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Isiolo to Moyale on a motorcycle - info needed Isiolo to Moyale on a motorcycle - info needed
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Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 23 Mar 2013
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Exclamation Isiolo to Moyale on a motorcycle - info needed
Hi all,

I'm currently travelling 2-up with my girlfriend from Cape to Cairo. We are currently in Tanzania and we will soon enter into Kenya.

We are traveling on a F800GS which is fully loaded and we are a bit concern on the road from Isiolo to Moyale. We have a few questions:

- We don't have a tent - what are the support points (housing) along the way? Directions/gps points would be greatly appreciated!
- is it possible to buy fuel on the road or we need to carry enough fuel to cover the whole distance?
- We plan to do this road in about 2 weeks - any latest info on weather/road conditions?
- anyone in the area heading the same way?

Thank you very much for sharing any info/links that will help us prepare for this part of the trip!

SalCar
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  #2  
Old 23 Mar 2013
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hi you can get petrol in marsabit and there is a campingplace run by a friendly swiss guy too. He can also do welding if neccesary. GPS positions here

http://afrikamotorrad.de?report=en_transafrika

plan two days minimum for this trip the deep gravel road is hard to ride but your passenger could jump on one of the trucks going there...

cu Tobi
Last edited by ta-rider; 16 Aug 2013 at 11:09. Reason: spelling mistake
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  #3  
Old 23 Mar 2013
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The Swiss is not gay. At least as far as I know.
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Old 24 Mar 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ta-rider View Post
hi you can get petrol in marsabit and there is a campingplace run by a friendly swiss guy too. He can also do welding if neccesary. GPS positions here

Ａｄｖｅｎｔ&# xff55;ｒｅｓ motorbike expedition: 2 jears around africa: Transafrika part 1

plan two days minimum for this trip the deep gravel road is hard to ride but your passenger could jump on one of the trucks going there...

cu Tobi
thank you! we don't have camping gear... do you know if he also has rooms to rent?
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Old 24 Mar 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam Johnson View Post
The Swiss is not gay. At least as far as I know.
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Old 25 Mar 2013
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You can also stay at the Catholic Congregation, for the equivalent of 5 euros you can have a room with a clean bed, hot shower and the use of the kitchen.
It is very close to the camping site mentioned by Ta-Rider.
There is nothing much in terms of lodging after Marsabit going north... The only place I can recall is near the second road block but I really would not recommend it...
If you cannot make it to Moyale before sunset you can stop at the catholic mission some 80 km before Moyale.
Let me know if you need coordinates and I will dig them out.
Once in Moyale there is a decent place in the Ethiopian side with nice straw bungalows.
Check security situation on the Isiolo-Marsabit leg before hitting the road, not the safest of places... And no, there is no fuel except in Marsabit.
Cheers
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Old 25 Mar 2013
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Jeys Jeys
We stayed at JEY JEYS & they had a good bed & really good food, We met alot of overlanders there as they have a compound for them to park vehicles.
It's just on the left as you come to Marsabit.
Then in Nairobery stay at the other Jj's (Jungle Junction) try & book the bottom room (Comfy bed & own toilet & shower)
Cheers
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Old 26 Mar 2013
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Last time I was there, the Swiss guy did not have rooms for rent. He just has some spare huts on his farm. Very peaceful actually.
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Old 18 Apr 2013
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Thank you everyone. We just came across the road from Isiolo to Moyale.
It had been raining pretty much every day in Nairobi and it rain on us when we arrived in Isiolo. We heard that the road was in very bad conditions so we decided to rent a 4x4 Land Cruiser and put the bike on it.

By the time we loaded the bikes and hit the road was noon. We rode for 18 hours straight (mostly at night). The driver had never driven a 4x4, was high on chat and the road was in very bad conditions. We passed several trucks that had been stuck for days and we had our share of digging and pushing.

Here is picture of the beginning of the road:



We rented the truck from a guy in Isiolo named Mohamed (+254 721 708968) and his son Wako. We do not recommend them as it was a BIG hassle to deal with them. We paid 550 USD for two bikes. There is also a guy in town that help us find the pick-up truck his name is Kala (+254 718 218 010).

The road is doable if it hasn't rain in at least 4 days but otherwise plan for several days pushing the bike through the mud.
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Old 18 Apr 2013
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Glad you made it. It is amazing how terrible the road is from about halfway between Isiolo -Marsabit to the border. I am always torn on terrible roads like this getting paved and becoming nice. On the one hand it is better for commerce, safety, enables people to move more quickly, etc. On the other hand, it takes away from the adventure and isolation of places like Marsabit. Apparently, over the past 5 or so years the road has slowly been inching north. Of course they say "by next year it'll be to Ethiopia!"...but they've apparently been saying that for 10 years.

Hope the rest of your trip goes well!
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  #11  
Old 27 Apr 2013
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hi i will be in moyale next monday night 29 april hoping to ride south on tuesday morning is anyone traveling this way around that time as it would be great to have company on this road i am traveling solo on a yamaha xt 600 .does anyone know the condition of the road now or the weather forecast for the week ahead thanks
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Old 28 Apr 2013
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Hi SalCar,
The last two weeks there was not much rain between marsabit and Isiolo.
Hopefully the mud has gone away....
The forecast for the next week is not so bad. Only 30% probability of some drops of rain.
I hope you will make it. Good luck.
Stefan

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Last edited by Überflieger; 28 Apr 2013 at 10:58.
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  #13  
Old 28 Apr 2013
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the mud river crossing only attempted in daylight | Jolon Imp's Blog

For recent pics see this blog of a Hillman Imp traveling north (they had to put it on a truck in the end).

BBC weather for Moyale is showing heavy rain from Monday onwards so may be a bit of a slog.
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Old 28 Apr 2013
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What a muppet, I don't know how I didn't see this thread!! I blame shoddy internet and hours worth of waiting for pages to upload!

Anyone know if you can pick up a visa at the Kenyan Border for Kenya??

Sam and I will be on two KTM 690's Enduro R's and crossing the border either Wednesday or Thursday (depending on the visa situation! Reckon we'll pick our visa up tomorrow in Addis just to be on the safe side so will be in Moyale Wednesday night!)

Frankie Boy - we are a couple of days behind you!! If we don't catch you ride safe

Cheers People!

Clare and Sam
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  #15  
Old 28 Apr 2013
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Yes, you can get the Kenian visa at the border in Moyale.
Cheers
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