Pre Departure Final Report

Introduction

The trans-sahara expedition is slated to commence in London on the 17th March 2003. This is the final pre-departure report of Mr Farhat Jah in London.

Timescale and Job allocation

As usual with any expedition that we have worked on, nothing is going to plan. We are awaiting carnet de passages from the RAC, film stock to arrive from Gurnsey, Team members to arrive from Holland and Brasil and finally we are waiting for the vehicle to appear from the garage.

In the mean time Mr Jah is using his time to conduct the following activities:

• Familiarise himself with his photo graphic and cine equipment

• Liase with Embassy of the republic of Algeria

• Buy final spare parts

• Re-build the www.trans-sahara.com web site with Mr Giles Wright in London

• Liase with the other members of the expedition.

• Buy tools and equipment

• Research the more remote areas which we hope to explore

Aims

The primary aim of this expedition is to navigate from the Bayswater road (or Otley) to the River Niger, on to Dakar and then get back to the Bayswater Road.

The Secondary aims of the expedition are.

• Photograph and film the journey.

• Study the geographic terrain we pass through

• Observe the societies, culture and traditions and of the communities we meet.

• Analyze the economic ability of each nation state with reference to future trade links with that country.

• Collect rock samples where appropriate

After the expedition has been completed a report will be made and a copy sent to the Royal geographic society for examination. It is hoped that this report will be able to assist anyone wishing to travel to or do business in the nations covered in the report.

Team members

At this time the permanent team consists of

• Mr Stuart Catling, British, Engineer
  - Role, Expedition Engineering officer, director of security, (EEODS) Navigator/Driver.
  
  

• Miss Cisca Zweirs Dutch, Anthropologist
  - Role: Anthropologist, European, Videographer and expedition Accountant/Driver
  
  

• Mr Farhat Jah, British, Adventurer
  - Role, Expedition Commander, Photographer, Navigator, Linguist, journalist, driver. Navigator/driver
  
  

• Miss Tao Doyle
  - Role: Expedition Chef, Photographer, Local Purchasing