NAIROBI, Kenya – A UK-based YouTube couple has opted for the ultimate test of endurance, choosing a gruelling 23,000-kilometre overland road trip to Kenya instead of a comfortable direct flight from London to Nairobi.
A direct flight between the two cities typically takes between eight hours 35 minutes and nine hours, covering roughly 6,800 kilometres.
However, the couple chose a far more adventurous route—crossing continents, deserts, forests, and coastlines to reach East Africa by road.
Their journey began on December 28, 2025, with a ferry crossing from the UK to France, marking the start of an expedition that has already spanned 21 days.
The couple is currently in Dakhla, Morocco, after traversing Spain and crossing the vast Sahara Desert through Mauritania.
From North Africa, their carefully planned route cuts across West Africa through Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, before passing through Lagos in Nigeria.
The journey then veers inland through Cameroon, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo—regions known for difficult terrain and limited infrastructure.
The route continues south through Angola and Namibia, before swinging east via Botswana and Zimbabwe to Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coastline. From there, the couple plans to head north along Lake Malawi, passing through Tanzania before finally arriving in Nairobi.
Once in Kenya, the pair says they intend to spend extended time exploring the country’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and culture.
For the demanding expedition, the couple chose a Toyota Land Cruiser, widely considered the gold standard for long-distance overland travel across Africa. The vehicle’s reliability significantly reduces the risk of breakdowns in remote regions where spare parts and recovery services are scarce.
To maintain reliability, the couple carries out regular vehicle maintenance after crossing borders, replacing worn or damaged parts as needed.
Fuel alone is estimated to cost between Sh1.3 million and Sh2 million for the full journey, with prices varying widely across countries. To cut accommodation costs, the couple is travelling with a fully equipped camping setup, allowing them to avoid hotels and lodges.
Overland travel from Europe to Kenya also requires extensive documentation, including visas or travel authorisations for each transit country, Yellow Fever vaccination certificates, a valid UK driving licence, vehicle ownership documents, international insurance, and in some cases, a Carnet de Passage.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises citizens against travel to certain high-risk regions, particularly areas affected by conflict, including parts of East Africa near the Kenya-Somalia border.
Such overland journeys typically take between three and six months. With the couple currently just three weeks into the trip and some of Africa’s most challenging terrain still ahead, they are expected to reach Nairobi between late March and late June 2026.