The first Russian transcontinental car rally, Russian Breakthrough, has reached Cameroon. Teams left Moscow in early January and so far they have travelled through Europe and from West to the East of Africa.

From Moscow to Djibouti – it's Russia's answer to the Dakar rally, with 25 countries and about 25,000 kilometres.

“The cars we are using are not very expensive,” says Gennady Shelikov, Russian Breakthrough team leader. “Niva is around $US 10,000, UAZ-Hunter – $US 11,000, UAZ-Patriot – $US 14,000.”

The Russian 4X4 cars can travel over all sorts of terrain, through snow storms, deserts and jungles. They are cheap, reliable and easy to fix.

But in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, the Breakthrough team came across a local Lada. Dr Sida, former deputy of Yaounde, has had his Lada since 1976.

“I bought this car to conduct my election campaign off the beaten track, to become deputy of Yaounde” he said. “Lada's can travel through snow and mud. I could even drive through my cocoa plantation in this car. It used to get through anything.”

He swears it was the Lada that helped him win the election campaign.

“Our aim was to show a bit of Russia to Africans and to see Africa  through Russian eyes,” explains Andrey Dudnik, a driver.

There is one thing all Cameroonians love – it is football. So, once in the country's capital, Yaounde, the Russian Breakthrough team arranges a match.

But the tropical sun was on the locals' side. Cameroon beat Russia 2-1, though the winners felt due to compliment their opponents: “It was really good. The team played well, but it probably was a little hard for them to play in the heat, because they are not used to it.”

Gennady Shelikov added: “In Russia, people ski, and these guys have never even seen snow.”

After the game, the hosts and guests demonstrate their talents in an off-hand show. A combination of African and Kossak dances makes an unforgettable spectacle.