We are looking into a trip in '06 Uk - Cape Town down the eastern side of Africa. We are limited to 12 weeks for the trip. And cant leave until the beggining of June. Now i understand that Egypt/Sudan etc.. are going to be unbearibly hot at this time. We are thinking of riding early morning and evining with a kind of head down and get on with it approach till we get to a kinder climate. Can anyone offer advice/is it doable. Also the rainy season on the equator could prove problematic. Any advice appreciated.

Deserts in summer are pretty unbearable to be honest but it most certainly is "do-able" - just much harder, hotter, more unpleasant and less enjoyable than at a better time of year. I spent a summer in the Iraqi desert a couple of years ago and I can honestly say I never want to experience 55 degrees centigrade ever again! It depends on how tough you are as individuals I suppose, and what you can put up with. If it's the only time you can go then just get on with it but make sure you are well prepared to look after yourselves - have a plan for when things go wrong. As for the rainy season - again, far from ideal. It depends on exactly which routes you'll be taking but it can make certain stretches of road unpassable and some can get closed by the local plod for days or weeks at a time - there's often an alternative route which the locals, other travellers or a bit of research will reveal but you could be looking at a long detour. Again if it's the only time you can go then don't worry about it - just expect an even bigger adventure than if you'd have gone at the perfect time of year when everyone else probably goes. My two pence for what it's worth!!

Thank you for your response. Already looking forward to a more temperate Kenya ( if possibly a little wet )

A KTM sposored round the world rider finished his trip through Sudan and Egypt in the summer. He popped the bike on a train for a section of the jouney because the roads were covered in sand and the temp was too hot (fearing the bike would over heat too easily). Check out the posibilities of riding out the heat in a train from the Egypt/Sudan border to Kartoum. Takes away from some of the 'fun' but might leave you with more energy and less sunburn when you get to Ethiopia and Kenya. Sounds fun, enjoy.
Poa

He poped the bike on a train cos the roads in the north of Sudan were covered in sand? Surely not!
Should be possible to get to CT in 3 months if all goes well, once past Isiolo in Kenya its all tar to CT if you want it to be, The train from Wadi Halfa runs once a week and coincides with the ferry from Aswan so no probs there, you'll miss out one of the best bits but you will need a water bowser to follow you if contemplating Sudan in summer, in December i drank close on 5 litres of water a day and I was still pissing brake fluid, the only muddy bit could be from Moyale to Isiolo. Ethiopia's roads are either tar or rock so should be OK, Egypt is all tar if you want so even the heat will be bearable as it's easy riding. Did that trip 2002/03 if you want specifics mail me. I would say though that it'd be best to think about going in winter, just a suggestion. Chris

Good to know sand isn't as much of an issue as I read. I've only been as far north as Isiolo for work. One thing to keep in mind up there is an ongoing tension between the Kenyan army and groups of cattle raiders that come down from somalia fully loaded with semi automatics and rpg's. Last time I was there I needed a military escort just to get to Samburu NP. Not sure about the situation now, it's been a couple years since my last visit but worth knowing.

Sorry POA but I was being a little sarcastic about sand on the road, just after Atbara in Sudan there is no road to have sand on, it is just sand, The desert has quite a lot of tyre tracks but bassically you ride where ever you want to as long as you keep the marker posts, (yellow and every km) in sight or the telegraph poles of the railway line, but there is no actual road just lots and lots of sand.
I've been on the Isiolo/Moyale road a few times and always been warned of the danger but never experienced anything, last time there was just me and a German chap on bikes and apart from the volcanic roack eating my front tyre we had no problems at all.
Chris

Thought I should comment on this one, because I just finished riding north through Sudan yesterday.

Yes, it is absolutely unbearably hot in Egypt / Sudan at this time of year, but it is still possible to ride, providing you time your day properly. My themometer hit 55 degs for a couple of hours in the Sudanese desert at a time during the middle of the day. The trick is to leave at dawn, ride until 11 or so, rest during the hottest part of the day, and then ride in the late afternoon from about 5 until sunset. Doing this you could do about 200 - 250 kms a day on the tracks south of Wadi Halfa, and up to 400kms on the tar south of Abu Dom.

There are two routes you can take south once you enter Sudan. The better route for a solo unsupported motorbike is the Nile route, via Dongola and then the tarred road from Abu Dom to Khartoum, although you do miss the famous Meroe pyramids this way. If you push this, you can do it in three days, however four or five would be more comfortable.

The only section of this route where water is not available is from Wadi Halfa heading towards Akasha, where it is about 75kms to the first truck stop. After this unfiltered Nile water is readily available, although bottled water is only available in the towns, such as Abri and Dongola. I found I was drinking close to ten litres of water a day and still not having to piss.

The other route, through the desert via the train line has good water at Station 6, however I really don't think you could possibly carry enough water on a solo motorbike to make this feasible at this time of year.

The route down the Nile is mainly heavily corrugated track, with a mixture of stony / sandy tracks. There are very few real sand streches on this road, but you can always head off the track if you feel the urge. Fuel is available in Abri from jerry cans and at a petrol station in Kerma (60kms north of Dongola), thus meaning your range will only need to be about 300kms.

Also be aware that the distances on the Michelin map between Wadi Halfa and Abri are wrong. From Halfa - Akasha is 125kms, and then another 55kms to Abri, not 115kms as on the Michelin map.

Sudanese hospitality is fantastic, and you can easily stay and eat for free in any of the villages along the route, where you will be plied with a bed, food (fuul/beans) and water. It is a "dry" country, so make sure you have plenty of s before leaving Aswan.

cheers
Matt Roach

[This message has been edited by Matt Roach (edited 29 July 2005).]

Sorry guys, no advice to offer, just another question(sorry Giles4060 to butt in!)

Getting mixed reports about shipping your bike from Greece into Egypt. How did you, or how do you plan, to get your bike in Egypt, fly or ship? And if shipping is the answer, any website or adresses?

Cheers,
Namsa.

Actually if anyone has any experience shipping the other way (ie Egypt to Continental Europe or England) can you please post it here.

I have seen from other posts on the HUBB that the ferry from Greece to Egypt is no longer running, but i understand it should be possible on a container ship.

Currently trying Safmarine and it is slow going.

Anyone have any experience flying their bike out of Egypt?

Forgot to mention in my previous post about water in Sudan - don't follow my advice and drink the Nile water straight. Make sure you filter it instead, and then you might avoid the severe stomach issues that have afflicted me for the past two weeks!

Flying out of Egypt.... yes... see our trip story - menu top left "Our Trip" and then Egypt.

Very painful experience, I don't wish it on anyone. BUT that was 97 - it may have changed for the better... then again, maybe not

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi Matt just got back from a couple of weeks away so just read your response. Thanks for all the great info we owe you a or two if we ever cross paths. Out of interest what bike are you on and how did it stand up to the heat? Another one of my many concerns about doind this trip over the summer months.

Giles,

I am riding a 2000 KTM 640 Adventure. The bike performed really well on the sandy sections, without any overheating problems. I did fit a second radiator fan which makes the bike run a lot cooler in the desert.

The key to riding this section with a minimum of hassle is being lightly loaded and having good tyres / tubes. I had no problems or punctures, but I did hear from other bikers of two South African guys who took this route south several months ago, and had real problems with suspension and punctures. Without having met them or seen their set-ups, I suspect this may have been due to being overloaded and tyre / tube selection.

The other alternative is to put the bike on the train from Halfa to Khartoum, although you could also get off at the tar near Atbara. I know two BMW 1150 riders who did this because their bikes were a bit heavy in the desert.

If you want any more info, feel free to send me an email.

cheers

flying out from Cairo to London took 2 days and heaps of hassle. and I left with the middle part of my carnet cos no one would sign it. so I had to go to customs in the UK to get the certificate of presence signed to say I was back. this would have been a big hassle if I'd been going somewhere else

atbara to wadi halfa is 600km of deep soft sand - nearly a day's ride if you're nuts, but I did it in Nov rather than mid summer! I was carrying 15 litres of water and would expect sun blindness to be a problem in summer. I'd seriously consider taking the train in the summer. at the very least, stay ahead of it so you have a bail out option in case of breakdown - that's what I did!

as for the rest of the route, possibly muddy entering Ethiopia and Moyale-Isiolo, but tar all the way to CT.

[This message has been edited by RichLees (edited 15 August 2005).]

Sadly, sounds very familiar - it took us three days back in '97, but we did succeed in getting the carnet stamped. See left menu - "Our Trip" near the top, and then Egypt from there.

Would have thought they'd have learned after that, and especially after all this time. But I guess not...



------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com