Hi all, with my friends, we are planning a trip from Tanzania to Namibia. The period is august 2008.
At the moment, the most likely idea is approximately like this:

*TANZANIA
Dar Es Salaam
Mikumi National Park
Mbeya

*MALAWI
Niyka National Park and/or Vwaza Game Reserve
Nkhata bay
Lilongwe
Liwonde NP (we'll see lots of parks, it's a little far from our road, would you go anyway?)

*ZAMBIA
Chipata
South Luangwa NP
Lusaka
Siavonga
Livingstone
Victoria Falls

*BOTSWANA
Chobe NP
Nxai Pan NP
Maun-Okavango Delta
Ghanzi

*NAMIBIA
Gobabis
Windhoek/Walvis Bay


Now we are collecting the more information as possible. We are especially interested in:
- interesting places and good accomodations (camping or budget lodges/hotel)
- suggested fuel distance
- road conditions
- what about to be in the parks with the motorbikes??? Where to leave them safe?
- unadvisable/unsafe places
- any suggestions you think useful

Finally: how many km do you think we can plan to ride every day (except for parks safaris) on that roads, driving all day long but very relaxed? (with the needed pauses to take pictures, enjoy the landscape, talk with people, someone to smoke cigarettes, everyone to piss in relax )

Thank you!

Mirco

PS: we ride KTM Adv990 and 950S, Adv 640, GS1200, Africa Twin and, maybe, the new GS800.

1. stay in Iringa at old farm house. i think its 30 dollars per person for chalet with dinner and breakfast. Mbeya is not the nicest place.

2. stay at Shiwa Ngundu North Zambia. Amazing place. with hot springs.

3 stay at Lusaka at cha cha back packers

4. definetly stay at the falls at livingstone. not sure of your budget but stay at the vic falls hotel. its amazing

5 cross zambezi at kasane crossing/kazangulu i think it is.

6 stay at togo camp sight. camp or chalets.

I have never been to Malawi so cant help you.

7. All the places in Bots are quite good. have never ventured to the western side so cant help u there.

Never been to the places where u want to go in Namibia

U can drive the length of Bots in a day. If u want u could easy do Zambia 2 days. Malawi i assume the same.

Again it all depends on you.

beware of the trucks, and the occasional deep pothole

Surfer, thank you very much for your suggestions, I'll save them!
About our budget... no limits, of course! Obviously it's not true, "no limits" is a dream! We have limits, but if we'll be able to spare some money during the trip, we'll can spend something more for a night in a good place.
Is Victoria falls hotel so expensive?

Hi, I had to change my username from WhatAWonderfulWorld to that you can see. But I'm still Mirco!

In Botswana you might not be allowed into the Game Reserves with a bike, so you'll have to rent a car or 4x4 there.

As for Nam - if time allows, take the road north of the Etosha Pan to Opuwo then go due south to Sesriem. Sand and gravel roads. Carry on to Uis Myn, visiting Twyfelfontein (Bushman rock engravings) and/or Brandberg (bushman rock paintings) Spitzkoppe (hiking and climbing).

Swakopmund is just north of Walvis Bay, but much more interesting.

Further south lies the Namib-Naukluft Nature Reserve. Take a look at Sossous Vlei. And to round off Namibia, you'll have to zoom down to the great Fish river canyon. If you do, make a point of riding down the west rim trail to the canyon lodge. Check their site: Canyon Nature Park - Spectacular views from the rim of the Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Hans

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Thank you again, Vaufi.
You confirm my doubt about the problem to enter motorbikes in the parks. I was thinking to leave bikes in Maun and rent a 4x4 as you suggest.
Sossusvlei is yet in our plan, if time allows. About the northern Namibia, you suggest beautiful places, and I know this as I was there in 2006, still with a motorbike (rented, that time). We visited all the area between Windhoek, Etosha NP, Epupa Falls and Walvis Bay (so also Brandberg, Swakopmund and so on). Great places!
Vaufi, as this is the 2nd suggestion you give me, if you come in Italy I'll be happy to offer you an... italian !

That shouldn't be a major problem, since Italy is right in front of our doorstep ;-)

Hans

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Some suggestions for Malawi, great country with friendly people:
-Cape Maclear (southern end of the Lake)
-Mount Malanje is spectacular

Am working in Tanzania at the moment (Northern Reaches) but havent had a chance to look around here yet, but if you need some info can maybe assist.

__________________
Thaba

Thank you Thaba, I added Cape MC Lear to the trip, but Mount Mulanje is far from our itinerary.
At the moment, the most important information I need about Tanzania is the name of a good, reliable and fast customs clearance agency. If you know one, I could be grateful to you for longtime!