The goal of the solo overland expedition is to realise my dream, I fought for it to happen, and nobody will take this away from me.
But after more than 17 months driving the roads of Africa, I also want to tell you more about the preparation of such a long adventure in solo.
Tonight, I wanted to share the document I created in January 2021 when Rafiki entered my life. I worked on this document until I left France, a year later. While I was working, I spent ALL my free time on it. The most difficult part was to determine the budget (will tell you more later) as I couldn’t find a similar solo and overland adventure openly budgeted on the Internet. So, I had to be wise…
Because: NO, my dad is NOT rich and I’m NOT ‘using his bank account’; NO, this expedition is not ‘entitled’ nor ‘sponsored’; NO, I was NOT born rich; NO, I’m NOT getting paid while traveling; and NO, I’m NOT necessarily a ‘lucky fish’.
These are comments I saw on my Facebook which made me think that working your ass off and fighting for your dreams are not an option anymore. And this is very sad.
Anyway, like everything I do in my life, I NEVER give up. I’m from Italian immigration and a very modest background.
And today, I do not own anything, no furniture, except a few bags of clothes I stored at friends’. I always saved money starting at the age of 14 (illegal jobs) with my 2 euros per month.
I put strategies in place to save more money the past years; I lived in a shared flat at 30+ age, I then lived at friends and at my parents, I worked as much as I could, I walked three hours a day to save money on transports, I sold many stuff, I have a loan, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t party, and I hate shopping.
Rafiki is my FIRST car I bought at the age of 33. Also, I calculated, simulated, anticipated, planned, organised, and budgeted the whole expedition from A to Z.
For sure, I was lucky enough to be born in France and to carry a passport which lets me explore anywhere on the Planet. But for the rest, this is NOT only luck, it’s called AMBITION and PASSION.
I worked my ass off, I deserved my money, and I fight for my dreams. Because this is the ONLY WAY.
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