Route planning for 6 months S+E Africa and South America
 

Hi,

I originally posted this in the regional fora, but think it might be better placed here. Am looking for any specific recommendations for things to see and do, as well as some more specific advice on whether or not it is worth shipping a vehicle from the UK to South America for a 3 months trip.

The first trip is planned for October-December 2011, and will consist of a 10 week trip through Southern and Eastern Africa.

Rough Itinerary:

Pick up the car, a Nissan Patrol 3.0 TD, from my parents’ house in Lusaka, Zambia.
Drive towards Livingstone, then into Botswana, towards Maun, to spend a couple of days in the Okavango Delta
Drive towards Namibia along the Kalahari
Head towards Luderitz and spend some time in the Namib-Naukluft and Sperrgebiet Parks
Drive towards Cape Town, and then along the southern coast towards Mossel Bay and the Garden route.
Spend some time in the Karoo.
Drive towards Lesotho and Durban then into Mozambique
Take our time to drive along the Mozambique coast
Then either drive into Zimbabwe or towards Malawi
And eventually drive back to Lusaka.

The South American part is vaguely divided into the following sections:

Start in Buenos Aires
Fly to Tierra del Fuego and spend a week hiking
Fly back to Buenos Aires and make our way to Uruguay
From Uruguay head up towards the Iguaçu falls
From there either go through or around Paraguay to Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni
Head towards Lake Titicaca and into Peru
Spend some time around Cusco, including Machu Picchu / Choquequirao
Head down into Chile past Santiago towards the Lake District
Cross over into Argentina and travel towards the coast (Puerto Madryn area)
and then up via the coast towards Buenos Aires.
The questions I have for forum members is as follows:
Is this rough itinerary outline doable/enjoyable in 12 weeks?
Are there any must-see/must-do recommendations?

if anyone is planning a trip that vaguely coincides with the timing and route of the above, it would be great to meet up for a drink!

Specifically related to transport:
I am considering buying a cheap Toyota Hilux Surf or Landcruiser in the UK, servicing and prepping it as cost-effectively as possible, and then shipping it to Buenos Aires to serve as our main form of transport for the trip. I’ve always preferred independent travelling and the flexibility that having your own vehicle offers, which is why I’m considering the option of shipping a vehicle.
Based on other forum discussions, I understand that there can be quite a lot of hassle and cost involved in shipping and getting the vehicle cleared with customs, so I am not yet sure whether it would be worth it. Similarly, it seems quite difficult to buy a vehicle as a foreigner and be able to take it out of Argentina (have read xfiltrate’s and others discussions on this).
Is this a good idea for a trip of only three months? Or should I try to combine air and bus travel with occasionally renting a vehicle locally? Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I understand that it is almost impossible to sell a foreign vehicle, especially RHD, in the region, apart from possibly in Paraguay. What have other foreign motorcyclists or car-owners done? Shipped the vehicle back?

Cheers
Joost