I spent the last few days in one of the most isolated parts of South Sudan, at Kuron Peace Village, close to the Ethiopian border. It was a gathering to celebrate the 75th birthday of one of our retired South Sudanese bishops who has played an iconic role in South Sudan, and people came from far and wide, by road and air. I saw so many different vehicles, some fairly venerable, that I couldn't resist photographing them.
Land Rover enthusiasts will be disappointed not to see any. Sadly the 109 was the last Land Rover that was fit for the tough conditions in South Sudan; from the Defender onwards they just don't make the grade and you rarely see them. I believe the British Ambassador has one, but then he has no choice.
All photos by John Ashworth, 24th-27th February 2012, Kuron Peace Village, Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan.
OT: South Sudan road vehicles
- John Ashworth
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OT: South Sudan road vehicles
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- This lorry has just arrived with a load of grass for roofing
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- Close up
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- This lorry is looking a little sorry for itself
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- A relatively modern and "normal" lorry
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- Another lorry of the same type
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- Large 4WD tractors are not only useful for agricultural projects (and for carting things around during birthday celebrations), but have to accompany any vehicles moving in the wet season. Over long distances this involves huge fuel consumption.
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- More tractors
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- The Unimog ambulance. During the height of the wet season, Unimogs and tractors are about the only vehicles which can still move.
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- A large water tank is, of course, essential kit for any ambulance
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- Two other Unimogs receive some TLC in preparation for the rainy season, when they will be used extensively
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- JCB to the British, back-hoe in the USA and back-actor in South Africa
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- The bishop's trusty VW jeep, given to him many years ago by a German army officer
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- Rear view
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- You get an impression of the size when it stands next to a Toyota Land Cruiser
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- The VW stands next to the simple, door-less thatch house where the bishop slept, having given up his own house for guests
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- Simple controls and easy access to the batteries!
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- Plenty of storage space in the engine compartment
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- The short wheelbase version of the Toyota Land Cruiser
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- Bishop Paride Taban stands next to a type of Land Cruiser which is quite popular in South Sudan, particularly for carrying people in less extreme climatic and terrain conditions.
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- These new, soft, smooth Land Cruisers are not up to much - hardly better than a Land Rover Defender!
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- The ubiquitous Land Cruiser hard top, often called a "Buffalo" in South Sudan. This is the car of choice for the bush in South Sudan. Is this the one they call a "Troopie" in South Africa?
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- The equally ubiquitous Land Cruiser pick-up (bakkie to South Africans), with the essential kit - two spare tyres, a high lift jack, a shovel and a jerrycan of something
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- An unusually busy day at Kuron airstrip, with two Cessna Caravans and a Unimog. We had five flights that day, four with the Caravans and one with a UN helicopter, lifting out well over 50 guests.
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- John Ashworth
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Re: OT: South Sudan vehicles
Back in South Sudan's capital city, Juba, and today I took a few snaps of an old Commer which stands very near to my office. This one is not working, but I have seen similar ones still operating in towns like Malakal and Bentiu.
Photos by John Ashworth, 3rd March 2012.
Photos by John Ashworth, 3rd March 2012.
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- At some point this lorry (or its owner) obviously aspired to be a Toyota Land Cruiser!
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- John Ashworth
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Re: OT: South Sudan vehicles
A lime-green Foden delivering building materials to an NGO office in Juba.
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- Photo by John Ashworth, 17th April 2012
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- John Ashworth
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Re: OT: South Sudan vehicles
On the road from Juba to Yei, South Sudan, May 2012. Photo by John Ashworth.
This road is now very different from the first time I was on it in 1997, at the height of the civil war. Then it was just wheel tracks through the grass. The Sudan People's Liberation Army took me to the front line, 40 miles from Juba, to show me the bodies of the foreign mujahidiin that they had killed in a big battle. There is a hill nearby which is known as "Iraq Mountain" as a reminder of the foreign forces, but apart from that I'd be hard-pushed to recognise the site of the battle now.
This road is now very different from the first time I was on it in 1997, at the height of the civil war. Then it was just wheel tracks through the grass. The Sudan People's Liberation Army took me to the front line, 40 miles from Juba, to show me the bodies of the foreign mujahidiin that they had killed in a big battle. There is a hill nearby which is known as "Iraq Mountain" as a reminder of the foreign forces, but apart from that I'd be hard-pushed to recognise the site of the battle now.
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Re: OT: South Sudan road vehicles
The Foden is a very interesting find indeed!
It must have an interesting history!
Good vehicle - some are still in use with the British Engineers in Afghanistan.
It must have an interesting history!
Good vehicle - some are still in use with the British Engineers in Afghanistan.