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**jonnywave** · #1 16 Aug 2009

Where to start. Manchester for Sure!!

Well my kids have just moved to Tanzania and i want to go and visit, dont want to fly i want to ride. My wife and i are up for this trip.

A few years back i did a run to Mali with Bert and Fill so i have a little experience. so these are the details: We have bikes: a 650 Dakar and 1200 GSA but are not fixed on taking them. Was considering smaller cheaper bikes if a Carnet is required. Time wise we can take up to 6 months. But may not have anything to come back to. oh well !

Questions:

If you have done this trip, what did you do and what would you change?: time scale. bikes, route???

What size bike? i am not fussed as long as the wife and i get there?

Best route? i know the west coast a bit but i belive the congo is dodgy?

Any advice is very much appreciated. I have looked through the site and there is so much info i feel a bit lost.. already i know!!!

I went to the meet in peak district and met some great people but i didnt get round to collecting the info i wanted. GREAT MEET though.

thanks guys.
John

**Toyark** · #2 16 Aug 2009

Welcome to Horizons John
There is a very good and effective search facility on HU- see my sig.
and as for bike, consider two F650's that are from 2001/2/3 to drop the carnet costs
And with a few spares without forgetting that oil pressure sensor like I did last time

T4A maps (tracks for Africa) for your gps will help you
Egypt is the most expensive place for the Carnet but you could go the western route
and don't worry- after Manchester...the Congo will be a walk-in-the-park!
Loads of different routes to take- depends how much you want to see on the way

**MostlyHarmless** · #3 17 Aug 2009

When are you planning on leaving John... I'd like to travel down to Tanzania later this year and am looking at going via Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya... I'll be riding a 650 GS.

**jonnywave** · #4 17 Aug 2009

i aim to go over by the end of the year possibly December, i am flying over in october for week. but other than that we have no set plans.

650 gs cool. have you done the trip before?

**MostlyHarmless** · #5 17 Aug 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywave

have you done the trip before?

No not done this one before....

My plans are to be in Egypt by October so looks like we won't see one another along the way...

**Dingo** · #6 18 Aug 2009

I did it a few years agotoo via UAE , Oman and Yemen
Was a great trip but can get a little over the Masabit Highway from Ethiopian border to Nairobi
If you take a BMW R1200 GS watch out for the suspension as it will fail and you won't get any assistance unti Sth Africa!
Mine did so I had to purchase New Ohlins for the bike even though it was under warranty!
Good luck

Dingo

**rollin-kiwi** · #7 15 Sep 2009

How are you guys planning to go through Sudan? From my research to date this could be the most interesting country on the route... Me planning to go from Capetown to Berlin in the near future on a F650GS Dakar...