Overland Journal

The Year of the Lion 🇰🇪

A musky smell swept over the two Land Rover Defenders in the blackness of an East African night and we realised that the lions had come. In the darkness I could see one of the lithe, tan-colored cats, huge and powerful, emerge from a wall of brush. It walked softly towards us, inquisitive and alert. A ripple of excitement moved through our team as we hunkered down on the roofs. I whispered into my walkie-talkie, “Can you see her?” A rapid, quiet response came back from Overland Journal’s editor Chris Collard, who was on the roof of our 1974 Range Rover about 30 feet to my left. “Roger, I see her.” The booming call of a dying wildebeest roared out across the plains of Kenya as we triggered the “callback” recording once again. In a moment the hungry lioness was joined by a second of the great predators who was equally vigilant.

| Fall 2016 📔 | by Sam Watson ( ) ✍️ / Photos by 📸 |

Get a Dream 🗺️
 
So you want a life of travel and adventure, maybe become a journalist, maybe get famous and make lots of money? No problem. First, get a dream and latch onto it like a pit bull. In 1970 I bought a 1967 Land Rover 109 and proclaimed that I was driving to South America. “You’re what?” was the reaction from friends. I worked three jobs, paid off all bills, saved about $5,000, and in 1972 headed south toward Panama, the dream firmly clenched in my teeth. 
 
I had no plan or purpose. My motto was paraphrased from John Steinbeck’s book Travels with Charley: Don’t take the trip, let the trip take you. I met Monika on a Baja beach and though driving to South America, Mexico got in the way. We camped on the coast, caught fish, bought local fruits and veggies, a little gas, and propane. Our total costs were about $25 a week. We had no mortgage, car payment, or insurance. Nada! We were in a rare window of life when we were responsible but had no responsibilities.

| Spring 2017 📔 | by Gary Wescott ( .expedition / .wescott )