OPs reach Egypt safely

The Pangbourne Africa expedition, which left the College parade ground on January 31st, crossed into Egypt from Libya on February 19 and was overnighting at the Ahmed Safari Camp and Hotel at the El Bahariya Oasis February 21.

The five person team including three OPs who left the NCP in 1962 (Geoff Popple, Nicholas Vaudrey and David Keith-Welsh) drove through Luxembourg, France and Italy uneventfully in its two Land Cruisers after departing the UK on February 1st. In Italy one of the Land Cruisers developed an ignition switch problem in Genoa that was corrected. The expedition then drove south to Civitavecchia and boarded a ferry, docking 24 hours later in Tunisia. Here the first of some inevitable wrangles at customs took place.

Despite this difficult introduction to Tunisia, the people proved to be very friendly throughout the expedition's stay in the country. Sites visited included Hammamet, Cap Blanc (the northern tip of Africa) and the Roman city of Dougga. Border and customs formalities moving into Libya proved to be straightforward if time-consuming. In Libya the expedition was able to see the Roman village at Sabratha (a city built of mosaics), Tripoli, Leptis Magna, Ajdabiya and the British war cemetry at Tobruk. In Egypt, so far, the team has stayed at Siwa en route to the El Bahariya Oasis.

Mechanical problems with one of the Land Cruisers' central locking system apart, and the lack of alcohol for ten days (so far), the only development of note to be recorded on the team's Travelogue has been Geoff Popple's detention on arriving in Egypt. Going through a "fever machine" he was told that his condition was "red alert". On second examination he was told he was fine and the machine did not work!

You can read more on the expedition's website at www.pangbourneafrica.co.za