanted to come help us (he went ahead). He sought a place where he could contact. On the way to help us finally he got stuck. What finally saved us, but we did not know. Tchova stood in a place that was so wide that the Truck could turn left past us. The first we tried to pull out, with our recovery strap broke. We also tried it with the winch. The crack. Then the truck just drove on, the matter because it took too long. You can imagine, we were tired from all the hard work, it was dark and we saw no way to set us free. Mentally we found we really take a night out on the bias, irrigated, dirty Tchova spend in the jungle. But! As Marcia and Peter a few yards further blocked the road, the trucks had to pull them out to drive around on. As I said, what saved us. Grins ... Finally, we were all free again, pulled out of the street workers in the truck. They told us we should follow them up Okoyo. If we again had a problem they would help us. Of course, Peter went to soon be back on our honking and lights flashing no one responded. Even the alarm of the international police did not help. So we put back once more in a river than on a runway. Since we blocked off the roads, we soon had the following truck forced to help out: o).
When we found a more or less dry, flat spot, we pitched our first camp on Congo next door.
morning we were on our further way. after 2 km we reached Okoyo. A local gesticulating wildly at the entrance with his hands and brought us to a halt. He told something by a Frenchman who wanted to see us ...
We imagined that it was perhaps another Overlander, looking for a convoy of opportunity. So we went to a beautiful property and finally met Michel. No Overlander, but a supervisor of road works (the Chinese are really working to build a new tar road Unfortunately we realized from this work, only that the runway because of heavy traffic was even worse;. O) )
Michel sits for several months in the middle of Congo and surveillance, as I said the road works. He had heard of overlanders, who drove through Okoyo, but never had the opportunity to talk to them. We soon realized that his job is quite lonely and he was on a visit of pale-faces very happy. So we decided to stay for one night and the room with air conditioning, three meals a day and Michels to enjoy hospitality.
from the one planned to stay schlisslich were three. Laundry, car care, eat well and talking with Michel left us the hardships of the first hundred-mile Congo quickly forgotten.
(coordinates for travelers: S1 E15 28 443 04 047, Michael is very happy!)
heavy heart on the fourth morning we took leave of Michel and his staff.
(UN GRAND MERCI A MICHEL !!!!!!)
Then it was therefore the remaining 100 miles to the asphalt road. First, even with an escort from one of Michel's staff! Next, without problems.
The Chinese were forced to repair the runway, as a visit of the President of decency; o)
drove to the relatively good road, we then stop in Gamboma to Brazzaville. Here we found the restaurant "le Hipocampe" shelter. This restaurant is run by a Frenchman (Oloví), who was caught several years ago, on a bike-Trans Africa, Brazza.
Since this is a known Overlander place we soon met other travelers. Sun met with us:
Flos birthday was that Flüsterei went off as soon as Flo went to the bathroom. The British wanted to organize the breakfast with croissants and coffee. Sarah bought a bottle of whiskey, which we opened after twelve clock and drank.
So we spent some wonderful days with birthday celebration, conversation and information exchange in Brazzaville. Tchova also needed some repairs and Peters Chinese. These were of Olivier Mechanics (confidence) is carried out more or less adventurous.
Also, a car wash for Tchova was back at once. We searched one day, along with Kim, a high pressure car wash. This we found, ultimately, with the help of a car washer (without high pressure).
high pressure and high pressure we were looking we found. Unfortunately, so high that the love car washer weghochdruckten the underbody protection and sometimes even the bare metal emerged. Well, at least the cars were then REALLY clean!
After the car wash we had no excuse to push the frontier before us. As mentioned earlier we had heard some bad stories about it. They ranged from seizure of all documents back to beat up on the ferry ... Always seem to over countries which still had no visa Angola. Well, we had an Angola visa and were therefore in good spirits. William and Hannah went with us (without Angola visa). However, its come up a lot. They created a receipt for a non-existent shipment of their cars from Matadi (DRC) to Windhoek (Namibia).
photos are actually prohibited everywhere in the Congo, particularly to places where it has official buildings, police or military. But Will and Hannah have installed in their car a well-hidden video camera and they managed to film almost all the border-crossing. Sorry, we did not count with one, that this limit can take up to eight hours and so was the camera half way along the space: o). Nevertheless, we now own unique images of the border Brazzaville-Kinshasa.
The boundary is described well with a single word: "CHAOS". On the Congo side, we had to ask us about a warehouse next to the shack, until we finally had all Stempelchen, scraps of paper and Fährtikets. A helping hand can be found at every border, but this was the first in which not even the border guides knew where each stamp is to get.
So we waited until the ferry arrived and was unloaded. This is a very impressive experience. First, many disabled storms (these travel free on the ferry back and forth and goods transport) from the port area. Behind the disabled come armed border guards with whips and drive out the whole pack. Then the boat is unloaded, of course, by hand. Young men run with incredible speed and up to 50kg rice sacks on their heads from the port area. Finally, they can be re-loading the ferry and the cars were allowed to move up. The officers were not uniform, which is not all simplified. Several men came and took away the papers. Everyone ran in different directions like this, one with the passes and the other with the TIR de passage. With great difficulty succeeded Sarah keep track of and checking that none of that disappeared very important for us engines. The crossing was relatively quiet.
Democratic Republic of Congo DRC May 13. 2009
Arrived on the other hand, we went first rough weiter.Wieder stormed all the disabled people from the ferry, followed by the vehicles. Suddenly, once again all the papers and Sarah away. They kept all our documents in the eye and plunged boldly into the fray. Actually then went to the DRC side very civilized, albeit slowly. We eagerly waited to see if the border guards Williams "eat" Verschiffungsquitung as one of the officers picked up the phone and left the office we'd got it in the short term to do with fear. But astonishingly, the bluff worked; o)
The Last Grenzakt was then that a weissgekittelter employees of the Congolese Ministry of Health tried to convince us that our cars have to be disinfected. Finally, we might as well foreign, European, or even bring in diseases and pests into the country. 80 U.S. dollars per Vehicle should cost us the fun. After some discussion we were able to negotiate the price then to 40 U.S. dollars. And so the sprayed one Gesundheitsministeriumsangestelter Tchova. What happened under the strictest supervision of Sarah. She enjoyed making it clear to all, still so tiny, forgotten place attention. So when Williams car's turn was asked a Gesundheitler us whether someone is suffering from asthma, which we did to Will. Hmm, then it is probably better not to disinfect the vehicle where the agent can trigger asthma attacks. As the disinfectant was paid by a discussion was difficult on price. Apparently it is enough to pay a disinfectant for disease . To kill
completely tired but happy to have the line behind us, we went on a mission (this time Protestant).
The next day we said goodbye to William and Hannah. they wanted to apply for the same day to Matadi and their Angolan visa. We had to cross the border showing a smaller gear and were somewhat less under time pressure. How it went comfortably towards Angola.
Angola May 15, 2009
The frenzy begins! Weil: drive in five days, the 2000 km from north to south
rain, which we really enjoyed, made us to create a little bit. Because we had to run around in the rain between the border house were wet and therefore, gave us an Angolan customs officers an umbrella. Printed with the president and the flag of Angola. Back on the road, if one can call it that, we slid more than that, we went because the mud here Sun was loamy. The tires were glued completely when you got out, the feet of clay so hard that you really had to work to go. Occasionally, locals got stuck when we could, we helped with pulling or pushing. It almost would have us turn on a slope on its axis, Flo was able to Tchova still just return to the track. With a beating heart, we drove to Tomboco. Here we spent the night, how could it be otherwise, with a mission: o).
We knew of Kim and Tanya, that the road to the coast, at least in Luanda, said to be very good. We drove the next day so far as it went towards the coast. with a fairly bare nerves, the road was terrible, we stopped in the evening at a quarry close to Caxito and asked if we should spend the night on the site. The guards had to first of all call the boss to ask. The friendly Portuguese (Manuel) allowed us to spend night at the quarry and even invited us for supper. There was a warm shower in a Woncontainer's too!
We knew that the 5 day transit Angola are only possible if one has not been in traffic jams in Luanda a full day verplämpert. Manuel told us that it is entirely possible to spend all day with Luandatransit.
Once again we were lucky. On early Sunday morning (we were at 5:00 on clock), we drove through Luanda and needed it, thanks also to Sarah's art of navigation, only a half hour.
Then I went to a wonderful lines, the frenzy was a shame. Angola was landscaped beautifully. Of the people we were so not much with, unfortunately. But those with whom we could talk briefly were friendly, courteous and funny.
and over 2,000 km of the stress was over. We stood on the Namibian border! Namibia, Overlander promised land, here are s ^ re all in abundance. Often Namibia was an anchor of hope, so after days in mud, stuck .. we often say: "Namibia is since everything easy." We were very excited about this country
Namibia May 20, 2009
first stop. Supermarket, still looking for before bed space! This offer overwhelmed us. Four different types of toilet paper, for which should just because you choose? We did not buy. :-)
On a cozy campsite with hot water, we rested in a bit. Cleaned the car inside. That is, remove everything and such. The washes we gave to wash, what a luxury! Internet `s too!
Only the guide, hmm ... S so much to see in Namibia, that the decision is really almost impossible. So we drove towards times Entosha National Park.
Etosha National Park, we spent two beautiful days and a disgustingly expensive night on a camp within the park (60 CHF for two and the car). Nevertheless, we enjoyed this fun and enjoyed the day and saw loads of animals:
and even 
went to Etosha's south-west towards the coast and now we are sitting here in the Brandberg Rest Camp. There are hot showers, pool, drinking water from the tap, wifi, ...
Namibia is perfect, sometimes a bit too perfect ... Africa for beginners someone has said, and he is right: o)
PS: We just wrote an SMS Iris.. She comes to visit us in South Africa: o) There is joy!
Until next time then.
Abraço grande Sarah, Flo and Tchova
