When to travel UK to SA using west route?
 

I am already planning a trip to Northwest Africa towards the end of 2011 and am thinking of carrying on all the way to SA using the west route. I have searched the site but cannot find information on best time to do it or currently possible routes, I know it is here somewhere! I see Lois travelled through Tunisia and Algeria but believe this is not currently possible, advice please or a pointer to where I will find this information.

good place to start your research
 

Did west coast route SA-Morrocco (then on to UK) last year, left SA in June and exited Morrocco in November. All good. Really, with the areas you'll be heading through, there is no ideal time as weather patterns and travel advisories/security concerns ever-
flucuating. Just do it ...

I think the most common riding season is late fall through to early spring. As mentioned, it's a big continent so it's hard to miss the rainy season in all of the countries as they don't occur at the same time of year.

Generally not too much of a huge issue as most countries have an all season main road, although it would impact your enjoyment a bit and limit your ability to explore off the main track if you do show up in wetter weather. One place you don't want hit in rainy season is northern Cameroon where the mud packed road turns into a big adventure once the rain starts. You'll be well past though by the time you roll through, the spring is when it starts to rain there. Check out the country listings and they'll point out the rainy seasons for each country. Enjoy the trip.

We're (Toddington2Timbuktu) heading down around the same time, early November. This was mainly to get the right balance with the weather i.e. not too hot in Mauri and Mali plus not the rainy season in Senegal.

The downside is cold and wet in France and Spain...........but you can't have everything.

Mark,

I'm in the initial stages to plan a trip to Cape Town also. CT definately being my destination as I'm emigrating there and the wife is going ahead to set up home. I would like to head down West Africa as it is the less travelled route.

I hope to be on the road by October.

I'm 37. Ride a KTM 990 Adv.

I am hoping to go somewhere warmer for Jan, Feb, March and northwest Africa is a strong possibility, there is a chance that I will carry on to SA but no firm plans to do that. I am considering doing it on something small instead of my R80GS I usually travel on for a change.
Good luck with your trip.

hey mark.

when i did my leeds to capetown trip i left england at the beginning of november and was in morocco early december. i then arrived in south africa the following september. the route was pretty much down the west side (congo angola etc) and timed out pretty fine weather wise. my friend and i are planning a north africa trip this christmas, leaving november/december time. maybe we could hook up? (you going to riply this year?). the plan is to go to the mali music festival at the end of jan. the rest, who knows? ill be on an old tenere and my chum should be on his ktm 640.

I found these images very helpful. Can't remember the source, but here they are. When you save them on your computer and cycle through them you get a better understanding of the West Coasts rainy seasons. The lighter, the more rain, obviously.


http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/930/month01.png

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3839/month02.png

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4594/month03.png

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2133/month04.png

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4938/month05.png

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2186/month06.png

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8996/month07.png

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2589/month08.png

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4985/month09.png

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5548/month10.png

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/173/month11.png

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3386/month12.png

Border and road costs West Africa
 

whiterhino,

How much did it cost you last year for all your border road toll cost roughly on the West Coast?.
I know this can vary but im just after an idea. Im guessing you were riding a bike so its going to be less.
I have a good idea on East Africa as i was driving Overland trucks from Cape Town to Cairo from 2007 to start of 2010.
Im shipping my 4x4 to London and will be driving it to Cape Town along the West Trans route.
So any upto date info on costs and borders is handy.

Kind Regards Patrick (travelingaustralian)

Hi Patrick,

I'm not sure if I kept that info - will have a dig around and see. Do know Angola was the worst both for cost and bureauacracy: 1 month applying in Harare only to be rejected at the border and sent back to Namibia to do it all over (1 week) - total cost $400 USD for two if I recall correctly. Most interesting was entering Congo from DRC without a visa as office closed, bribed way out for Gabon at half the official visa charge ... I think we budgeted $100 Us per person for each crossing, don't recall - except for Angola - any being above that threshold.

But I'll dig in my notes and see if I can be any more specific for you.

Note: should it be a factor we were two in a Land Rover ...

Cheers Whiterhino,

Im still not to sure about that part of the trip right now? I am thinking of crossing DRC into Zambia. Maybe Kinshasa to Labumbashi? Im spending most of my time looking into that right now!! If that is not possible then ill go through Angola. Id rather do DRC as not to may people do it.

Thanks for you Help.