Media Articles

The following articles are either about Encounter Overland or mention it as part of the article.

1960s

19681108 Biggleswade Chronicle 8 November 1968	Long-range expeditions planned at Shefford	An article about the early Asia and Africa expeditions
1969 Autumn Vaculug International Review	India return on Duramolds	An article about early Asia expeditions with a focus on the performance of Duramold tyres
19690927 The Newcastle Evening Chronicle 27 September 1969	Live like a Lapp or catch a coach to Kathmandu	Part of the article is about the first EO Africa Southbound; and EO’s plan to offer expeditions in Southeast Asia

1970s

January 1970 (paper unknown)	Off on a trip that just ‘can’t be done'”
August 1970 The Geographical Magazine, August 1970	‘Into the Desert’ by Tom Stoppard.	(Referred to in the 1972 EO Africa Brochure)
19710505 Punch May 5, 1971	Bachelor Holidays	Spruiking the Asia overland to singles
19710514 The Trailfinder Edition 1, 14 May 1971	The Trailfinder Spring 1973 (Edition 5)	Encounter Overland mentioned on page 8
19711208 Canberra Times 8 December 1971	Australians Safe say tour firms	At the time of the India/Pakistan war – reporting overland travellers were safe
19711223 Kenyan Daily Nation 23 December 1971	Getting the Point in the Congo	about September 1971 Southbound Africa
Spring 1973 The Trailfinder	The Trailfinder Spring 1973 (Edition 5)	Encounter Overland mentioned on page 8
19731025 The Birmingham Daily Post 25 October 1973	Midland Woman dies in Turkish crash	Reporting the accident in Turkey involving an EO truck and the death of five expedition members. Those killed were Jennifer Martin, Mary Binning and Stephen Norris of the UK; an Australian (see next article) and an American.
19731025 Canberra Times 25 October 1973	Australians in smash	Reporting the accident in Turkey involving an EO truck and the death of five expedition members. The Australian woman killed was Miss Marion (last name unclear possibly Guy).
1974 The Trailfinder	Encounter in South America	An article by L/D Barry Thorne about crossing Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni salt lake – and breaking through the hard surface. See also Barry Thorne’s dossier and additional information from Peter Lechte
1975 Possibly May 1975	Behind the Scenes of Overland	Possibly draft article for Trailfinders Magazine about what’s behind the countdown to an overland expedition
19750911 The Highland Echo 11 September 1975	Local man conducts tourists on 11,000 mile South American safari	A story about L/D Bruce Davidson
1975 Overland Travel Monthly Vol2 No2	Overland Travel Monthly Vol2 No2 (complete magazine)	Many articles about overlanding including advertisements for Encounter Overland expeditions.
1975 Overland Travel Monthly Vol2 No3	Overland Travel Monthly Vol2 No3 (complete magazine)	Many articles about overlanding including advertisements for Encounter Overland expeditions. This edition includes a story by EO Leader/Driver Bob Sheldon about a small challenge on an Africa southbound which went through southern Sudan because Zaire’s borders were closed.
197605 Bedford Transport Magazine May 1976	The rough, tough overland holiday	An article about Encounter Overland published in Vauxhall’s industry magazine
19771127 Telegraph (UK) – Sunday Magazine 27 November 1977	Africa the Hard Way
1977 (Magazine not known)	Who’s Who in Overland	An article about Tony Jones, founder of Encounter Overland
Undated	Media Advertisement (undated)
19780302 Australasian Post 2 March, 1978	Africa – and Bust..!	An article by Leader/Driver Allan Townsing about Encounter Overland trans-Africa expeditions
19780326 The Sunday Telegraph 26 March, 1978	Scalping the Sahara	Crossing the Sahara as far as Kano on an EO expedition

1980s

Trailfinders Magazine (the early 1980s)	Himalayan River Running
19800910 Jobs Weekly September 10, 1980	The Overlanders	An interview with Rob Rumball about Encounter Overland recruiting and showing Neal Inwood removing a half-shaft
19811029 North Herts Gazette October 29, 1981	Doorway to a world of adventure	An interview with Gary Strand, Encounter Overland Leader/Driver
19820131 The Sunday Times January 31, 1982	Hats off to gorilla troop 13	A visit to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda (mentions EO’s Mountain Gorilla safaris out of Dar-es-Salaam)
19820226 The Biggleswade Chronicle 26 February 1982	If you are looking for adventure	An article featuring Gerry Creamer
Zimbabwe Kidnapping 23 July 1982		Six Expedition Members, all men, were kidnapped by the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) Forces and were to be held in exchange for officials of the opposition party. But they were murdered. The six were: Kevin Ellis (24) and Brett Baldwin (23) from the USA; Tony Bajzelz (25) and William Butler (31) from Australia; and James Greenwell (18) and Martyn Hodgson (35) from the UK.
19820726 The Times July 26, 1982	Zimbabwe jets destroyed in night raid	Mentions the kidnapping of the Encounter Overland group in July 1982
19820727 The Daily Telegraph July 27, 1982	Aid given to Britons’ kidnappers	Reports on aid being given by villagers to kidnappers of Encounter Overland expedition members
19820809 Time Magazine 9 August 1982	Feuding fathers of their Country (Zimbabwe)	Mentions the kidnapping of the Encounter Overland group in July 1982
19830101 The Illustrated London News January 1, 1983	In search of the past	Brief mention of EO’s South America expeditions
19830613 New York Times 13 June 1983	Six Tourist who were Seized in Zimbabwe said to be Dead	Mentions the kidnapping of the Encounter Overland group in July 1982
19840304 The Washington Post 4 March 1984	Fearless Traveler Overlanding: The Bargain Of Adventure Travel	Article about overlanding generally which includes mention of EO’s expeditions
19850308 Montreal Gazette 8 March 1985	Kidnap Tourists’ Bodies Found: Zimbabwe	Mentions the kidnapping of the Encounter Overland group in July 1982
19850713 The Globe and Mail 13 July 1985	Touring storybook Africa	A journey through Zaire. EO is described as operating ‘the most frequent and expensive Africa trips’.
19860315 The Daily Telegraph March 15, 1986	The inland ocean at the top of the world	A description of Lake Titicaca. The writer had been on an EO Lima to Rio expedition.
19871108 The Washington Post 8 November 1987	Life, Death and Corruption on an African Mainstream	A description of a trip down the Zaire River. The article mentions an EO group that was also on the boat.
19880209 Canberra Times 9 February 1988	Scaling new heights the highlight of his life	An article about Gary Scott, a Canberra-boy and one of EO’s rafting and trek leaders.
19880313 Star Tribune 13 March 1988	GETTING THERE: Unusual transportation is the latest travel trend	An article about unusual holidays including an EO’s ‘Trans-Globe 89′ 63-week round the world expedition
19880516 BBC 16 May 1988	Argentine weekly speculates on possible links between British tourists and MI6	Encounter Overland trips being watched by Argentine intelligence for suspected links with MI6
19880521 The Globe and Mail 21 May 1988	Taking the slow, (bumpy) road to China	An article about travelling the Karakoram Highway and mentions meeting up with an EO group.
19880821 The Sunday Times August 21, 1988	Daring the Darien	A story about an EO trek across the Darien Gap led by Allardes Hoiting.
19890225 The Newcastle Evening Chronicle (UK) 25 February 1989	African Adventure for Helen	Helen Armstrong has the chance to go on a gorilla safari in East Africa
19890709 The Sunday Times (UK) 9 July 1989	One adventure too far
19890806 The Sunday Times (UK) 6 August 1989	Why risk comes with the territory

1990s

19900527 The Boston Sunday Globe May 27, 1990	What a deal: 14 countries for $3,000	An article about a London to Nairobi expedition (departed December 1989) led by Annie Bradshaw
19910512 The Sunday Times May 12, 1991	Summer Times – Africa Overland	An article about overlanding through Africa mentioning EO
19910608 The Advocate Weekender 8 June 1991	Couple’s African Trauma	A story about a couple who were on the truck (Q504NPP) which was hijacked and stolen in Mali.
19920203 Listener and TV Times, New Zealand 3 February 1992	Travels with Annie	The article is about Annie Bradshaw’s Great Overland Encounter (GOE) which departed Kathmandu 15 March 1985. Annie had an accident with a tractor in Pakistan; the truck broke down in western Sudan on the way to the Central African Republic in August 1985; and to add to her challenges, a seven-year drought broke just before she arrived in Sudan making tracks impassable.
PIA Flight 268 disaster 28 September 1992 Kathmandu	BBC report	Two Encounter Overland rafters/trek leaders were killed in this accident. They were: James Gwynn III and John Robert Scott Carswell.
19920929 The Independent 29 September 1992	Britons die in air crash – Pakistan International Airlines Airbus disaster	The article is about the PIA Flight 268 disaster and includes mention of the two EO rafters/trek leaders killed in the crash.
19920929 The Guardian 29 September 1992	British family of five among Kathmandu jet victims	Also about the PIA Flight 268 disaster.
19930813 The Independent 13 August 1993	A real adventure (and so cheap)	An article about sustainable tourism which mentions EO (in a very odd way).
19940320 The Sunday Times March 20, 1994	Less risky business	About the changing face of adventure travel.
19950319 Sunday Tribune Natal March 19, 1995	WANTED Bundu-bashers to tackle the darkest of Africa	An article about EO Trans Africa Expeditions (with some rather out of place photos)
19950416 The Independent 16 April 1995	On the Africa Road Show	The author was on an EO expedition from Cape Town through Namibia and Botswana to Harare. The trip was led by a ‘good natured Australian called Ian’ (Ian Ransom).
19960518 The Daily Telegraph May 18, 1996	Attacking malaria	Refers to EO providing chloroquine and proguanil anti-malarial drugs to EMs – quoting Warren Burton.
19960615 The Times June 15, 1996	A few scorchers on the old silk road	Mentions EO being able to arrange visits to the Chinese section of the Silk Road.
19961120 Travel Trade Gazette 20 November 1996	Back in the tourism fold	Brief description of EO’s 4-week Cape Town to Harare expedition via Mozambique
19961215 The Sunday Times December 15, 1996	Rough Crossing	The author was on an Africa southbound with an un-named company. The article mentions EO flying EM’s over Zaire because of the war in eastern Zaire. Also refers to Encounter as ‘the first overland company’; and includes a photo of GLP203J.
19970108 Wisconsin State Journal 8 January 1997	War, what is it good for? A vacation backdrop Colombian trek lands Madison man in the middle of paramilitary guerrilla crossfire.	A short article about an EO Darien Gap trek.
19970208 The Times February 8, 1997	International Travel Tips	Mentions EO expanding its shorter holidays to cater for ‘money-OK, time-short executives’.
19970315 The Daily Telegraph March 15, 1997	Concern at Colombian killngs	The report includes mention that EO has changed its itinerary for the Colombian end of the Darien Gap treks because of activity by FARC rebels.
19970430 Travel Trade Gazette 30 April 1997	Latin America	Warren Burton confirms ‘Britons were becoming more adventurous’.
19971101 The Times November 1, 1997	Libyan adventure on Africa trek	Small item advising EO was seeking ‘18 seasoned trailblazers’ for a ‘pioneering trip across the North African desert from Cairo to Tunis’.
19971228 The Sunday Times December 28, 1997	Date with destiny	A proposal by EO for 2000 which would see groups leaving from the UK and New Zealand and meeting halfway in Africa
19980318 Travel Trade Gazette 18 March 1998	Uganda joins trekking list	EO introduces treks in Uganda
19980514 The Irish Times 14 May 1998	Surviving the unspeakable	Two EMs who did the Nairobi to Ethiopia trip were on Ethiopian Airways Flight ET961 which was hijacked and later crashed into the sea in the Comoros Islands. Both survived the crash.
19980726 The Sunday Times July 26, 1998	Rough Crossing	The author travelled as a guest of EO on the Cairo to Tunis expedition; led by Geoff Spillett.
19980916 Gloucestershire Echo 16 September 1998	From big chill to life in the freezer – what a trip!	Tells of a group of teenagers who raised money to do a 4-week EO trip in Peru.
19981025 The Sunday Times October 25, 1998	Plans for year-long trips abandoned	Small item advising EO has abandoned plans for the year-long trips departing New Zealand and the UK.
19990203 Travel Trade Gazette 3 February 1999	Central Asia tour added by Encounter Overland	Advises of an EO reconnaissance trip along the Asian North West Frontier departing from Islamabad.
19990303 The Sun 3 March 1999	SAS man will negotiate for Brit hostages; Kidnap; Murder	The article refers to the killing of eight tourists in Uganda by Hutu rebels. Quotes Wayne Moore from EO.
19990303 London Evening Standard 3 March 1999	‘THE BUNGLED WARNINGS’; Ugandans failed to pass on threats from rebels say tour firms	Similar to the article of the same date in The Sun newspaper.
19990304 The Guardian 4 March 1999	Tourism – Travel firms should advise the FO	Article urges tourism operators to help the Foreign Office formulate travel advice. Quotes Wayne Burton (sic) from EO.
19990515 The Times 15 May 1999	The pioneer spirit – Travellers’ Bulletin Board – Travel tips	Some further brief detail about EO’s reconnaissance expedition to Central Asia.
19990516 Sunday Star Times 16 May 1999	Cairo to Kathmandu off the beaten track	A brief description of an overland undertaken by a New Zealand woman – probably with EO.
19990815 The Sunday Telegraph August 15, 1999	Beware guns and naked gun rustlers	An article about the history of the overlanding business including mention of EO.
19990830 The Times August 30, 1999	Spirit of adventure is female	An article about the growth in interest in activity holidays. Warren Burton says ‘it is usually the women who want to “get out there and get on with it”’.

2000s

20000313 Travel Trade Gazette 13 March 2000	Encounter Overland adds to programme	Advises of EO’s new trip in Irian Jaya.
20000410 Travel Trade Gazette 10 April 2000	Encounter launches website for agents	EO launches a website.
20001111 The Times 11 November 2000	Jill Crawshaw has the best holiday suggestions	A short article on an EO reconnaissance expedition from Quito in Ecuador to Iquitos in Peru mainly via river transport.

Articles about the collapse of Encounter Overland

20010121 The Mail on Sunday 21 January 2001	The painful lesson from this sorry Encounter	An article about the closing down of EO.
20010214 The Times February 14, 2001	Notice of appointment of Joint Liquidators	Joint Liquidators appointed on 1 February 2001
20010129 Travel Trade Gazette 29 January 2001	Dragoman buys part of stricken rival	Article advises Dragoman has bought some EO assets.
20010407 The Telegraph 7 April 2001	What recourse do you have if your travel company goes bust?	An article about the collapse of Encounter Overland in January 2001. (Original article is also at this link.)
20011224 The Times December 24, 2001	Encounter Overland (Limited) in liquidation	What more can be said. Vale Encounter Overland!

Post 2001

2002 The Age (exact date unclear)	The Overlanders	A historical article about overlanding which includes mention of EO
20020303 Register-Guard March 03, 2002	Adventure rules in third world travel	In part, describes a 1978 EO London to Kathmandu trip by the author Chris Stockdale.
20030614 Financial Times June 14, 2003	No mint on my pillow	The author describes her EO trip in Southern India.
20080609 Hobart Mercury 9 June 2008	`Soap opera’ with teeth (and claws)	An article about Jonathan Scott of ‘Big Cat Diary’ fame which includes mention of his 1974 EO London to Johannesburg overland.
20131027 Sunday Tribune 27 October 2013	Sky Chaser	An article about pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor who planned to fly from South Africa to the UK in 2013, mentions how she had earlier been with EO on an Africa northbound (no date given).
201604 The Local Glenlyon April 2016	A man, a truck and a world to wander	An article about Encounter Overland Leader/Driver Dave Johnson.
20170506 Financial Times 6 May 2017	The end of the road for overland adventures?	An article about the increasing dangers of overland travel quoting Mike James of Exodus Travel who worked for EO in the early 1990s.
201706 Q Spirit (Qantas Magazine) June 2017	The Traveller Michael Robotham	Renowned author Michael Robotham describes his 1988 London to Kathmandu overland (led by Ian Stevenson)
20200712 Nepali Times 12 July 2020	Hippie Trail nostalgia in Kathmandu (https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/hippie-trail-nostalgia-in-kathmandu/)	An article by Lisa Choegyal (New Zealand’s Honorary Consul to Nepal) which mentions Encounter Overland and Tony Jones