Home / Lifestyle / Three Wheels, 14,000 Miles: London to Africa in a Reliant Robin
Three Wheels, 14,000 Miles: London to Africa in a Reliant Robin
25 Apr
Summary
- Two friends drove a Reliant Robin across 22 countries covering 14,000 miles.
- The car, named Sheila, faced multiple breakdowns and dramatic route challenges.
- The journey concluded in Cape Town after over 120 days of travel.
An improbable journey from London to Cape Town was recently completed by two adventurers, Ollie Jenks and Seth Scott, in a 1990s Reliant Robin. This quirky, three-wheeled vehicle, nicknamed Sheila, traversed approximately 14,000 miles through 22 countries, a feat that challenged its very design.
Over four and a half months, Sheila faced constant mechanical failures, including a gearbox issue in Ghana and engine trouble in Cameroon. The duo also navigated dangerous political climates, with the route including regions experiencing attempted coups and airstrikes, necessitating military escorts in some areas.
Against all odds, and with the help of strangers and online enthusiasts, Jenks and Scott finally arrived in Cape Town. The battered but triumphant Reliant Robin, a testament to duct tape and determination, has been retired to the London Transport Museum.
