If you haven't done so already you should really read Sahara Overland Sahara Overland, 2nd Edition: A Route and Planning Guide Trailblazer: Amazon.co.uk: Chris Scott: Books

Other than that I'd offer two pieces of advice: 1) bad things happen. Prepare to be out there longer than expected doing harder work than expected and bring more water than you'd need even on a very bad day. You may get stuck out there for more than one. Especially if you're not going on a main path. 2) Those dromedary packs may be good for extra water, but you absolutely want a hydration bladder with a tube so you can drink constantly.


The quote above was from a guy who spent time exploring fossil beds in Niger. It's pretty safe to say that not only will you be expending more energy (especially if you go off road), but you'll have wind constantly blowing over you sucking even more water out. And that's if nothing goes wrong.

Bring more water.

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http://www.CorporateRunaways.com

Thanks for the responses guys. Sounds to me like I'd should be ok with 5L on the petrol front, but will need to up the amount of water I'm carry plus invest in a hydration bladder.

Even without desert situations I think a hydration bladder is one of the best investments a long distance motorcyclist can make. When you don't have to wait until you stop you drink more, and when you drink more you stay hydrated, and when you stay hydrated you ward off headaches, nausea, cramps, and fatigue.

My recommendation is a 3L Camelbak. In most normal situations 3L is roughly what I will drink in a day, so no needing to stop and fill it up until just before i hit camp. Also, the L shaped bite valve is easier to get up under a full-face helmet for drinking. If the bladder you choose doesn't come with an L shaped mouth-piece try to at least buy a brand that lets you replace the end (Camelbak does).

On a related note: camelbaks make good pillows. Just make sure you've locked the bite valve

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http://www.CorporateRunaways.com

Camelback are a waste of weight
Take a 10 Litre Dromadery bag, fix length of hose fitted with bite valve-
fis to bike/behind you whatever and run hose length of bike.
If you take a dive with a camelback, chances are it will burst and you will lose you water-
You can get hose from local B&Q or Tropical Fish suppliers

I don't know how they're a waste of weight as the bag itself doesn't weigh much, but there's definitely value in your suggestion. For someone not so interested in the do-it-yourself route there's the Camelbak unbottle unbottle-70oz - CamelBak.com . which is just a 2L bladder, tube, and bite valve with an insulating sleeve around it AND four small strap things which you could hook a bungee or other strapping through. Advantages being that it's good to go without figuring getting adapters and hoses and bite valves and it's better at keeping water cool thanks to thermal sleeve. Disadvantage being that it's only 2L.

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http://www.CorporateRunaways.com

My experience in Africa and pretty much everywhere in the world is very simple , in warm climate you should drink 3 to 5 liter minimum per day , if you break down for any lengh of time (tire repairs...) you can drink this amount very quickly so always carry a minimum of 3 liters but if you ride in area where there are few people carry twice the amount .no all in one blader ( in case it does break) for fuel calculate the distance and make sure that you have 25 % OF WHAT YOU NEED in reserve , the more off road , the more reserve ( in case you get lost or have to go back from where you came from .

My 10p worth, Take extra fuel as just in case & water simple, how you want to carry it is up to you. I still have my Army issued Camel Back Carrier, ok but I pers never drank as much as some of the other guys & im white not much hair, even in Saudi i never really drink a lot of fluids, however you do need to make sure you have enough as a just in case & + extra you should know how much you roughly drink, but as already mentioned do not place it all together.

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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

Just to expand on my Dromedary suggestion, MSR do a hose, bite valve and fitting to screw on any of their bladders (hydration kit if you google it) which is what I have, with the water filter in line which is now 18 months old and still fine, used all last summer every day. It will cost more than a Camelbak, but is a much better thing and designed to last.

When I had a 3l Camelbak I would always finish it, so tended to reduce how much I drank so I didn't run out. Stupid, cos I had more to put in, but thats what I did. Having a 6l dromedary as a bladder means I can drink as much as I want without thinking about it, so IMHO I'm probably more hydrated as a result

Agree totally with Grizzly7 and Bugsy- although I prefer my 10 litre Dromedary - option for more water for virtually same weight of bag- long tube + bite valve and carry the wee nozzle so can disconnect the tube part at night and fit to take MSR bag in tent.

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I do not list my vehicles or the places I have travelled to nor do I live my life seeking validation from others.

Hi,

I've gone down the east coast and am now going up the west coast (in Brazzaville). My tank is good for about 650km, so I haven't carried extra fuel, but I do carry a little fuel filter since I've been forced to buy gas at the side of the road a good few times (just because there is a gas station, doesn't mean it has gas!) and the number/size of particulates in the fuel can be disturbing.

As for water, I don't carry much. I have a 3ltr. camelpak type thing (any more gets too heavy) and sometimes carry another 1 or 2ltr. depending on where I am. That being said, I also carry a particulate filter and chlorine tablets to treat local water. I've rarely had to use it, but once you add some juice crystals to it, it doesn't taste too bad (do NOT use it to make coffee or pasta.. BLECK!!) and it saves on weight.

For me, I don't try to carry tonnes, I just try and fill up a lot. If I pass a place selling bottled water, but still haven't touched my supply, I stop and chug down a bottle. If I pass a nice gas station, but have only gone through 5 ltrs, I stop and fill up. That way I don't get into the habit of using my reserve- if you think of it as part of your available resources, then it stops being a reserve.

Either way, I'm sure you'll figure it out on the way- everyone rides differently and you'll most likely change what you carry as you go.

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DRad
http://gsguy.wordpress.com