The first milestone: getting Patrick on the road

Of all the things on the funding list, one matters more than the others, and we want to be honest about why we are prioritizing it: the vehicle.

Without a reliable 4×4, there is no business. Patrick can have all the permits, all the contacts, and all the experience in the world, but if he cannot take guests safely into the desert, none of it matters. Everything else flows from this one purchase.

We have been looking for the right vehicle for the past two months. The plan is a used Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series, single cab, diesel, between 2014 and 2018, with full service history. In Namibia, this is the standard for desert tourism. Mechanics know them inside out. Parts are available everywhere. They handle the conditions.

The current shortlist is three vehicles, all in Walvis Bay or Swakopmund. Patrick has inspected two of them himself. The third is being checked by a mechanic he trusts this week. Pricing is between N$240,000 and N$280,000, which converts to roughly 12,500 EUR to 14,500 EUR depending on the day’s exchange rate.

Once we cross 14,000 EUR raised, we move on the vehicle. From that point, the timeline shifts from fundraising to execution: registration, insurance, modifications, branding. Realistically, we want Patrick driving paying clients within four months of buying the truck.

We are at 8,400 EUR today. 5,600 EUR to go before we can move.

If you have been thinking about donating, this is the moment that matters. Every contribution between now and then puts the truck closer to Patrick’s name on the registration. Every recurring donor makes the buffer that comes after more comfortable.

Thanks for being here. We will keep you posted.