Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
From Sierra Leone to France - Advice & suggestions welcome! From Sierra Leone to France - Advice & suggestions welcome!
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
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



Like Tree2Likes

Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 26 Sep 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: where the truck is stopped!
Posts: 120
Quote:
Originally Posted by McShizzle View Post
So you guys managed to go from Labe to Kedougou without going through Koundara?
I have to say my main source of information besides the Lonely Planet is Google Maps right now... I'll make sure to invest in the Rough Guide to West Africa ASAP!
As for paper maps, which one would you recommend?
Do you have a blog or a journal for your trip? I'd be most interested to read it!
Yes we did! It was a rough trip. I don't think we went through Maliville but I don't have my maps here (I'm in Canada right now and my truck and maps are in Germany).
We used Riese Know-How maps and ITBM maps.
Sorry, no blog or journal.
Looking at the passport it looks like the place we crossed was "Karang".
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 27 Sep 2013
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,969
I can't read my blurred passport stamps. The Michelin 741 shows two possible routes--via Maliville or a bit farther east. The map is basically too large a scale to be of much day-to-day use, but it's got so much information on it that I always bring it to any north or west Africa trip.

The whole Fouta Djallon was my favorite area of Guinea, so it's worth poking around a bit on any pretext you can think of.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 27 Sep 2013
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Thanks guys! I guess in the end I'll have to improvise a bit and probably turn back a few times myself...

As for the road through Mauritania, considering the situation and the fact that my friend and I don't have a lot of experience with sand riding (a few afternoons in the dunes in South-West France, that kind of stuff), is there any tracks that stray from the tarmac road just enough to connect some points of interest while keeping the possibility to rejoin the tarmac in a few hours if necessary? Something like GPS tracks, stuff like that?
I'd like to avoid the brain numbing 2000km straight line and zig-zagging taxis of death...
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 27 Sep 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: where the truck is stopped!
Posts: 120
The Michelin 741 map is basically a rough guide. I wouldn't use it for any route finding. You need something MUCH more detailed than that.

Did we go through Maliville?? I can't say yes or no, I don't have the maps here that have that sort of detail. I don't recall seeing a "Welcome to Maliville" sign anywhere but then that is no surprise as I wouldn't expect that anyways.

The best thing to do is to have a reasonably detailed map on hand, some reasonable idea of where you are and where you'd like to go and then ask locals when you have the opportunity.

For Mauritania, we just drove from Diama to the capital, spent the night and then on to Morocco. It was the time that France was battling the AQIM and Mauritania was probably the least "safe" of the countries we passed through. I'd like to spend more time there when we get the opportunity.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 1 Oct 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by McShizzle View Post
As for the road through Mauritania, considering the situation and the fact that my friend and I don't have a lot of experience with sand riding (a few afternoons in the dunes in South-West France, that kind of stuff), is there any tracks that stray from the tarmac road just enough to connect some points of interest while keeping the possibility to rejoin the tarmac in a few hours if necessary? Something like GPS tracks, stuff like that?
I'd like to avoid the brain numbing 2000km straight line and zig-zagging taxis of death...
The Banc d'Arguin National Park is having a fair amount of tracks with areas of not too high sand dunes. Had loads of fun there just a few days ago (4x4 though). There is a couple of different pistes leading to the coast from the tarmac road between Nouadibhou and Nouakchott. You can also drive most of the way between the towns inside the NP and join the tarmac a bit north of Nouakchott again after a beach run (check tides with locals). Permit costs around 3€/day and if you are here from November to February you will have around 2,5 million birds to see instead of the 2500 when we were there.

Bienvenue au Parc National du Banc d'Arguin (PNBA)
__________________
Traveling in an old 40s Land Cruiser around Africa
norbertsadventures.com / Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 3 Dec 2013
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Hello everyone!

I bring some sad news, well, sad for me. For personal reasons that shall not be put up on the interwebs, I had to cancel the Sierra Leone-France trip. I will be instead going down to Morocco with a few friends with the bikes and other vehicles that yet have to be identified, for about 3 weeks in March, which should still be a blast.

A huge THANK YOU to all of you guys for your help. I'm sorry I couldn't put it to good use, but I hope someone planning a similar trip will find it.

And I still really want to travel through West Africa on a bike, so who knows, one day I might have the occasion again !

As for now I will keep enjoying the pristine beaches of SL until my contract is over...

Au revoir!
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Tags
mauritania, sahara, senegal, sierra leone, west africa

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Spain, Portugal, Morocco tips and suggestions please gopdebeek Route Planning 30 2 Jul 2013 21:13
Nth India , Nepal route advice please thevenerabledrwu Route Planning 5 29 Jun 2013 15:38
Wild france Jimmy spanner Europe 15 20 Mar 2013 12:50
Cape Town to Nairobi on small bikes, any suggestions?! kfukuda87 Route Planning 2 29 Jul 2012 17:27
West Africa - Sierra Leone to Ghana davidmarcus Travellers Seeking Travellers 0 9 Dec 2011 10:56

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:37.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top