Out Of east africa

This odyssey is Run by one of the most experienced teams in the business: Rally Round’s events certainly don’t lack ambition, even for those after a challenge. Bhutan, New Zealand, Japan and Tibet have all been visited and traversed by the company, which follows the mantra that vintage and classic rallying should be exciting and enjoyable rather than just a test of endurance. Now it’s breaking new ground in setting up the first British rally to visit Ethiopia, in the horn of Africa.

The Ethiopian Adventure, taking place in November 2021, is the latest rally to be launched and another first for a UK organiser. It boasts a spectacular route that incorporates the Blue Nile, the castles in Gondar, the Simien Mountains, and Lake Tana to name a few.

Rally Director Liz Wenman said: ‘It is unbelievable how far Ethiopia has come since the images of the early 1980s. We can’t wait to rally with like-minded adventurers across this incredible country, taking in as much of the ancient landscape as possible.’

Starting and finishing in the capital of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s largest city, the route will cover approximately 4800km over 26 days and will concentrate on the amazing landmarks and sights, so will be a non-competitive event.

The rally follows the successful ‘template’ of the Trans-Himalayan Adventure, the only event to see westerners drive up and over the Himalayas in their own vehicles. It was so successful that Rally Round returns to the Himalayas with a new group of adventurers in April, starting in Chengdu, China, before driving across Tibet and into Nepal.

Rally Round is also planning to return to Japan for the second Samurai Challenge in April 2022, just in time for the cherry blossom season. This event, along with the inaugural Pure Mongolia Rally in May 2021, will have mild competition as well as giving entrants enough time fully to enjoy their surroundings.