The Blues and Royals regiment of the British Army's Household Cavalry recently spent nine weeks as part of its “adventure training” programme in Africa.

The 30-member team arrived in South Africa at the beginning of June, and the ensuing five weeks were spent in and out of a fleet of nine Land Rover Discoverys as they travelled through Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and back to South Africa.

This initiative also has a very strong humanitarian component together

with the UK's Burnaby Blue Foundation, a charity organisation that has previously conducted humanitarian missions in Poland, Romania and Azerbaijan. 

Humanitarian funding was provided by the Burnaby Blue Foundation in conjunction with Sentebale, a charity founded by 23-year-old Prince Harry, who is a lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment.

According to expedition leader Major Tom Archer-Burton, the first leg of the journey was a true adventure for most of the British Army crew, who had never been to Africa or seen wildlife first-hand.

“The Southern African route we selected was chosen specifically because it was the most arduous and severe we could find,” Archer-Burton explained. “Considering the extremely difficult terrain we encountered, it’s remarkable that we didn’t experience a single problem with any of the Discoverys throughout the 16 500km covered.”

Land Rover UK sent three technical people on this expedition, but they needed to do no more than check the oil and clean the air filters, such was the competence, performance and reliability of the Discovery in some of the most difficult terrain.

Land Rover South Africa was tasked with technical and parts supply logistics for the duration of the trip – a requirement that ultimately wasn't called on.