Hello, Im new to this forum.

Im planning a trip to cape town from september to october and maybe into november if I need more time.

Im just 21 years old, and will probably bring another friend on the journey.

As Ive only been on a couple of eurotrips (3-4000km top) I have some questions!

The car I will use is an old Mercedes W124 250 Diesel. Manual 5 speed gearbox. The car will get a big service (brakes, suspention, engine check, skidplates, lift, and lots more).

Question #1: I know theese cars are reliable, but I have not seen roads in africa before. I will most likely use main "highways". I will attach a photo of the route I think I will take, but any sugestions of other routs will be appretiated! Will the roads on this route be okay to drive for my car, or is a 4x4 absolutely required?

Question #2: Will I need visa's to just travel through countries? I have both norwegian and usa passport/citizenship. If so, do I need to apply for theese before I travel, or can I get them on the border?

Question #3: I have seen alot of people that gets pulled over by the police/toll to charge fees/taxes/bribes that dont exist. What is the best way to avoid this? Im not rich, so dont want to use all my money traveling to pay off the police..

Question #4: Is there alot of known civil wars/terror along this route? What areas should I stay away from? Where is it safe to sleep?(will sleep in the back of the car, fitted it as a camper).

This are my questions so far, but will probably have lots more later on. Hope I posted this in the right forum.

And The reason for the trip being so short: I want to adventure while Im young. Cant afford to quit my job, so dont have much more spare time to use. I have dreamt of this trip a while now, so I want to realize it. If I feel its too short, I can always return later for an extended trip!

(If the image dont come up, I just had google maps from Hirtshals to Cape Town)
Thanks. - Richard

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Picture of the route
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Picture of the car (Have bought Higher springs for more ground clearance, and will use smaller rims with bigger tyres)

to HU.

Giggle maps ...

Morocco to Algeria ..boarder is closed. For decades.

Giggle maps .. a rough indication... use it as a guide to what might be possible, but get more info before you rely on it.

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You selling the car in SA? or shipping it back. Shipping cost lots of $. If selling in SA then figure on importation charges.

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You have a lot of reading to do ...
The blue bar thingys at the top of the page contain heaps of info ... read through them for your guide..

For visas - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_r...egian_citizens Lots of blank spaces there. I would not use a USA passport unless you have to, they worked well with Obama but Trump could be a problem. Nigeria, Cameroon and DRC can be tricky. If you are in Norway then simply ring the relevant embassies or go to their websites.

You will also want to look at tpv for the car as a minimum .. possibly a carnet... read the blue bar thingys - 'get ready' - 'paperwork' - 'carnet'

As Warin says - you have a lot of reading to do.

First of all - two months on such a trip that others use 6-9-12 months on. Whats the point racing through new countries and places?

1. Im not a car traveller and not much into cars, but you will use a 2WD car with rear drive on such a trip? That would be about the worst type of car for such a trip as far as I understand. Deep sand, deep mud - how do you think a rear wheel 2WD will handle such?

2. Different countries have different visa-requirements for citizens of different countries. Some countries might be visa-free for certain countries citizens, some countries require visa and that can be obtained at the border or maybe in a neighboring country and visas for some countries can only be obtained in your own home country at the embassie/consulate there. Some countries also requires an Letter of Invitation to get a visa etc etc. And there are all kind of different visa types, tourist, business, family/social, education, transit etc etc and all have differerent requirements.
And YES YOU WILL DEFINETIVELY NEED A VISA TO PASS THROUGH A COUNTRY if thats required for your citizenship.
You just have to sit down and have a look at each and every countrys visa requirements for your nationality. A visa agency could also be a solution both for information and for actual help getting visas - although they are not cheap they can save you from a good bit of headache.

3. If you have all your paperwork done and well organised, and if you keep your vehicle in well working order thats a good start. If your left headlight doesnt work or your indicators doesnt - you can be sure some corrupt policeman will try to get some money from you. So keep your papers and vehicle in good condition.
Then dont break the law in the country you are in. If the speed limit is 60 then dont drive 80. If the traffic light is red then stop and wait until its green. If you stick to the law, have your paperwork correct and your vehicle in working order - then there aint much corrupt police can take you for. If they still try to squeese money out of you you can actually say no as you havent done anything wrong. To pretend to not understand is also a way to handle it. Learn one completely nonsense period in the local language (not offending - just nonsense) that might help. Or take the wait and see attitude, whos got the longest patience....

4. Thats a very complax question and Im not the one to answer that.

Good luck with the trip. I would probably have chosen something a little easier at first.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Warin. Im planning on driving the car home again. (If it dosnt break down badly)

I only used google maps as an "Illusion", I know I have to read alot on what routes to take. But any advice on where to drive is also something I would like to know

Snakeboy:

I know its a rush through the countinent, but I dont have a year to use, or the money for it. Just want a fun adventure, and catch the finale of the World RX championship.

1: Thats the most reliable car I have at the time, that has good space to sleep in, Im getting a roof rack, higher springs etc. So I can carry more stuff and not scrape as much. As stated I dont know the road conditions, Im guessing I wont drive on the side roads through a jungle, that its somewhat good roads? But not sure of course. Thats something I need an answer to, and what routes to take to get good roads.

2: I think I will call an travel agency to get knowledge of what countries I need a visa to travel through. And where/how to get them.

3: Car will be in exelent condition, will get a huge service before the start and Ill make everything work. I have made a space in the trunk for spare parts of all sorts, and tools.
I will bring dictionaries for french and swahlii, which I believe is the most used languages other than english?

Thanks for the reply!

Lets start from the beginning.

The vehicle isn't a bad choice, plenty of Mercedes parts available for you if something happens.

Question #1: I know theese cars are reliable, but I have not seen roads in africa before. I will most likely use main "highways". I will attach a photo of the route I think I will take, but any sugestions of other routs will be appretiated! Will the roads on this route be okay to drive for my car, or is a 4x4 absolutely required?

You won't be able to take the route you've posted. Too many complications between visas and threats of terrorism. So scratch that & start again. I drove down to Cote d'Ivoire in December via the 'usual' route. Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal (was not aiming to enter Senegal but directly to Mali - another story due to terrorism), Mali, Cote d'Ivoire. It took me 10 days of driving in a Mercedes van without 4WD. Most of the road was ok, there were some tough bits with massive potholes in Senegal. I've known the region for 10+ years, I've done the route in public transport before and have many friends en route who were able to assist me in advance ... You won't be quite so fortunate & it may take you a little longer.

For your route I would continue to Burkina Faso from Mali then down through Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon etc ... however you will need to get visas en route

Question #2: Will I need visa's to just travel through countries? I have both norwegian and usa passport/citizenship. If so, do I need to apply for theese before I travel, or can I get them on the border?

You will need a LOT of visas which will add to your costs significantly! You need to go to the Regional Forums, Sub-Saharan Africa and read through the pinned post. Some you can get prior to leaving, others you will be better to get en route ... I very much doubt your local travel agent will have any clue about this!!!

The other question you need to consider is to get a carnet for the vehicle. I drove without one, because the van is being sold in Cote d'Ivoire ... you will also find the answers to this on the same HUBB page

Question #3: I have seen alot of people that gets pulled over by the police/toll to charge fees/taxes/bribes that dont exist. What is the best way to avoid this? Im not rich, so dont want to use all my money traveling to pay off the police.

You ask for a receipt ... you stand your ground when they refuse to give one and eventually they'll give up on you. I didn't pay any 'extras'

Question #4: Is there alot of known civil wars/terror along this route? What areas should I stay away from? Where is it safe to sleep?(will sleep in the back of the car, fitted it as a camper).

This is Africa, things can change on a daily basis. You are going near an AQIM region via the route described above, your mapped route takes you right through it, definitely NOT worth doing if you want to go home in one piece!

You will find that French will be very useful. Swahili will not be ... Swahili, Kiswahili is spoken in East Africa. West Africa has a multitude of languages, probably the predominant one in West Africa is Dioula but having a good grasp of French will help you massively.

Consider doing some of this trip now and then parking your car somewhere, returning in a few months to pick up where you left off & continue south. My 10 days of driving were relentless, covering 600km+ per day but my trip was for a reason. It will take probably the full 2 months to do this trip for you without seeing much at all!

Please do NOT forget the medical side of making such a trip, ensure you have at least the basic vaccinations plus something for malaria, which will be the biggest killer, second killer on this trip will be road accidents!

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Just wanted to say that even if you wanted to, you would probably not be able to sell your car in South Africa. The steering wheel is on the wrong side and I think a potential buyer would not get the car registered. So only scrap value which might not cover the import duty, if you can import it at all.

Also, with all the visas, make sure you have enough pages in your passport to last the whole trip. You do not want to run out of pages en route.

Namibia and South Africa will be a walk in the park in terms of roads and infrastructure.

Don't take the planning too easy but also do not get discouraged.

Good luck!

Creer:
Thank you for alot of information.

1: Thanks for advice on the trip planning. The map was just something to work out of. I have some german friends who will join me aswell, so the route will probably be better, longer but better. My friends will be driving Mercedes G wagon, so that will probably get usefull in alot of situations.

2: I will have to do alot of research for visas. My german friends will also read about this and I think that will not be a big issue. I read about carnet last night, and will get this just to be safe.

4: I know I will have to find out about this in a later stadium, just wanted to know if it was something going on at the moment. But as you said, this is africa.

The driving does not concern me. I live for driving, and 800+km a day is no problem for me so far. We will be 2 drivers per car, so that should also take some of the stress of that part.

We will ofcourse get all vaccinations and malaria pills, and any other type of medicine we might or might not need (legal ones of course). Dont want to get arrested for having something illegal, that would not be good..

Thanks again for all your info, greatly appretiated!

Dirkdxb:

What I forgot to mention in my topic.

We are driving down to cape town. AND home again.

So selling the car is no concern. Yes, I know I am crazy for doing this.


Will get a new passport before I leave. just to be sure.

The planning needs to be done carefully yes. Will not loose motivation, and If we cant do it this year, Ill just take it next year. But want to do it while Im still young.. Asia and russia is also something I want to do on later terms. Thanks for your information

1: Thanks for advice on the trip planning. The map was just something to work out of. I have some german friends who will join me aswell, so the route will probably be better, longer but better. My friends will be driving Mercedes G wagon, so that will probably get usefull in alot of situations.

2: I will have to do alot of research for visas. My german friends will also read about this and I think that will not be a big issue. I read about carnet last night, and will get this just to be safe.


Read the first two pinned posts here about VISAS & CARNET - the carnet will cost you a minimum of 2,500€, visas aren't all that straightforward, you need to time it properly

4: I know I will have to find out about this in a later stadium, just wanted to know if it was something going on at the moment. But as you said, this is africa.

Yes, just keep your ear to the ground whilst on the road

The driving does not concern me. I live for driving, and 800+km a day is no problem for me so far. We will be 2 drivers per car, so that should also take some of the stress of that part.

I was on the move constantly, taking 20m breaks probably 3-4 times a day. I know the region, I was on a mission and therefore not needing to see the regions as I've been through the area before. You can do 200km a day because the road is so bad you won't move very quickly at all ... there are a lot of potholes in parts, some roads are horrendous. Don't count on being able to achieve 800, 600 or 400km a day ... do what is feasible NEVER drive at night! It's dangerous due to ambushes and other drivers/accidents. Park up and rest when the sun goes down

We will ofcourse get all vaccinations and malaria pills, and any other type of medicine we might or might not need (legal ones of course). Dont want to get arrested for having something illegal, that would not be good..

Thanks again for all your info, greatly appretiated![/QUOTE]

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Like CREER said, driving is not that simple. 800km in Europe, piece of cake. 800km in a country that is considered third world is not recommended. It's exhausting, dangerous (because of exhaustion and road conditions) and you won't remember pretty much anything from that day. It will just be a blur.

Also a thing to consider when planning are rest days as you'll become bored and tired of driving.

Driving long distances in a short time frame is mentally and physically exhausting.

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Frank

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A Carnet at NAF - Norways leading automobile organisation costs 1000 NOK approx 110 € (+ the bank deposit of course) so youre a bit off there....

But driving wise my young fellow countryman should definetively listen to you a bit. Driving Norway to south-Africa and back again in 2 months - well good luck to him - he will need it surely!

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Sorry I forgot to put the link in, I think you should be looking at what can be achievable, if you read the posts as mentioned, you'll be clearer

Read the first two pinned posts here about VISAS & CARNET - the carnet will cost you a minimum of 2,500€, visas aren't all that straightforward, you need to time it properly http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...aharan-africa/


Snakeyboy, Thanks for the info about Norwegian carnets!

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