ATVing across Africa
This is the tale of a newlywed couple’s record-breaking ride across more than 27,000 kilometres of African soil
Most couples spend their honeymoon in some exotic location, sipping margaritas and bathing in the sun—but not Josh and Anna Hogan. After getting married on May 19, 2007, the adventurous newlyweds went to Africa for an eight-month ATVing trip. While they rode in support of better health care in Africa, the Hogans also broke the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on a quad.
Wild Encounters: During their trip, Josh and Anna Hogan saw lots of wildlife, including lions in Antelope Park, Zimbabwe.—photo courtesy Josh and Anna Hogan
A shared dream
The adventure started on August 24, 2007, but Josh and Anna’s story began in the summer of 2005 in Greece. Josh was travelling through on a motorcycle trip around the world and Anna was doing an internship in hotel management. A week after they met, Josh invited Anna to ride along with him as he completed his world tour. She accepted and the pair have been inseperable ever since.
Two years later, after deciding to get married, the couple began planning their African adventure. The plans included quitting their jobs, packing enough gear for eight months, purchasing ATVs and getting them shipped to Africa. The quads had to be outfitted with pack boxes, signal lights and other adds-ons to make them street legal. Josh and Anna also alerted Guinness and Top 1 Oil Products Company of their plans.
“(Top 1) was very excited about us breaking the record but I think they were more excited that we were partnering with the charity Riders for Health,” said Josh. “It was that combination that really was the draw for them.”
Once the details were finalized, Josh and Anna flew to Nowy Targ, Poland, got married and then went to Africa. The journey took them from Nairoba, Kenya, down through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia and up across Angola, Niger and Algeria to Tunisia. They ended up, however, in Elche, Spain on March 17, 2008—having travelled across 17 countries and 27,141 kilometres. With the help of the Internet, the Hogans stayed in contact with Top 1 throughout the entire trip. If they needed supplies, it was delivered by DHL to the nearest capital city. Through letters of support, Josh and Anna were able to raise approximately $18,000 in the name of Riders for Health, an organization that works to broaden the reach of much-needed health care in Africa by ensuring that health care workers have reliable motorcycles to transport them into remote rural areas.
The Hogans returned home to San Francisco, California, shortly after the trip but it wasn’t until later that they realized the magnitude of their achievement.
“When you’re doing a trip like that, every day there is a lot of routine . . .,” said Josh, “ . . . and it’s kind of hard when you’re doing it to look at the big picture. It took a couple of months after we got back to understand what we had done.”
Highs and lows
Quadding across Africa is no easy task; catching malaria and breaking down added to the challenges Josh and Anna faced but the weather also played a big part.
“To make it through Angola, you have to do it at a certain time of year,” said Josh. “If you go in the rainy season it can become extremely difficult because of the conditions of the roads.
“The second one was we had to be through the Sahara Desert before April/May because it gets too hot,” said Josh. “Temperatures between 130 and 140 degrees (Fahrenheit) is too hot to travel. When we were there, there were days it was maybe 110.”
The Hogans also went gorilla trekking in Central African Republic, which was an ordeal in itself. Locals and disgruntled police and military made travel in this country very difficult and by the time they reached their destination, Josh and Anna felt like they had gone through hell. It was all worth it though.
“We hired some pygmy guides and spent the morning trekking through the Congo jungle to reach where the gorillas were and then we spent about three hours with a family of lowland gorillas,” said Josh. “It was absolutely amazing—just being in the middle of the Congo jungle with the pygmy guides and these unbelievable creatures.”
Obviously, the rewards of the trip far outweighed any challenges the Hogans encountered. When asked why they decided to go to Africa for their honeymoon, Josh’s answer was simple.
“The reason we chose Africa was that sense of adventure,” he said. “I don’t think there is anywhere else in the world where you get that same sense of adventure . . . There’s no safety net there. If something happens, it’s up to your own wits and sense to make it through—so that was kind of the draw for us.”
The experience also brought them closer as a couple.
“When you travel with somebody, you learn so much more about them because you’re with them 24 hours a day,” said Josh. “And on top of that, being in life and death situations you get to see how the person reacts. I think we were in situations that people who have been married for 20 years have never seen their partner in.”
To see more photos of their trip, go to www.quadsacrossafrica.com.
Motorcycle key contacts
Nanaimo, BC
Load ’em up
The SuperDeck XL Hydraulic Loading System by AmeriDeck™ is designed to make loading and unloading your toys easier. With the push of a button, the deck lowers to provide access to equipment at ground level. It is rated for up to 2,000 pounds and is 102 inches wide and 96 inches long. The deck is constructed of durable materials and includes a lift arm, hydraulic cylinder and 12-volt DC Power Pack. AmeriDeck says the SuperDeck XL installs easily and fits any full-sized long or short box pickup truck.
Steel Container Systems Inc.
Give your seat new life with SaddleSkins™
Snowmobiles have special cover requirements. Extra cold weather can cause ordinary vinyl to split and crack. Travelcade SaddleSkins™ for sleds are made of a heavy-duty cold weather material that is impervious to cold down to more than minus 40 degrees. All features of the original seat are retained—rear compartment, lights, side buffers all duplicated in our replacement covers.
SaddleSkins are available for motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles with original manufacturer’s fit and design. Their weather-resistant vinyl endures all sorts of riding conditions, and replaces duct tape and unsightly tears at an economical price.
WARN XT and RT Winch Series: the best winches in the world are now even better.
The complete line of WARN® Powersports winches lets you ride with confidence knowing that when you need to pull yourself out of the muck or move a heavy load, you’ll be up to the task time and time again. Both the XT Extreme Terrain and RT Rugged Terrain winches are designed specifically for powersports vehicles. Standard features includes weather-resistant sealed construction; rugged and reliable three-stage planetary geartrains; patented disc brakes for enhanced control; efficient electrical systems for less battery drain; easy-to-use clutch dials; and legendary WARN quality. You can be assured these winches are the best on the market.
Both the SaddleSkins and WARN Powersports winches are available at Recreation Supply Co. Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Recreation Supply Co. Ltd
B&F Sales & Service Ltd.
Your Honda headquarters
At B&F Sales & Service Ltd., located in Grand Forks, B.C., we specialize in superior customer service. Our large supply of Honda products includes ATVs, motorcycles, lawn and garden wares, generators, snowblowers, walk-behind mowers and water pumps.
Equipped with a fully stocked parts department, we'll help you find all the accessories and dress-up items you've been searching for. Our qualified technicians are ready and willing to help with any question or concern you may have.
Let our friendly sales staff and competitive service be the reasons why you choose B&F Sales & Service Ltd. for all your recreation needs.
B&F Sales & Service Ltd.
Mississauga, ON
Let them know you are OK
Spot is the world's first satellite GPS messenger system. Using satellite technology, SPOT works when and where cell phones can't, allowing you to work and play with peace of mind, virtually anywhere in the world. Track, share and save your location all at the push of a button. SPOT functions include: dispatch emergency responders to your GPS location; let contacts know where you are and that you're okay via email and text message; send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™, and request help from friends and family at your GPS location. Visit our website for more information about this device
Globalstar Canada
Hit the road, Jack
Over 15 years ago, Jack Industries designed and manufactured the Seat Jack. Today, we create 23 different passenger seat models to fit all snowmobile sport models, from 1992 and up. They’re easy to install, durable, comfortable and safe. Another invention of ours—Retrack Jack—offers a safe and secure option for loading your recreational machines. This system features telescoping ramps that fasten in the box of a pickup truck. The ramps, which are made of galvanized steel, can be adjusted for loading and unloading a snowmobile or a four-wheeled vehicle. They are designed with Teflon runners and anti-skid supergrips. Visit our website for more information about Seat Jacks, Retrack Jacks and all other Jack accessories.
Jack Industries
Welcome to Mobil in Canada
Marketed around the world, Mobil lubricants are globally recognized for performance, innovation and expertise. This reputation for quality has resulted in Mobil lubricants being trusted by many original equipment manufacturers worldwide.
Mobil has been breaking new ground in the development of lubricants for over 100 years. Mobil has developed lubricants for every market segment that have exceeded all corresponding technical requirements. Moreover, Mobil has earned a leading position in the synthetic lubricants sector.From cars to jet engines, paper mills to power plants, Mobil lubricants continue to develop new products and new solutions to help meet the demands of today’s customers
Kelowna, BC
Find Blue Book Values for bikes, ATVs, sleds and watercraft
Find Blue Book values for ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles and watercraft at www.canadianbluebook.com. Our parent company is All Seasons Publications Ltd., publishers of the Canadian Blue Book. With more than 65 years of combined experience, we want to share, educate and empower you to make informed decisions when buying or selling your powersports vehicle. Our site allows you to browse listings, post your ad, find retail and trade-in values and read industry news reports.
All Seasons Publications Ltd.
Westlock, AB
We've got the truck to haul your gear
When it comes to hauling your toys, you want nothing but the best, most reliable truck—one that has safety and style written all over it. At Westlock Motors, our experienced staff will help you choose the perfect truck to fit your needs. Browse through our selection of new and pre-owned vehicles from GMC, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Buick. When you've made your decision, our service department can install any trailering equipment and accessories you may require. Our dealership prides itself on offering personalized, efficient customer service. We invite you to stop by and discover the Westlock way.
Westlock Motors
When you store start with STA-BIL
STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer is specially formulated to keep fuel fresh for quick, easy starts after storage. Normally, stored fuel can go bad in as little as 60 days, causing varnish deposits and corrosion to build up in engines; however, with STA-BIL's blend of scientific additives, fuel will stay fresh for up to two years (using twice the recommended dosage). It also cleans carburetors and fuel injectors, prolongs engine life and eliminates the need to drain fuel before storage. STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer can be used for all two- and four-stroke gasoline engines, including snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, boats, jet skis and other power equipment.
Gold Eagle Co
Kelowna, BC
Come play at the lake
Escape to Lake Okanagan Resort—just 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna, British Columbia. Beautiful accommodations nestled on one mile of waterfront and 300 acres of mountainside parkland along the shores of Okanagan Lake. Here, the choices of activities are endless while enjoying your getaway. Picture yourself on a wonderful lakeside holiday with your family, or cuddled up for a tranquil retreat with someone special. Unwind on the golf course after a business meeting or ride into the sunset. Celebrate the wedding of your dreams in western Canada's picture-perfect, all-season playground. Whatever you're looking for in a getaway, Lake Okanagan Resort has it
Moose Jaw, Sk
Work hard, play hard.
At Reflections Of U we live by our moto, WORK HARD PLAY HARD, so when it's time to play we want the best parts and accessories at the best price. From Winterwear by Choko, HMK , and CKX to Performance Parts by SLP, Speedwerx and PSI, we can get you what you want when you need it. We also carry a great selection of used snowmobiles, dirt bikes, ATV's and Motorcycles. Looking for a vintage sled or parts? We do that too. So check us out.
Reflections Of U
