A couple turned an army truck into a mobile home and drove around the entire African border in 19 months
Steve Lorimer grew up in South Africa during apartheid, and always wanted to gain a better understanding of Africa as a whole.
He bought a 4x4 British military truck for £6,000.
He saved up for six years to afford the truck and the trip.
It took a year and a half to refurbish — and even that wasn't enough time.
"My intention was always to build it myself, but then we started looking into warehouse space in London and the warehouse space in London cost more than the truck, so it was actually cheaper to outsource the job to someone who could do it professionally," he said.
"We ended having to just throw everything in and leave because we booked a ferry," he said.
Still, they managed to install a kitchen...
A sitting area...
And even a bathroom.
The 10-ton truck was perfect for camping in the Sahara Desert.
Not so perfect for driving through marshland near Senegal.
"On a trip like this, there's no giving up because you can't just pack up and go home," Lorimer said. "You're stuck in the middle of nowhere and you have to make a plan no matter what...You rely on people that you meet and you rely on being able to figure it out."
One of Lorimer's favorite spots on the trip was Ethiopia.
"It's such an incredibly diverse culture," he said, citing the juxtaposition of nomadic tribes and medieval castles.
In areas that weren't as safe, they traveled in a convoy with other vehicles.
They went diving with tiger sharks in South Africa.
And enjoyed gorgeous sunsets in Malawi.
They encountered African wildlife.
And of course, did some sightseeing.
Roxanne initially hadn't wanted to join him.
"Literally a month before we left, I found out the hadn't even wanted to come," he said. "She only said yes because she knew how important it was to me."
"Luckily, she enjoyed it, and now we're married."
The 19-month trip taught Lorimer not to sweat the small stuff.
"What really matters is how you can overcome your fears, solve the problem that's in front of you, and lean on each other and the strengths of each other to help each other get through the situation."
He hopes that his story will inspire others to live out their dreams.
"If you want to do something it's up to you to do it," he said. "No one else is going to do it for you."
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