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. February 8 2026 - Dan Viljoen Game Reserve Safari Adventure Namibia

    MAY 5

    February 8 2026 - Dan Viljoen Game Reserve Safari Adventure Namibia

    Location: Namibia Summary: I started my day at Kate's Nest Guest House and picked up my friend Nico for an adventure to Dan Viljoen's Game Reserve, about 25 kilometers from Windhoek. Even though their day services were unexpectedly closed, we could still do the self-drive tour through the reserve. We drove along the track with a regular car and spotted amazing wildlife including birds, zebras, giraffes, and other animals. The experience was absolutely worth it and incredibly fun. We also hiked up to a ridge where there's a water reservoir and another restaurant - it's impressive how well they utilize resources in Namibia. After the game reserve, we headed back to town to find coffee and visited Seattle Coffee Company, which has an interesting backstory. It was started by a South African who bought rights from an English couple who also founded MOD Pizza in the US. MOD Pizza employs people with disabilities, which is a wonderful concept. Seattle Coffee Company is doing great work in Namibia with 7 locations in Windhoek and one on the coast. On our way to find coffee, we drove through a township near Windhoek with corrugated metal structures and challenging living conditions. It was safe during daytime but gave us insight into how some people live there. The dirt roads were manageable since it wasn't raining. I had a fantastic time exploring with Nico, and we parted ways at the mall where he could do some shopping near his accommodation. I returned to my guest house in good time, ready for Monday.

    4 min
  2. February 5, 6, 7 - Stranded Without Passport: Real Estate & Travel

    MAY 5

    February 5, 6, 7 - Stranded Without Passport: Real Estate & Travel

    Location: Namabia Summary: I'm currently stuck waiting for my emergency passport to arrive, hopefully early next week, which has left me unable to leave the country. While waiting, I tackled some important administrative tasks, particularly renewing my real estate broker fingerprints for Washington State - something required every 6 years that I can't get an extension for. I first tried a modern electronic fingerprinting company called Timeware, then had to visit multiple locations to get the proper fingerprint cards printed on thick stock. At Klein-Wintuuk's police station, despite the usual long lineup, I managed to get my fingerprints done quickly by a helpful officer who didn't even charge me for the service. I mailed the documents to Florida and had to work around VPN issues by getting someone in the US to help me complete the online portions. I've also been involved with an Overland Now WhatsApp group run by Duncan from South Africa, which connects travelers and shares valuable information about visas, weather, and travel conditions across Africa. Through this network, I reconnected with Nico Leontes, a fellow traveler I first met in Angola who's riding a Yamaha from Cyprus to Namibia. We met up at Paradise Backpack guesthouse and planned a Sunday trip to see some animals, though his motorbike was in for service at the time.

    6 min
  3. February 2 2026 - Windhoek Passport Adventures

    MAY 2

    February 2 2026 - Windhoek Passport Adventures

    Location: Namibia Summary: On February 2nd, I had to leave Yenneke and Byron's home in Okahontja and travel to Windhoek for an important mission - applying for a new passport. Yenneke was incredibly helpful in preparing all the necessary paperwork. In Windhoek, I found the honorary consul's office at Imurgo Consulting, a company that provides marketing and internet presence consulting across Africa. After submitting my application, I dealt with some back-and-forth with The Hague who had questions about my stolen passport and the visas that were in it. I managed to provide proof of payment just before their 5 o'clock deadline. I stayed at Kate's Nest House, an affordable and pleasant accommodation in Windhoek, where I focused on completing my required real estate clock hours - 30 hours of classes needed every two years. The hostel introduced me to fascinating people, including two guys from Urban Timber who sell playground structures throughout Namibia. One of them had lived in Thailand for seven years, ran out of money, took over his father's business, and was training a relative so he could return to Thailand. I also met Chris from South Africa, who previously built roads and structures there but left two years ago to start fresh in Namibia, hoping to improve the expensive systems that benefit only a few people. Chris introduced us to braai - the South African tradition of cooking over charcoal or wood fire. I really enjoyed the hostel experience and the interesting conversations. This adventure lasted through Thursday, February 4th.

    4 min
  4. February 1 2026 - Phone Troubles & Kind Strangers in Windhoek

    MAY 2

    February 1 2026 - Phone Troubles & Kind Strangers in Windhoek

    Location: Namibia Summary: I had quite the adventure trying to replace my phone and computer in Windhoek. After finding that Okahandja didn't have what I needed, I traveled to Windhoek where I discovered two iStores in different malls. I managed to purchase a new iPhone and computer, but had to visit both locations to get everything I wanted. The real challenge began when I tried to activate my new phone - I needed to call Apple support on a landline, but the store wouldn't let me use theirs. To make matters worse, I couldn't get a SIM card without my passport. Feeling stuck, I gratefully accepted Jennifer and Byron's offer to return to their home in Okahandja for help. The next day, they invited me to their Afrikaner church service, which was conducted mostly in Afrikaans. As someone who understands some Dutch, I could recognize many words, though the spoken language was harder to follow than written text. I enjoyed meeting the congregation and watching Jenneke participate with her singing and keyboard playing. Byron then took me to his workplace where I could finally call Apple support on a landline. However, Apple told me I'd need to contact AT&T for my eSIM transfer - typical tech support runaround! Back at the Kochs' house, we worked through AT&T chat support, which eventually led to a phone call. By the end of Sunday, I finally got my phone working again. The next challenge was downloading everything from the cloud, which took several days due to the time-consuming nature of the process. While I'm not thrilled about the unexpected expenses, I'm feeling much better now that everything is working again.

    5 min
  5. January 30 2026- When Everything Goes Wrong on the Road: Finding Help and Hope in Namibia

    APR 8

    January 30 2026- When Everything Goes Wrong on the Road: Finding Help and Hope in Namibia

    Location: Windhoek, Namibia Summary: On January 30th, I focused on recuperating from the previous day’s incident and making my way to Okaukuejo to meet the family who could help me recover from the losses. It was a long drive—around 500–600 kilometers—but I arrived around 3 p.m. and was grateful for their support.We got in touch with the honorary consulate in Windhoek, and they laid out the process for obtaining an emergency passport, which would take about a week. I now had the necessary forms, instructions, and guidance to get started. It was reassuring to have a plan, even though the details of the emergency passport itself were still to be confirmed. I decided the next day I’d head to Windhoek to replace my phone and computer and get things moving again. The Koch family’s property was comfortable, and their help was invaluable. It felt good to have some stability after the chaos of the previous day.

    3 min
  6. January 29 2026- A Robbery That Derailed My African Journey

    APR 8

    January 29 2026- A Robbery That Derailed My African Journey

    Location: Oshakati, Namibia to Rundu, Namibia Summary: On January 29th, I left Oshakati heading toward Rundu and then north toward Botswana. I stopped briefly in Ondangwa for supplies, but about 15 minutes out of town, a car with several men forced me to stop. They attacked me, took my phone, laptop, and my travel documents, including my passport, international driver’s license, and yellow fever card. Thankfully, I wasn’t physically hurt, and the situation de-escalated when one of them decided they had taken enough and left.Shaken, I went back to Ondangwa to report the incident at a police station. With their help and some support from my nephew Gerhard, I canceled my devices remotely to prevent further damage. The robbery changed my plans—I could no longer continue toward Botswana that day. I decided to head toward Okaukuejo, just north of Etosha Reserve, and found a safe, comfortable place to stay despite heavy rain. It was a dramatic and unsettling day, but I made it through and got the help I needed.

    7 min
  7. January 28 2026- When Car Troubles Lead to Route Changes: A Day in Northern Namibia

    APR 8

    January 28 2026- When Car Troubles Lead to Route Changes: A Day in Northern Namibia

    Location: Oshakati, Namibia Summary: On January 28th, I spent the day in Oshakati, northern Namibia, getting my car serviced. I arrived early at the Toyota dealer, and they replaced the rear brake drums and shoes along with performing routine maintenance. Communication with the service staff was frustrating—they didn’t keep me updated, and I had to figure out when the work was done myself.Afterward, I returned to the hotel and met two couples traveling through the region—one from Cape Town and one from Maun, Botswana. We had great conversations about travel and routes, and they advised me against taking the northern road I had planned, citing poor conditions and potholes. Their advice influenced my route decision for the next stage of my journey. By the end of the day, my car was fully serviced and ready to go, and I felt prepared to move on the next morning.

    3 min
  8. January 27 2026- From Angola's Cheap Diesel to Namibia's Modern Conveniences

    APR 8

    January 27 2026- From Angola's Cheap Diesel to Namibia's Modern Conveniences

    Location: Angola to Oshakati, Namibia Summary: On January 27th, I filled up my diesel tanks in Angola, taking advantage of the low price before heading to the border. Crossing into Namibia was relatively smooth, with the proper paperwork processed for Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, which should make future border crossings easier.I only had a short drive to Oshakati, where I checked in at the Oshakati Hotel—quiet because it’s low season, but comfortable and well-located. I also arranged an appointment at the Toyota dealer for the next morning, knowing I’d need to be there early and in order to get service. Namibia feels very convenient, especially for using credit cards to get cash, which is a relief. Overall, it was a straightforward day of travel and preparation, setting things up for the next stage of the trip.

    3 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
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andre van der Most
  • Show Website
    Bridging The Continents