2009 · INTO THE SAND · NORTH AFRICA
30 Jan – 22 Feb 2009
The Saharan Rally 2009
6,000 miles in 24 days. Half of them through the Sahara, alongside the Desert Bunnies and a rather more powerful Range Rover. The rally where you hesitate before eating a biscuit.
The Expedition
Into the Sand
Our second rally, and the debut of Red. 24 days from London to the deep Sahara and back, sharing dust and petrol with our friends the Desert Bunnies.
After the Mongol Rally 2007 we caught the road trip bug and decided to do it all over again. The Saharan Rally 2009 took us from London through France and Spain, across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco, and then south into Algeria and deep into the Sahara desert. 24 days, 6,000 miles, and more sand than we ever thought possible.
This was Red's first rally. The 1964 Land Rover we'd later run for Morocco 2010, Morocco 2012, Beijing 2014 and Morocco 2024 started her overland career here, alongside the Desert Bunnies team in their rather more powerful Range Rover. Red, 45+ years old and full of character, made it there and back. Mostly.
Explore
Dive In
9 Posts
Journal
Updates from the preparation days, the road south, and the Sahara.
19 Albums
Photos
Images from the road through Europe and down into the deep desert.
5 Videos
Videos
Rally footage from 2009. The era before smartphones.
~6,000 Miles
The Route
London to the Sahara via France, Spain, Morocco, and Western Sahara.
1964 Land Rover
Red
Red's first rally. A 40+ years old Land Rover, fresh off the starting line of overland life.
Fundraising
Mercy Corps
The Saharan Rally 2009 raised funds for Mercy Corps.