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Boat from Benin to Cameroon or Gabon Boat from Benin to Cameroon or Gabon
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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  #1  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Boat from Benin to Cameroon or Gabon
Hello,
I'm in Ougadougou heading down to Porto Nuevo in a few days with a minibus and 9 people(driven from UK). Plan to sell the bus in Benin - does anyone know if it's possible to get a cargo boat (or any kind of boat) from Benin around Nigeria to either Cameroon or Gabon or is this not realistic....or is it possible to get through Nigeria on public transport with only a 2 day transit visa???
Any info would be welcome regarding costs and time etc.. or whether the cargo boat option is a fantasy....
Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 17 Nov 2008
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Nigeria
You might be able to get a fast boat (ie smaller speedboat) but it is doubtful and probably not a great idea - not sure why you would skip travelling in Nigeria (crazy drivers but great country) to brave the waterways of the delta where you probably run a greater risk of danger.

Plenty of fast boats or the overnight ferry from Calabar to points in Cameroon, but I would say that traveling by water through the delta and past Bonny Island, Brass Island, etc. is a really bad idea.

I traveled by motorcycle a month ago from Calabar to Lagos via Benin City avoiding Port Harcourt and had no problems. I spoke with expats and even locals who have been all over the country many times who wouldn't go to Part Harcourt on travel on the delta waterways right now - and these are some seriously hard-nosed Nigerians and Nigerian-experienced expats, both black and white.

The ferry from Tiko, Cameoron to Calabar was boarded and robbed by pirates the week before I took it, and even with a Nigerian navy escort, pirates attempted an assault in the morning (but were scared off by a few warning shots.)

I'd say stick to the roads - I'd take busted Peugot 504's at F1 speeds any day over heavy artillery and hijacking.
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  #3  
Old 17 Nov 2008
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Visa
Also - why wouldnt you just get a normal visa? Shouldn't be a problem at any Nigerian embassy along the way - a 2-day transit for Nigeria is way too short to get in and out or do much of anything.
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