Spectacular send-off for Ford Ranger Odyssey Africa 2013

 

• 10 competitors, 18 crew and journalists embark on an adventure of a lifetime from Nairobi
• Ranger Odyssey embraced and enthusiastically supported by CMC Motors, the Ford distributor in Kenya
• Official send-off from action-packed two-day Ranger Odyssey festival, followed by CSR project at Masai village
• Off-road route to Amboseli National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro
• 21 days of competitive action lined up through 6 countries and 8 000 km

PRETORIA, South Africa - After intense preparation, planning and selections, the Ranger Odyssey Africa 2013 has kicked into gear. 10 contestants are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, putting themselves and eight Ford Rangers through their paces on a challenging 21-day adventure through six countries and 8 000 km.

The event officially kicked off from a remote military base around 40 km from Nairobi on Sunday 23 June. The Ford distributor in Kenya, CMC Motors, hosted an action-packed Ranger Odyssey festival during the weekend to mark the occasion for the team from South Africa, as well as its own staff, customers and guests.

"Ranger Odyssey has been enthusiastically embraced by Ford in Kenya, and the team have been blown away by the astonishing level of support and interest from the people of Nairobi," says Gavin Golightly, Marketing Manager of Ford South Africa.

"From the media scrum that surrounded their arrival to the hosting of a special two-day event for local customers and staff, the excitement surrounding Ranger Odyssey has already far exceeded our expectations. And there is lots still to come," he says.

The official send-off from the Stony Athi military base was led in spectacular fashion by a group of traditional Masai warriors. The eight-vehicle convoy then made its way via busy national roads and remote gravel tracks to the Lenkisim Masai village, with the towering Mount Kilimanjaro off in the distance.

Following the formal welcome from the local chiefs and government officials, the Ranger Odyssey and CMC Motors teams handed over a large supply of food to the vibrant throng of around 300 assembled villagers. Several CSR projects are included in the Ranger Odyssey itinerary as it heads south in an effort to support the communities the crews will be travelling through.

The main competitive component of the Ranger Odyssey is underway, and the contestants are being evaluated on a wide variety of aspects including driving, team work, participation, fitness and endurance, special tasks, as well as their communication and social media skills.
Each day they are writing a blog that will be posted on the Ranger Odyssey website (www.rangerodyssey.com).

Aside from the once-in-a-lifetime adventure, there's also the ultimate prize at stake – a fully accessorised Ford Ranger for the winner.

Today the team is leaving Amboseli National Park and entering Tanzania, where they will visit Ngorongoro Crater. The route continues south over the full 21-day programme and will also visit Zanzibar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Ranger Odyssey concludes in South Africa on 14 July.