Making a life-saving impact for 379 Angolan people

We continue to reach the most vulnerable people

ANGOLA/December, 3
With protection, we make a life-saving impact for 379 people in this Angolan village,overcoming massive challenges to do so. We continue to reach the most vulnerable people and ensure that they receive the nets for the next 4 years. Right now our 'Congo to Kalahari' journey include building hope and confidence for the communities in remote territories.

Message for David from Cameroon

 

''We accompany David with prayers. You people have been very brave and reaching out in kindness to so many people that you have touched their lives. Certainly God rewards all good done so let's be sure that the almighty will guide and protect him during this challenging and useful journey.'' 

Dr. Esther T.N. Tallah,

Cameroon Coalition Against Malaria 

Each mission takes it's toll

Health attack !

LUANDA / December, 2. For many white people, the African environment is often deadly when it comes to malaria. For instance, decades ago, when white people set feet on African soil for the first time , 60% of them died within their first eight months on the African continent. But even today, during our hazardous journey, there are health dangers and high malaria deaths. 
In this long journey we passed the river Djah area in Cameroon, with a sky-high infection-rate of Filariases caused by a worm. After infection the worm can stay in the body for years. In my case the worm entered, made a trip of 25 centimeter, and left my arm again. Filaria is rarely fatal, but the consequences of infection can cause significant hardship. 21 Million people in Africa suffer from it and is the world's second leading cause of permanent and long-term disability. Fortunately this Angolan doctor has the right knowledge and the right medication for me, that's why I am still smiling!

 

Reunited with good friends

Reunited with good friends

LUANDA: It's a great day. I am finally able to meet up with my friends again. It's great catching up with James. We met him for the first time in Angola in 2006 during a malaria campaign. We spent long nights talking, sharing stories and good laughs.

Ministry Of Health welcomes David Robertson

David Robertson receives a hero's welcome

At the head quarters of the Ministry of Public Health Angola, in the capital city Luanda, David Robertson received a hero's welcome back to Angola, by the Ministry of Health, the NMCP (National Malaria Control Program),  WHO (World Health Organisation) and PMI (President's Malaria Initiative).

It all came back to me, how friendly and inspiring they all are. As soon as I arrived, meetings were arranged, agenda's changed, press arranged. Fantastic! We had our first campaign together in 2006. Together we continuously strive to have a meaningful impact in the Angolan communities where we have a presence.

Arrived in Luanda, the most expensive city in the world

Arrived in Luanda, the capital of Angola

(November, 30)
It is fantastic to be in Luanda again. It has changed a lot. Not as busy, not as expensive as the last time..But it's still the most expensive city in the world. To rent a two bedroom apartment, you will pay on average an astonishing $ 6.800 per month. It surprised me, the prices had come down 'remarkably' not just property, but in supermarkets as well. How bad can things go? Angola is completely dependent on oil production. Sky high prices create difficult situations and people suffer from it. If you have something to celebrate, a nice cake cost you over $ 300 ! But these are just macro-economic figures and just by looking at them you can feel how bad it can be. Even when they are as huge and shocking as these. I have witnessed at first hand how people are being affected by the prices, lack of products and lack of variety. In fact, the lack of all problems in Angola is the lack of foreign currency. Angola's only source of USD is selling oil. And when the oilprices drop, Angola has less USD to buy things from outside, and the Kwanza is losing value. Keeping in mind that Angola's imports are 80% of its consumable goods.

November, 30: Press release Land Rover Netherlands

Selfie: smooth road to Luanda

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost (1874–1963).  Mountain Interval.  1920.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;          Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,           And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.           I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

M'Banza-Kongo in Angola

A shower, food, water, the internet and a bed

(November, 29)
M'BANZA-KONGO - ANGOLA
Traveling really gives the appreciation for the things we take for granted. Nothing beats arriving at places with a bed after a long journey. On my missions around Africa, I got myself into quite a few situations where I came to truly understand how lucky I should call myself for having the opportunity to be able to enjoy these luxuries. Knowing and understanding that there are many people in the world who are not fortunate to have them.

DRC : nation of friendly people, always eager for a big smile

Nation of friendly people eager for a big smile

(November, 28)
A mother prepares the morning meal above a fire for her family. As we pass she looks up, smiles and waves. After devastating wars, this is a nation with friendly people, eager for a smile and eager to talk with strangers. Nobody gives us an unpleasant hassle. Even the customs, military and police are very easy-going. And that's a relieve, after irritating roadblocks and gendarmes in Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville, who invented new laws on the spot, to find drivers guilty of breaking them, and force a fine. Here, in Congo DRC, they leave people in peace. No monkey-business in this country ! 

Speeding over bumpy tracks

Speeding over bumpy tracks : Congo DRC

(November, 28)
Heading to the border area of Congo DRC into Angola.

Speeding over bumpy tracks, now the road conditions has improved a lot. This road end a day out of the border with Angola. The red dirt road continues southward to Matadi and can be crossed in one day under ideal dry conditions.

I was told, the next road to be paved is the road which runs through fine forest between the border and Luanda in Angola.

 

Bad roads hurt the poor

 Bad roads hurt the poor the most

(November, 27) CONGO DRC
The absence of roads hurt the poor people the most. Bridges have deteriorated and have become impassable, isolating many communities. The simplest way to measure the hard caused by bad infrastructure is to look at how prices change as you move away from the big cities. All products for example, less than 100 km down the road in small villages, prices rise by 25%. Once you leave the 'main' road, along the steep muddy tracks, prices rise sharply. In village that can only reached by 4x4, and for the villages only on foot, the prices double. At the same time, the food that the poor have to sell - yams, cassava, fruit - fetch less in the villages than they do in the towns. Farmers are doubly squeezes by bad roads. They pay more for what they buy, and receive less for what they sell. Small wonder that we find a strong link between poverty and remoteness. We go to the remote people who need our help. That's just the work we do. The most vulnerable people are found only where the roads are the worst.

Heading to Luanda - ANGOLA

Heading to Luanda - ANGOLA

Route : Luozi - CONGO DRC  /   Luanda - ANGOLA
Distance : 1.024 Km
Time : 4 day's

Giving a helping hand to protect 370 people in Kiyade : Congo DRC

No 'No-Go-Zone' for us !

(November, 27)
DOOR-TO-DOOR distribution in KIYADE

To be certain everybody receives a net, we went from door to door in the village of Kiyade. Our nets are not only protection, but also the engine for the recovery of many communites. There is nothing 'wrong' with Africa that - what we hear way to often - cannot be cured. Families in Africa are people! And people in Africa have the right to assistance and protection. So today, we pledge an end to the era of judgment and assessment. 
With extra help, and extra protection, a new life starts for hundreds of children, in the light of posterity.
To help people, we must be determent. We must do what no organization is doing in these extreme remote, and often unknown areas. For us, there is no 'No-Go-Zone' because there are people, who live here too. 
We need to invest more in these people - their health and their future. 
And we must do so in all African countries that need us; we have to fight for every occasion. 
It will never be easy. It will require a lot. But it can be done and done fairly. We never act for our own sake, but for the sake of others.
We must care for our fellow human beings, in the same way that a mother and father care for their children.

We will never shrink our challenges for DRC

WHAT WE DID BEFORE 

ACTION:   760.000 nets for Kivu / DRC

 

It's good to be back!
I remember the gratefulness of the people, at the time we were in Kivu, after the blooddiest conflict since the end of World War II, played out in the country's eastern jungles, several years ago. Millions of people were displaced and suffered from lifetreatning diseases.
And while DRC does it's very best to rebuild, we will not shrink our challenges to fight malaria, nor fail to seize the opportunities for the people of this magnificent country. Together with our partner friends and allies, we work together to shape the change. Together with the largest UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) in the world, we (DAM) distributes 760.000 mosquito-nets in Kivu. When our vital interests are challenged, we will act, whenever possible, with joined force when necessary!

 

Voice of Africa

 

''We are all stunned about David Robertson, who brave the elements to travel here. He is a person who may at times risk his own life to save our children in danger. Marked by courage and determination, in the face of Africa's difficulties. We thank you!''

 

No sight of a border post

No sight of a border post

(November, 26)
ROAD TO LUOZI

Driving somewhere in the middle of nowhere, the roads improved in comparison with the Brazzaville side, but still no satellite signal. I also wonder where the border post is for our Passport, Visa and 'Carnet-de-Passage' control. We are heading to Luozi, close to the mighty Congo River, and hope for an operating ferry crossing. Transport by road across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has always been difficult. The terrain and climate in the entire Congo Basin present serious barriers to roads, and the distances are enormous across this vast country. DRC has faces a tragic and tumultuous history; today chronic economic suffering and internal conflicts has led to serious obstacle. I must say, I have high respect for the lovely people of DRC, who did not lost their hospitality. With their friendliness, they make me feel very welcome.
I trust  'les douaniers' of DRC are friendly as well....

Mud Inglorious Mud

Mud Inglorious Mud

(November, 26)
WE CROSSED THE BORDER WITH DRC

- We are heading to Kiyade. To bring hope to the families devastated by malaria crisis and caught in a hopeless situation. Each life is worth the extra mile to save lives and protect the children in extreme remote Kiyade -

 

Eleven hours, and two tins of sardines later, we were still driving.  Long stretches of rutty red literate soil with sheer ditches on either side. Dirt roads are smooth, as long as it does not rain, but the Congo basin is largely rainforest, where it rains often harder. Our road was almost rendered impassable, but it is crucial to reach Kiyade. Only via this road we can reach the forgotten, saving many lives.

SPENDING THE NIGHT: ''I thought it was a police post, but in fact it was a crypt.''

I thought it was a police post, but in fact it was a crypt

(November, 26 - 06.17 hrs)
BORDER DRC
The alternative route PLAN B, we had to take went fine at the end.
At the border with DRC my tent collapse during strong wind and heavy rain. Everything was soaking wet. I couldnt figure out what the building was last night, I thought it was a police office, but in fact it was a crypt with a dead body. A black snake was curled up, outside the crypt !

We had a lot of rain, on the road from Brazzaville to the border. 
Heavily armed military everywhere! Good for us: it was rebel-free.
The piste was extremely sticky, muddy and slippery. We had some dangerous moments. 

Last Satellite Signals

LAST SATELLITE SIGNALS

November 25, 07.03 hrs , Congo Brazzaville
November 26, zero
November 27, zero (last try 14.20 hrs)
  
Fortunately David has been driving across Africa since 1988, and could manoeuvre the 2 Tonne-wheeled beast with skill and calculated aggression. 
People from western countries rarely experience the true ghasliness of Africa's infrastructure, spoiled with smooth roads from door to door. But we actually work in countries with dreadful infrastructure, and have to cope with the consequences every day. These are as profound as they are malign. Bad roads make life harder. And for the African families, it put the lives of their children at risk...Poor infrastructure, poor healthcare. 

 

Brazzaville - Boko - BORDER DRC - Luozi

We go for it

(November, 25)
BRAZZAVILLE - LUOZI (DRC)

Distance: 200 KM (This is just a guess. Officially the borderroad does not exist)

Roadconditions: 
Brazzaville-Kinkala-Nkama (good) 
Nkama-Boko-Kanzi-Mpasa-Tombo-BORDER (muddy, steep, slippery and ... rebels?)
BORDER-Kimbanza-BanzaMbu-Luango-Luozi (better than bad, rebel-free)

Estimate driving time: 1,5 days (and that's optimistic)

Satellite signal : strong  - weak -  absent

There's a voice in my had that says 'this is an impossible trip'. 
It is not easy to make decisions like this. We have 2 important rules: listen to your 'antenna' and never drive at night.
With all the info from HQ (the route, the conditions, safety, advise from the Embassy, emergency numbers, contacts) we go for PLAN B. According to the road conditions, steep and slippery, I re-arranged the roof-rack. All heavy loads of mosquito-nets, inside the Land Rover..... and pray.

To go - or not to go - that's the question !

To go, or not to go, that's the question !


(November, 24)
BRAZZAVILLE
It is close to decision time. We have seen this before, and I don't want to go through that same nightmare again. 
So, what are the options. Leave the Land Rover behind? Go back to Cameroon? Make a D-D-D-tour? Ask for a Military Escort? Fly the car by cargo-plane to DRC or Angola?
Or ask HQ, to do a critical investigation?
A good night sleep and decision time tomorrow.

Over to PLAN B

BIG BLOW: Ferry Crossing to Kinshasa DRC is closed

(November, 24)
BRAZZAVILLE
That's a big blow: the commercial ferry service and crossing between the two countries is no longer operating. Only since a few months.  Considering that Brazzaville is Congo's busiest port, handling 95% of it's in- and exports, serving it's landlocked country, the absence of a transport-ferry is 'a bit of a problem' for the people.
And also for us ! 'You can take a dug-out-canoe' somebody advised us, but I don't think that's a good idea for a 3 tonne Land Rover. 
We have to make a major D-tour. 
The alternative route is via Boko.  To get into Congo DRC meant passing the Boko-route surrounded by armed groups, is known to pillage, steal cargo, take hostages, carry out violent operations, shootings in which foreigners are targeted.
'Avoid all essential travel in that area' people told us. 
Is this another 'horror-story' or a good PLAN B ?? PLAN BOKO?

David Robertson; an unbelievable life-story !

Driving his motorbike, David was hit by a drunk car-driver

United Kingdom: August - 1977.
David Robertson was on his way to his parents on holiday in Great Yarmouth, when his motorcycle was in head-on collision with a car, driven by a drunk driver. He was left on the side of the road. It was a miracle David was still alive.
A spokesman said: ''Mr Robertson's right arm and right leg were amputated.''

The drunk car-driver has never been prosecuted!

Today David's courage and determination have provided the will to not only live, but to live life to the fullest.
David lives with the tribes of the remotest corners of Africa to exchange knowledge and help them fight malaria. He has been held at gunpoint, taken hostage by rebels, contracted malaria over 9 times and has driven over the most challenging and dangerous terrain to help the people help themselves. David's determination is to stop malaria in Africa by giving away free treatment together with long lasting mosquito nets.

Meeting great people on motorbikes / Daniel Rintz and Josephine Flohr

Meeting great people on motorbikes 

(November, 24)

BRAZZAVILLE

 
Meeting great people from Germany. Dedicated, inspiring and determent to help other people.

Daniel Rintz rides around the world on a motorcycle, surviving only on money he makes along the way, until he finds what he wasn’t even looking for.

 

We believe first-hand-experiences in foreign cultures will contribute to our world becoming more tolerant, understanding and peaceful.

Daniel Rintz: ''Our world is in ferment as never before. While whole societies struggle to shrug off the dead weight of corrupt dictators new conflicts are inevitable. Environmental degradation threatens our future, and food insecurity is an immediate danger. Widespread ignorance nurtures the extreme ideologies and prejudices which tear us apart and prevent us from making rational choices for the benefit of humanity and the planet.
All of this is challenging but fertile ground for those of us who seek to understand the beauties, the mysteries and the tragedies of our world, and no traveler, in our experience, ever came home with a message of hate.
We believe that individuals of good will, moving among foreign cultures and making themselves vulnerable to the beliefs and customs of strangers, have great importance in promoting world understanding, and even more so when they can distill the essence of their experiences into a form that can be absorbed by many.''

Daniel and Josephine offered extra help, giving out life-saving-nets. Both wants to make an extraordinary effort to reach families in their time of need. With nets, they bring more than just aid. They bring the people of Africa a breath of hope! For David Robertson it wasn't necessary to think twice. (More to come ...)

Watch the film !      http://www.open-explorers.com/movie.html

NEWSLETTER - www.open-explorers.com/newsletter
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Arrived in Brazzaville : November, 23

Arrived in Brazzaville 

(November, 23)
BRAZZAVILLE, 04.31 Hours

Message from David via Voice Recording: 
''...Have to make arrangements tomorrow to cross the border with Kinshasa. Can't sleep. Televisions are at their highest volume all night. And nobody is watching. 
Roof-rack Land Rover Defender need re-thinking. To much weight on top..''

People thanking us the whole time : Elouna - Congo Brazzaville

The last stretch to Brazzaville - From Kindness to Barbarity

(November, 22)
SOUANKE-BRAZZAVILLE

We drove to Elouna, 100 Km nort east of Brazzaville. A village surrounded by water and in the middle of a high risk malaria zone. The people were promised to receive malaria protection, but help never came. ''You won't have to sleep without a net anymore'' I told the people. The mothers responded with intense gratitude. 

We gave out another 50 nets to protect at least 350 people for the next 4 years to come.
They were very happy, could not believe that we came to help, thanking us the whole time. 

We are thrown from compassion and kindness into tyranny and barbarity. Almost arrived in Brazzaville after a hell of a journey from the Cameroon border. Nothing to eat at all as I drove 14 hours. A tin of sardines today and more tonight. I am completely exhausted after 4 days drive through the green hell.

The tarred road could give us some speed to a soft bed and proper food. Well, the roads are resurfaced from time to time, but the soil is soft and the foundations typically shallow. Small cracks yawn quickly into deep potholes. Villagers fill them with sand and ask for tips, but their 'good-will-repairs' rarely survives the first rainstorm.

Many delays followed after constant checkpoints, searching the whole Land Rover. Passport checks and complaining that my Visa was on the wrong page of the Passport. My Driving license, Vaccination Certificates, the 'Ordre De Mission'. the 'Carnet De Passage', everything was read word by word, even holding the papers up-side-down. The total hours wasted, and all for the hope of a good bribe.....

The Next Plan: Cameroon to Congo Brazzavilla - Giving a helping hand to Elouna village

G

The Next Plan: Cameroon to Congo Brazzaville and giving support to Elouna Village

(November, 21)
ROUTE: BORDER CAMEROON INTO CONGO - DIRECTION BRAZZAVILLE / (Approx. 1.100 Km) 

First we have to drive from the border between Cameroon into Congo Brazzaville, via another 'invisible-map' route, in the direction of a village called Souanke. We guess a stretch of around 55 Km. 
From Souanke the road is on the map again. From there we take the route to Brazzaville in the south-east of the country. A distance of approx. 1.039 Km. 

We are heading to Elouna, a village in high malaria-risk area, north east of Brazzaville, to protect 350 people with our mosquitonets

The plan is to carry our 610 Nets, medication- and medical equipment from the border, across the country. As the crow flies this is around 1.100 (683 Miles) about as far as Amsterdam to Geneva, or New York to Cincinnati, what should take 9 hours. Well this is Africa... we hope to arrive tomorrow.