overland leads to Intrepid
Little did Darrell Wade, Intrepid CEO and co-founder, know that an impulsive journey 26 years ago would lead to an Intrepid Travel adventure that’s been going strong now for over 20 years…
“In 1984 I headed out from Kathmandu on a 3-month adventure that would change my life. I was in a 4 wheel drive overland truck operated by Encounter Overland. There were 19 of us and we spent the next 14 weeks crossing India and Pakistan into Iran, Syria, Jordon and Turkey. Amazing landscapes, diverse cultures and a brilliant group. It’s no exaggeration to say that every day was an adventure and it absolutely changed the way I looked at the world.
On that trip we met up with a competing company called Dragoman at a border crossing in Amritsar in the Punjab. I started chatting to a guy called George Dury, who was the driver but also the co-founder of the company. He was amazingly knowledgeable and also remarkably personable – overlanding drivers weren’t known for their people skills in those days!
As luck would have it, we ran into the group again some weeks later in Jordon and I jumped truck to join the Drago group for a few days. A few of us made an ever so slightly illegal night time trek through the famous lost city of Petra – we climbed high into the hills above Petra and camped overnight. Full moon and all. Amazing.
That expedition inspired a friend and I to buy an old Bedford a couple of years later for a 6-month overland across Africa – then Intrepid arose out of that trip.
As much as I love the Intrepid way of travel, somehow my heart still goes back to my overlanding days and the sheer adventure that entails. And so I was interested to see a Times article published recently on Overlanding. The words are by Charlie Hopkinson – the other founder of Dragoman – and it traces the history of overlanding from the 60′s when Tony Jones of Encounter Overland drove an old Austin from London to Kathmandu with a bunch of people. Tony formed Encounter Overland on the back of that journey, and Overlanding was born.
As luck would have it, Intrepid are now minority shareholders in Dragoman – and Tony Jones. after selling Encounter moved to Nepal where he still lives – and heads up our Nepal operations. (It’s a small world in overlanding!)
If you’d like to read about the history of overlanding and get inspired about the ultimate journeys, take a look at the article at timesonline.co.uk. Be sure to look at the photo albums for some great photos of current overlanding – and also some archive photos going back to the 70′s. Better still – get out there and do it yourself. It might change your life too!”
* photo by Tamalee Roberts – Intrepid Photography Competition
Loved reading this story. I had also read the Times article and looked at the photos but without realising the full relationship between Darrell/Intepid and Drago and EO. The Times article brought back many memories of my first overland from Lon to Kath in 1977 and then another overland with Encounter around Africa and meeting George on the first ever Drago trip in 1981 as well as meeting Tony and various other members of the EO gang. I have long admired what both Tony and George achieved – true pioneers. Its amazing how Darrell’s story has almost come full circle with George and Tony now involved with Intrepid.
Cheers
PS: I am still doing overlanders, having just completed another one around Africa last year. Yes, get out there and do it. There is nothing like overlanding.
All this talk of overlanding brings back great memories of my first big overseas trip – 22 weeks London to London via Cairo and Nairobi – taken with Encounter Overland in 1988. This prompted me to use them again for a 10 day white water rafting trip in Nepal a year or so later and to continue travelling and join Intrepid as Tour Leader in 1994!!!
Just this year I found myself back on an overland truck trip with Drago/Intrepid in West Africa… as Darrell often says, ‘the more things change the more they stay the same’ and in the case of overlanding, it remains an amazing way to get to remote out of the way places and communities. It sure helped shape the direction of my life!
Back in 1995 I did my first Encounter trip though Peru and Bolivia with ‘Stan the Man’ at the wheel. Planned around the money available to me at the time it was my only option to see this area as I didn’t want to backpack alone. For a hairdryer, makeup loving girl it was a hugh shock. For the first 4 days I wondered what I had let myself in for. Ruff camping and no showers, a bunch of people I didn’t know and long driving days. And then on day 5 I woke at dawn in the middle of a dessert to the most amazing sunrise and knew I had to adapt and embrace this amazing trip and in doing so it changed my life.
I later did Kathmandu to Mumbai with Goose and Kev at the wheel of a Drago truck and again found the first couple of days the hardest. Leaving the comfort of your own home with it’s modcons for a spell of overlanding is a shock to body and mind but once you get into it, an experience that can’t be compared with anything else.
I’ve since done heaps of Intrepid trips which feel like luxury travel by comparison and loved everyone of those. But last year while travelling for 4 weeks with them from St. Petersburg to Dubrovnik I thought ,maybe it was time for a change. I had a great time but you only meet the people from cities or those that had money to take night trains between. There was nowhere on the itinerary where tourist infrastructure wasn’t in place, even our Carpathian Mountain homestay had wifi. Although I will still travel though some countries with Intrepid, I’m now looking at overland trips again and feeling quite excited about the challenge.
Since my first trip I’ve worked in travel and looking though the different companies that offer overland journey’s I always come back to these two. From some of the cheaper operators you hear horror stories of drivers absconding in the night or no money from head office to fix the truck. I urge you to do the homework, pick a company that knows what they are doing and have years of practise. Read the brochure and talk to people that have done these sort of journeys then pack an open mind and go.
Maybe I’ll see you out there
Tthe above comments fire up memories. lst overseas adventure Penn Overland May ’71 Kathmandu to London 12 wks. Reliable company excellent driver Mike (UK) 39 of us. 2nd Siafu Trans Africa Tunisia-Nairobi May ’73, Kev Tipler driver mechanic leader. 20 to start courier left 3 wks into trip then Range Rover owner Paula got malaria she and her son stayed in Kano.A vehicle short, so 17 of us travelled in two 4WDs That was a journey of a lifetime. In 1976 a Penn trip friend and I travelled independently overland from Mexico through Central America, South America side trip to Galapagos on cargo ship, 3rd class on ship from Puerto Montt through Inside Passage Chile to Punta Arenas. In Ushuaia met an ex assoc of Siafu now with EO, small world. A journey of 3 mths turned into 10 mths but what an adventure, Perito Moreno Glacier, Iguassu Falls, 30 days on Amazon local boats and walked the original Inca Trail.
In 2010 hoping for a trip with Intrepid to Morocco.
did a trip with siafu in feb. 1971 london to durban and trying to contact any survivors any help or hints would be appreciated. trying to have a 40th get together next year
malcolm howison australia
I also did a couple of overland trips about 40 years ago and would like to catch up with any fellow travellers who are in Australia. I travelled from London To Durban with Siafu in March 1970 and London to Khatmandu with Encounter Overland in May 1972.
I travelled with Siafu 1972 March 3rd London to Nairobi. Then on to Johannesburg with Neville Scantelbury Big Rick. Margaret Thompson, Dot. Des Williams etc.
Any one else from that Trip. ? We have had Angelo Visit. Ferd also visited but has since died.
Big John.Idaho. Ted Lewis. Sue Tartalino seattle, Sue (Nurse) Garlick Sue and Ian Chat. Mike. Fred Haupstein, Angie now married and living in Aus.
David. Howie Canadian. Mad Marlow and his modified manifold. Terry A New Zealander with the tip of his thumb missing.
Contact me on Alanstech@vodamail.co.za
I was in the SIAFU group going North that passed the London to Nairobi group on 2 May 1972 in Bangui. We were desperate for money so were more than pleased to meet the group.
I have been doing a trvel log of my journey and it rekindled my love of that whole experience.
I have lost touch with everyone who was on the trip unfortunately.
Meeting up with the other overland companies on the road was a highlight for me too during our EO trip from London to Katmandu in fall 77. Life has gotten a little boring since then….would love to find my companions from that happy/frustrating/exciting/maddening trip. And some of you guys are still doing it? Wow…..lace up the old boots and pack the army knife. Reach me on facebook.
Hi!
Anyone out there who was on the EO trip London to Capetown in early 1971? We were nearing Kampala when we heard that there had been a coup d’etat…Idi Amin had just taken over! Being a load of foreigners traveling in an army truck, we were taken up a hill to a military post . Sparing the details, but….talk about an adventure!! Tony Jones flew down from London to meet us in Nairobi.
Feel free to email melloreb@mindspring.com
Rick Jowett. new email alanstech@live.com.
Angelika from Australia, contacted me, and we met up in Muldersdrift South Africa,for lunch a Braai, and a long chat.
Anybody still alive out there? I did a couple of trips with EO from London: Spring 69 to India (driver named John) and September 71 to Jo’burg (driver named Peter). Havn’t been able to contact anyone since. Still got loads of slides…….memories still very real.
@ Bob Summers, see above. I was on EO trip to Jo’burg , ending there in March 1971. i too too have many (faded) slides. We had drivers names Martin, and Bill. Maybe Peter too? Feel free to email address above.
Hi Bob Summers, yes some of us are still fit and well and out there. I was also on the EO trip September 71 from London arriving in J’burg January 1971 with driver Peter. I dug out my old diary to check the names of those on our truck and your’s is definately there. I shared a tent and cooking duites with fellow NZ girl, Julie and still keep in touch with her. She in turn has kept in touch with the 3rd NZ girl, Jan. I also have wonderful vivid memories of that trip. Would love to hear from you on barbianwilson@bigpond.com .
Hi, looking for survivors from 1989 Encounter Overland African trip. Bill and Phil were the drivers. Still in touch with Jo from Brisbane, slowly lost contact with John G, Richard R and Morton T. My kids love looking through old African photos. So do I. Great memories of that trip and all the people.