29,200 kilometers, 19 countries, 11 months on the road. And a car that no one actually has on their radar.
Nikolai Fromm starts in Germany in 2024 and sets off. He travels across the Balkans and through Europe to Africa - and from there via West Africa to South Africa. After thousands of kilometers, the journey could have ended - instead, he continued. Today he can look back on 29,200 kilometers through 19 countries. On the road in a 2006 BMW X3.
To the story: Through Africa in a BMW X3
We talk to people who live their lives differently - consciously, courageously, sometimes radically. Not to impress. But to inspire, to question and to show: There is another way. And that's okay.
This is not about empty phrases. It's about real answers to the questions you ask yourself when things get quiet and only what really matters remains. Because when you're on the road, you have something to tell - and often more to give than you think.
Niko & his BMW X3 - 29,200 kilometers through Africa, alone on the road, without knowing where it ends.
We talked to him about why he didn't wait for the "right" vehicle, what really matters on the road - and what happens when you just set off.
Through Africa in a BMW X3. Really now? What does that say about you - stubbornness, optimism or simply: "I'm going for it"?
Challenge, adventure and the courage to try something new. Anyone can drive around the world in a Defender or Land Cruiser - and I'm not just anyone. That was my motto. The X3 can do much more than it looks. That's why you're often ridiculed - but only by people who have never driven one.
Why Africa? And why exactly this X3 - was it the plan or was it more like "it's just there"?
It was never really planned. In the beginning, I just wanted to try out whether this way of traveling suited me at all - and I already had the X3 anyway.
After the first five-month trip through the Balkans to Greece, I actually wanted to buy a more off-road capable car. At the time, the X3 was still completely standard, with summer tires. I then searched for months and test drove various vehicles - but in the end, nothing really convinced me. So I decided to convert the X3 and stick with it for the time being.
Did you have any breakdowns on the road? And were you able to solve them on the spot - or did you improvise?
There were never any major problems. I had a slow puncture three times - once I fixed it myself at the roadside, the other two times in a workshop for a few euros.
In Namibia, at Sandwich Harbour, I blew my radiator. With the help of a friend, I was able to remove and repair it on the beach within four hours. Then I drove the 30 kilometers back to the asphalt road - and on I went.
Were there moments when you thought: "That might not have been a good idea"?
Yes, one situation could have gone really wrong. The road to Yaoundé in Cameroon was under construction and there were repeated detours through the bush. It was raining heavily, and at one of these detours everything was suddenly under water.
I drove in slowly because I assumed that other vehicles would be able to get through. After a few meters, there was a sudden steep drop and the water sloshed over the hood. I immediately switched off the engine so that it wouldn't suck in any water. The water was almost inside the car. It continued to rain. After a few seconds, I took a look at the situation and then managed to reverse out again.
Which country impressed you the most in retrospect?
Nothing completely surprised me because I had done my research beforehand. But my highlights were Morocco, Ghana, Angola and Namibia. I also spent the most time there - and took the best photos.
You were traveling alone. Was that a conscious choice?
Yes. I've always traveled alone and I'm used to it. I need this freedom and independence. My trips always involve a certain amount of risk, that's part of it for me.
What did you have the most respect for - the route, the people or yourself?
At the beginning, I was actually more worried about not finding enough to eat. That quickly became a thing of the past. There are supermarkets in almost every major city where you can get everything you need.
The biggest challenge was a different one: the route from Nigeria to Cameroon. There are only a few options there, and all of them are demanding. I drove over a plateau, about 100 kilometers, with the most difficult road conditions of the whole trip. It took me four days. In the end, however, I completed the route without damaging the vehicle.
Safety is a big issue when it comes to Africa. What is true - and what is not?
I didn't have any major concerns because I had lived and traveled in Ghana for a long time before. You always hear a lot of negative things, but that often doesn't correspond to reality. I always say: it's more likely to get stabbed in Frankfurt than in Africa.
I didn't have any dangerous situations or incidents on the whole trip. A lot depends on how you present yourself and deal with people.
Would you do it again - and again with the X3?
I definitely would. Even with the X3. I now have even more confidence in the car and know exactly what it can do and where I need to pay attention.
What has become of the X3?
I had it shipped from South Africa to Rotterdam. I still need it for the next few trips - I'm certainly not going to give it up now. The next plans are slowly taking shape. Scandinavia. Tajikistan.
Finally: What does "One Life. Live it." mean to you?
Just do it. Don't think too long, don't wait until everything is perfect. Set off, gain experience and go your own way.
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