With the start of the new year, we’ve officially kicked off preparations for our participation in the Dresden-Dakar-Banjul Rally. This time, our red Land Rover Discovery will not return with us—it will be auctioned in Gambia for a good cause. Therfore we want to make a few adjustments.
First on the list: swapping the roof rack. We’ll need space for two spare tires and essential gear like diesel and water canisters, so a roof rack is non-negotiable. Luckily, the older rack from our gray Discovery will do the job perfectly and we’ll keep the newer model from the red one for our future car.
The dual battery system will stay in place since we’ll need extra power for the cooler and internet connectivity during the rally. Last weekend, we started the conversion—but then the snow came down hard, and temperatures dropped quickly, forcing us to pause. This week, winter has us firmly in its grip with more snow than usual for our region, so progress is on hold for now.
On the bright side, we successfully tested our Starlink Mini system for internet access. It’s compact and easy to take back to Europe after the rally, which makes it the perfect choice. Between the holidays, we also tested and purchased two air mattresses for a comfortable night’s sleep in the desert. Our tent and sunshade have already arrived.
We’ve scheduled an appointment at the Tropical Medicine Institute in Kiel for vaccination advice. Since we already have Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A & B from previous trips, we probably won’t need much more—maybe just a malaria prophylaxis. We’ll see what the consultation brings.
That’s where things stand for now. As soon as the weather improves, we’ll continue with the vehicle modifications. Stay tuned for more updates.
