A CRUISER CELEBRATION
Our brand-new Land Cruiser 79 Namib – brought to the desolate island on a specially-constructed raft – was the first vehicle to make a tyre track on the abandoned isle since the Landie was left behind nearly 45 years ago to quietly rot away under the blazing desert sun and howling winds.
The visit to the forsaken island – a peninsula off the southern Angolan coast until a violent storm severed it from the mainland in 1962 – was a highlight of Toyota’s tour to this remote part of Angola to celebrate the cumulative global sales of 10 million Land Cruisers.
The area was also specifically chosen for the introduction of the Namib Special Edition, based on the Land Cruiser 79 double cab V8 model, as the Angolan town of Namibe forms the northern-most point of the oldest desert in the world.
BAIA DOS TIGRES
The sad tale of Baia dos Tigres continued after the catastrophe of 1962. The storm also sheared the water pipeline from the Cunene river mouth (it was officially opened the previous year) leaving the unfortunate people working in the fish factories on the island even more isolated,
It was a sad sight, pausing next to the sand-swept remnants of the last vehicle that roamed the deserted ghost island of Baia dos Tigres (Bay of Tigers) off the southern Angolan coastline. Exposed and forlorn, all that was left of the once-proud Landie Series III, was part of its chassis and some aluminium body panels. as their freshwater supply was again completely cut off.
Still, they remained, and ’Tigres (its name apparently originated from the stripes formed by sediment on the dune massif on the Namib coastline, although some maintain it was due to brown hyenas scavenging the coast being mistaken for tigers) depended on regular visits by boat to replenish its water supply.
A couple of Land Rovers also remained on the island and was used until 1975 when, on the eve of Angolan independence from Portugal, the population of Saint Martinho dos Tigres was evacuated from the island. The fish factories were abandoned but some equipment and most of the vehicles were salvaged.
Nowadays Saint Martinho dos Tigres is a ghost town reminiscent of Kolmanskop near Lüderitz in Namibia – its colonial-style buildings, including the imposing Saint Martin chapel, standing forlorn and forgotten along a single, cemented street to form a surreal, post-apocalyptic picture.
MASTERS OF AFRICA
While Land Rovers were in Africa since the late 1940s, the Cruiser legacy on the continent only
started in 1958 when eight Toyota Land Cruiser FJ25 vehicles were exported to, yes, you guessed it, Angola. Over time, exports were extended to Nigeria and Cameroon and in 1971, a single batch of twelve FJ-45 pick-ups were imported to South Africa.
Tracing a lineage back to 1951, the Cruisers were utility vehicles devoid of creature comforts, and basic in terms of specification. Produced in multiple variants, their rugged construction, reliability and durability empowered customers in Africa, and around the world, to conquer any terrain that presented itself.
Now, they are found in the harshest conditions, at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, and serving as transport, supply and expedition vessels in Africa, earning themselves the Masters of Africa title. Consisting of the 70-series, the Prado and the 200 the range has proven popular locally as it is perfectly suited to the varied terrain, outdoor lifestyle and remote settings Mzanzi offers.
The new, special edition Namib – outfitted with an array of utility-enhancing accessories, including a heavy-duty nudge bar and headlight protectors, tubular rear step with integrated tow bar, protective load bin skins, heavy-duty interior seat covers and a roof console – presents a turn-key package for serious off-road enthusiasts.
NAMIB DERIVATIVE
On our tour two of these special derivatives led the Cruiser convoy from Flamingo Lodge, close to Namibe, on a challenging route to visit some old Cuban storage bunkers in the desert and the Red City rock formation in the Iona National Park.
The infamous Doodsakker (Acre of Death) coastal track (only accessible during spring tide) was also conquered before the intrepid group made a 10-kilometre open sea crossing by rubber dingy to Baia dos Tigres. After again crossing the Doodsakker
– scary, as this time it was at night – the convoy set off for Lubango the next day.
Close to Lubango, the Cruisers drove the spectacular Serra da Leba pass, at an elevation of 1,845 m one of the famous hairpin roads in the world. According to legend, the pass, built in 1970, was designed by a Portuguese woman who died after she viewed it on the very day the project was finished.
After this amazing celebratory tour, it was clear that southern Angola, particularly the coastal region and the northern reaches of the Namib, is certainly worth a visit. The age-old rock formations are spectacular, the Welwitschias huge and the vistas unforgettable. And to ensure you enjoy a trouble-free journey over some of the roughest terrain imaginable, consider taking a Land Cruiser.