DATES:

The Good, The Bad & The Fugly / Badlands Weekender: 17th -19th October 2025
Mojácar Music Mile: 21st – 25th October 2025

Fade In: Dust, Gunsmoke and Diesel

The opening shot isn’t digital. It’s real. Sunlight knifing through the dust, the dry rumble of tyres on gravel, the scent of diesel wafting somewhere in the heat haze. This isn’t cosplay. This isn’t Comic-Con in camo. This is The Good, The Bad & The Fugly aka Badlanders Weekend—an unholy alliance of campers, overlanders, bikers and desert rats, all converging on the most surreal venue in Europe: MiniHollywood Oasys…in Spain’s Tabernas Desert.

It’s not a dream. It’s not even new. It’s a revival.

Because before there were influencers and Instagram filters, there were men in dusters and wide-brimmed hats, squinting into the sun and staring down the devil. And they did it right here—amidst the scrub, the rocks, the bones of old movie sets long since left to rot.

Until now.

In October 2025, this land rides again.

A Fistful of Footage

They call it MiniHollywood. But don’t let the name fool you—it’s not a pretend playground. This is where cinema icons were forged in sand and sweat. A place where a director could blow up a bridge, ride a hundred horses through a canyon, or stare down a man with a pistol and a past.

The Tabernas Desert is officially Europe’s only true desert. A cracked, sun-baked wilderness that looks more like Arizona than Andalusia. Which is exactly why Hollywood came here.

Spaghetti Westerns made this place immortal. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. For a Few Dollars More. Once Upon a Time in the West. You don’t just visit these places—you step into them.

But it wasn’t all six-shooters.

– Lawrence of Arabia burned across these dunes.
– Indiana Jones galloped through these gullies.
– Exodus, How the West Was Won, Conan the Barbarian—all rolled cameras here.
– Game of Thrones too, for the younger set.
– Even Doctor Who for the episode A Town Called Mercy. If you know, you know.

And at the heart of it all stands MiniHollywood Oasys.

MiniHollywood Oasys: No Mirage

The venue isn’t a backdrop. It’s the main stage. Saved from the wrecking ball by a far-sighted owner, MiniHollywood is a working Western town, complete with dirt roads, swinging saloon doors, and stagecoaches that still roll.

This isn’t a ghost town overrun by tumbleweed. It’s fully alive—especially in October.

Expect live shows:

• Cowboy shoot-outs in the main square
• Can-can dancers in the Yellow Rose Saloon
• Horse stunts, Wild West storytelling, and fire-lit evenings that crackle with both nostalgia and new stories

It’s not just entertainment, though—it’s home base.

Campers and overlanders will have full access to:

• Dedicated camping areas with proper facilities
• Bars, cafés and restaurants serving cold drinks and hot food
• Fire pits for swapping road stories long after sunset
• A trader and exhibitor zone with gear, rigs, upgrades, and oddball items you never knew you needed

Whether you arrive in a Defender with mud on the door seals, a van kitted out with all the comforts of home, or on an adventure bike laden with panniers, you’ll find a space to park, camp, and connect. You don’t need a film degree—just a sense of humour and a tank of diesel!

East to Mojácar: Guitars After Gunfights

When the dust settles and the echoes of gunfire fade, the convoys roll on. From the scorched ochres of Tabernas to the blues and golds of the coast. The next chapter unfolds in Mojácar, a hillside village with a Moorish heart and a rock’n’roll soul.

We call it the Mojácar Music Mile—but it’s more than a pub crawl.

It’s a celebration. A finale. A seafront symphony strung together by surf, tapas, and five nights of live music in beachfront bars and backstreet dives. Rock, folk, flamenco, jazz—whatever moves your boots.

Each venue competes for your vote. You’re the judge. The result? One band takes home the crown. The rest? They take your applause.

Treasure Island Beach: X Marks the Spot

Before the music kicks off, there’s the Treasure Hunt at Treasure Island Beach. Yes, that’s the real name. And yes, Disney reportedly filmed Treasure Island here back in 1950, long before Hollywood had CGI or guilt.

The beach isn’t easy to find. The track is bumpy, steep, and just ambiguous enough to make you question your navigation skills. Perfect.

Some come for the hunt. Some for the view. Some just want to be able to say they made it. But everyone leaves with something—even if it’s just sand in their boots and an unshakable grin.

There’s rumour of actual treasure. Gold nuggets? Maybe. More likely beer tokens and bragging rights. Either way…worth the ride.

Mojácar Magic and Mayhem

This isn’t just the wind-down. It’s the payoff.

After the heat and dust, Mojácar is pure contrast—palm trees, whitewashed walls, rugged tracks, and the kind of sunsets that make you want to toast someone, anyone. You’ll find wild camping by the beach, low-key campsites, boutique hotels tucked into the hills, and bars that haven’t shut since the ’80s.

By day, the options are as scattered as your gear after a night in the saloon:

• Hit the off-road trails and put your tyres to work
• Take a quad or buggy up into the ridgelines
• Go dolphin spotting. Or flamingos, if you’re into the weird and pink
• Try “car golf” on a defunct coastal golf course, if you fancy hacking around in low range with no rules

Then there’s Hog Watch—which is exactly what it sounds like. Mojácar’s own wild boar whisperer will lead a silent vigil for the pigs. You couldn’t make this up.

And if you need a breather, Mojácar Pueblo—just a short drive inland—is one of Spain’s most beautiful villages. Cobbled streets, Moorish history, and enough elevation to give you a new perspective on your hangover.

Why This Isn’t Just Another Event

Because it’s not polished. It’s not packaged. It doesn’t care how many followers you’ve got, or whether your paint job matches your fridge magnets.

It’s part cinematic tribute, part community gathering, part fever dream. You bring your rig, your sense of humour, and your favourite flask. We bring the dust, the music, the treasure, and the trail.

It’s a nod to the films that raised us, the road trips that shaped us, and the idea that getting there is still half the fun.

No brands shoved down your throat. No glossy pitches. Just a convoy of like-minded misfits heading for the same horizon.

So. Saddle Up.

You don’t need a Colt .45 or a clapperboard. You just need a vehicle that runs, a decent sense of direction, and a hankering for the absurd.

The West is calling. The roads are long. The campsites are dusty. The music is loud. And somewhere out there—between Sad Hill Cemetery and Mojácar—is the kind of story you’ll still be telling when your boots are worn through.

See you in the Badlands!

Some legends are real. Some are retold around the campfire. We like both.

TICKETS FROM UK

TICKETS FROM EUROPE

The post Save the Date: Convoys, Cowboys and Rock’n’Roll appeared first on overland-europe.

Meanwhile, I sat in Cologne. A window in front me framed the damp resignation of German spring—wet concrete, bare trees, and a sky the colour of slate. My coffee had gone cold (again).

That’s how it began.

I hadn’t invited Rebecca on for a polished PR chat. I wanted to understand how a half-crazy, half-genius idea like Dachzeltnomaden—Germany’s roaming tribe of rooftop tent fanatics—grew into a full-blown subculture. I wanted to hear how she and co-director Thilo Vogel turned a Facebook group into a movement, how they built a business around sleeping on cars, and how you keep momentum when the wind won’t let up.

But mostly, I just wanted a real conversation.

She gave me one.

Meet Rebecca, Director and Firestarter

You don’t get the sense Rebecca set out to lead anything. She sounds more like someone who says yes to an idea, then realises too late that the idea has a life of its own—and now she’s holding onto its tail, trying to steer.

She joined Dachzeltnomaden early, back when it was just Thilo and a loose bunch of gear-heads and wild campers with tents on their roofs and mud on their boots. Back then, it wasn’t a movement. It wasn’t even a plan. It was a question Thilo lobbed into the internet: Are there others like me out there?

There were. Plenty.

The first meet-up—what they later called Europe’s first rooftop tent gathering—was barely organised, barely funded, and somehow unforgettable. Rebecca helped pull the pieces together. She handled social media, lent a hand with logistics, and by the following year, she was fully in.

Not as an employee. Not even as a formal partner at first. Just someone who kept showing up.

Now she’s one of two directors, steering an outfit that runs festivals, builds semi-permanent tent villages, coordinates thousands of members across multiple platforms, and still manages to keep the firepit vibe alive. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident—and it sure as hell doesn’t happen without a few breakdowns along the way.

“Why Not?”—The Origin of the Dachzeltnomaden

Some people build communities. Others stumble into them.

Back in 2017, Thilo wasn’t chasing followers or revenue. He just wanted to know if he was alone. Rooftop tents were still a fringe curiosity in Germany—strapped to Land Rovers, bolted to old Toyotas, perched like gull’s nests on the roofs of muddy vans. Not quite camping. Not quite overlanding. But definitely something.

So he did what people do: he created a Facebook group and asked the digital void if anyone else out there was strapping canvas boxes to their roof and calling it freedom.

They answered.

What followed wasn’t a business plan. It was a gathering. A meet-up. A proof of life. People came, shared beers, swapped ideas, compared tents, and tried not to fall off their ladders in the dark. It was messy. And it worked.

Rebecca was there early—organising, improvising, fending off chaos with duct tape and intuition. By 2018, she was all in.

There was no office. No five-year plan. Just two people, a growing crowd, and a sense that something was happening that they couldn’t quite control. What began as a shared interest quickly became a shared identity.

Beyond the Tent: From Events to Ecosystem

Somewhere along the way, it stopped being a weekend hobby.

Now it’s a full-blown ecosystem.

The numbers are slippery, depending on who’s counting, and how; but they go like this: over 50,000 in the Facebook group, 70,000+ on Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp groups, events with 2,000 people showing up in a field to talk tents and torque wrenches. What started as a “hey, is anyone else into this?” has grown into one of the most vibrant outdoor communities in Germany.

But it’s not just events. It’s infrastructure.

There’s a full-time team—five core staff, not counting Rebecca and Thilo—and an extended crew of around 20 volunteers who step in when the camps go live. They run social, manage tech, negotiate with campsites, deal with sponsors, and somehow still find time to answer newbie questions about roof load limits and ladder lengths.

And then there are the Dachzeltdörfer—rooftop tent villages. Imagine treehouses without the trees. Fixed wooden platforms. Roof tents bolted into place. Some in the forest. Some in maize fields. Some on floating pontoons in the water. One sits tucked into the dunes of Amrum, where no vehicles are allowed but the tents are waiting anyway, like secret hideouts for grown-up kids who never stopped camping.

They’re not gimmicks. They’re test labs. Before dropping three grand on a rooftop tent, you can go spend a night in one—bring the family, drink by the fire, see if your spine agrees with the sleeping pad. That was the idea. That you should feel it before you buy it. Turns out, a lot of people agreed.

And because this is still Germany, and someone has to keep the spreadsheets tidy, they’ve turned it into a franchise system. Partnerships with campgrounds, standardised setups, even add-on pitches for people bringing their own tents. It’s clever. And it works.

Spanners, Sponsors & Spaghetti Logistics

Ask anyone who’s tried to scale a community, and they’ll tell you: there’s a point where passion turns into paperwork. And it doesn’t always happen gently.

In their early years, Rebecca and Thilo did what all stubborn visionaries do. They overcommitted. In one year, they ran ten events. Ten. Five of them were non-profit—just for the love of it, the buzz of it, the wide-eyed thrill of pulling something improbable off with zero sleep and half a plan.

They ran the website. Managed social. Built the Dachzeltdörfer. Slept in vans. Lived off firelight and Wi-Fi. Somehow, they didn’t implode.

But they came close.

COVID, ironically, saved them. The lockdowns hit pause on the chaos. Events were off. Travel was out. And for the first time in years, they had space to think.

“We were running on 24/7 mode,” Rebecca told me. “It was insane. Now we’ve got full-timers capped at 35 hours a week. Work-life balance actually means something.”

And it shows.

Out of the COVID fog came something more stable. More sustainable. They restructured. Diversified income. Turned Dachzeltdörfer into franchise deals that could weather storms. Dialled in their event model. Took a scalpel to the madness. Not to kill the spirit—but to make sure it didn’t burn itself out.

They still run on chaos, of course. Just better managed chaos. With contracts and insurance and enough toilet facilities to handle 2,000 people and a slip-and-slide.

And sponsors? Yes, they play a part—but not in the old-fashioned, logo-smearing way. Manufacturers can book ad space on the site or socials. But inside the community itself? Strict rules. No spam. No brand hype. No special treatment. Even the brands know it—if they want to know what’s going wrong with their gear, they’d better lurk quietly in the comments like everyone else.

Italy, Visibility & the Future

Dachzeltnomaden isn’t just a German thing anymore.

They’ve held events in Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands—and now, for the first time, they’re heading into Italy. Not as tourists. As co-hosts. Partnering with the Italian rooftop tent community to create something that’s not just a German export with better coffee.

Sure, 90% of the tickets so far have been sold to Germans. But the intent is there—to build something rooted in collaboration, not colonisation. That matters.

“We didn’t want to be the loud Germans rolling in and taking over,” Rebecca said. “So we reached out. And they said yes.”

That shift—from local to international, from community to network—runs parallel to another push: visibility. After a year of rebuilding the website from the inside out, this year’s mission is SEO. Not the flashy kind. The useful kind. The kind that puts answers at the top of the search results because they’re good, not because they’re crammed with keywords.

“I want people to find us because what we offer is worth finding,” Rebecca said.

There’s talk of YouTube collaborations. DIY tutorials. Gear walkthroughs. Even AI is on the radar. Not just for the sake of it—but to help distil years of community knowledge into something searchable and sharp.

But the core remains the same: real info, real people, real-world experience.

And that’s what sets them apart. It’s not just about tents. They’re building a culture—one that values curiosity over clicks, conversations over conversions.

The Big Camp in May

If you want to understand what Dachzeltnomaden really means, don’t scroll. Show up.

From May 22nd to 25th, their flagship event takes place—2,000 people, one giant camp area, and not a dull patch of grass in sight. It’s a collision of vans, tents, trucks, families, loners, DIY obsessives, Instagram escapees, muddy dogs, actual children, rooftop gear-heads, and the kind of people who show up with a beer in one hand and a socket set in the other.

It’s called the Dachzeltnomaden Festival. But that’s underselling it.

There are workshops, talks, and a full-blown Händlermeile—a vendor strip where you can test tents, poke around new accessories, or haggle over gadgets you didn’t know you needed. There’s food—real food—not just limp bratwurst and pre-packed pasta, but real trucks, with real flavour. There’s a kids’ area. There’s a giant water slide. There are lectures and late-night fires. There’s even a “creative corner” where someone might be selling honey next to a table of essential oils and handmade knives.

And there are toilets. Proper ones. With showers.

You don’t need a rooftop tent to come. Hell, you don’t even need a tent. Just bring some curiosity, maybe an open mind, and you’ll be fine.

Rebecca calls it a family reunion of people who’ve never met.

And she’s not wrong.

The thing is, Dachzeltnomaden isn’t about tents. It never was. It’s about what happens when you step out of your daily grind, and meet other people doing the same.

The gear will change. The platforms will evolve. The SEO campaigns will come and go.

But the feeling? The buzz of standing in a field full of strangers who feel like old friends?

That’s the bit they’ve nailed. And that’s why they’ll still be here when the next big camping trend has packed up and gone home.

DACHZELTNOMADEN

The post Tents, Tribes, and the T-Shirt Revolution: A Conversation with Dachzeltnomaden’s Rebecca Becker appeared first on overland-europe.

This was at a time when soft-shell tents dominated the market, with most of them still employing many features adopted from much earlier generation products. Hard-shell rooftop tents had been around for a while, but had yet to make a significant impact on the market. So, it was more of a gut feeling than anything else that led Femke to disregard popular demand and focus on developing hard-shell tents more adept at fulfilling her own needs.

Femke was working in advertising but, even though she enjoyed her job, she felt the industry was becoming more superficial and it was time to change direction professionally. The thought of spending more time outdoors and travelling further afield certainly fuelled her ideas regarding a new tent business, and she embraced the challenge by setting out her first design.

MILESTONES

2014 The first prototype arrived: a blue tent with a fibreglass clamshell. The concept was good except for the fibreglass, which didn’t fulfil Femke’s expectations in regard to recycling.

2015 The initial design evolved to include improved ventilation and an ABS clamshell was specified. The next, sand-coloured, prototype was produced and shipped.

2016 The first twenty-foot container filled with commercial products arrived in the Netherlands, sales were recorded, and a series of tests were completed in hot and cold climates across mainland Europe and Scandinavia.

2017 Just as the company prepared to hit the button for mass production, a new manufacturing partner had to be found. This was actually a blessing in disguise, because the new partner brought innovative ideas to the table such as modified gas struts which improved user experience.

2018 The business developed its own dynamic, the hybrid tent design attracted customers, and the product range grew to include new designs and colours.

2020 Demand flew through the roof in response to COVID restrictions and changes in travel preferences. By the end of April, sales had completely diminished the stock for the year and new container loads were rushed through the factories who were eager to provide support under these extraordinary conditions. Demand for hard-shells grew exponentially compared to their soft-shell counterparts. Enquiries poured in from across Europe which, in turn, triggered expansion of the international distribution network.

“It was great to see sales skyrocket through online sales, but we missed the personal contact with our customers.”

2024 To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Femke and Tim are introducing their brand-new aluminium Khosi family of tents which represents a further improvement on the already widely popular checker plate clad ALU-Khosi.

A noteworthy feature is the ABS shell which has been treated to an upgrade in the form of a Raptor coating. Careful attention is paid to surface preparation and priming so that the finished product can better withstand temperature fluctuation and the mechanical rigours of driving through undergrowth and under overhanging branches. Extensive exposure to extreme real-life climatic conditions and SGS testing completed the rigorous development programme.

Today, femkes Rooftop Tents comprise the largest selection of hybrid tents offered by a single brand. Whether for one or two adults, or for families, the range includes many styles of products to suit individual requirements and the type of car customers may have—it doesn’t always have to be a 4×4.

Forthcoming events: Abenteuer & Allrad 2024, stand no. T10

FEMKESROOFTOPTENTS.COM

The post Celebrating 10 years of adventure – femkes Rooftop Tents have come a long way appeared first on overland-europe.

Unlike the majority of companies producing injection-moulded products, Markus set his sights from the outset on local manufacture. Design is essentially in-house and component manufacture is largely within a 50-kilometre radius of the head office and showroom, other than some components which are sourced in the south of Germany and a silicone membrane that is imported.

Markus enjoys travelling to remote areas and knew he had to find a viable alternative that would alleviate the chemical toilet related problem of having to regularly visit dump stations. Research led him to the well-established Scandinavian solution of compost toilets and an idea was born. He registered the website meinetrenntoilette.de as a sales platform for existing brands, learned form the pros and cons of those products, and listened to his customers. With all the knowledge he accumulated, it was only a matter of time before the TRELINO brand was founded with its own lineup of products which has now evolved into three product lines: Origin, Timber and Evo—plus a DIY kit for the discerning customer who needs something more unique and tailored to their specific needs, but more on that later.

ORIGIN

As the name indicates, this is the range that started it all. The main body is made of PE plastic and finished with a sturdy wooden lid. The range includes three sizes: S, M and L.

Whereas S is available in either white or anthracite, M and L are supplied in anthracite only.

TIMBER

The name is a bit of a giveaway. Other than the internal components, the body, lid and seat are all made from aesthetically designed birch wood and finished with an HPL coating. Whereas the not-so-clinical appearance trumps from a visual point of view, the wooden materials do make this range approximately twice as heavy as the purely plastic alternatives. Something to keep in mind if your vehicle has a weight problem.

Available in three sizes, S, M, and L, the most compact of the three is also available as a self-assembly kit.

EVO

This is the most refined lineup. Available in white or anthracite plastic, the lid is soft closing and the separator/seat component is more ergonomic. Materials used are ABS plastic.

Also available in three sizes, S, M and L.

INSTALLATION

TRELINO customers are about as diverse as they come. Some drive vans and trucks, some have tiny houses, others have garden sheds. And then there is the outdoor sporting fraternity who carry their TRELINO in the boot of their car for those moments when you simply have to go, but aren’t comfortable with disappearing into the woods with a shovel.

With the variety of sizes, materials and finishes, it’s fair to say there is probably a TRELINO model for every application and ambience.

As far as 4×4 drivers are concerned—and by that I mean the likes of the Land Rover, Toyota and G-class brigade—then the S size is the most practical candidate. And while you’re thinking about it, a sturdy wooden lid is a must if you happen to use your TRELINO as a step when getting something off the roof.
NOTE: At the time of writing, there is a new product in the final throes of development which is even more suitable for 4×4 drivers. Downsized, it will be lighter and more likely to fit into the confines of the vehicle. Watch this space for updates and a full detailed review in the near future.

CUSTOM-MADE

There are times when off-the-shelf products just don’t cut it. Well, TRELINO have gone the extra mile and provide the most important components individually.

If you have limited space or need something to fit seamlessly into your self-built interior, then a short talk with TRELINO’s staff will help you establish what you need. They won’t build it for you, but If you’ve gone to the lengths to create the rest, then building your own custom-made compost toilet won’t be a problem because the complex components and accessories are, indeed, off the shelf.

FUNCTION

The components and functionality of all the different models are essentially identical. If composting toilets are new to you, the principles are simple:

• The separator divides liquids, which travel through a syphon and silicon membrane into a canister, and solids which fall into a bucket lined with a plastic bag.
• The silicon membrane allows liquids to flow down into the canister and prevents spillage if you’re travelling on a bumpy road or off pavement. The urine canister has a solid screw-on lid for when you need to carry it and empty it down a toilet, for example. If you decide to empty a full canister of urine into the wild, consider tipping at least the same amount of water on top because otherwise the concentrated nitrogen content will do more damage than good.
• The bucket for solids is lined with a plastic bag. Before use, it’s advisable to put in a couple of handfuls of sawdust or a similar drying agent. After use, another couple of handfuls of drying agent are strewn on top to speed up the drying process which is vital to minimise any unpleasant smells. When the bag is full, it can be tied and deposited in a residual garbage container.

AVAILABILITY

TRELINO distributes their products across most of Europe; in the US they have their own distribution infrastructure, and they will gladly ship to anywhere else in the world.

If you’re interested in learning more, visit the TRELINO website or, if you’re in Stuttgart between the 13th and 21st of January, 2024, then go and say hi in hall 7, booth no. 7A63 at the CMT exhibition.

FROM €299 | TRELINO

The post TRELINO compost toilets – when you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go appeared first on overland-europe.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little skeptical of the true intensity that lay ahead. In just a matter of minutes my skepticism would be put to rest. Floating through the soft and sandy two track with the roar of the engine reaching a new level, the steering wheel resisted any sort of instruction as we weaved our way into the bush. No sooner had the words “Be on the watch for elephants” left Anton’s mouth when my knees hit the dash of the Defender.

“Elle! Elle straight ahead!”

My eyes strained to focus as I looked through the windshield, only to see an adult female elephant charging directly at us. As if from a scene in Jurassic Park, Anton calmly said: “Do not move. At all.”

The soft click of my camera lens was all that I responded with. I watched in awe as she came to an abrupt halt, digging in her front heels and shaking the dust off her now fully deployed ears. A few seconds later and the whole encounter was over, leaving the convoy at a loss for words. As Anton put the car into gear again and slowly rolled past the elephant tracks, I had gained a whole new perspective on what the word “wild” meant in Southern Africa.

Pushing through kilometres of increasingly difficult terrain revealed just how important each member of this team would be in the hours and days to come. Karl, the resident optometrist for 4x4Outfar, along with his wife Adi, often held the group together with a mixture of caffeine and light-hearted banter. Keeping spirits up across the radio as the height of water crossings went from lug nut, to over-tire, and at times over the hood, or as they say in South Africa, “over the bonnet.” Cam, our fearless videographer, was often running barefoot at full speed back and forth between rigs to capture the true nature of what we were getting ourselves into.

The farther we crept into the wilderness, the more the road began to turn to mud, Bogging down our extremely well-equipped vehicles and creating hour-long rescue missions. Ivor, a skilful man of few words, and his daughter Megan, took up the role of leading our pack through unknown water. Our routine of “walking it” became an all too familiar occurrence when staring down the 50-meter watering holes on our route. At times we even made the decision to cut a new road alongside the standing water, only to find stubborn mud, stumps, and the occasional downed trees. Hour after hour we made our way through the bush, until a moment came that felt uncomfortably quiet. 90 kilometres into our push, with another 60 kilometres still ahead of us, the engine in Anton’s Defender came to a sputtering halt. We were officially stuck.

The sun was shining down on miles and miles of wilderness in every direction, and we were right in the middle of it. Noticing our journey had gone from a confident yet progressive struggle to a much more serious scenario, Anton reached for the satellite phone to send out an SOS.

Not knowing if help would make its way to us before sundown, we made our best effort to pull the Defender with a tow line through mangled bush road. Ultimately, we realised that the Defender had to be left behind. Grabbing only the bare essentials, we packed Anton, his wife Melita, and daughter Cayla into the remaining three vehicles and watched Anton’s Defender disappear into the bush through the rear view mirrors.

It was clear with one vehicle down, the stakes became higher at each water crossing. Knowing that if something else failed, our likelihood of getting out would be close to zero. Chatter continued to come across the radio as we raced the daylight. As we watched the soggy green landscape pass by, our eyes grew wide hearing the radio crackle. Adi’s voice came through with the words, “rigs on the horizon!” A wave of relief washed over the entire team. We were greeted soon after by two safari patrols sent out from a lodge to respond to Anton’s SOS.

Hopping out of our vehicles we shared a moment of pure gratitude with our new lodge companions. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Anton with his head buried in a well-deserved moment of emotion. Knowing our journey wasn’t over yet, Anton joined the safari convoy retracing our path to recover his beloved vehicle. Let’s just say that the radio was full of light-hearted jokes as we pressed on.

On the final leg of our trek to the other side of the Okavango Delta, we found ourselves in another pickle. The safari patrol leading the way home fell to the same fate as we had so many times earlier. Wheels buried and high-centred in the mud. This was almost routine for them, and we watched the locals demonstrate their seemingly effortless recovery skills. In a fraction of the time we would have spent ourselves, they used the surroundings to their advantage and were back in action. As fate would have it, Anton’s Defender was able to be rebooted and he even managed to switch roles, giving an assist to the bogged-down safari patrol… Something I don’t think he’ll let any of us forget any time soon.

The rest of our community vision work with 4x4Outfar went off without a hitch. Each village we were able to visit and provide testing would become a testament to the resilience only to be found in a team that is truly committed to its mission. When all was said and done, this trip would see the 4x4Outfar team provide vision testing for over 2,000 children, and distribute 86 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to some of the most deserving and compassionate communities I’ve ever encountered.

On the return trip to the airport, Anton expressed how grateful he and his team have been for the love and support they’ve received from the iKamper community around the world. How much it means to them to be able to go out and do this work to Love People & Love Nature. I told him that one wouldn’t exist without the other.

As the plane took off, I got one last look down at that line in the wild I saw weeks ago. Returning my gaze to the seat back in front of me, I couldn’t help but write these few words down: “The wrong road for the right reasons…the legend of Anton Poplett.”

Text: Eric Gordon | Images: Eric Gordon, Cameron Stuart and courtesy of Anton Poplett

The post Anton Poplett – on the wrong road for the right reason (part 2) appeared first on overland-europe.

As I flew from Seattle to the unspoiled landscape of Botswana, I looked down and saw a single road cutting through one of the wildest places on Earth. Little did I know I would soon be standing in the middle of a road just like that one, thigh-deep in muddy water, wondering what I had gotten myself into.

I first connected with Anton close to a year ago. I had received an email about his work providing life-changing prescription eyewear to children in some of the most remote villages of Southern Africa. After a few calls back and forth with Anton, it was clear this was a story that needed to be heard. As a part of iKamper’s commitment to Love People & Love Nature, we dedicated our 2021 Giveback Giveaway to support Anton’s work with 4x4Outfar (4x4outfar.com). The iKamper community showed its true colours and donated more than US$20,000 to further 4x4Outfar’s work. Fast forward six months, and as I watched muddy water spill over the hood of Anton’s 2010 Defender, there was no doubt left in my mind…this guy, his team, and their positive impact on the community are the real deal.

Leading up to this trip, the word “wild” seemed to find its way into conversations with Anton quite regularly. As an avid adventure seeker in my own right, I took it with a grain of salt knowing that word can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I know now that I’d be leaving with a whole new understanding of “wild” by the time I left Botswana.

When I landed in Maun, Botswana after a leg-cramping 48 hours of airport travel, Anton was waiting to greet me with what I would come to know as South African hospitality. As we drove, Anton explained that possibly the most important piece of this adventure was situated right next to my luggage. A fully self-sufficient prescription eyewear inventory and diagnostic system that allowed him and his team to do what they do successfully. Over the next week and a half, I learned just how impactful this corrective eyewear system would be. As well as how essential the Skycamp 2.0 was to complete the 4x4Outfar team’s rigs.

We pulled up to the first school and established an order of operations that would become more and more efficient as each day of the trip passed.

• Step 1. Find the best-shaded area in the schoolyard to park our rigs. Almost always under massive trees in the middle of the property.
• Step 2. Measure out a four-meter distance from the side of our vehicles where eye charts were mounted. The classic ones you might recognise from your own childhood eye exams.
• Step 3. Greet the kids who have already spilled out of their classrooms with excitement, and separate them into lines with the help of the school teachers.

Starting with the large “E” at the top of the chart, a chorus of “Good!” and “Well done!” echoed throughout the schoolyard as the testing was underway. Followed by bursts of laughter and curiosity from children waiting in line. Eventually, a small group of children would form a new line for secondary testing.

This is when the real work begins. Often paired with a local teacher, Anton’s crew would take what they like to call the “You See” glasses, and gently fit them on a child’s face. USee glasses have one small opening for each eye with a dial on either side to adjust lenses and identify prescription strength needed. Once the initial confusion was sorted out, the children would turn the dial for each eye and watch as their world slowly came into focus for the first time. After a few minutes to set the prescription lenses into frames, we were handing the children a brand new pair of eyeglasses on the spot.

Like many youngsters, they were often shy at first and would calmly walk away, but as soon as they got back to their group of friends a big smile would appear on their faces and life would pick up right where it left off. Teachers at each school would share with us some of the struggles that certain students had been experiencing simply because they couldn’t see what was written on the chalkboard. Watching children struggle to discern even the largest letters on the vision chart, it hit home that they have been living with this issue every moment of every day. For many of us, an issue like this would be identified and dealt with at a very early age. 4x4Outfar’s work is giving these children the chance see clearly for the first time in their lives.

Anton and his team have been doing this work for close to four years now. They shared a particular story with me that was very similar to the schoolyard in front of me. On a previous trip, they helped a young boy with prescription lenses. After receiving his new glasses, he improved exponentially in school, and along the way even taught himself how to knit. Anton explained to me that over the past two years this young man was able to knit scarves and sell them to support his family. Eventually earning enough to buy himself a brand-new school uniform.

Stories like these, along with so many others, demonstrate the incredible ripple effect of this work. When a community of people comes together to spread love far beyond their borders, that is what it truly means to Love People & Love Nature.

Text: Eric Gordon | Images: Eric Gordon and Cameron Stuart

The post Anton Poplett – on the wrong road for the right reason (part one) appeared first on overland-europe.

Following a pilot event in 2022, the Overland Fest 2023 marks the launch of a new annual event held on the Pannonian Basin (Carpathian Basin), dedicated to overlanders, adventures and outdoor enthusiasts.

Steeped in history, the Pannonian Basin has attracted various peoples throughout the centuries including the Romans, Hasburgs, Ottomans, Huns and the Magyars, who established the Princiality of Hungary in 895.

The organisers took the decision to stage the Overland Fest 2023 toward the end of August to coincide with travellers returning from their summer holidays or setting out for an autumn adventure.

Located between Vienna and Budapest, adjacent to a nature reserve and in close proximity to some beautiful lakes, the venue is easy to find by entering 47.6678799, 18.3110601 into your GPS or, you can join one of two groups leaving from Budapest on August 25th and take an offroad trail to the festival ground.

FAMILY EVENT

Overland Fest 2023 is a family event. Besides a campground with showers and toilets, there are two swimming pools, a lake, where you can also swim, and a nature trail with planked walkways that take you across a protected swamp area.

If you’re quick, there are even a few huts to rent, if you prefer to sleep under a roof.

On August 27th, drivers and their cars can join a guided tour for some offroading.

During the evenings, live music and a roaring campfire make a central meeting point where visitors can swap ideas and share their overlanding plans and past experiences.

WORKSHOPS

There will be a series of workshops to improve your overlanding skills:

• Safe recovery
• Winching
• Offroad driving techniques
• First aid for overlanders
• and more

COMPETITIONS

Centred around topics covered by the workshops, there will be a number of competitions where participants can win useful overloading and off-road gear.

CATERING

If you’re in Hungary, you should expect to savour some of the country’s most traditional dishes alongside popular snacks.

There will even be a competition to determine who can create the best home-made goulash, paprika chicken, lángosch, and other Balkan specialities.

INEOS GRENADIER

INEOS GABLINI are bringing two Grenadiers with them for demonstration purposes and several new owners will be joining the presentation.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to take a closer look at the Built on Purpose 4×4, this is an excellent opportunity to speak to the experts and gain some first hand experience of the car in its natural environment.

PETS POLICY

Dogs are welcome, but should be kept under control at all times and on a short leash in public areas. Owners are responsible for clearing any messes pets may leave behind.

EARLY BIRD PRICING

For bookings made in July, costs are:

• 1 Car including two persons 18+: HUF 11000 / € 29,40*
• 1 person 18+, no car: HUF 2500 / € 6,70*
• Person under 18: free

Tickets at the gate: HUF 13000 / € 34,75*

*Euro prices are calculated at the valid exchange rate on the date of publication.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Kornel Müller, event organiser, explained to me that all proceeds from the Overland Fest 2023 will be donated to the Pediatric Center Tüzoltó Street Department of the Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine.

This hospital is one of the most recognised institutions in the country and is specialised in all kinds of pediatric care. In order to maintain the amazing service it provides to the children and their families, it is dependent upon donations and external support.

The proceeds donated by the Overland Fest will go in full directly to the hospital.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

If you are in the area anyway, or, if you haven’t yet fixed your holiday plans and would consider exploring Hungary, the Overland Fest 2023 promises to be a memorable event. In beautiful surroundings, you can stop for three days, meet like-minded travellers, learn new skills, savour local cuisine, and basically have a good time.

OVERLAND FEST 2023

The post Overland Fest 2023: A New Event in the Heart of the Hungarian Plain for Overlanders and Adventures appeared first on overland-europe.

The post 🔒 Living Legends: Tanja and Denis Katzer appeared first on overland-europe.