"Many people dream of leaving it all behind for a life of freedom and adventure. One man made this dream come true. Join him for an adventure of a lifetime."

  Written and Designed By:  Thomas Michael Joyce

Who is Alby Mangels? ~Explorer, Entertainer, conservationist, television series host, and all-around-great-guy.  He was born Albertus Zwier Mangels on Nov. 16th, 1948 in Holland.  His living conditons as a child where rather poor until his family moved to Australia in 1956. Shortly afterwards, Alby's parents split and his mother was left to take care of him, along with his sister and brother on the bank of the Murray River, in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Due to this guys zest for adventure, the small confines of Murray River (or Australia for that fact) could not contain him. And now, the story begins...

Hey folks! This is the story of Alby's Life. Please be fully aware that he has videotaped just about all of it. It is quite an adventure, so...before you read, I just want you to know that you can purchase the World Safari Series and not just read about it. In additon...you can get the entire scoop by watching Adventure Bound. Take a gander!

Alby Mangels: Picture courtesy of The Alby Mangels Trading Post (His Homepage)

NEW!!!  Recently, I aquired a copy of the Out-of-print, 1985, World Safari book.  From the pictures therein, I created desktop wallpapers based on all three of the World Safari films.  They are rather large in size (so downloading may take a while).  However, they are the best I've ever made...and it is my belief that no Alby fan should be without them.  Each comes with its own README text.  But trust me, it's a cinch.  Download them from my "What's New" Section.   Warmest Regards,  "Rob"

WORLD SAFARI

Intro: Here we are introduced to Alby Mangels (bricklayer) and his mate John Fields (chicken farmer). They set out for an adventure of a lifetime. One that would take them through some of the most dangerous, and the most beautiful landscapes that this world has to offer. This craving for adventure would take them through 56 countries and 6 continents in 6 years (with only 400 dollars apeice and one camera).

In Kyoto, John and Alby were allowed to stay with the Zen Buddhist monks. Their job was to wake up at 4am every morning and wash and scrub the floors. They were really stern with the newcomers, and it seemed to our travelers that the only time they smiled was when they were leaving. They hitched a ride on The Star of Peace; a vessel bound for Thailand. From there, the two cut across to Calcutta, India, and there they saw their first real glimpse of disease and suffering. After that, they picked up a steamer to Mombassa and then to Kenya, Africa. There they bought a 2-cylinder Dodge "Daf" for $200. Then, our two explorers traveled from Nairobi to S. Africa to earn enough money to buy a yacht. They became insurance salesmen for African Old Mutual. Staying on the side of the road, they sold life insurance policies to passers-by. They did pretty good too, because the average salesman sold one policy a week; whereas Alby and John sold one a day.

John Field and Alby, packed and ready for the adventure that came to be known as World Safari I.

The two left Adelaide on March 10th, 1971 and traveled north for their 1st job; which was building homes for local Aborigines. Alby had what it took, but the locals got upset when they took a look at the sloppy mess that John made of their "wall." Next, they went to Sydney (Middleton Reef), where they hopped aboard the vessel Klaraborg. They were amongst a crew of 8 guys and 8 girls. The Klaraborg had 2 masts, 12 canvas sails, and hundreds of ropes. Hence, the first task was to accustom the crew to all areas of the ship. Then, bound for the island of Tonga, the crew finds out that they are 800 miles off course, however they make it in 30 days. From there, the crew travels to the island of Palmyra, and to everyone's surprise they find salvageable goods that they might eventually sell. In amazement they find a whole bunch of copper wiring (3-4tons in all) and they later sell it in Hong Kong for a hefty sum. However, the most valuable find was an old diesel engine that they had fitted onto the Klaraborg that enabled it to hold a steady 6 knots. Suddenly, disaster struck! The main sail broke in half and that left the boat stranded. Luckily, the skipper foresaw the wear of the old mast and had loaded a 40-foot pine onboard just in case. Now, all the crew had to do was shape and fit it. And then they were sailing once again. From Gwam, they went to Tokyo. John and Alby were down to their last hundred dollars. Their goal was to save up enough money to buy their own boat. (...and soon they would)

After 3 full months of work, they finally decide to set out again. While traveling through Mozambique, a country torn apart by war, they had to follow a trail by military escort. A minesweeper had to lead the way so that the weight of the jeeps would not set them off.  During the drive, Alby and John drove with sandbags on the floor and with their feet up on the dash. They followed a big military jeep whose wheels were further apart then John and Alby's. This made Alby nervous. Often times, the wheels of their jeep would drift over to unmineswept areas. With Alby in the passenger seat, and extremely uncomfortable with all of this..he protested. By putting his foot down, Alby was able to ride up in the big jeep, and not risk his life any further.

Later on, John gets stomach pains and in Alby's spare time he decorates the Daf with a map of their adventure thusfar. Next, determined to cross the Sahara, Alby and John pack up their water and do the last minute touch-ups to the Daf. John gets hepatitis during the long ride through the Sahara and is constantly shivering in temperatures well over the century. He recovers enough to continue, and then, 200 miles from Agades, they get bogged (in temperatures averaging 135deg F). Once out of sand they continue along the path through the largest desert in the world (area= that of the area of United States). Following guide posts, they drive.  But soon they lose sight of any guide post and are lost. They  follow a camel in hopes that it will lead them to a homestead, but they soon lose sight of that as well.  That is when the boys begin to panic.They were low on petrol, water and spirits. Luckily, they find a wondering nomad who offers to show them the way in the morning. All the nomad wanted in return was water and John and Alby were ready to give him just about anything that he wanted. They gave him some water and the nomad ducked behind a bush and drank it in private. Alby and John then said that the nomad was "one of the greatest men they had ever met." After finishing with the trek through the Sahara, the boys had had their share of adventure and were longing to return home. However, they took a short detour to return the Daf to its' original birthplace; Holland. In Holland, the manufacturers were amazed that the car held up so well and offered them $18,000 for it (Alby got it for a mere $200). The Daf had done a total of 30,000 miles in 3 years in the heart of Africa. And that is where the story ends...for now. ~John eventually returned to Sydney and joined up with the Buddhists that lived there. Alby, on the other hand, kept saving for his next adventure.

WORLD SAFARI II

"Travel hasn't satisfied an appetite. It has created one."  ~Alby

They finally get a boat. The Gretta Marie. One of the last square riggers to sail the open seas. Only 400 nautical miles, and tragedy strikes. Piers Soutier falls into shallow water and becomes a paraplegic, and later on, loses his life to its' complications. Alby stayed with him until his last day. After this dark moment, Alby decides that he needs to get away; so he takes his 18-month bull terrier,Sam, and they are off to the seas. Soon afterwards, Alby meets Amanda and her friend, and they agree to go with Alby on the Gretta Marie. While on the Prince of Wales Island, Ray (island manager), gets attacked by a wild boar. Of couse, Sam runs to the rescue and slows the beast down enough so that Ray gets away and Alby and another man can kill it. Ray ends up getting about 40 stitches in the ol'leg and he can't stop saying how great Sam is. Alby is ever-so-proud.

Alby borrows a plane and picks up his good mate, Vik Breglec. There had been a big flood at the time, and while they were flying they saw some horses and other animals stranded on an island. So, the spirited two flew over the spot several times and dropped bails of hay (25 actually). Later on, an old man tells the boys of an area where they can find opals (fossilized vertebres-rare=money). This sounds financially interesting to our two travelers, so they give it a go. And as luck would have it, they found some. These valuable earth stones would be enough to finance their trip to South America.

3000km later, they are on their vessel, the Gretta Marie, bound for New Guinea. In order to raise a little more cash, the boys hold a martial arts display (Alby is a black belt in Taekwondo), and entered Vik in a boxing competition. Disaster strikes yet again! There is a fire on the Gretta Marie and it sinks nearly killing Sam, and injuring Vik. And as the opals sink to the bottom of the sea, so did their hopes for South America. It was a dark time for Alby. He had no real direction and he felt that he needed to escape. So, he drifted along and became a part of the crew to a boat that journeyed up and down the Congo River. He said "I just enjoyed being part of the crew, and taking things as they came." He visited with local tribes and made some life-long friends along the way. He said: "I lost my boat. But I didnt lose my desire to live." When on  a hunt with his two tribesmen, Buck and Siniguy, Alby saw a baby deer run into croc-infested waters. he ran in and saved it. He thought back to himself, and he realized that Buck and Siniguy probably didn't understand why he did that, but then again...neither did Alby. He said: "There must always be heartache and pain. That you must put them aside and go on with the living." After fitting in so well with the natives, the tribe had something to surprise Alby with. A wife! Now how was Alby going to get out of this without offending anyone? Anyway...he did explain to his almost-father-in-law, and he didn't have to get married. Then, a letter came for Alby. It was from an old mate and he had arranged for the Aussie model, Judy Green, to join Alby and "rough it." (now..just as a note to the reader: Judy is one of the hottest babes I have ever seen. Fancy that bit of luck!)

A question had been bugging Alby for some time. Were the opals destroyed in the fire, or are they just sitting at the bottom of the sea? Alby had to find out. So, he took Judy and his friend "The Black John Wayne" and set up to dive for them. He dove down 14 meters and with the 7 knot current, it took him pass the wreckage. However he did manage to find the stones, and they all were in perfect condition. So, Alby and Judy went from Venezuela to Caracus and exchanged the opals for 3 times the official exchange rate. From there, they go through a few dangerous situations. One; they swam (quite by accident) in piranha-infested waters. And two; drove through the dangerous tribal lands of Equador. They had to drive with the windows up to protect them from blowdarts. And it happens yet again...another disaster! A bus runs into Alby and Judy's jeep. Alby had neck and shoulder injuries, whereas Judy suffered severe head injuries. And it is there at the hospital that Alby meets Paco, who later turns out to be a real mate. So, down and out, Alby decides to go back to the farm in Australia. On arrival, he finds out that Sam has been shot. This was an all-time low for Alby. But the determined explorer would make it to S. America; this time with his pal, Paco. Paco had given up his job at the hospital to go with Alby...and he was waiting with a jeep for him in Monaco. Following the Amazon trail proved to be one of the worst choices that they would make. Frequently bogged, they sometimes went days without seeing a single soul. And while cutting bamboo, Paco accidentally cuts his foot and it soon becomes infected. Then, another axle broke. They have no spares. They hiked and came to a tribe of indians that allowed them to rest up and stay there awhile. That is where Alby had to leave Paco. After all, he could not continue on with Alby and plus, the missionaries could take better care of him than Alby could. Alby then takes a train to Lima. On the train is a military group. And lucky too, because moments later the train was to be hijacked by terrorists. Alby kept low and eventually that dreadful situation passed. In Lima, Alby met Michelle, who had to make it to Santiago, Chile to meet up with her family. So, she agreed to go with Alby, since for one...it would be safer. Later, in Lima, Alby finds out that his Visa has expired (but this was not about to stop Alby from getting Michelle where she had to be). So, in a smart attempt to dodge the police, they spent the night at a monastery in Kuzko. About Michelle, Alby had this to say: "Until now, I had always tried to keep things from getting too clse when traveling with a girl. But with Michelle, I had to admit, it was very hard to do this. There was something really special with her." From there, they went on a 4 day climb up the greatest citadel cathedral in all of Inca civilization; Manchu Piccu (Built by King Tut Inca~the ruins where not found until the early 1900's). A couple of days later, Alby sees in a paper that the political unrest in Peru is worsening (200 dead) and they had better get their buns out of there 'toot sweet.' Both him and Michelle were extremely nervous. They got a man to help get them out of Peru by attaching a red cross sticker to the window. It was enough to get pass the first checkpoint, but then they were finally stopped by the Security Police and were ordered to go back to Lima and get the Visa renewed. But that would take to long if Alby was going to help Michelle! So, Alby realized that he still had 2 opals left and he used these to buy a motorbike. With the motorbike...Alby and Michelle would cross the border at a more isolated spot. And with Alby's seafaring skills and lots of determination...they made it across. Finally, the two lovers had to part company. It was a hard time for the both of them..they had really grown close. But they would soon meet again...

NOTE:This entire video was over a period of 8 years, and was dedicated to the memory of Piers Soutier, the friend of Alby's that died during the beginning of WSII. Alby commented that Piers' "fight for life" was what helped drive him.

Continue onward with World Safari III
(Also containing great links to other websites)