Dan Eldon’s Mission: To Dance in Africa

In 1989, Dan Eldon organized strangers and friends and raised $17,000 for a refugee camp in Malawi. That summer, they climbed aboard two Land Rovers and drove 3,000 miles along the Kenya coast and inland, across arid bush and mountains to the camp, where one Land Rover was donated to the Save the Children Fund and the money was donated to the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The mission statement for this safari was written by Dan Eldon:

“To explore the unknown and the familiar, distant and near, and to record in detail and with the eyes of a child, any beauty (of the flesh or otherwise), horror, irony, traces of utopia or Hell. Select your team with care, but when in doubt, take on some new crew and give them a chance. But avoid at all costs fluctuations of sincerity with your best people. . . .

“Look for solutions, not problems. . . .

“Note: There is little difference between being lost and exploring. . . .

“It is foolish and hazardous not to dance in Africa. . . .

“The most important part of vehicle maintenance is clear windows, so if you are broken down you will enjoy the beauty of the view. Also ensure that electronic devices to play music are properly serviced. The more music you like, the happier you will be.”