LES COBRAS
Unité communautaire de protection de la faune
1 land cruiser, 2 mates, 21 countries....18,000 miles of adventure!
When Ollie Robertson and his best friend James Weller set out to plan their university summer break, they could have chosen the usual route: part-time work, festivals, or a laid-back holiday. Instead, they chose something entirely different - an 18,000-mile overland expedition across Africa in a 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser they have restored. Their mission? To drive from London to Zimbabwe via Cape Town in just 85 days, helping raise awareness and funds for the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative!
The vehicle: a trusted 100-series land cruiser
At the heart of the expedition is a 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 series - a machine known for its reliability in the harshest conditions. Restored and prepared for the demands of long-distance overlanding, it will be their home, workshop, and lifeline for nearly three months on the road.
The route: discovery meets endurance
The journey will take them through 21 countries, starting in the UK and cutting through Europe before crossing into North Africa and down the western and southern spine of the continent.
From desert crossing and coastal highways to remote bush tracks and bustling cities, every leg of the trip brings a new challenge - a new story waiting to be told.
It's not just a route on a map. It's a moving test of resilience across some of the most diverse terrain on Earth.
The Challenge: born from friendship
What started as a conversation between best mates quickly evolved in a full-scale overlanding challenge: a test of endurance, mechanical know-how, navigation skills, and friendship. The original route was London to Cape Town, but they decided, with James growing up in Zimbabwe, that should be the final destination. The route became both a personal journey and a shared mission.
But this isn't just about the miles; along the way, they are raising awareness and funds for a cause close to the hearts of James and his family: the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative. James visited southern Hwange several times; the first was for the opening of Camelthorn Lodge, home of the first CRCI rhinos. The second was to do a father-son pump run through the southern part of Hwange National Park, helping ensure water pumps were providing enough water for wildlife during the dry season. The third was when James joined our Smile Roadshow in 2020 to help support school children during Covid.
James has always loved the Park and the bush. He particularly loves Hwange given how the scenery varies around the Park and the fact it can be so different between the wet and dry seasons.
James said: "Part of the draw to supporting CRCI is that it is helping the wildlife and benefitting the local people at the same time which is definitely something I have always liked and admired. From our trip point of view, we’re in it both to hopefully see some incredible African landscapes but also to see and get to know the people, communities and cultures along the way."
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FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE...
Ollie and James will be documenting the entire expedition through daily updates on Instagram at @twoandacruiser_, giving followers a front-row seat to the highs, lows, breakdowns, breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments that come with a journey of this scale.
From border crossings to desert sunsets, the story will unfold in real time and provide a journey neither of them will ever forget.