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Get from Freetown in Sierra Leone to Accra in Ghana - HELP! Get from Freetown in Sierra Leone to Accra in Ghana - HELP!
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 28 Apr 2016
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Get from Freetown in Sierra Leone to Accra in Ghana - HELP!
Hello all

Friends of ours are currently ridding through West Africa and hit a bit of a snag and need some help.
They've been denied entry to Liberia (still trying to figure out why; comms SMS via satellite phone are limited).

I am trying to find them an alternative way to get bikes (and themselves (4 people) from Freetown in Sierra Leone to Accra in Ghana.

Research thus far lead me nowhere. Any assistance is very much appreciated!
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  #2  
Old 28 Apr 2016
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If you can't get from Sierra Leone into Liberia, and you don't want to fly from Freetown to Accra, you have one option:

Sierra Leone - Guinea - Mali - Burkina or Iv Coast - Ghana

Reason being - the Guinea/Ivory Coast border is closed.

I'm curious to know why you were denied entry into Liberia? Our groups have crossed without too much hassle in the past.

David.
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Old 29 Apr 2016
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Thanks David, much appreciated.

Flying could be an option if we can find them transport that will take bikes.
So far no luck.

Have not heard the reason for the
They were well prepared, had all info and visa ahead of time. Very curious myself.

They are riding back to Freetown now - will take them about 8 hours and then figure out plan B.
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  #4  
Old 29 Apr 2016
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Originally Posted by Tropics_974 View Post
Flying could be an option if we can find them transport that will take bikes.
I don't think you will have any luck finding an air carrier operating between Lungi airport (Freetown) and anywhere else in west Africa who uses widebody (twin-aisle) aircraft, and you need widebody aircraft to transport motorcycles unless you are willing to carry out serious dis-assembly and crating of the motorcycles.

I spent a year based in Monrovia, flying between Freetown, Monrovia, and Abidjan, and never saw a widebody operating on any regional (Africa to Africa) routes, reason being that there's just not enough traffic density.

We in the air transport sector used to joke that the fastest way to get from one capital city in Africa to another capital city in Africa was to change planes in Paris - I'm afraid that rather grim joke is still true.

Michael
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  #5  
Old 29 Apr 2016
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Thanks Michael.
Any experience, thoughts or recommendation on travelling by boat or ferry?

I am trying to find stories online and on this forum, but not having much luck.
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Old 29 Apr 2016
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No, I am sorry I have no knowledge of marine sector transportation along the Gulf of Guinea.

There are 'coasters' that operate between major adjacent ports, for example, Freetown and Monrovia, but I think they are just "A to B and then back to A again" operations, in other words, I don't think they ply between more than just two ports, this due to issues arising from cabotage restrictions imposed by the various countries.

You might be able to find sea freight service between Sierra Leone and a port further east such as somewhere in Nigeria, but if you do, I think it is unlikely that the ship will offer passenger service, and I would be very reluctant to to ship a valuable object (i.e. a motorcycle) on such a service... my worry is that I would never see it again, and have no recourse when it didn't turn up at the other end.

I hate to say it, but I am afraid you are screwed. If trying to get the 'denied entry into Liberia' problem solved doesn't pan out, might be simpler, cheaper, and safer to return to Europe from Freetown, then try and ship the bikes (and the people) to somewhere downroute from a point of origin in Europe.

Michael
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Old 29 Apr 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tropics_974 View Post
Thanks Michael.
Any experience, thoughts or recommendation on travelling by boat or ferry?

I am trying to find stories online and on this forum, but not having much luck.
To the best of my knowledge, there are no ferries (never have been), extremely limited transit by private boat, and no reliable freight services. There's a lot of piracy, which might explain some of this, but mainly there's little need for goods or people covering such distances. Locals have generally traveled by bus or shared taxis, and they commonly slip through borders via paths and dugouts across rivers. You're limited to actual roads, and you are seriously vulnerable if you try anything illegal.

The route up and around through Mali is simple enough, if somewhat longer.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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