Help needed: Ethiopia/Kenya overland question
 

Hi, I am wondering if anyone could share their experience/recent information on crossing Ethiopia/northern Kenya using truck convoys or any other means of public transport.

Is it possible to arrange for this from Adis?

Thanks

Martin

Hi Martin - I am planning to cross over from the Kenyan side early Aug. so am starting to ask abt the security and it seems as if its getting worse - I'm going to do some more checking and will let you know - but I think its worth you finding out more

cheers

miles

As I rode north through Mozambique last september, there were rumours of convoys. when I arrived at Isiolo, I found touts and cops trying to persuade me to put the bike on a truck. in the end, there were no convoys and no aggro. well, no aggro if you ignore the locals driving their herds out into the road in front of you ...
2-3 days by car/truck or 6 hours of mayhem on bike.
it was worth the buckled rim!
of course ... it may all have changed by now
good luck and keep us posted as I may be back there in December
Rich

Hello,

I've done this route in late 2002 (I don't belive things have changed much from that time).
* First you need to reach the border at Moyale, which is very easy - bus from Addis (6 am of course) takes 1.5 day with overnight stop somewhere and arriving about early afternoon.
* In Moyale just walk from the bus-stop 200 m to the passport office (left side), another 200 m to the customs office (right side), 200 m to the border itself, 400 m to the nearest hotel.
* From Moyale central crossroads, there are cow-trucks departing 9 am daily. It's not neccesary to arrive earlier, although you could like to take good 'seat', so 8:30 is ok. Cost to Marsabit: 500 KSh. You can sit in the cabin for extra fee, but I guess it should be negotiated at least day ahead. On the top are only steel pipes to sit on and top of the cabin. I found most 'comfortable' place to be on a spare tyre in centre - be careful when passing under thorn-trees! Trucks are supposed to travel with armed guards, which they indeed do, but only till the nearest village, when they jump-off, the rest of the journey is unguarded.
* At Marsabit trucks stop overnight and continue c.a. 6 am to Isiolo. Fare is again 500 KSh (you can pay whole 1.000 KSh in Moyale). Journey from here is supposed to be guarded, but it's not.
* From Isiolo is tarmac, and easy to go anywhere.

Best regards,

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Janusz
www.yahodeville.com

Martin, the email address in your profile is bouncing, please correct. Thanks

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi Martin,

when will you ride this way?
We will probably arrive at the border around the 12th August and arange things in Moyale.

Oerg.