Overland Journal Podcast Episode 206
Join us on this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast as we sit down with Robert Van den Hoeven, an experienced overlander whose extensive travels span across continents like Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Robert shares his profound experiences, from camping trips in Europe during his childhood to maritime adventures and overland expeditions in his Fuso 4×4 and Mercedes truck. We dive into topics such as navigating rural villages, dealing with power lines, the influence of Dutch culture on travel, and valuable lessons from decades of global exploration. Whether you’re a seasoned overlander or new to the adventure, Robert’s stories and insights provide inspiration and practical advice for your own journeys.
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Guest Bio
Robert and Clary Van den Hoven
We are a Dutch couple who have been dreaming about traveling the world in an off-road vehicle. In the 40 years since we moved to Australia, we have traveled approximately 300,000 km throughout Australia between 1982 and 2009. The last 140,000km has been in the period 2004 to 2009. We enjoy the deserts, remote places, beautiful scenery, bush camping, and campfires. After many nights discussing the possibility of an around-the-world trip, we made the decision to semi-retire and start traveling the globe. Between 2009 and April 2023, we covered 343,000 km crossing Africa (East and West), Europe to Mongolia (via Russia), Mongolia to Singapore covering China, Tibet, and South East Asia, the sub-continent India–Nepal–Pakistan–Iran and the Middle East.
In 2016, we shipped to South America, and to date, we have covered Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, French Guyana, Guyana, Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Colombia. In fact, apart from Paraguay and Venezuela, we have visited every country in South America. In 2020, we shipped from Colombia to Central America. In 2023, we entered the United States from Mexico and explored the Western USA. At present, we are in Phoenix, Arizona, and planning to explore the central USA and part of Northern Mexico. We are working our way towards Key West in Florida and then north to Canada—the last country of our around-the-world adventure. The initial plan of 5 years is now in year 20, and all is going well. Follow our adventures on our website and on Facebook.
Host Bio
Scott Brady
Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal and is often credited with popularizing overlanding in North America. His travels by 4WD and adventure motorcycle span all seven continents and include three circumnavigations of the globe. His polar expeditions include two vehicle crossings of Antarctica and the first long-axis crossing of Greenland. @scott.a.brady
Listen More: Crossing Continents: Africa Wrap-Up and Lessons Learned
Images: Double Dutch World Safari, Scott Brady
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