An Early Start for a Big Day

Today started earlier again. At 9:00 a.m., all rally participants were scheduled to meet, as the convoy would head to the Independence Stadium in Bakau (Banjul, Gambia), where the grand vehicle auction would take place.

After an early breakfast, we were grateful that most of the work on our Land Rover had already been done — the car was completely emptied and ready. When we returned to the hotel the previous evening, even the gardeners had taken one look at the vehicle and decided it needed another wash. Two of them worked on it with real passion, clearly enjoying the task and the idea behind the rally itself.

Arriving at the Independence Stadium

The drive to the stadium took about 20 minutes. Upon arrival, vehicles were carefully arranged, and an attempt was made to create a sensible order for the auction. In total, 52 vehicles were registered for sale — a remarkably high number.

Our Land Rover Discovery received auction number 48, which meant a long wait ahead.

Before the Auction Begins

For around the first 90 minutes, the vehicles were simply presented so potential buyers could walk through, inspect them, and ask questions. There was a steady stream of interest at our car:

• the gardener who had washed it the night before
• police officers curious about its condition
• locals looking for a solid, capable vehicle
• Europeans living in or frequently visiting The Gambia

Conversations flowed easily, and it became clear that demand was strong.

A Lively and Well‑Organized Auction

The auction itself was well structured:

• buyers gathered on one side
• rallye teams sat on the opposite side

As the bidding began, the atmosphere grew lively. Some moments were intense, but always orderly. Police and customs officials were present throughout, mainly as a precaution — there were no incidents.

An important detail: customs fees are paid immediately, and while buyers can pay the following day at the NGO headquarters with a deposit, many chose to pay on the spot.

Seeing the amount of cash involved was surreal. The largest common banknote is worth only a few euros, so buyers literally arrived with bags full of money. Three people were continuously busy counting notes as vehicles sold for amounts equivalent to €1,000–€7,000.

Watching the Results Roll In

Every single vehicle was sold.
Especially popular were:

• vans and vehicles with large cargo space
• cars with high volume capacity, regardless of cosmetic condition
• Mercedes Vianos and VW buses

Applause followed strong results, and the mood steadily lifted as one good sale followed another.

Our Turn — An Emotional Moment

As the auction progressed, our turn drew closer. When our Land Rover Discovery was called forward, emotions rose noticeably. Over the past weeks — and even over the past year — this car had become more than just a vehicle.

It had:

• carried us through this rally
• been our home at times
• taken us to the Arctic Circle last winter for a charity project for a children’s hospice in Flensburg

So yes — saying goodbye was genuinely hard.

The Bidding for Our Discovery

The auction started fast.
Several people approached us beforehand, saying they had been waiting since 11:00 a.m. just for this car.

The bids climbed quickly:

• 500,000 Dalasi
• 510,000 … 530,000 …
• 600,000 Dalasi
• final bid: 650,000 Dalasi, roughly €7,680

A fantastic result.

After the hammer fell, someone from the crowd approached the auctioneer and said he would have gone up to 700,000 Dalasi. Perhaps a little more patience could have pushed it higher — but it was already late in the afternoon, and the day had been long.

The buyer paid cash, on the spot, and drove away directly from the stadium with the Land Rover.

We stood there without a car.

More Than Just One Car

Later in the afternoon, we also decided to donate our cooler box, which we had originally planned to take home. There was strong interest, and it felt right to leave it here for good use.

Watching the woman we gave it to carry the heavy box balanced on her head, along with other belongings, was both humbling and impressive.

Our camping chairs, which we had used while waiting during the auction, were quickly claimed as well. Two men later told us they work at the stadium itself and were genuinely happy to receive them.

Small things — meaningful impact.

The End of a Very Intense Day

By the time everything was finished, we were emotionally drained and physically exhausted. We hadn’t done much in terms of movement — but it was an intense and emotional day.

We had a simple dinner and went straight to bed.

Tomorrow, the closing celebration awaits — and slowly, the idea of heading home begins to take shape.

Today, however, was about one thing above all else:

Letting go — for a very good cause.