Epic Ranger Odyssey in pictures

Published Aug 13, 2015

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After 12 days and 2000km of gruelling competition, 23-year-old Liane van Dyk has been announced the winner of Ford’s Ranger Odyssey for 2015.

The Pretoria computer programmer and part-time DJ was the best of 20 contestants, including 13 from South Africa, two each from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, and one each from Angola and Mozambique. The competition was based mainly around offroading skills behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger in the remote Damaraland and Kaokoland regions of Namibia, but competitors were also assessed and scored each day on camp etiquette, general knowledge, vehicle maintenance, leadership skills and overall demeanour.

Van Dyk, who describes herself as an adventure junkie, emerged as one of the top 20 contestants selected from the initial group of 40 chosen from the thousands of online entries received for this year's event. The finalists began their journey in Windhoek on July 23, and trekked in convoy over some of Africa's most arduous terrain to the base of Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain, all while being scored on special tasks including celestial navigation, recovery techniques, and knowledge of the continent.

Van Dyk wins an Odyssey-spec Ranger to use for a year, plus R5 000 in fuel per month.

Star Motoring

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