Botswana
Botswana
As the sun rises over Egypt, the final destination of the ambitious Daring Africa 2024 expedition comes into view. This monumental overland journey, orchestrated by Nissan, has spanned eight countries, featuring four rugged Nissan Navara pick-ups and an X-Trail SUV. This adventure is set to culminate with a significant stop at Nissan’s LCV manufacturing hub in South Africa and the PV assembly plant in Egypt. A Journey Across the Continent The odyssey, which has already traversed 7,000 kilometers across seven nations, has provided over 80 local journalists with an immersive, real-time experience of the robust new Nissan Navara. The adventure has also shared its captivating story with 3,500 media outlets across Africa, highlighting the vehicle’s remarkable durability and performance. Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets Africa Managing Director, Maciej Klenkiewicz, expressed his pride in the journey’s success. Having seen the convoy off from the Rosslyn factory, the African home of the new Navara, and welcoming it in Nairobi, Klenkiewicz marveled at the vehicle’s reliability over such grueling conditions. "These vehicles have traveled 7,000 kilometers without a single mechanical issue—not even a flat tire—over some of the toughest road conditions imaginable. It is an incredible achievement," he said. Celebrating African Roots Nissan Africa President, Jordi Vila, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the celebration of Nissan’s African footprint and its 60-year legacy on the continent. "This journey has been a testament to our commitment to Africa. Designed for Africa, built in Africa by Africans, the Navara has proven its mettle," Vila noted. The Route and the Experience The expedition commenced in Pretoria, heading east to Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, South Africa, before crossing into Mozambique’s capital, Maputo. From there, the convoy journeyed north along the coast, capturing breathtaking images of the Navara's prowess on the sandy beaches. The adventure then moved to Zimbabwe, showcasing the Navara in Harare before crossing the Kariba Dam into Zambia. The team navigated the Luangwa Valley, reached Lake Malawi, and ventured into Tanzania, circling Mount Kilimanjaro and passing Kenya’s Amboseli National Park to arrive in Nairobi. Nissan Africa Head of Communications, Ramy Mohareb, highlighted the profound impact of the journey. "This has been an epic experience for everyone involved. The roads have been challenging, but the sights and experiences have been invaluable. We’ve strengthened old relationships and built new ones, sharing our vision for Africa," Mohareb said. Amplifying the Navara’s Attributes Sherief Eldessouky, Nissan Africa Managing Director, underscored the significance of showcasing the Navara’s attributes across African markets. "Daring Africa has amplified the Navara’s strengths as we prepare to introduce it to new markets in North Africa, including Egypt, Algeria, and Libya," Eldessouky remarked. The journey also highlighted the Nissan X-Trail, which launched in South Africa last year and in Egypt this year, proving its worth as a family adventure vehicle supporting the expedition. A Grand Finale Eldessouky eagerly anticipates welcoming the expedition to Egypt, uniting the manufacturing excellence from Nissan’s LCV hub in Rosslyn with that of the PV hub in Cairo. "It will be a fitting finale to a truly bold and daring odyssey, just as we planned," he concluded. As Daring Africa 2024 prepares to make its final stop, the journey stands as a testament to Nissan’s commitment to the African continent, showcasing the unparalleled capabilities of the Navara and X-Trail in the process.