Photography by Coen Wubbels Unless you fly in, you will have seen a fair share of the Atacama Desert by the time you reach Iquique, whether your Pan-American overland journey takes you southbound or northbound through Chile. No matter how smooth the asphalt that cuts straight through the driest non-polar desert in the world, 995…
Survivors: Nigeria, Murder, and Mayhem
A shot rang out, followed by a scream, loud and very close—too close. Our new Nigerian friends scattered as one without hesitation, cowering as they ran as if expecting a hail of bullets. They disappeared into the building beside which we were camped, leaving us bewildered, on our feet, and alarmed. There had been a…
Toyota Expands Rebelle Rally Commitment for 2023
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has recently announced its significantly expanded participation in the upcoming 2023 Rebelle Rally, doubling its presence at the event with six teams, up from last year’s three. Susann Kazunas, Vice President at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Texas, said, “Partnering with Rebelle Rally allows us to share amazing stories of resilience,…
The Drums of Tonkin :: Frank and Helen Schreider’s Indonesian Expedition by Amphibious Jeep
Photography by Frank and Helen Schreider Frank and Helen Schreider were preparing to leave for the island of Flores, Indonesia, when the village chief in Komodo brought bad news. “There is no road at Labuhan Badjo,” he said, running a calloused thumb eastward over their map. “It starts here, at Reo.” Their map of Flores…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Botswana
Photography by Expedition Overland Botswana offers the ingredients of a wild adventure. Hundreds of unpaved tracks made of thick sand and bone-wrenching washboard could keep an overland traveler busy for many months, if not years. Add fuel logistics and range considerations, regional raw meat restrictions, and the systematic destruction of your vehicle to the mix,…
Remote Chad by Drone—Video
North Africa and the greater Sahel region have been extremely difficult for overland travelers to access since, well, since forever. This arid swath of the world’s second-largest continent hosts climactic, geographic, and political challenges that have stymied explorers and traders for centuries, whether on foot, via camel train, or by 4×4. Videographers Rene Bauer and…
Andrew Szabo: Rally Organizer and Adventurer at Large
When the purveyors of Andrew Szabo’s life insurance scrolled through his social media, they jacked up his premium by 20 percent. In his photos, the 53-year-old is nearly always on the move, in a kayak, on a bike, or in a vehicle, if not sat next to a fire in flip-flops. He’s the organizer of…
On the Up and Up: Returning to the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route
Editor’s Note: This Washington Backcountry Discovery Route article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. Photography by Kris Newsom Perched on the edge of the Lion Rock escarpment in Washington’s central Cascades, I leaned back in my chair and watched the molten sun drip behind Mount Stuart’s jagged silhouette. Behind me, a clicking…
Overland Journal Announces Their Trans-Africa Journey with the Grenadier
Few places on the planet resonate with the adventurer like the African continent, from the vibrant cultures to the ancient civilizations, megafauna, and some of the most remote and inspiring landscapes on earth. Over the past two decades, we have been fortunate to circumnavigate the planet three times and cross all seven continents. For our…
Spotting the One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park :: Destinations
There are only two places in the world where the one-horned rhinoceros still lives in the wild: Nepal and India. With 2600 of these incredible beasts in Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, you can’t visit the park without spotting at least one of them. The 166-square-mile park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one…
Video :: Preserving and Exploring the East Mojave Heritage Trail
Long-time denizens of Expedition Portal certainly will know our old friend and frequent contributor, Chris Cordes. Now with onX Maps, Chris has turned his passion for off-road exploration into a career helping others find their own way to unknown places. One such place is the American Southwest’s Mojave Desert. A sprawling patchwork of diverse landscapes,…
2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss :: Vegas to Reno 500
Photography by Sinuhe Xavier Humans make upward of 35,000 remotely conscious decisions a day. Around 225 of those are related to food, and with only 122 of them being well-informed choices, that leaves an ocean of bad choices swirling around people’s brains. What to eat, what to watch, what to wear, what to buy—we are…
The Unstoppable Charline Ribotta :: Her Love for Africa and Moving Past Fear after Multiple Assaults on the Road
Charline Ribotta departed from her home country of France in a Toyota Hilux, equipped with a Front Runner rooftop tent and modifications of her design. She has been overlanding solo for more than a year now, with hopes of continuing full-time travel indefinitely. Her original itinerary was to traverse the Middle East and cross to…
Scandinavia By Land Rover 110
Waking up to a blisteringly cold wind strong enough to rock our Land Rover from left to right and with temperatures well below zero, we got out from under our thick layer of wool blankets and opened the tailgate. We walked to a viewpoint where we could see just enough to distinguish the silhouettes of…
Video of the Week :: Return to Namibia
If you listened to the Overland Journal Podcast recently or saw Joe Fleming’s stunning photo essay from his moto adventure in Southern Africa just a few weeks ago, you probably have a little Africa travel itch you need to scratch. I know I do. It’s almost impossible to take a bad photograph in Namibia, and…
Sinuhe Xavier to Present at GTFOverland This Saturday, April 1st
Award-winning director, photographer, and professional adventurer Sinuhe Xavier will be welcomed to GTFOverland on Saturday, April 1st, to celebrate his recent cover of Overland Journal and showcase his photo essay found within. The event will kick off at 11:00 AM and include a captivating slideshow presentation of his stunning photographs along with a Q&A session…
Traversing the Georgian Arctic
“Coen? Where are you?!” I yelled. Silence reigned. I called him on my phone. “Where are you? Back at the Land Cruiser?” “Here, at the church entrance, waiting for you.” “Well, come to the other side, down the hill. This is fantastic, a field full of ornamented tombstones as we have never seen before!” Soon…
Video of the Week :: Iconic MEGA 6×6 LandCruiser crosses the Mojave Desert
If you are a Toyota Land Cruiser fan, we have a treat for you! In this “Patriot Games” episode, the Australian Montesalvo family set off directly from SEMA in Nevada on an adventure through the Mojave Desert. In convoy for this trip are Justin & Sarah with the Mega6x6 and Patriot Campers X3, Christian &…
Video :: The 2022 Land Rover Defender 130
Scott Brady visits the Land Rover training grounds in North Carolina to evaluate the new Defender 130 SUV, which combined the capability of the Defender 90 and 110 with 13 inches of additional length aft of the rear axle. The 130 feels premium, while simultaneously being competitively priced with Sequoia, Yukon, Tahoe, Wagoneer, and Expedition. The advantage…
2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road Overland Build :: Rear Suspension, Gears, and ARB Air Locker
Toyota never intended the Tundra to be fully laden at all times. The stock suspension, gear ratio, and Auto LSD were designed to keep the average consumer happy—someone who normally keeps the bed empty other than an occasional trip to Home Depot or IKEA. The next stage of this build will have us installing a…