Bridging The Continents

Andre van der Most
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Bridging the Continents follows the inspiring journey of André van der Most as he drives a Toyota Land Cruiser from Holland to Uganda along the rugged west coast of Africa. More than just an overland adventure, this podcast shines a light on the people and organizations making a difference across the continent. Through stories from the road—navigating borders, crossing deserts, and connecting with communities—André shares both the challenges and triumphs of his expedition. Along the way, he highlights local nonprofits that are working tirelessly to empower communities, preserve cultures, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re passionate about travel, cultural exchange, or grassroots change, Bridging the Continents offers an unfiltered look at what it means to journey with purpose.

  1. December 28 2025 - Close Call in Buea: When a Runaway Car Chose the Tree Over Me

    6 DAYS AGO

    December 28 2025 - Close Call in Buea: When a Runaway Car Chose the Tree Over Me

    Location: Buea to Douala, Cameroon Summary: My morning in Buea started with an early breakfast at the incredible Ricochet's Villa with Marek, who was heading to Yaoundé. After he left, I discovered a nail in my right rear tire—the first flat of my entire journey. With help from the hotel staff, I changed it on level ground. Since it was Sunday, getting it repaired would have to wait. I had arranged to meet Elvis, someone I'd met by chance in Morocco during my journey. He lives near Douala and deals in tiles, shipping them along the coast on a small freighter he bought in Albania. We met at a gas station, and it was wonderful reconnecting with such an entrepreneurial spirit. After our meeting, I walked around the area where vendors sold food and goods. As I headed back to my car, walking past what I thought was a small tree, it suddenly moved—brushing right in front of me. A car had lost its brakes with four people inside. The driver had made a split-second choice: hit the tree or hit me. He chose the tree, then used the hillside to stop. I never saw it coming—it was from behind. I've never experienced anything like that. People gathered, saying prayers and thanking God. One person even asked me for money since I'd survived! I was shaken but incredibly grateful. The short drive to Douala was uneventful. I visited several hotels before settling on one for $90 a night—double my usual budget—but it had excellent internet and secure parking, even if my car barely fit through the building entrance. After today's events, having a comfortable place to rest was exactly what I needed.

    8 min
  2. December 27 2025 - Convoy Through Cameroon: A Day of Waiting and Night Riding to Douala

    6 DAYS AGO

    December 27 2025 - Convoy Through Cameroon: A Day of Waiting and Night Riding to Douala

    Location: Buea to Douala, Cameroon Summary: Boxing Day turned into one of the longest days of my journey. I met Marek, a fellow traveler on a BMW 450 with Swedish and Estonian passports, at the hotel. What should have been a simple morning departure turned into an all-day wait at the police station and gendarmerie. We spent hours registering our passports and waiting for convoy vehicles to arrive, while the police celebrated promotions with a pig roast. We finally left around 4:30 PM with three armored vehicles escorting us—one front, middle, and back. The paved roads quickly deteriorated into bumpy, unpaved sections that demanded constant vigilance. As darkness fell, I lost sight of what could have been beautiful scenery, focused entirely on navigating potholes and rough terrain by headlight. The convoy moved fast, perhaps too fast for the conditions. When someone suggested I let someone else drive my vehicle, I declined—I've come this far on my own. The final three hours improved once I could follow the lead vehicle's lights, but even Douala's city roads were a patchwork of good and bad sections. Marek found us a hotel, though the GPS led us on a wild goose chase through back roads. We finally located it late in the evening—a worthwhile place after an intense day. The important thing: we arrived safely.

    8 min
  3. December 26 2025 - Boxing Day in Ekok: Money, Motorbikes, and an Unexpected Beer

    3 FEB

    December 26 2025 - Boxing Day in Ekok: Money, Motorbikes, and an Unexpected Beer

    Location Ekok, Cameroon Summary Boxing Day 2025 started calmly—I slept well, which already felt like a win. The policeman who had helped me the night before said he’d come back in the morning to help me exchange my remaining naira, since once I moved on, Nigerian currency would be useless. I knew I wouldn’t be able to access any “real” money in Cameroon right away, so getting that exchange done was important. We hadn’t agreed on a time, so I waited around until about 10:00 a.m., when he showed up on his motorbike. The exchange spot wasn’t far, and I changed a fairly large stack of naira into Cameroonian currency—thankfully ending up with far fewer bills than I started with. Later I realized I’d missed about 60,000 naira, which I’d sort out the next day. On the way back, we made one more stop—an informal gathering where people were already drinking beer at around 11:00 in the morning. It turned out to be a group of off-duty policemen enjoying their day. In a warm country, beer hits a little differently, and I went along with it, sharing drinks and conversation as best I could, mostly in French. It was one of those moments you don’t plan for and don’t forget. After that, I returned to the hotel, rested, wandered around town a bit, and eventually had food back at the hotel. Nothing dramatic—just a solid day of recovery and observation, with everyone quietly preparing for Saturday and whatever that convoy would bring. Thanks for coming along.

    3 min
  4. December 25 2025 - Christmas Day on the Road: Fuel, Borders, and Kind Strangers

    3 FEB

    December 25 2025 - Christmas Day on the Road: Fuel, Borders, and Kind Strangers

    Location Calabar, Nigeria → Ekok, Cameroon (border region) Summary Christmas Day 2025 turned into a long but memorable travel day. I started out well prepared, carrying plenty of cash exchanged into naira, which meant dealing with a literal stack of small bills. Fuel was the next concern, but despite the holiday, most stations were open, and I filled both tanks with diesel before setting off. From there, the road dictated the day—unfinished sections, potholes, and constant truck traffic, even on Christmas. Navigation took me the long way around, but it ended up being the correct route to reach Ekok, which I knew was necessary to join the convoy into Cameroon. Along the way, there were multiple police checkpoints, passport registrations, and even an unexpected exit stamp before I truly felt like I was at the border. Thanks to working Wi-Fi, I managed the required online exit process from Nigeria without too much delay. The Cameroon border was almost deserted for Christmas. It was so quiet that officials had to send someone on a scooter to track down the right person to sign my Carnet de Passage. Although my passport wasn’t stamped that day, helpful locals and police guided me step by step—on mopeds, through town, and finally to the local police station in Ekok, where I learned I’d need to return Saturday morning for the convoy. I was welcomed warmly, invited to share food, offered a beer, and even helped with a currency exchange so I could pay for a hotel. It was a long day filled with uncertainty, rough roads, and bureaucracy, but also generosity and calm problem-solving. Not a bad way to spend Christmas on the road. Merry Christmas.

    8 min
  5. December 24 2025 - Christmas Eve in Calabar: History, Lights, and Letting Life Happen

    3 FEB

    December 24 2025 - Christmas Eve in Calabar: History, Lights, and Letting Life Happen

    Location Calabar, Nigeria Summary December 24th—Christmas Eve. With plans to leave Calabar on Christmas Day and head toward Ekok in Cameroon for the convoy on Saturday, I decided this was a good day to slow down and walk the city. I headed toward Marina Beach, which isn’t really a beach at all but sits along the water. The walk itself was pleasant, with well-maintained roads and stretches that felt almost like moving through a park. Once there, I paid a small entrance fee and ended up visiting the slavery museum. It felt like the right thing to do. Inside, I crossed paths with four American kids of Nigerian parents who were visiting family, and we went through the exhibit together with a guide. Some of what I learned was heavy—especially how slavery continued locally even after abolition—but important. It’s mind-blowing to really sit with that history, and I’m grateful it’s no longer an open part of the world. Later, I wandered into a large city park dressed up for a nighttime event, glowing with lights, music, and a color-changing tower. I didn’t dig too deeply into what was happening, but I took it in long enough to grab a few photos before heading back on foot in the dark. Back near the hotel, a sudden downpour pushed me into the restaurant, which turned out to be more of a loud bar than I expected. I ordered a funga—something I’d never had before—and let the rain and noise pass. It turned out to be a simple vegetable dish with some meat, exactly enough to call it a night. Nothing dramatic, nothing rushed—just a day of walking, history, light, rain, and food. Life happens if you let it. Thanks for being along for it.

    6 min
  6. December 23 2025 - Waiting on a Sticker: Calabar, Convoys, and Changed Plans

    3 FEB

    December 23 2025 - Waiting on a Sticker: Calabar, Convoys, and Changed Plans

    Location Calabar, Nigeria Summary I left early again at 7:00 a.m., determined to reach Calabar to get the Cameroon visa sticker in my passport. The ride took about four hours, made better by an older couple heading to a religious conference—they were great company and even stood up to a few police shakedown attempts on my behalf. The road was intense, packed with massive trucks and constant detours, but I arrived around midday and felt on schedule. Lunch turned into an unexpected treat: an instant “Zamzalova” cappuccino and some egg dishes the couple swore by. At the consulate, things slowed down. The person I needed wasn’t there yet, so I waited, half-watching a soccer game and slowly realizing I wouldn’t make it to the Cameroon border at Ikok before dark. Missing daylight would mean missing the convoy required for security, pushing everything back several days—possibly complicated by Christmas timing. When plans clearly weren’t happening, I adjusted, waited it out, and eventually got the sticker. Turns out the online e-visa was mandatory anyway, so I actually saved time by doing it earlier. I checked into the US Wig Hotel for a couple of nights and settled into Calabar, which seems like a pleasant city. Even with a three-day delay, I felt surprisingly good about it. Around here, delays are just part of the journey. Thanks for staying with me.

    5 min
  7. December 22 2025 - Detours, Coffee Hunts, and Kind Strangers: Finding My Way Around Benin City

    2 FEB

    December 22 2025 - Detours, Coffee Hunts, and Kind Strangers: Finding My Way Around Benin City

    Location From outside Benin City to Warri, ending the day in Aba, Nigeria Summary December 22nd started earlier than planned, about 35 kilometers before Benin City, after realizing the previous day’s delays had put me well behind schedule. I set off around 7:00 a.m., still unsuccessfully hunting for a proper cup of coffee — something that turns out to be surprisingly rare around here. The plan was to bypass Benin City, but traffic had other ideas. I got stuck again, this time learning from a man named Innocent that a major accident involving multiple trucks had shut things down since the day before. Thanks to his advice (and a bit of creative driving through ditches I’d normally avoid), I managed to escape the jam and reroute toward Warri. The road to Warri was more of the same: heavy trucks, uneven roads, and traffic flowing wherever it could fit. Along the way, I picked up a refrigeration repairman heading home. He wasn’t very talkative, but he did point me to Warri’s only mall — where I finally found coffee, served not by a café but by a single person with a small machine at a table in the middle of the food area. That cappuccino felt like a major victory. After dropping him off, I picked up a mother and daughter heading to Aba. What sounded ambitious turned out surprisingly smooth, with the roads improving after Warri. I still had to drive part of the way in the dark, navigating police checkpoints — most friendly, welcoming me to Nigeria — except for one officer who tried to cite my perfectly fine spare tire. That situation resolved the usual way, costing a bit of cash and some patience. Having the mother and daughter along helped smooth later stops, as they handled the talking. We reached Aba late, slowed by darkness, and settled in near a hotel where they planned to stay for shopping the next day. For me, it was another long, unpredictable day on Nigerian roads — full of detours, small frustrations, unexpected help, and human moments that make it all worthwhile. Tomorrow, the plan is to head toward Calabar. Thanks for being along for the ride.

    8 min
  8. December 21 2025 - Four Lanes Into One: A Long Sunday Crawl Toward Benin City

    2 FEB

    December 21 2025 - Four Lanes Into One: A Long Sunday Crawl Toward Benin City

    Location En route to Benin City, Nigeria — overnight stop in Okorpon Summary December 21st turned into one of those days where progress is measured in truck lengths instead of kilometers. What should have been multiple lanes of traffic slowly collapsed into a single drivable lane due to roadwork far ahead, creating hours of stop-and-go congestion packed with heavy lorries. On a Sunday, no less. Potholes, oncoming cars using my side of the road, and endless uncertainty made slow driving the only safe option. By the time darkness set in, it was clear I wouldn’t make it past Benin City, so I stopped in Okorpon and found a simple but welcome hotel for the night. As always during long traffic jams, vendors appeared out of nowhere selling food and drinks, even in the middle of nowhere. The day ended on a human note — talking with Ella, a young woman studying business administration while helping at her family’s food place. Moments like that make the exhaustion fade and remind me that, despite the chaos, it’s the people that make the journey worthwhile.

    4 min
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About

Bridging the Continents follows the inspiring journey of André van der Most as he drives a Toyota Land Cruiser from Holland to Uganda along the rugged west coast of Africa. More than just an overland adventure, this podcast shines a light on the people and organizations making a difference across the continent. Through stories from the road—navigating borders, crossing deserts, and connecting with communities—André shares both the challenges and triumphs of his expedition. Along the way, he highlights local nonprofits that are working tirelessly to empower communities, preserve cultures, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re passionate about travel, cultural exchange, or grassroots change, Bridging the Continents offers an unfiltered look at what it means to journey with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Andre van der Most
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andre van der Most
  • Show Website
    Bridging The Continents