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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 15 Nov 2015
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An old thread but i am planning the Malawi leg of my trip for June 2016 and planning to stop at Cape Maclear, Nkhata Bay, Nyika NP and Livingstonia.

I have emailed Nyika to confirm if I can get in by motorbike. As they have leopards and recently reintroduced lions i am not sure i will be able to do this. I will share the reply here as soon as i have it.

I am assuming that while Cape Maclear is in the Lake Malawi NP there should not be an issue getting there by bike?

Any guidance appreciated - anything else i need to be thinking about?

Also where to you go to get accurate journey times? Google maps says Cape Maclear to Nkhata Bay is 6h4m. Using the same route TomTom route planner says it is 11h29m! Looks like the latter assumes 10kms per hour going west on the M10 from Monkey Bay to the M5. Really?
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Old 15 Nov 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Temporaryescapee View Post

I am assuming that while Cape Maclear is in the Lake Malawi NP there should not be an issue getting there by bike?
I visited there by boat (about 3 hours each way across the lake) and there were plenty of vehicles around on the public access roads, including overlander organised groups.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-maclear-36397

Being Africa, it will take whatever time it takes to travel by highway.
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Old 15 Nov 2015
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Malawi national parks on motorbike

Thanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
Being Africa, it will take whatever time it takes to travel by highway.
Understood - I assume folks have a general rule of thumb of what is realistically achievable when putting a route plan together, whilst accepting that things don't always go to plan?

As this is my first 'big' trip and i am travelling solo i would sooner have a plan i can adapt or ignore as a starting point.

Cheers
Andy



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Old 16 Nov 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Temporaryescapee View Post
Thanks



Understood - I assume folks have a general rule of thumb of what is realistically achievable when putting a route plan together, whilst accepting that things don't always go to plan?

As this is my first 'big' trip and i am travelling solo i would sooner have a plan i can adapt or ignore as a starting point.

Cheers
Andy



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Tour groups of Overlanders tend to be following a schedule, based on "western" ideas of time and space; local people much less so - days are set aside for going to market, fishing on the lake, selling stuff on the road side to passing tourists - that is more their personal schedule rather than a consideration of "hour by hour".
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Old 6 Feb 2016
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Response from Nyika NP in Malawi confirming motorcycles can enter:

"Thank you for your email and booking enquiry

Yes you need to book for a camping site – rate is $15 per person per night- Include Camping site only – Exclude Drinks, meals, activities, park fees -$10 per person per day, vehicle fees -$3 per day & items of personal nature. You can enter the park by motorcycle"

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Andy
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Old 7 Feb 2016
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I and two others rode through Nyika Park in November. A great ride, dirt road is mostly in decent condition. Obviously rain would muddy it up, but otherwise OK for solo rider. Our ride was from Rumphi to Chitipa, where we spent the nite.

Then north from Chitipa on a good dirt road not on most maps, directly to border with Tanzania with no need to enter Zambia then Tanzania. Inquire locally in Chitipa regarding that road (it starts like 100 meters from the Malawi immigration and customs office in Chitipa, where you will want to check out of the country).
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Old 10 Feb 2016
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For those who don't know, you can also ride/camp in the National Parks in Uganda. Was in Murchison Falls in May, met many ellies, no problems. Will return again in about two weeks. I would suggest keeping helmet on if stopped and watching animals. As soon as you take it off you go from being a 'thing' to a possible enemy and the wildlife scatters.
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