Day 151: Abakaliki – Afi Mountain Drill Ranch

In the morning there is a little photo session with the sisters, a few kids and us, then we get started. The advantage of driving on Sundays is that quite a few of the checkpoints and barricades are not occupied. We're making pretty good progress.

We buy tomatoes, carrots, avocado, bananas and bread at a market and feel well prepared.

And then we get stuck on our journey for the first time. Our navigation system or whatever recommendation lets us take the southern entrance to the Afi Mountain Drill Ranch. Quite difficult, we touch down a few times, the car handles passages quite spectacularly on three wheels, and we slide.

Those passing by on motorbikes are sometimes heatedly and loudly discussing whether we should continue or not. And then we got stuck in a trail of water and mud and touched down. Two wheels don't get grip. So shovel away the clay soil under the car and put something under the tires, first wood, then the sandboards, which is the better idea. We have a handful of great helpers and at least as many offering advice. And then the trick of making the car rock – at some point the wheels grab and we're out. 

Everyone now agrees that this is not the right road for us to get to the Drill Ranch, it goes in from the north. So the whole way back, a good bit north and then another attempt. Rafael, one of our helpers, is accompanying us; he is at home in the town just before the ranch.

There is nothing left of our time buffer, it will be after five before we arrive. So just a quick introduction to the terrain from Zack. We take advantage of the brightness to quickly take a wonderful open-air shower and then eat our muesli, which was left behind at lunchtime. We thought we'd be there soon...

We lie in bed around nine, equally exhausted and excited and hot, listening to the sound of the rainforest around us.