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TRANS-AFRICA HOVERCRAFT EXPEDITION 1969-70 |
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41 members (many for only part of the journey). A 5000 mile journey primarily by hovercraft through West and Equatorial Africa, jointly sponsored by the International Publishing Corporation (IPC) and The Geographical Magazine, which IOPC partly owned at the time. The accompanying scientists undertook a wide range of projects including studies of the rivers, flora, fauna and avifauna along the journey, and an evaluation of the use and design of the hovercraft. The late and greatly-respected Ronnie Harrison-Church was director of geographical research. Prince Philip was the project patron. Countries visited: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Zaire (Congo). River route: Senegal, Niger, Benue, Logone, Lake Tchad, Chari, Ubangui, Congo. At the conclusion of the expedition in Zaire, the British Army took over the hovercraft and shipped it to the Ivory Coast for trials in heavy surf. The craft was wrecked and ended up in small pieces near Abijan. |
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