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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 3 Mar 2009
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Cape Town to London - 2 up/pillion

Hi

Assuming I've got the right bike (950 Adventure, GS, Africa Twin etc), is there a route all the way from Cape Town to London travelling up the East side of Africa that is suitable for riding with a pillion? My preferred route is South Africa, Namibia, Zambia or Zimbabwe, Malawi or Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Italy and then through to London. Is this possible?

I expect that if it is possible it will all come down to timing to fit around the weather. So my next question is, assuming the trip takes 4 months, when would be the best time of year to do such a trip?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

T
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  #2  
Old 7 Mar 2009
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Get Goin

We are planning the same trip but in reverse, from my planning you can just about ride the whole way on tar if you wish, the exceptions would be Nth. Kenya and Sudan, but people are riding 2up doing this trip all the time. As for the best time to go, I would leave SA in Aug. its cool then and you miss the wet and by the time you get to Sudan & Egypt it would of cooled right off as well. Have fun

Paul
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  #3  
Old 7 Mar 2009
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I'm sure someone else will say this sooner or later. There is a wealth of information on the left control/navigation bar. You will be pleasantly surprised on how easy the information is to find and how simple it makes things.
We are planning a similar route for next year, however we will be on 2 bikes and have spent hours on this site and a few others planning - as it's all part of the fun.
Jammin posted this a few days ago and can help as a guide, you do want to stay away from the rainy season especially in Africa.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...her-info-41259
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  #4  
Old 9 Mar 2009
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Smile Two-up - no problem

Hi Tom
We rode two up all the way home from Cape Town to Cornwall - me and my best friend Maggie on Thelma (R80GS), and believe me if we could make it through the rough stuff (we did fall a lot) anyone can, especially as we can only reach the ground on tiptoes.
We didn't know about knobbly tyres, in fact we were quite ignorant about all things off-road until we found ourselves in at the deep end, but hey, we got through.
The worst road conditions are northern Ethiopia and Sudan, I would strongly recommend that you try to avoid the wet season there are many river crossings without the benefit of bridges. The rains are supposed to end in September/October, we still had flooded roads to deal with in late October/early Nov.
Good luck, you will have a ball.
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