No, I think the GP is fairly and explicitly disagreeing with what you describe as the point, which is very different than missing it.

Clearly you think what is desirable and worthwhile is...

> the adventure [...] the adversities on the trip, the people you meet, the broken cars

Clearly, GP disagrees that this is desirable and worthwhile, when writing:

> I do want to visit Africa, but all of this driving and getting stuck doesn't really appeal to me.

Not everyone has insufficient adversity in their daily life such that they need to take on additional and avoidable adversity for recreation.