Guy Deacon travels the length of Africa in his trusty Caravelle
In 2019, Guy Deacon CBE – a retired British Army Officer who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010 – embarked on an extraordinary African odyssey. On a mission to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease, the fastest growing neurological disease in the world, the solo overland journey took him from his home in Dorset to Cape Town, South Africa.
Covering the length of Africa, the route was one which Guy had dreamed of doing since his university days, but forty years on and with advanced Parkinson’s, the journey covering 18,000 miles and 25 countries was one of personal challenge, self-discovery and raising awareness, throughout Africa and beyond.
To embark on such a journey, Guy needed a ‘wagon’ that would act as the perfect partner, enabling adventure, while providing all the tools he needed for travel and resting. For this, he chose the trusty Volkswagen Caravelle 5.1 4MOTION, to fulfil his key criteria: capability, reliability and convenience.
- Capability - given that this was not a primarily off-road challenge, and much of the route would be paved, the vehicle’s capability was the key factor for Guy’s journey. The 4WD Caravelle (fitted with a winch, recovery ropes and a hi-lift jack) enabled Guy to traverse his way through difficult terrains.
- Convenience - the reason Guy was most compelled to choose the Caravelle was that, unlike other overland vehicles based on a pick-up or five-door body, Guy was able to live within the vehicle after moderation, providing security and comfort.
- Reliability - recognised for its reliability, and having had the ‘wagon’ carefully checked over, Guy was able to set off, confident of the Caravelle’s performance.
Despite a few bumps and mishaps along the way – including a forced hiatus during the 2020 Covid pandemic restrictions – Guy finally arrived in Cape Town in December 2022, after completing 12 months of overland travel.
Now two years on from his African odyssey, Guy has documented these experiences in his autobiography, Running on Empty, with a one-hour documentary following his extraordinary solo journey out on Channel 4, from Thursday 10th April: World’s Toughest Drive: An African Adventure.
You can read more about Guy’s remarkable journey here: https://www.guydeacon.co.uk/.
