Hi,

I am from USA with USA passport. If I want to start a trip in S Africa and travel north to Norway, what route would be safer for United States citizen? I'm looking into shipping old first generation KLR over to S Africa and travel north.

Thanks!
-Ken

Hi Ken,
Because of problems in Ethiopia I don't think it is possible to travel all they way up the east route at the moment and you might have to allow for shipping from somewhere such as Mombasa to Turkey or Europe, I recently met some South Africans who had come that way in a Land Rover and had done just that.
I cannot advise on the current situation coming up the west route but hopefully someone will be long who can.

Mark, thanks for your reply. Hopefully someone can chime in on west routes.

Hi Ken, this doesn’t answer your question, but i’d explore buying a klr in south africa alongside your current plan.

Plenty around, probably cheaper than shipping, and I found it way cheaper to use a south african carnet than to get a uk one back in 2016 (am guessing us position similar to uk, but maybe not?)

Just a thought - good luck with your planning.

OP, your question is about safety, specifically for a US citizen. I'm going to offer that safety, regardless of citizenship, is probably not much of a factor when choosing between east and west coast routes.

The main threats to your safety are going to involve health and accidents, with violent crime a distant second unless you habitually take risks in this regard. Political instability (or the American bugaboo, "terrorism") is a genuine risk only if you are 1) extremely unlucky, or 2) oblivious to the point of foolhardiness.

Therefore: ride safely wherever you go, although note that this is not quite as simple in the Developing World as it is in North America. Take precautions against infectious diseases and parasites, of which there are many in sub-Saharan Africa. Be reasonably cautious about known high-crime areas, just as you would in, say, New York or Washington D.C., but try not to let it interfere too much. And keep your ear to the ground about political instability, both current and near-future--specifics change frequently in Africa.

On the other hand, remember that most people do just fine, even when they act resoundingly foolish--in Africa, as elsewhere.

You don't say when you're planning to travel, but at the moment there are some major impediments on either coast, i.e., closures due to COVID along with recent coups and at least one open civil war (and a few more that are not quite defined as such). This needn't interfere provided you're flexible and able to make the best of wherever you end up. But if you're on a deadline or a limited budget, this might not be the best time.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

The South African bikers' forum might be useful with up-to-date information. Regarding border crossings here is one of the posts: Login


Unfortunately not very much information but at least a little bit


Up halfway Africa to the north according to my information (I'm a South African expat) the eastern route is easier than the western route. On the eastern route the only current danger spot is around the northern tip of Mosambique and parts of the coastal route between Maputo and the Tanzanian border.
Otherwise the route is quite easy to travel. You have the option to travel on sealed roads as well as numerous dirt roads from South Africa to Kenia. The rest - see the posts above.


South Africa and Lesotho are extremely relaxed re Covid as the infection rate is low compared to the European countries.


Hope this helps. If you try to register on the SA Wilddog forum and you encounter any problems just PM me.


Cheers, Hans

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Bugger....! The mentioned post on the SA Wilddog forum is only open to registered users.
Here is the text:
Covid and border crossings between Namibia and SA - Jan 2022

« on: January 05, 2022, 08:41:58 pm »
Hi

My girlfriend and I area leaving to Namibia next week for a wedding and planning to tour for 10 -12 days before coming back to SA at the end of Jan 2022. So I am going to see Namibia in the bakkie and not the bike. So I have some questions regarding border crossings and covid tests. Maybe someone has recent experience with crossing in Dec 2021 or Jan 2022.

Entry to Namibia at Vioolsdrift / Noordoewer
From what I have read I understand we need to have a negative PCR test that is less than 72 hours old.
We are doing PCR tests on 5 Jan 2022 so should have results in time to cross Vioolsdrift on Friday 7 Jan 2022.
Do we need our PCR results printed on paper?
Must the document be stamped by the lab?
Must an antigen or rapid test be performed at the border crossing as well?


Return to SA at Vioolsdrift / Noordoewer
I am getting mixed feedback from people upon the return to SA with regards to the requirements with PCR and rapid tests.
What is required to return to SA? From what I understand a negative PCR test less than 72h old.
Must we do a rapid test at the border as well?
If we require a PCR test, the last place we can test is in Keetmanshoop as will stay a night in the area, does anyone have experience with Diagnolab in Keetmanshoop?
What happens if we get a positive PCR test and arrive at NoordOewer to return to SA? Do they stop us from entering SA or force us into isolation somewhere?


I am not sure if this changes things, I have a SA ID and passport, but my girlfriend has a SA ID and foreign passport (She has residency but not citizenship in SA).

Thanks in advance.




Report to moderator Logged

Lars

• Race Dog
• 
• Bike: Moto Guzzi (all models)
  Location: Western Cape
• Posts: 1,265

Re: Covid and border crossings between Namibia and SA - Jan 2022

« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2022, 07:18:33 am »


I flew up to Livingstone in November and drove through Namibia back to Cape Town. You need a PCR test to enter Namibia. It must be not older the 7 days but I stuck to the 72 hrs. Upon return we took a pcr test in Keetmanshoop for R 700 ( test at 2 pm, results at 6pm same day) but there was a rapid antigen test available at Vioolsdrift for around R 300 which was sufficient to enter SA. Results in 20 min. We were quite annoyed as we wasted R 400 per person. I am in the same situation as your girlfriend ( SA Id but foreign passport). The rules are the same. Hope this helps. Have a lekker trip.

Sent from my SM-A325F using Tapatalk

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Yes, I had thought about that too, however I read in advrider that two dudes purchased two KLR but one of them purchased a KLR that was a disaster. A local guy had a heart to help and did some extended repairs to make it a trip ready moto.

And consider that I am quite picky with suspension wanting to go with Cogent Dynamic Moab Rear Shock and a proper fork spring to work with the said rear shock, and customized rally tower fairing along with Corbin or Sargent saddle, I feel that I will be much happier using the KLR that I modified rather than to buy it locally and suffer with factory setting. But.I appreciate your input, really.

Mark,

This is the answer I was looking for.. now that I know it doesn't matter whether I take west or east route. I suppose that whenever I am ready to make the trip in a year or two, I will have to wing it and put my finger in the air, and see what the wind will take me. I'll just go around the country that is having civil unrest and continue northbound. Current plan is to ride to Alaska then to Vegas for international expo this summer of 2022. Maybe do Baja just to check it off my bucket list then I will start the KLR project for winter of 2022 this Nov-Feb. Not sure when I will start Africa trip yet depending on how covid19 is. I'm just planning this trip early so when it's time to go I am prepared. Thank you so much for this input!!

Thanks for the update! Much appreciated. I think I will register and be a lurker just to monitor the status so when I am ready to go I am updated with the status there. I appreciate the link to other forum! Thanks so much!