Nissan Takes on Africa

After seven exhilarating chapters across the African landscape, Nissan’s Daring Africa 2024 expedition is just one dusty trail away from crossing its final frontier: Egypt. With four Nissan Navara pickups and a sprightly X-Trail SUV that's proven it can keep up with the big boys, the convoy has just wrapped up its Kenyan safari, and not a moment too soon, everyone's running out of clean socks.

“It has been an amazing journey so far,” beams Maciej Klenkiewicz, Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets Africa’s managing director, clearly relieved that nobody’s asked him to pitch a tent yet. “We set out to celebrate our African footprint and our 60-year-old legacy of light commercial vehicles on the continent. All that’s left now is the grand finale in Cairo, where we’ll link our South African LCV hub with our Egyptian passenger vehicle facility. It’s like setting up a family reunion, only with more horsepower and fewer arguments over the remote.”

Starting from Rosslyn, South Africa, the expedition cruised through Maputo, skirted the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, and waded through Lake Malawi, before elbowing their way through Tanzania to arrive triumphantly in Kenya last Tuesday. It seems even the wildebeests paused to snap a few pictures.

Upon hitting Nairobi, the team beelined for Nissan Kenya’s state-of-the-art showroom, a place so shiny, you’d swear the floors were waxed by the cars themselves. Local media and key clients got a taste of the action with a 4x4 driving experience that was more thrilling than your last roller coaster ride.

The X-Trail, playing its role as the ‘daring family car,’ proved it’s more than just a pretty dashboard, keeping pace with the robust Navaras, all without a single flat tire. “It’s like they’ve got invisible shields,” quipped Tim Jaques, CEO of Motus Africa, after his off-road jaunt.

Klenkiewicz added, “Kenya has been more than just a market for us, it’s been a home. Heck, we even had minibus taxis called Nissans here. Talk about brand loyalty!”

As the sun sets on the Kenyan leg of the journey, the crew is gearing up for their Egyptian encore. “This expedition hasn’t just been about endurance; it’s been about making connections, renewing old ties and forging new ones," said Ramy Mohareb, Nissan’s Head of Communications and PR. "Under the African stars, we've shared our dreams and dared together. Now, on to Egypt, where the pyramids await our tire tracks!"

Indeed, as Daring Africa 2024 revs up for its final stop, one can only wonder: Will the pyramids stand a chance against Nissan’s indomitable spirit? Stay tuned.