Hi All,

I am planning a trip from Dublin, Ireland to Cape Town for late next year when all this Covid madness has hopefully resolved itself.

I am planning to drive my Land Rover Defender 90, and take 3-4 months.

I have traveled in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania but the rest of East Africa is a bit of an unknown.

Has anyone who has done this trip share their itinerary or route plan with me?

of course if does necessarily need to start in Dublin, anywhere in Europe would work.

thanks

Ger

We may be able to help, or at least offer food for thought, for the bit from Kenya south. We drove from Nairobi to Cape Town and back in 10 months. Although your trip will be quite different from ours, it may be helpful for you to consider your route, in terms of places which might be worth including, and also our experience on the road.

We travelled from Nairobi to Livingstone as efficiently as possible, having to arrive in RSA as early as possible since the visa had an end date. We then slowed down and spent some time in Livingstone and then Zimbabwe before entering RSA. We also had visa limitations for Namibia and Botswana however were able to manage these without significant impact (Botswana was very negative and we were not able to follow our original plan which was to enter Botswana twice - once heading south and once returning northwards). We then spent (more or less) 6 weeks in RSA, a month each in Namibia and Botswana, a month in Zambia, 3 weeks in Malawi, 6 weeks in Tanzania, 3 weeks in Rwanda, a month in Uganda, and the rest in Kenya.

Some thoughts:

Make sure you visit Lakeshore Lodge in Tanzania, McBrides’ Camp in Zambia, and Barnley’s Guest House in Kenya.

If I were you, and I’m assuming that your time in Kenya and Tanzania has taken you to the “usual suspects”, I think I’d seek to visit Western Kenya, including Lake Turkana, a bit of Uganda, Rwanda, Western Tanzania, then Zambia, including Kasanka (which you’ll pass closely) and Kafue, then head to Victoria Falls, Chobe, Moremi/Okavango, then Namibia (Etosha), and south into RSA, stopping at RIchtersveld on the way to Cape Town.

I iniitally thought of routing to include Malawi and other places in the other countries, however with 3-4 months the route suggested may not be feasible without adding more.

Have a look at https://unochoenafrica.blogspot.com for ideas (most posts are in both English and Spanish, alternating paragraphs).

I hope next year is travelling possible again!



Here you find the most recent Transafrica`s over the west (ongoing)
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/04/...westroute.html

Here the most recent Transafricas over the east
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/03/...-ostroute.html

Hope that helps a bit, and gives you probably some informations specially over the Israel/egypt Border options..

I did the westroute in 2 months at 2012 - it is always better to have more time, but - better shorter than not doing it...

I suggest to plan further - but guess that after covid severall stuff has to be "tryed" again...

Surfy

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Trans-Africa over the west coast

Overlanding West Africa & Morocco and Overlanding Africa groups on facebook for the most upto date information.

With the current situation changing fast its better to have up to date info than old tales from months or years ago

I’m planning a circumnavigation of Africa, following the route of these 2 chaps, in 2023/4:
https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...ighlight=Gaels
https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...highlight=Gael
Please post up a ride report, if you go ahead. I’d be interested to see if it’s possible to go down the west side to RSA in 3/4 months. That would mean, if we left UK in December, it’s the dry season in West Africa till April. Then spend a couple of months in Southern Africa, again in the dry season, then follow the dry season up the east side.
I know there’s lots of advantages to travelling in the wetter months (animals and flora) but my wife just doesn’t like riding in mud and, to be honest, I’m not that keen either.
Good luck with your planning and trip

Hi,

If general conditions* will allow, this would be more or less my destination and time frame as well. All still written in the stars. I´ve registered here 6 years ago for planning this trip and there always has been some sort of no-go...Ebola, BokoHaram, stupid jobs and now Covid. I´d be happy to share and discuss anyone´s plans.

I´ve considered the western route, because down the east coast seems to be very difficult and expensive to set foot and tires on the African continent. Shipping horror via Alexandria wants to be avoided and shipping via Israel seems to be very limited as well. Also entering the Sinai by 4x4. Many travelers skip that part by directly shipping into Kenia. But that´s not what I´m thinking of a road trip. Kenia - Europe could be an option for a possible way back at the end of the trip.

So entering Africa via Morrocco, deciding sub-sahara where to continue, going by a "less money & time wasted while visa on the go"-strategy. Applying for visa upfront as far as possible is also worth looking into. Not sure yet about options and time limits. Political, pandemical and security issues causing detours not yet predictable, too.

Early to mid September seems to me a good starting point. I´d come from Germany via France towards Tarifa, Spain. I know a passionate Land Rover workshop in the hills over Tarifa where I´d like to pull in for a last check after a Pyrenees loop and before entering Africa. Good chances to meet for a sundowner at Bar Polideportivo, Tarifa, early September. Arriving well before Christmas in Cape Town is key.

Whether I´ll return the car by shipping or driving is not yet sorted out. SA (Cape Town, Walvisbay, Port Elisabeth) towards western Europe (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg) or Kenia towards south east Europe is considered. Container shares welcome. But leaving my car at friend´s places in Namibia, Capetown or Mozambique could be an option, if carnet situation allows.

Going in a slightly tuned Land Rover 109 at a trucking speed of 80-90km/h on tarmac. Daily legs shouldn´t max 500km average. Legs Tarifa to Dakar and Namibia to Cape Town will contain stop overs for few days of kitesurfing where windy with swell. Sleeping in the car preferred, which feels more secure in certain places with other cars as company. Occaisionally white blankets and a hot shower for reasonable money in stunning places is budgeted. So who is in to join a group for the dubious bits of the road?

Every input from seasoned travellers which places to visit or which to avoid along this route is highly appreciated. I´ve zigzagged the souther part of the continent, but western Africa is totally new to me.

So long

*Vaccination in Germany is a bit lacking in speed. But chances are good, to receive a shot around August/September. No vaccination, no traveling, I suppose...

I did this trip in 2011. It took me seven months on a 400cc enduro bike.

However, people do it in your time frame all the time. Having all of your paperwork in place will be crucial though.

I would really encourage you to double your trip time. You are travelling a HUGE continent with so much to see and do. Un-unexpected delays are common. (I had to wait 3 weeks for my Sudanese visa in Cairo etc).

The East coast is traditionally the 'easier' route. It's easier on the paperwork and borders and arguably, there is more to see and do.

I could have spend three months in South Africa alone.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

We dont know what happens after corona, but I recomend to read my links. 4x4 at the Tabe border wasnt an Issue at 2019 as example, I did post them on the 2nd Octobre:

Here you find the most recent Transafrica`s over the west (ongoing)
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/04/...westroute.html

Here the most recent Transafricas over the east
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/03/...-ostroute.html


Your timeframe is good so far. We did it in two Months. November-January 2012. It is possible without to hurry. We did travel as single car. The short timeframe is very easy, because you can start with any Visa - which you can optain before at home.



As we did write a daily diary with pictures, you can read into it, if that speed would fit into your plans. You have some months more

Shipping home is easy to to do, also with carnet!

The security of sleeping inside is more psychological, because the Scorpion or Lion can easts/bites you during the pee break - but it may help if you camp near hippos or to avoid unarmed humans.

But Sleeping inside brings a lot of comfort in my eyes. For africa you had to use the chimney effect you get with windows soxx on the Windows together with a opened roof window and additional mosquito nets.

Many examples howto sleep inside i did collect - what is maybe helpful.

A extended trip is so hard to plan - i dont think that you will find a planned accompany. Someone who is able to start at the same time, who had the exactly same timeframe - guess that will not happens.

But you can and will meet travellers, and will be able to share some kilometers / days / weeks. Spontaneous it will work easier.

As soon the borders have open again, you should proove which route/way is possible actually.. The political situation can get worse/better on the track... As Thewarden mentioned, it is helpful too to read the relevant facebook groups to get real time informations.

Surfy

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Trans-Africa over the west coast

Hello surfy,
I agree to most of it. I wouldn´t be in a hurry. The whole trip could take as long as it needs. Being scheduled by someone else´s travel plans or being in a rush because of pre-ordered visa doesn´t suit my travel habits. I´d just avoid those countries if possible, where visa is too tricky or time consuming and not worth the "adventure".

As I plan to set base camp for a while in Cape Town I´d just like to arrive before or after christmas peak season, to arrange a reasonable priced long term rental/to not block a valuable bed in a friend´s crazy guesthouse. Everything else in between will be decided on the road.

I suppose, when the caravan of travellers is going again, one will meet the right people at the watering holes and places of interests or due to break downs along the way. That´s how it went in the past and coincidences always led to the most interresting encounters.

By posting here, I didn´t think of planning a months long trip through Africa in detail with some middle aged strangers, I only know from the internet. Yet alone the thread starter beeing in the same time slot and similar car was worth offering a to have a chat about each others most remote but succesfully managed break downs (it´s a Land Rover thing, you wouldn´t understand). Like in the old - pre-Facebook - days, when the camel caravans knew to meet their fellows during the 8th moon at a certain blank spot on the map. They wouldn´t have waited for each other too long, too, but chances were good to have a chat or share the news along the way at this certain point in space at a roughly agreed on point in time. Nothing is set in stone.

That´s why I brought up the pub in Tarifa as a possible place to meet and greet as I´ll frequently have drink and snack there after kiting during my stop over at the 9th moon of the year. Every holy sabbath, when Borrussia Dortmund BVB09 is playing a game (if worth watching), I and the famous local Land Rover mechanic Antonio accept appointments at Pizzeria "Zero Nueve 09", E-340, 10mins west of Tarifa.
Other people meet at "Carlos" the ticket Don in Algeciras, but that´s far less picturesque (the town and the crossing). What´s the most frequented traveller´s bar between Gibraltar and Tarifa?
Further down at Dakhla Lagoon - aprox. one moon later - could be another spot, where paths might cross, as I would spend a few days kiting there.
In between, I could be interested in joining some funny group or idividual for a Atlas and/or Sahara de-tour.
Zebra Bar might be my next stop after Dakhla, because everyone is going there. Must be a funny place.
I´ve got friends in the Dakar region, so if my car´s TIP can be extended, I´ll possibly hang around there, if some camel wants to catch up to form a caravan for a bit of the road. Didn´t plan too deatiled any further, as plans will change anyway.

Going back up from Cape Town the east route is still an option but too far in the future. Maybe I´ll be africanized but not yet broke enough by then to take the hassles of Egypt and further on. Shipping from Africa to Asia, to continue towards Sydney would be a blast, but also my final drop out off society as we know it.

Would be interesting to see your (all of you!) bucket list of "hot spots" along the way down the west route in this thread (I know, there is a special thread for POIs next door, but here we are now...). Always good to know a well frequented bar or camp along the way. What are your Top 5 places to meet at in Western Africa?

To be honest, I still doubt, the whole Covid19 situation will be sorted out by the end of this year all along the way. So chances are likely, I´ll have to shift my plans into `2?. When the restaurants and shop are open again, locals got back to normal and travelling the devolping countries struggling from this crisis doesn´t look too decadent anymore. But my moon calendar and sundowner habit in Tarifa will still be valid for the start of a western Africa tour.. Let´s cross fingers for the better and keep daydreaming with like minded people.

So long

Mike Rutters Datacollection (screenshot above) is still helpful to find/avoid muddy adventures in africa. Since the chinese are building roads - the mud play is a bit more "optional" today I guess.

Mentioned well known waterholes POIs (where you met other travellers) arent really available from Mali till Namibia, some Hotspots are.

For many Miles between these Overlander Hotspots is just no spot to meet other than the road. People we met (at the hotspot), we met because they was stuck. They did have to sent the Passport back @ home, either because they didnt was prepared well (Visa issued only in homecountry) - or because it was not possible to optain the Visa because of slow travelling (and the Visa would have been outdated).

I collect and link any blogging traveller on the westroute of africa - and read the blogs in detail too. Maybe I did miss a detail, but from these on the list I didnt see any longer travel partnership. The west has not that amount of travellers than the east side as example.

I dont want to say it hasnt happened in the past, but it seems happen so rarely, that it isnt documented in the public.

About these Hotspots. We all should feed the new Hubb feature "Destinations" to collect these: https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/destinations

These Overlander Hotspots like the Sleeping Camel (Bamoko) or Hippocamp (Brazzaville) are well documented, you can optain more out of these Blogs of other travellers. Also iOverlander has to be mentioned here, too Hostelworld both are too on my list of helpful traveller apps on Smartphones. iOverlander has a lot of POIs, from wildcamp, laundry, till these Hotspots.

More valuable as this POI sets and even these Hotspots may be the wildcamp spots of other travellers. Sometimes is there just the track and near no path out of it.
In my Travelblog I did update the Blog by a satellite Messager with livetracking (for family). So you see under most Postings per day a

You can use this coordinates at example as -30.853997,17.575293 in Google Maps and can transfer it that way to your navigation unit. I`m shure that will be helpful, because out of the Situation on track (ebola, political stuff) not many travellers was on the west who collection POIs to that useful apps (who helps way more on a Panamericana).

I know what you are looking for, at these Overlanding Hotspots, it is a very special and unique vibe, you will meet travellers, gypsis, journalists, ngo- and often they are a safe haven in an not so safe area - after an eventful time at arrival, which everyone has to had to do.

Please note that this Hotspots are fully impacted from Corona, as they life out of us travellers on that route. Some of them already has asked for help: https://www.wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/s...el-t55875.html How long are they able to survive, out of 10`000 fundet Dollars?

I hope they all will survive this are hard times specially for any hostel/hotel/restaurant related business.

I hope you will report from your journey - it reads very relaxed how you may even do a african roundrip and/or extend to asia and australia. Guess the risk to get africanized with that open mindset - is high

Surfy

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Trans-Africa over the west coast

Thanxalot for your detailed reply.

All the popular apps and websites are already on my screen. Best to get up to date info on the go. Rain statistics too, but that´s hardly avoidable along the tropics in my time frame, kind of part of the tour and you´ve already mentioned the chinese investments in roads and such. As many visa as possible upfront is handy, I got it.

When expecting tricky road conditions ahead one single Land Rover won´t easily do, it´s a good idea to have talked some other mud addict into the story of an epic dig out the night before. There are very few conditions, two or more well prepared 4x4s won´t manage with a certain amount of mindless common sense thought out with a hang over (it´s a Land Rover thing, you wouldn´t understand). I´d be happy to have such company for a few bits of the way between the Gulf of Guinea and Namibia.

Therefor some update of the popular bars, camps and other wateringholes around the globe might be usefull. Many popular traveller hot spots are struggling due to covid. I´ve read i.e. about the Sleeping Camel trying to survive by crowd funding. Leave a tip, too! Many others sadly won´t make it.

As I wrote earlier, I more and more doubt to make this trip sooner than later, due to the Covid-pandemic. I optimistically expected a quicker vaccination roll out here in Germany and all over Europe, to be honest. But things went ridiculous.

Even if there will be some holes in the fences of regulations to sneak through this summer, I guess it wouldn´t be the journey I´m dreaming of for years until normal life as people knew it will happen again. Just visit the list of closed sight seeing spots in Morrocco. Would be surreal and silly to visit a deserted Marakesh.

At least partial lockdowns or closures of popular places and general daily life will remain in the developing world longer than i.e. Europe, with far more desastrous results to the economies and people, I believe. Imagine in addition another pandemic wave while on the road, caused by some nasty mutation, one would have to expect some rough quarantine situation like friends experienced in Togo in late March 2020 (fenced bare brick and mud compound with rotten mattresses, cars locked away, terrible sanitary conditions ff.).

As long as vaccination is still in the roll out, no one knows which "brand" of vaccine to get and not all vaccines can promise protection against some new upcoming variants of the virus (i.e. Astrazeneca may not be helpfull with the "South African" called Covid19-variant, I´ve read yesterday) proof of visa finally might got outpaced as the most annoing thing to do in Africa by the ongoing proof of the right vaccination.

Back to topic. Per the pro and cons regarding west vs east route from my personal perspective (looking forward to be corrected):

- Just alone the costs of getting a car into and out of Egypt to do the "easier and more scenic" east route equals the average bribes and visa budget of the entire west route, I´ve heard and roughly proved by own calculation. Adding the higher priced entrance tickets for many "must see" nature reserves on the east route, I expect the east route ca. 30% more expensive. Which roughly is the costs of container shipping back SA-EU. But as always: it depends..

From a sportive perspective, it would make sense to ride my bucket list of world wide kitesurf spots anti-clockwise. West route starting in late EU summer would contain more challenging Atlantic wave spots along the route (dreaming of kind of an "endless summer"):
- Tarifa, getting fully back into the sport in rough conditions but known waters and good food
- Enjoying the mix of late summer thermal winds with upcoming autumn swell all along the Morrocco coast down to Dakar.
- In the lull of the tropics I would go inlands to watch some wildlife, without having the fear of missing out epic conditions at sea (I´ve seen all the wildlife of southern Africa, except Gorillas, which are more easy accessible on the west route.)
- kiting at least a dozend "must have been there" spots from Namibia onwards down to Cape Town, at least those I´ve missed in my younger years.
- enjoying my former 2nd home mother city Cape Town and the Peninsula with long not seen friends for another windy summer
- continent crossing achieved, shipping back home or going nuts by
- catching good swell at Ponta d`Oro, Moz around March and in between.
- (leaving the car in Moz for a) Madagascar roundtrip
- returning towards north inlands along the lakes
- Except no-go Somalia, northern East route (as from Kenia) only has lush Indian Ocean breeze and swell > Safari
- deciding in Kenia whether to afford Egypt just for the pyramids or shipping the car to SE Europe to return home or
- continue to follow the wind towards > Sokotra and/or Oman > SE Asia > Oz > Chile > ?> ? > champagne powder Rocky Mountain skiing > bankruptcy

Doesn´t have to happen in one go. Especially the very last part.

Personally I would too go with the west, because it is less travelled. Which are more scenic - has someone to answer who has done the roundtrip ;-) - even then it is individual. At the end you may have to go that way who is possible (corona/
political situation).

About the cost. To travel eqypt needs a carnet with a higher deposit. The carnet cost always the same. The deposit will come back, so there are no costs.

Travellers seems even to be able to do an temporary Import in egypt at 2013 - the money you spent on that way will too return by exiting eqypt. If this is possible or even worth to carry cash - guess not. Why we should?

So eqypt cost not more or less to say it fairly. I dont want to say which route is cheaper, i dont know.

Visa, Fuel, Nationalparks, Food, Activities - you can compare at yourself. It would be nice if you post here the data of your research!

Gorillatracking and NP Entry Fees raises near any year. Probably you can travel cheaper - because not many tourists are there currently... "Cheap" could be more expensive as you think...

Dont pay them. You dont need a fixer, you dont have to pay bribes. If then pay fines, NOT the (mostly) lower bribes if you did something wrong... Each traveller who pay bribes, make it worse for the next traveller.

Any reader - please correct if have more recent informations.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Regarding Egypt:
My info (I´ve sucked from this webforum) shipping from Italy by container incl. harbour clearance in Alexandria for one car is roughly +3k€ (shared 40foot container with 2 cars). It´s an unpopular (but the only reliable by now) shipping route and famously expensive port. Plus additional costs for flight ticket and hotels during shipping and clearing process in Italy and Alexandria, plus additional Carnet dP fees. Entering via Israel would add up similar costs I guess, if not more at the hotels.

That´s too much cash to spend happily upfront a long trip and far too much cash to spend in the Morroccoan desert. It would likely last down to Dakar or further down, leaving some change for a guided Gorilla tour...if entering in the west, where the ferry is only 150€ and life costs become scalable to ones own comfort direct from the start.

Regarding eastern nature parks are more expensive:
that´s what a friend, travel agent speciallized on customized vaccations in southern Africa and Indian Ocean destinations. told me as rule of thumb in our last phone call. As the east is more safe = popular, demand is high enough to charge like hell. Normal self drive game view tours equal i.e. a reasonale priced guided Gorilla tour with accommodation in the west.

Regarding the east being more scenic:
I believe so. Much more diverse geography and topography. Ethiopia must be awesome. Friends told me, in the west you barely climb high enough to overlook vegetation for a good part of the way. Nor high enough for panoramic mountain views. The east has it all.

Regarding corruption:
I´ve been through all that bribe talk forth and back between Cape Town, Etosha, Maputo and Lake Malawi in the early 2000s, we sat it out in front of bridges, gates and boarders when we thought to have to stand our point and paid it easily low to get along quick where we thought price over pride was a good deal. I wouldn´t make a hobby out of it by insisting on not paying, but it depends on my mood. Life has proven, one pays most cheap and honest with a smilish small talk plus the lowest fee imaginable before he even starts to ask for it at first hello and gets away with it without noticing it in the pocket, fridge or on the clock. I keep always enough cash to bribe the last pilot to fly me out of turmoil, if shit really hits the fan, the rest is only change.

Let´s see, how this whole "travelling under pandemic conditions" situation evolves.

I dont want to sent you either via east or west. But the pricing you call for east still just consider a container to eqypt. That was simply not the only option before corona.

A Ferry to Israel and the Taba border isnt expensive if you follow the given links it was under 200 Euro for entering egypt (guess they had their carnet). Ferry around 600 Euro? Carnet is 2xx? Dont remember exactly (you can read through by yourself) - but.... it is not 3k...

Nothing against the west route - just want to mentioned that your calculation is wrong.

But lets look what is possible after corona

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Trans-Africa over the west coast

We haven't travelled both routes (eastern and western) however have travelled in Northern, Central, Southern, and Central Africa, and I've lived in Congo and Botswana. I'd go with the Eastern Route in terms of the range of attractions, and ease of travel. Central Africa has a lot fewer reasonably accessible parks/reserves.

I've been travelling (and living) in Africa since 1973 - I've never paid a bribe. I have paid fines, which are often for abstruse regulations or for exceeding spped limits which are poorly marked, however as long as I get an official receipt it's not a bribe.