November 2024 — May 2025
Our Journey
Paris — Cape Town, by Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80, mother and son.
An adventure born from a dream
What if the most beautiful journey wasn’t a destination, but the encounters made along the way?
For nearly six months, we drove across Africa, from Paris all the way to South Africa. 18 countries, thousands of kilometers, and countless stories. This book is the record of that adventure.
Who are we?
We are Tom and Charlotte, a son and his mother, driven by the same curiosity for the world and for human encounters. A photographer, filmmaker and adventurer at heart, Tom had dreamed for years of crossing Africa by road. Charlotte passed on to him her love of travel and of the African continent. Together, we decided to turn that dream into a life project.
With no mechanical training, no camping experience, and nothing but the will to leave, we prepared our Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80 and hit the road in November 2024. Our goal was never to set a record or achieve some feat. We wanted to take our time — time to get lost, to learn, to listen, and to understand.
The project
This crossing quickly became far more than a trip. Mile after mile, we sought out artists who use their creativity to help their societies move forward.
From Sanae Arraqas in Morocco to Amy Sow in Mauritania, by way of Patrick Tagoe-Turkson in Ghana, each of them opened the doors of their world to us and shared their vision of it.
We also met associations working every day to improve life in their communities. On Gorée Island, Fallou Dolly and Cheikh Bamba reminded us that commitment and solidarity can change lives. In Ghana, Surf Ghana uses sport as a powerful tool for inclusion and empowerment.
Water, a recurring thread
Another subject naturally kept coming up along the journey: access to clean water. In several villages, we tried to understand what life was like when every liter of water demanded hours of effort. These conversations became one of the throughlines of this adventure.
Of course, there were also the unexpected moments: endless tracks, police checks, broken-down ferries, nights spent in the middle of nowhere, mechanical problems, and times when everything seemed to fall apart. And yet, it’s often in those moments that we met the most extraordinary people.
Welcome to the road
Through this book, we don’t just want to show you the landscapes of an exceptional continent. We want to take you along to share the daily life of the people who welcomed us, the stories they entrusted to us, and the emotions that turned this crossing into a deeply human adventure.
The travel log
One chapter per country, taken from the book — in the order we crossed them.
Day 001/17.11.2024
Morocco
Africa, here we come!
After months of preparation, the moment has finally come. We board a ferry bound for Morocco, the first country of this crossing of Africa.
Day 020/06.12.2024
Mauritania
A land of sand and wind
The desert seems endless. The wind lifts the sand constantly, drawing a yellow veil across the horizon. Here, the vastness is dizzying.
Day 025/11.12.2024
Senegal
The land of Teranga
Teranga is a Wolof word meaning “hospitality”. We quickly understand why the value is so often tied to the country.
Day 034/20.12.2024
Gambia
Stuck in The Gambia!
For more than fifteen hours we are stuck in an endless line of vehicles. Charlotte turns the wait into a photographic playground.
Day 042/28.12.2024
Guinea
Easing off the accelerator
For the first time since we left, we stop trying to push on at all costs. We simply start living the journey.
Day 052/07.01.2025
Côte d’Ivoire
This close to the end
We had come to cross Africa. That day, it was Africa that saved us.
Day 068/23.01.2025
Ghana
Not so fast!
The best encounters are often born out of the worst troubles.
Day 075/30.01.2025
Togo
Twin reflections
One evening, we set up camp on a beach in Togo. Charlotte goes off to meet people, already looking for the next faces to photograph.
Day 080/04.02.2025
Benin
The land of voodoo
Ganvié, nicknamed the “Venice of Africa”, whose name means “we are at peace”. Water is everywhere, but none of it is drinkable.
Day 088/12.02.2025
Nigeria
Seven intense days
We cross Nigeria from west to east in seven days — one of the most dreaded stages of the journey.
Day 095/19.02.2025
Cameroon
It isn’t over
We have just driven the longest and most beautiful track of the crossing. It was no time to break down: there are no tow trucks out here.
Day 103/27.02.2025
Congo - Brazzaville
Deep in the forest
Giant trees line the road; the vegetation is so dense you can barely see the sky.
Day 117/13.03.2025
Angola
Angola surprises us
Rarely on travel itineraries, Angola nonetheless gives us some of the most powerful moments of the crossing.
Day 133/29.03.2025
Namibia
Another planet
The landscapes become immense, almost Martian. For hours we drive without passing a soul.
Day 160/25.04.2025
South Africa
At the end of Africa
After more than 25,000 kilometres, we have finally reached our goal: crossing Africa together, from Paris to Cape Town.
The book
A photography book will tell the story of these six months on the road, coming soon.
Pre-orders coming soon
The exhibition
November 27–29, 2026, at Mecanicus (70 avenue Jean Moulin, 75014 Paris), built around the photographs from this crossing, cars, videos from the trip, and the launch of our book. Opening night on Friday, November 27.
Register