Rooftop Tent accidents...

The rooftop tent has many benefits for overland travel and one major detractor: The Ladder.
The Overland ZA forum has an interesting topic on accidents relating to rooftop tents... All the accidents on the topic related to the ladder... Read more via Overland Forum

My wife, whose left hand is pictured, slipped off the rooftop tent ladder whilst refitting the mattress the day before we headed to Cameroon.  The Nigerian doctor did a good job of stitching her wound but it was a nervous hour as I patiently waited in his office.  Adding to the tension were before and after photos of all the doctors patients and his awesome surgery he performed....  gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

A posting by a South African called Johan van Heerden on his recent trip to Mozambique had an interesting story on another rooftop tent fall...  One paragraph stands out:

Accidental Damage

Jasululu Overland Adventure

A vehicle does add a level of complexity to any expedition and with it, the threat of an accident, which can be in the form of a vehicle collision, higher speed than road conditions dictate and sometimes just bad luck... 
The Royal Geographic Society (RGS UK) recognises that vehicle based expeditions often have the highest accident rate of any expedition undertaken and as a result insists that expedition leaders are trained.

Accidents & Bush Mechanics

Accidents happen.  Unfortunately, that is.  Adding people into expedition prepared vehicles and vehicles onto roads can lead to accidents occurring.  When they do occur, injuries and damages to the vehicle often cause major stress, or in the worst scenario, an urgent rush to the nearest hospital.

I don't want to write about accidents that involve people and the difficulties that arise from this.  In this blog, I want to share a few vehicle related stories and the lessons learnt from those experiences.

My old Land Rover Defender (currently on her 6th trip) was recently involved in an accident whilst in Guinea. Noel, the current owner, was heading down a deserted road then the vehicle seemed to hit a major hole and ended up in a ditch.  See Noel's website for more of the story: Nomad Adventure

Bush Mechanics to the rescue.

That's the beauty of Africa.  With very little equipment, the local mechanic has the ability to fix anything and everything.

If, on your next adventure, you feel that you are slightly underprepared for the mechnical challenge - fear not, a mechanic is ready and waiting in the next village.