Safari 3000 1982

Eddie Miles [David Carradine] is a fearless stunt driver hired to pilot Count Borgia’s second car in the African International Rally. In a bold test race, he humiliates his boss by beating him, and this reckless display earns him an immediate dismissal, setting a rebellious tone for his involvement in the race.

Playboy writer J.J. Dalton [Stockard Channing] asks her editor to send her to cover the rally, and she becomes the navigator for Freddie Selkirk [Ian Yule], her pilot friend. The editor, intrigued by the idea of having her miles away, agrees to the arrangement, hoping the assignment will deliver fresh material and distance from the office.

On arrival, Freddie proves unable to participate, so J.J. buys a decrepit car and begins to search for a new pilot, just as Eddie is also looking for a suitable ride. Eddie showcases his nerve-wracking driving skills despite the car’s poor condition, and he proposes that J.J. interview Count Borgia while he works on a risky plan to steal an engine from the operatic villain. This impulsive maneuver marks the start of their heated disagreements, even as curiosity and necessity pull them closer.

As the three-day rally unfolds, the trio learns to navigate their differences, gradually forming a bond that deepens into friendship and even romance. Along the way, a young baboon joins their journey, lending an odd, unifying charm to the expedition. Together they confront the perils of the wilderness and the craftiness of natives, all while Count Borgia and his menacing minion Feodor [Hamilton Camp] push hard to claim victory. The pair’s schemes and the looming threat of revenge propel the tense competition, testing loyalties and courage in equal measure.