First thing I learned on internet forums was that when I seem to elicit negative responses from more than just an occasional participant, I need to examine my own postings for the reasons, not theirs.

Next thing I learned was that I seldom get any satisfaction—much less solutions to problems, answers to questions or support in my various journeys—by returning insult and abuse with further insult or abuse.

Hindu, you give every evidence you've not yet learned these lessons. Both have vast applicability to travel in Africa....and to life in general.

This is not meant as a criticism, particularly. It's more of an observation based on admittedly limited evidence. On the other hand, you're obviously intelligent and articulate; turning these gifts towards learning the appropriate lessons rather than defending against them will serve you well.

Happy, safe and entertaining journeys to you and yours!

Mark

Did you hear the one bout the Angolan, the South African and the Cuban?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVkdWnRKs4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSo4j...eature=channel

Just to answer the previous questions form Hindu:
Yes their are more transit visa:
Togo, you can get a 7 days visa at the border (not everey border, but if you take the big one in the south its no problem)
Benin, you can get a 2 days transit visa at the border which you can extent in Cotonou if you want.
Nigeria, i dont think a transit visa exist.
Furthermore i heard rumours about a transit visa for Gabon. We have not been their yet, so i dont know. Can anyone confirm this?

I did this route in 2006/2007 and got most of my central african visas in Yaounde (Gabon, Congo and DRC). It means hanging aroung for a week, going to each embassy, but makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you have them. Apparently, you could get a transit visa for DRC - it was listed on the board in the embassy, but they would not issue me one. I thought about waiting until I got to the border to try there, but decided to cough up the cash for the visitor visa and the fuzzy feeling.

I got my Angola visa in Abuja, Nigeria. It seems I may have been lucky with the window of oppourtunity, but it might be worth trying again. Double entry, 30 day (which you need if going to cabinda).

I would also recommend going to Angola. It was one of (if not the) most beautiful, unspoilt and optimistic countries in the whole of West Africa. New roads have been going down, but there are also long stretches of 10mph riding through bomb craters to deal with.

Back to the point rather an insulting / commenting on each other...

We're looking at getting into Angola about 6 months from now heading south... and wondering how we'll manage.

I can't remember which diary is was, but they were travelling overland, heading south. Couldn't get into the DRC without an Angolan visa, and couldn't get an Angolan visa without getting into the DRC. They ended up flying south, can't remember which city, either in Namibia or SA, got a visa there, then flew back to pick up the vehicle and drive on through. This was July this year I believe.

I'll try to track down the site and post it, but a return flight to somewhere issuing visas is prob cheaper than a single and shipping vehicles too + you get to see Angola! I've read a lot, and not heard a bad word said about Angola, apart from visas and the quality of the roads, both of which are just part of the adventure!

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http://www.mindtheelephant.com

Just came across this thread also... looks like it's pretty much echoing what I was saying:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...y-2008-a-37389

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http://www.mindtheelephant.com

It was my understanding that you could fly to Windhoek and get visas there quite easily, but other threads have said that they have been turned down in the Angola embassy in Windhoek.

So essentially, try to get them in Abuja (and maybe other places) and if all that fails, go to Matadi and get the transit visa there. Just hope the current situation in Eastern DRC doesn't spread otherwise it could close a large part of the western route.

Tanzania offers a Transit Visa too. Half the price of a normal tourist visa (for dutch this is US25 instead of US$50). Valid for up to 2 weeks.
Officially you have only 1 entry and are allowed to stay 2 weeks(but I have never had problems with the transit visa when I returned within the 3 month period), with the tourist visa a multiple entry, valid for 3 months ;

Is it just me or does someone on this site not realise that nothing hits you quite like Africa does... This is the deepest darkest continent friend... Be prepared to have your wits driven over and beyond... I say if you're worried about a particular country then have a plan B and maybe even a plan C. I've gone so far as to check out shipping routes to skip Angola and maybe Nigeria depending on how accommodating they feel. If they won't let you in then that's it, what can you do.
Good luck to you and well done on your past endeavours.

Cheers

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RamblingRat Africa benefiting Street Kids International
www.ramblingrat.net

Give a hoot for streetkids...

Thank you Silvie,
In spite of being told that I am foolish for traveling if not willing to endure hardships, along with other belittling comments, there has been considerable good suggestions, yours among them. We have decided to try some of them. Like attempt to get the visa within a week period, and failing that, to just skip Angola in spite of the decent wildlife preserves there. Most other countries in Africa are quite willing to issue a visa without much trouble other than patience and waiting a few days along with parting with cash. We will ask for a 10 day transit visa as well, and if that also fails, we will see if there is a tour group that has an easier time getting visas. If everything else falls through, we will just fly over it. We had trouble getting into Vietnam with a scooter, but finally parked the larger one and rented a smaller one to comply with their rules.

There is always a solution to a problem. Sometimes it is not as satisfactory as the original intended choice, but if it accomplishes the larger part of the issue, it is accepatable.

Thanks for posting.

Joe

Hey Folks,
Reading this with interest as myself and a couple of others are heading to Angola and are struggling for visas. Matadi seems to be the popular option so will probably head for that if the other options don't pan out, ie, making hotel bookings in Angola for the LOI etc.
As for bomb bursting through Africa, getting through as fast as possible for some may be necessary and others totally irrelevant. It is each to their own surely? As somebody said, travel snobbery is a bit crap ain't it?
I'm not bragging or anything but I'm attempting to travel the globe on my XT, hence I'm in Mali and off to Timbuktu in a day or so and I'm having (generally) a ball but there are times where I could just ride through certain places without having even to say 'HI' to anyone just to make life easier. They were the bad times and general meaness of some of the people here that has upset some of the trip, getting robbed by a Policeman brandishing a gun in Mauritania and Arrested for allegedly killing a child in Senegal cos some guy wanted money from us.
I know this is Africa but if these events happened anywhere else in Europe or the US there'd be hell to pay for someone but here...... well nobody misses a beat and just say 'TIA!' (this is africa)
I am enjoying it and am looking forward to what the next thing or challenge is around the corner and if I meet any of you on the road, whatever your ideas are, your welcome for a and a chat about your great experiences/moans/bitches and whines cos at the end of the day, your riding a bike in a different/unfamiliar country than your own and on an adventure!

Have fun

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Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'