With a tuk-tuk across southern Africa

Imagine crossing the length of southern Africa, from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic, and back again, in a three-wheel tuk-tuk with an effective top speed of just about 69 km. Follow the incredible journey of Colin MacAdam on social media to stop imaging and see what it is like for yourself.Windhoek residents also have this weekend to catch up with Colin and his zebra-stripe-painted motorised three-wheeler before he continues his journey back from Swakopmund to Maputo early next week.My.Na Cars asked him about his continuing adventure.“I've done around 4350 km and have about 4 000 km to go back. I didn't know Namibia was so vast and diverse. I have met very friendly people and am enjoying it,” he said earlier this week.‘No limits’Zeb, the TVS King tuk-tuk, was bought in Maputo after being produced stock-standard in India with a basic specification of a two-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine able to produce 18,4 Nm of torque and a seven-litre fuel tank. According to Colin, apart from painting the Zebra stripes, all he did was install a dash cam, a Garmin positioning system, and a stereo to keep him company. Other modifications include the storage, which doubles as a speaker box, the awning on the back, and a 200-watt solar panel to power the National Luna 20-litre fridge/freezer through a Bluetti 1000-watt portable power station.“When I bought it in Maputo, where I live,I wanted to do the unthinkable to show there's no limit,” he said.Colin has done no mechanical alterations to the little go-getter; even the tyres have not been upgraded. The only other modification to the vehicle itself has been the addition of custom-made doors, which are not part of the original trike. Colin has also rigged it out for camping, though, and is able to carry his tent and his trusty kettle along for the ride.Colin started in Maputo late in February and headed out to Zimbabwe, up to Victoria Falls, before crossing Botswana to the Caprivi in Namibia on 18 April, before making his way down to Swakopmund and eventually heading inland again to Windhoek. He plans to return to Maputo from Windhoek, back again through Botswana and Zimbabwe.To all interested Namibians, fellow Africans and other followers of his adventure from around the world, Collin says: “My message is that the sky is the limit and that anything is possible.”

With a tuk-tuk across southern Africa

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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With a tuk-tuk across southern Africa

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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