Friends Drive 3-Wheeler 14,000 Miles Across Africa

When Seth Scott pitched his friend Ollie Jenks on driving a decades-old three-wheeled car from London to the southern tip of Africa, the idea seemed absurd. That's exactly why Jenks said yes.

The duo set off in October 2025 in Sheila, a silver Reliant Robin with no power steering, no air conditioning, and a notorious inability to handle hills. Their goal was to drive 14,000 miles through 22 countries and become the first people to cross Africa in a three-wheeled Reliant Robin.

Reliant Robins hold cult status in Britain as humble vehicles designed for short trips to the shops in the 1970s. They stopped production in the early 2000s, making them one of the least suitable cars for tackling tropical jungles, mountain ranges, and vast deserts.

But Jenks and Scott embraced the challenge. They documented their journey on Instagram, gaining nearly 100,000 followers under the tagline "14,000 miles, 3 wheels, 0 common sense."

The four-and-a-half-month journey tested every limit. Sheila needed new wheel springs in the first two weeks. The gearbox broke in Ghana, leaving them stuck in fourth gear. In Cameroon, the engine completely blew up.

They arrived in Benin during an attempted coup and skirted through northern Nigeria during U.S. air strikes. In Cameroon, they received a military escort for 300 miles through a region experiencing separatist violence.

Through every breakdown and danger, strangers stepped up to help. One man shipped a new gearbox to Ghana. Reliant enthusiasts in the UK found and sent a replacement engine to Cameroon. Locals helped load Sheila onto a cattle truck after one breakdown, and mechanics across the continent welded and hammered her back together.

Why This Inspires

This journey proves that impossible dreams become possible when ordinary people refuse to give up. Jenks and Scott tackled a ridiculous challenge in the worst possible vehicle, yet they made it through courage, creativity, and the kindness of strangers who believed in their mission.

Their adventure shows that the human spirit thrives on audacious goals. Every mechanic who fixed Sheila, every person who shared supplies, and every follower who cheered them on became part of something bigger than a road trip.

Between the breakdowns and dangers, there were magical moments. Sheila cruised through stunning mountain ranges and drove alongside galloping giraffes and endangered rhinos. She posed next to giant elephants on safari, traveling where no Reliant Robin had ever ventured.

After more than 120 days, Sheila rattled into Cape Town on an overheating engine that barely survived the final 1,000 miles through the Namibian desert. In South Africa, she was displayed in a showroom for high-end cars, her broken window and countless dents stealing attention from gleaming Porsches and Mercedes.

Sheila will now rest before making one final journey home to the London Transport Museum. Jenks says reaching Cape Town felt triumphant, though he joked about finally escaping what he called "a motorized coffin."

Their underdog story reminds us that the best adventures come from embracing the absurd and trusting that determination paired with human kindness can carry us anywhere.