Five weeks after departure from Pangbourne, the PangAf expedition has reached Luxor in southern Egypt.

Having visited the Commonwealth War Memorial at El Alamein, seen the Pyramids and the Sphinx, endured the first sleet storm in Giza in 20 years and collected visas for Sudan, the Pangbourne Africa expedition left the Cairo area March 1. It then travelled down the coast road towards Hurghada, the Sharm El Naga resort and diving centre, Safaga, Qena (after driving through some spectacular mountain desert scenery) en route to Luxor and 34 degree heat.

As of March 7 the five-man expedition, including three OPs who left the NCP in 1962, was exploring the area around Luxor and preparing to drive south to the Sudanese border. Mechanical challenges - in particular a faulty steering box on one of the Land Cruisers which was replaced in Toyota Cairo's main workshop - have caused some headaches. But in general the expedition is enjoying "the stark beauty and remoteness" and varied everyday experiences as it journeys south.

OPs can follow the expedition's progress on www.pangbourneafrica.co.za and see images in the Gallery section of this website. Any OP who wishes to support the expedition's fund-raising efforts for the College can do so by donating through JustGiving.com using the link on the expediton's website.