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Distance UK to Cape Town
Hello fellow overlanders,
Can anyone please put a figure on the distance from U.K. to C.T. Assuming one sticks pretty much to the standard route, with not to much deviation to towns and villages that are not on the route. I gave tried to use Google maps, but it says there is no route possible. ? Perhaps I will have to break it up into separate segments? Also is there a short route, or is the East coast of Africa a similar distance to the West coast of Africa. Graham |
Think Long Way Down stated it was 15,000+ miles on their new trip but I can't remember for sure.
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IF you have Google Earth and a fast connection, I believe you can zoom in and out and measure the routes seen on the Tracks4Africa layer.
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Just to update Juddadredd's reply, Long Way Down say in the book they covered 14,600 miles but that was from John O'Groats. They recorded the distance from there to London as 896 miles so take off whatever portion of that applies to wherever you're starting from.
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distance
I think we did 40000km's + but we went through europe first. Also the distance will pend on the amount of sight seeing u do. And it ads up very quickly! very!
So take extra dollars for fuel. |
We have estimated our trip at 25000km, for our budget, but will probably be more!
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thank you to all who replied, on the answers given, I estimate the rough distance from the Manchester area UK down to Cape Town will be around 14200miles.
We are now considering when to leave, and mid 2009 looks good. Quite which route we take is no where near being confirmed. We would like the East coast of Africa, which would take in Egypt, then we would like the west coast also, to take in Luanda, and South West Africa,. Opinions please, good, bad, indifferent !!?? |
Before you decide on a date for leaving I would look at the climate in each country you plan on travelling thru.
Some become impassable at certain times of the year, i.e. when wet. |
Carnet
Before you decide which side to take have a look at what deposit you need for a carnet valid for Egypt as opposed to the west side.
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uk captown
its a good point that mark makes about the cost of a carnet and dont forget the cost of visas..but both routes are totaly possible (even without a back up of 4 vehicles and a office full of staff in the uk)..
first get your vehicle and keep asking questions!!! good luck jeff Gone wandering |
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Way off topic, but how do you get that layer on basic Google Earth? - I'm a newbie to Google E, you can tell! Thanks, |
On the left you have 3 sections. Search, Places and Layers. Open Layers up.
Open Featured Content. Find Tracks4Africa and check that box or if it is too busy for you, open that section up and check T4A Roads. Tracks4Africa is evolving with GE, and you should see more information in the future appearing on this layer. The Zambia downloads I have on my site, I suspect a few of those will be a part someday. luangwablondes | A guide for the overseas self drive, self sufficient, vehicle dependent visitor in Africa Plus many I have yet to put up. |
mail
i have a weather planner. send me ur email and i will send it to u. have some other useful odds too if u want them.
egypt! make sure the carnet is in your name and the car papers too. no match no entry. |
Hello Surfer.
I have now got a 2005 Land Cruiser. I don't have any fixed plans yet, it is still being debated and talked about. As time going down would be at a premium, I am starting to look at the East coast. I had planed to sell the LC in CPT, as we are SA residents, however, we may just drive back on the other coast to what we came down on, if that makes sense? How long would it take to drive down, the shortest route, not stopping to fanny about, as this would be done in plenty on the return.. graham |
A real thumbsuck would be 20000km for the westerley route with a 20% variation for not being a crow.
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Going through Europe and then heading down the eastern route (ala LWD) would be a simpler route. Egypt to Ct can't be much more than 13000km sticking to tar, as Nairobi to CT is only 6500km give or take. Then take your time coming up the west route.
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Thank you Bundu basher
is any one thinking the easterly route may be longer or shorter? G. |
It's a case of swings and roundabouts - the easterly route coming from europe will be fast and it is the quickest route through Africa - only 3 countries between Egypt and Kenya (once you're in Kenya it is only a 12 day drive (approx.) to CT - and it's potentially cheaper (visas etc) - it's the route I'd take if I was in a real hurry.
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Get a copy of the Tracks 4 Africa digital map then you can plan your route through Africa down to the last detail. I suppose you can get european mapping through the AA etc.
Tracks4Africa - T4A GPS Maps |
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, , hello Bundubasher. Thank you for some excellent information. So essentially, down through Italy, and jump the ferry to Tunis. ? or Pireaus to Alex.? and pay high carnet for Egypt? Or stay in Libya and avoid Egypt carnet charges? Sudan and down to CPT. All information gladly accepted. G. |
Hey, I'm just chewing it over.
If it is a matter of speed the follow the LWD route or a variation of it. I originally thought the Egyptian carnet was 200% but on checking the AA it is 800% which is alot of cash, but substantially refundable. Your decision will ultimately depend on what you cannot afford: time or money? I think the LWD route shows you want you can do with huge financial resources and if you don't, but you do have time, then the Western route will be the route of choice. |
This is an accumulation of other peoples’ experience:
The West African route via Morrocco, Algeria, Niger, into west Africa, Cameroon, DRC, Angola into Namibia, Bots and SA. The other route is Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and then smooth tar south. Sudanese visa is the only sticking point but it seems the best place to get one is in Tanzania. I assume therfor that you still need a visa for the small stretch to Kinshasa and then Brazzaville. If you're going south then there are three ferries the one between the Uk and France; the second between Italy and North Africa; and the third between Egypt and Sudan down Lake Nasser to Wadi Halfa. I hear that the Wadi Halfa ferry is unable to take cars, but they have a barge which will. Even if there is only one car you have to pay for the whole barge, which can be several thousand dollars. You would need to share it with others to bring the cost down. “We were able to get 6 vehicles on the barge from wadi halfa to aswan. Even if it is full it is not cheap, but it was a fantastic journey up lake nasser. The crew are very friendly and you stop two nights at island where you can swim and fish. The barge is much slower than the passenger ferry. It gets baking hot during the day on the metal barge.” It is good to travel through Sudan in convey anyway due to the bad roads, deep sand and extreme temps. “The barge had 3 4x4s and 2 motor bikes when i went and the bikes cost USD150 each. Dont know about the cars. You can put the 4x4 on the train from Wadi to Atbara or Khartoum but the better route is via the Nile the whole way.” |
The above was gleaned from an old conversation on the Africa Board (lonely Planet). Couple of people: Simsy, Mad Paddler etc if you want to seek them out.
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Hi I in Malawi now, riden eastern Europe, middle east and east africa. but the time I get to Cape Town I expect I will have clocked up about 35'000km. My friend who has ridden a less wiggly line but also took the middle east route will be about 27'000km. Hope this helps, I am most enious of you and your trip ahead, you will have a great time, enjoy!
George |
Recently finished about 25,000 km from Frankfurt to Turkey, around the Med. and east coast route to Cape Town.
Could be done in a bit less if you bee-line it straight through Mozambique to South Africa instead of crossing over to Namibia, but crossing over is more common and recommended. Or if you veer all over the continent to chase every overlander truck filled with pretty girls like George from Sark, it can end up at 35,000 km as well. :) |
Hi Graham
Our GPS recorded - 34000km from Poole to Pretoriaskop Camp in Kruger, via CT... Ours was Eastern route, Zambia, Namibia... We left in 1st week Dec, and would recommend it. A bit cold in Europe and SA, but fantastic to be in Egypt and Sudan in winter... We had rain 2 or 3 times on the Africa leg, and fantastic game viewing. The fastest it can be done in - Cairo to CT in 28 days. A Finn we met has posted that he did it this quickly, and they did not have a carnet!!! Graham |
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carnet
You do not mention the other option which is a bank guarantee. Cash deposits are limited to £10,000 for a carnet and insurance is very expensive. But a bank guarantee for a £50k carnet may only cost you the bank fee of £150 compared to an insurance premium of £5k. Well worth thinking about.
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Compare notes?
Hi Graham
We're planning to go to CT via East Africa this Autumn in a Land Cruiser - it would be great to compare notes and share research. If you're interested please PM me! Lucie Ooops! Sorry this message was intended for UK Vette, who is also a Graham I believe?! Sorry I would PM directly but I'm not allowed to yet....;-( |
On the western route we logged 47,000kms. That was from Downton in England to Durban. We did do a lot of back-tracking in Southern Africa.
You can see the general route here: Africa Overland - Africa cheers |
Mountainman, I fair comment about my exta milage, but they were just soo cute!
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Hello LucieT,
It is confusing, being a few "Graham's" here. No problem though. I originally wanted to go UK to CPT via Egypt. Until I read about the 800% carnet cover, and the cost of the ferry from Egypt into Sudan. Since I realised the high costs, I was just as happy to do the West coast route. Sure there are more visa's and stuff to get, going the West coast, but I think it will be more cost effective. I just feel, to spend so much on a ferry from one end of the lake to the other really gets to me. |
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