Hi

New on here so big hello, hope this post is in the right place, apologies if it is not

A friends and I are looking at doing a 6 months trip down through Africa, not really sure what route to pick or what time of year to go.

Currently looking at entering through Morocco and probably entering south Africa through Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia. A bit round about but we are on holiday.

Really the big questions are:
-how to get through the middle of Africa
-best bike to go on
-timescale
-some idea of budget
-what time of year, guessing that any wet seasons are best avoided


Any advice is welcome

T

Hello Tom,
Here is a thread about a few of us planning for Cape Town

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ape-town-33834

Not sure just when it will happen.
I have just finished a 12 month contract in Oslo, and if nothing turns up soonish, then me and the wife might just have a run down.

Not sure just which route, but that can be decided later.

Any way, have a good read of Peters thread.

'vette

Thanks for the reply vette

Getting exciting about the trip now, still not sure of the route except that egypt has definately been canned because the carnet.

From a weather point of view I think we are going to enter nortern africa jan/feb and aim to get to sa in jun/jul hopefully this should avoid the wet season if we have done the math right.

I'm sure I will be putting a few more post up so probaly here from you again

Thanks

Hi Tom,
I am glad you read all the pages, there are a few boring pages, but also the stuff about the carnet is some thing to be aware of.
What are you riding or driving ?
It's a shame really about the Egypt carnety being 800%, it must put a lot of people off.
I have read in a few forum's that there may be an alternative to the Egypt carnet.
It is along the lines of ' you leave some thing like a 1000 pound deposit when you enter Egypt, and you get that same 1000 pound returned at the border when you leave.
I neen to find out more though.
If this is true, and it is bona-fide, then it 'could' put Egypt back on the map.
The other 'cost' is the ferry from Aswan to Wadi Halfra.
Egypt, Sudan, and that way down has it's advantages of just a few countries, this drasically reduces the visa costs as opposed to the Atlantic routes, where there are many more countries to pass, all wanting your hard earned cash for their visa, and vehicular 'pass'

'vette

Are you set on the Eastern route? If you go down West, it is my understanding, that a 150% carnet is sufficient (also doable, but more hassle without any). 6 months is a good timeframe, plan around 1000 Euro a month for the trip. West is also more adventurous than East.

Check Dan and Ed's trip down:
Dan and Ed's Motorcycle Adventure - Brighton2capetown.googlepages.com

__________________
Where is Julian?

That's me that is

__________________
Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

Hi All,

Planning to do a zigzag across the continent, starting from England and back (we're from South Africa) to S.A.. The route: Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, TZ again, Mozambique, Swaziland, SA, Lesotho and down to Cape Town.

Time Frame: We have only three months, so if you take a month out of the trip planning for eventualities, it leaves you with about 440km per day. I don't think we're going to get to know too many locals this time around.

Visas are tricky as some are active from date of issue and other from date of entry.

Let me know if you're still looking at this thread and if you would like some research info on the route I described.

In SA the eastern route is know as the Chicken Run because of all the tarred/paved roads. "Chicken Run" or not, either side will present its challenges and pride comes literally before the fall!

I hope you'll do the trip and report on it - would love to hear what you think of our continent!

Safe riding!!!

__________________
"The fates lead him who will; him who won't they drag." - Anon

We are en route .. check our website at www.bigbiketrip.net and on FB. Currently in Zambia.

Our carnes were issued from AA of RSA and I had to deposit 200% value of both bikes, mainly because of Egypt.

www.bigbiketrip.net

[QUOTE=Gottoride;242786]Hi All,

Planning to do a zigzag across the continent, starting from England and back (we're from South Africa) to S.A.. The route: Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, TZ again, Mozambique, Swaziland, SA, Lesotho and down to Cape Town.

Time Frame: We have only three months, so if you take a month out of the trip planning for eventualities, it leaves you with about 440km per day. I don't think we're going to get to know too many locals this time around.

I have just done a similar route but started in Morocco and after Angola entered Namibia, did the whole trip in exactly 3 months with 5 days relaxing in Namibia. With getting visas and using good roads in the countries that had them and not driving day and night or 8 hours a day it was still tight to complete in 3 months. Crossed Angola in exactly 5 days and with only 2 hours to spare before the border closed and we drove all day each day to get the miles under our belt.
If you only have 3 months then visit less countries and try to see more or take longer to do it. My problem was I only had 3 months leave.. but given the choice would have done the trip in 5 months.

Good luck

Hi folks,

We have just done the West coast - Morocco, West Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa. 48,361km, 366 days and zero punctures.

We were in a 4x4 but we have posted some data on our website and blog. Just uploaded budget / spending for a year on the road, that included 3 months in Europe.

We will be posting more data soon and happy to take questions off line.

how to get through the middle of Africa - its not as hard as you would think - our route was fine.
-best bike to go on - we did 4x4 but traveled with bikers BMW Dakar and KTM.... they argued about which was best - KTM seemed to have the edge
-timescale - 6 months should be fine
-some idea of budget - see the above link, it will be less for bikers
-what time of year, guessing that any wet seasons are best avoided - avoid summer in North Africa and rainy season in west africa. We hit morroco in September - tale end of september is probably best. You will have hot weather and wet weather which ever time you go.

Bottom line, West coast route is less touristy, Central Africa is amazing and you will have a great time!!

We will be posting the full gps route, way points soon and fuel info soon

HTH

Nick

__________________
Langebaan Sunset - Africa Overland
http://langebaan-sunset.blogspot.co.za/

Hi,

People usuarly take the west and east coast of africa like i did:

http://www.adventure-travel-experien...en_transafrika

Best bikes are Honad Transalp, Tenere or DRZ400. All of them you can get for less then 1000 Euro. DONT take a big, complicate and expensive BMW or so.

I would plan 6 Months down and 6 up

Budget is easy to calculate: The Visa will costs about $100 per country (Ägypt including arabic numberplates more then 300 euro...malawi, namibia and southafrica free).

Petrol/diesel will be round 1 Euro per Liter (0,30 in Sudan and 1,60 in Mauretania) so just calculate the usage of your vehicle per day depending on how fast you travel.

Shiping is expensive and depends on the route you are planing.

Food is dead cheap so no need to calculate. Wild camping as well. Insurance documents you can design by your selfe.

Travel save, Tobi