Crazy bold and Grey, going back where we started

 
 
 
 

 

INSURANCE

Medical insurance
From the start we decided not to go easy on this, but at times we regretted our tenacity. On the 1st January 2006 a new national health system became effective in the Netherlands and resulted in administrative chaos. Our IZA Insurance Company was no exception. Amidst this chaos, we tried to find out what type of health insurance coverage we would have during our 7 months abroad. Eventually we managed to get a copy of our insurance policy and found that we were insured for medical help, hospital care, ambulance transport and repatriation (dead or alive!). Since we didn’t fancy to show the doctor on call in the Agha Kahn Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a document in very formal legal Dutch (which is near incomprehensible anyhow), we asked IZA for a English language statement. In the first statement our names were misspelled, the English text was largely incomprehensible and the statement wasn’t signed. The second statement addressed two of these shortcomings, but remained incomprehensible. At our wits end, we drew up a English language statement ourselves and requested IZA to authorise it. After two months, and to our surprise, they agreed. Our little plastic insurance cards are still in Dutch and completely incomprehensible for anyone outside the Netherlands. Once we have returned we will try to convince IZA to issue these cards in English as well to future travelers. In addition to our medical insurance, we also took out a travel insurance with the Dutch Medical Doctors Association (VVAA).

Third party insurance
A Dutch third party vehicle insurance is only valid in Europe and the countries around the Mediterranean. All African countries require a third party vehicle insurance and the easiest way, of course, is to take a third party insurance out upon entering a country. Nevertheless, we tried to find a firm in Holland providing us with an Africa coverage. It took some time, but finally we found Alessie in Rotterdam (www.alessie.com). At € 750 for 7 months, they were not cheap, but we preferred the extra coverage. Of course we know that at some borders we will not be able to convince the immigration officers that we are already covered.

Luggage insurance
Our luggage is insured with the VVAA and our policy mentions specifically our Toshiba Satellite A100 laptop, our Nikon camera’s and the GPS. Only the Iridium 9505A satellite phone we did not manage to insure properly.

Car shipping
It took some time, but we found a firm with experience in this matter: Meerendonk Shipping in Ridderkerk ((www.meerendonk.nl). When asking them for a quotation, make sure you have the dimensions of your car right (including roof rack, roof tent, boxes and water containers). Also ask them to quote for insurance and for handling in the port of arrival (in our case Cape Town). Shipping, including insurance and handling on arrival, is expensive and will cost you in the order of € 3500. Reliable ETDs and ETAs of the container carriers are usually only available two months before shipping. See to it that your air and sea ETAs are on par.

Health care
Meta being a medical doctor herself, we postponed this item for some time. Since early May, however, we are organised! For both of us, Meta compiled a health certificate in English, stating (in brief) the nature of our ailments, the medicines we require and the names and telephone numbers of our specialists in the Netherlands. The youngsters among you, quite understandably, will laugh, but for us it is important. For the necessary vaccinations and malaria prevention we contacted the District Health Services (GGD). Just one word of caution: don’t let whatever fools (at home or in Africa) make you believe that malaria prevention is not really necessary! Meta compiled an expeditionary medical kit and its description can be e-mailed to you on request.

EXPEDITION ITEMS

Roof rack, tent and luggage boxes
We had our roof rack custom made at “Topsleeper” in Vessem (www.topsleeper.nl). It runs over the full length of the car, is made of galvanised iron and has a fixed ladder. The roof tent, a “Columbus” in a re-enforced glass fibre box, is mounted directly and without a railing on the front end of the roof rack. The rear end is a platform with railing and wooden planks on which a luggage box and two water tanks are mounted. Through this arrangement we have direct access to our luggage from the tent entrance. The luggage box (Zarges) is water tight.

Extra fuel tank and water tanks
Being an ex-MOD, our Series III Landrover has two fuel tanks of 45 litres each. Recently we had a third tank of 70 litres mounted behind the rear chassis cross-member. It was quite a puzzle to get all the fuel lines and selector levers fitted, but Jansen Range Rover Parts in Oisterwijk (www.landroverspecialist.nl) did a good job. For water tanks, we have two 30 litres heavy duty plastic containers imported from South Africa. A solar heated shower can be connected to the tanks.

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