The Dakar Challenge

Ah, the Dakar Challenge! Or perhaps we should call it the real once in a lifetime adventure, the one that truly tests your mettle and your motor. Forget those fancy new fully loaded SUVs; you’re tackling 4400 miles of ever-shifting landscapes in a trusty (or perhaps not-so-trusty) old banger.

Picture this: your journey begins not with a fanfare, but with the familiar click of your own front door locking behind you. From there, the charming vistas of France and the sun-drenched roads of Spain unfold. But the real magic begins as you cross into the vibrant chaos of Morocco, its iconic cities pulsing with life.

Then comes the grand test: the sandy expanse of the Western Sahara and the seemingly endless desert of Mauritania. This isn’t a Sunday drive; this is a true test of endurance for both you and your unlikely steed with like minded people who began as strangers but ended as life long friends (especially those who helped dig and push you car out the desert sands)

Rhythms & Sunshine!

Finally, after navigating the laid-back rhythms of Senegal, the smiling Sunshine Coast of The Gambia awaits – a well-deserved reward at the end of an epic journey.

And all this in a vehicle that probably wouldn’t pass an MOT back home, all while supporting the fantastic work of the Rotary Club of The Gambia. You’re not just driving; you’re donating, you’re experiencing, and you’re creating memories (and probably a few roadside repairs) that will last a lifetime.

What could possibly go wrong? Well, that’s half the fun, isn’t it? It’s the unexpected detours, the camaraderie forged through shared breakdowns, and the sheer audacity of it all that makes the Dakar Challenge – the original Banger Challenge – an unforgettable experience.

Yearly participants age from a minimum of 17 to 87+ with little to no mechanical knowledge take part in this adventure of a life time in their trusty rusty old banger. Leaving in January every year the Dakar (also know as the Plymouth Banjul challenge) gets you away from cold, wet and miserable European weather and takes you to the nice, warm and sunny African shorts and t shirt weather. It should take 21 day from your front door to the finish line (if all goes top plan!). 

Taking in nice smooth roads, Broken roads, Non existent roads, dust tracks, corrugated dust (you’ll know it once on it) Mountain tops, Mountain passes, Gorges, deserts Sand, Soft sand, Beach sand an all the other stuff in between. All to be taken at a safe and sensible speed of course. This is not a rally or a race. It is a bunch of like minded people all driving in the same direction, all looking out for each other making sure you all make it to the end. With or without car. This is why it’s called a challenge!. Limited to 30 Vehicles