Transportation has changed the world in a tremendous way in that it has made contact with other countries much easier and it has made getting from point A to B much faster. But for the outdoor community, transportation has paved the way for exploration and looking into the unknown and meeting the wonders that reside there. Without a certain mode of transport, exploration wouldn’t be possible. With this in mind, we catch up with James and Mira Raley who just about a month ago, returned to the United Arab Emirates from their arduous year-long journey across the African continent. This is the story of the car that made their journey possible — the Honey Badger.
Where did the name “Honey Badger” come from?
James: It took a while to come up with a name. We eventually happened upon a YouTube video and it was very amusing and made us think about honey badgers. They are ridiculously tough, live in the African wild, and have a lot of character. That pretty much sums up what we were trying to achieve with the car, so we called her the Honey Badger.
Mira: The idea behind the name was that our trusted Land Cruiser will be able to drive through anything and persevere through the toughest situations we went through. Although we did have plenty of problems, the car got us home, so the name was very suitable.
Were there any other names you had in mind for the car?
James: El Basha or The Beast
Mira: We did not really have other names for the car. At one point a friend recommended “the beast” but that never really stuck. She was the honey badger all along!
Why this make and model?
James: Good question. We researched quite carefully through the internet and by talking to experienced friends. I was keen on a Land Rover because they are slightly better off-road with the new traction control, they look better and they are British (more or less). It finally boiled down to three irrefutable facts: (1) Land Cruisers are more reliable, (2) They are easier to repair in Africa and parts and servicing are cheaper and (3) They are cheaper to buy in the UAE.
Mira: We spent hours researching what car would be best for the type of trip we were doing and although there were plenty of choices out there, it came down to three options: a Land Rover 110 Defender, a Land Cruiser 78 Series and Land Cruiser76 Series. We ended up choosing the 76 series because it was more robust for 4X4 driving, and it was what was available to us at the time. Most people we met on the road with the Defender had difficulty finding parts in Africa, however for us that was never a problem.
Did you imagine how the trip would have been in a different vehicle? What would you have chosen?
James: In my opinion, the Land Cruiser 78 (often used as military troop carriers or ambulances) has similar performance to the 76 but is bigger. It is ideal for overlanding and can be turned into a comfortable home whilst still getting you everywhere you need to go. For me, the main appeal of the 78 is the space for a small living area inside where you can stay out of the rain and away from wild animals and insects.
Mira: Another change would be to choose a Diesel engine over petrol. Although we never really had much difficulty finding petrol, the cost of it was astonishing and a big chunk of our budget went to fuelling the car.
What were the first five things that you got for the Honey Badger and how did they contribute during the trip?
James:
Metal bumper from ARB: This allowed us to drive through thick undergrowth without worrying about damaging the car. It also holds the winch, hi-lift jack and additional LEDs lighting which are essential.
Water tank: There is no point in wasting valuable drinking water on washing dishes or showers, and this made a big difference. Ours was only 40 litres and I would probably choose 100 litres next time.
Vehicle tracking and satellite phones from SecureLocate: This gave us peace of mind throughout the trip, especially when we were out of mobile reception. Whatever the situation, we always had contact with the outside world, and friends and family could always see where our phones were and where the car was. Knowing that we could immobilise the car remotely if it was stolen was another significant advantage.
Roll cage: Thankfully not necessary during the trip, but after we rolled the car in the UAE eight months before we left, I insisted that we had one fitted. Rolling is much more likely whilst dune bashing in the UAE than off-roading in Africa. However, wherever it happens, it is good to know that there are a couple of inches of steel between you and the easily crushed roof.
Mira: We started on the exterior of the car first, so we spent a large chunk of money on the roof rack, roof tent, back and front bumpers and leaf springs. Everything on that list, except for the leaf springs, was from ARB and we loved their service and product quality. The leaf springs however, were a very bad buy and they deteriorated within weeks. We ended up having to replace them four times throughout the duration of the trip.
Having a robust exterior was extremely useful in very rough terrain, and our roof tent was probably one of our best buys as it was very easy to use, it lasted the entire trip and nothing could beat the size and comfort in that tent (especially since we added a mattress, duvet and pillows).
Given the chance, what would you have left behind and deemed as unnecessary equipment?
James: A linen suit and pith helmet, excessive shoes and clothes and mosquito nets.
Mira: We definitely over packed. James has a natural inclination to want to take everything, assuming that it might be useful sometime in the future. In some cases things turned out to be very useful, but in others it was more of a hassle having to lug around stuff we really did not use. Luckily we had family and friends come to visit us at different parts of the trip so we were able to send stuff back, otherwise we gave a few things away to people on the road. A list of things we did not need:
– Climbing equipment
– Lots and lots of clothes that we returned or gave away
– A Shower Tent that we never used
– More gadgets then we can handle (extra walkie talkies, extra torches, loads of cables and camera gear)
What’s the one piece of equipment you can’t imagine not having in the car?
James: Hi-lift jack. Sometimes the only way out of a situation is to lift the car, and this is the only thing that can do it anywhere.
Mira: There are a few essentials that we definitely could not survive without including recovery gear for the car, torches, and spare wheels.
What did you learn from the Honey Badger that you plan on applying on any future journeys?
James: Every vehicle has it limits, and it pays to know your car extremely well before you set off.
Mira: – Do not over pack! Take only the essentials and you will always manage. Buy Quality , spending more money in the initial stages would have saved us a bundle later on in the trip. If you are going to buy second hand, make sure every part of the car is checked thoroughly before going ahead (like the front diff in our case!)
Lastly, how has the Honey Badger grown onto you after a year of being on the road?
James: It is hard to answer this question truthfully without sounding materialistic, but she was our home, our harbour and our mobility for a whole year.
She is now parked in the garage awaiting expensive registration. Occasionally we take her out on short trips and we are immediately returned to our happy travelling zone. I will sit behind the wheel feeling completely content with a stirring sensation of adventure. I’ll glance over at Mira who will be smiling, and I know that she feels exactly the same.
Mira: The Honey Badger was our home for over a year and we have grown attached to it. Although at times we were sick and tired of things breaking down, it always managed to get us to where we needed to be. Even though we are unable to register it in Dubai as it is, we plan to keep it and use it as our camping/weekend car, and maybe take the time to re-do the interior so that it is better planned out to include a third member to the family!
Interview By: Keith Perena
Photos By: James and Mira Raley
