This week was packed with work on the professional side, leaving us with only limited time for rally preparations — but we still managed to check off several important items from our list.

eVisa for Mauritania – Successfully Completed

One of the most crucial tasks is now done:
our eVisa for Mauritania has been officially approved.

Mauritania requires all travelers to apply for an electronic visa before entering the country — a relatively new regulation that can’t be handled at the border anymore. The process involves:

• filling out an online form
• uploading a passport scan and portrait photo
• providing travel details

Once submitted, the approval can take a few days. Mauritania is also the entry point into the Sahara convoy phase, making the visa especially important.

Sticker Work in Winter Temperatures

The cold weather hasn’t let up — temperatures remain below zero, and snow is still a frequent guest. But since time is running and the rally is approaching fast, we went ahead and finally applied all the rally stickers to the Discovery.

Before that, we had to wash and vacuum the car, which is… quite the challenge in freezing conditions.
Cold water, cold hands, cold plastic — everything becomes tougher. But after some perseverance (and numb fingers), the car is now clean and fully rally‑branded.

Radio Replacement

On Monday, we tackled the car radio. The original plan was to reinstall the stock Land Rover head unit that we had saved years ago. Unfortunately, that attempt didn’t work out as expected. Rather than wasting more time, we switched to a conventional aftermarket radio and installed it successfully.

So yes — we’ll at least have music on the long drives through Europe, Morocco, and beyond.

Vaccination Progress

On Wednesday, we received our second round of vaccinations. A third appointment is scheduled for the end of the month. These updates are part of the necessary medical preparations for West Africa — especially since our last major trip to East Africa was around ten years ago.

A Productive Week, Despite Limited Time

Even with a busy work schedule and freezing weather, this week brought real progress:

• ✔️ eVisa for Mauritania
• ✔️ Rally stickers applied
• ✔️ Car cleaned inside and out
• ✔️ Radio replaced
• ✔️ Second round of vaccinations completed

Slowly but steadily, everything is coming together. The countdown continues.