Loving this thread.. keep it coming !!

And yeah, my route planning has much to be desired.

That's half the adventure though right ???

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
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Can't say anymore.

Some excellent suggestions.

I will add:

Syria - I know these are tried and tested, but Krak de Cheavilers really is a must see, what an awesome crusdaer castle. And Aleppo really is a magical city, shouldnt miss this.

Egypt - St Anthonys Monastry. I was very impressed with this place.

Sudan - Temple of Sulb. Thought this was pretty impressive as far as Sudans ruins go. Well worth a stop to break up the journey south from Wadi Halfa.

Ethiopia - Debre Damos. Well worth it for the rope climbing. Wanted to get to the Darnak dperession too but considered "too risky" at the time, but the photos Ive seen look incredible.

Its all pretty much tried and tested once in Nairobi, but for me the most fun national park was South Luangwa in Zambia. Flatdogs is such an awesome campsite by the river, highly recommended.

South Africa - Im well into history and found the battlefields of Bloodriver and Isandlwana (sp?) really interesting. And of course, though a cliche, Tsitsikama national park is a special place, very beautiful.

Hi Ted,

We start a month ago same route from Bulgaria,currently in Jungle Junction,Nairobi.For the roads in Sudan-from Wadi Halfa down to Dongola,now newly paved.Dongola-Karima-Atbara same,asphalt brand new.
For Ethiopian roads-from Woreta to Lalibela,except the last 60 km(which is nice gravel road) paved again,brand new asphalt.

Kenya-Moyale-Marsabit....uufff,we spent 10 hours riding.The first 120km up to Torbe(or something like that) is good,but from there to Marsabit,really bad,big stones,some of them very sharp,so be careful avoiding flat tires,even broken rims.Thankfuly we passed without problems.From Marsabit there are onother 160km bad road,which is a bit better and 70-ish km before Isiolo start tarmac.So,we are heading down to Cape Town,through Tanzania,Malawi,Zambia,Botswana and Namibia and if you need further information,I hope I can report.Hope this help you!

Regards,

Simon

Botswana: Magkadigkadi Pans, Baines Baobabs, Kubu Island - stunning. See these photos: Kubu Island Botswana and Botswana Tourism Board - Baines Baobab

You might need to book ahead to stay. Nata Lodge near Sowa is also a popular overnight stop. There's a small nature reserve there. You can get down to the edge of the pans, but watch out, the surface isn't as solid as it looks.

I think the ancient bushman sites at Tsodilo Hills, Aha Hills and Gcwihaba Caves would be an amazing trip, but really really tough by bike due to the sand and extreme climate.

Lushoto, Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Camp on the (ex) golf course of the Lawns Hotel. Really chilled town.

Why the Lawns Hotel? We were there recently and I thought it was really overpriced (US$8 per person for camping) for the crap showers and not so helpful staff. They do have satelite tv and table tennis though.

Up the road close to the Kili park gate is Coffee Tree campsite. Also US$8 per person for camping and the best hot showers anywhere we've been travelling from Cape Town since Oct. Also Thomas the owner is a lovely guy who will take the time to make your stay enjoyable without being overbearing.

MORE MORE MORE !!!

Less than 48 hours until deprature. I want to print this thread off !!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Highlights for me heading north from Cape Town:

Richtersveld / Ais - Ais Transfrontier Park (SA / Nam)

Van Zyl's Pass, Marienfluss (NW Nam)

Chobe & Moremi National Parks (Bots)

Vic Falls & Hwange (Zim)

Ibo Island (Moz)

Mushroom Farm / Livingstonia (Malawi)

Zanzibar

Maybe see on the road, have a good one.

aw man! I just spent over half an hour listing loads of places and then my internet connection dogged out and the post was lost!!

Can't rewrite it over again, but in case it helps I have some photos and places on my website Range Rover expedition across Africa - UK to South Africa

If you can squeeze one in, a small netbook is very useful and you can buy cheap USB 3G sticks as you go and pick up loads of useful info on camps, parks, fees etc etc. Zain is good as you get into sub sahara as you can use the stick in quite few countries.

Oh, and absolutely get Tracks4africa and stick it on a garmin Nuvi or something if you haven't already - invaluable.

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Cheers man !! Iv got the GPS maps

I'll look over your blog too

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Ted
Have a really great trip. You'll enjoy yourself. There was a lot of truth in you signature line about pleasure and dry farts en Afrique.....

Hang loose
Chris

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ok, so got a few mins free to get some of the info up for you - I don't have very precise data to hand but hope some of this comes in useful maybe.

Syria - Allepo is very nice, castle is well worth a visit and food in the town is grrrrreat! there is a very nice campsite about 20Km west of the town run by a Belgian lady - you may well pass it and there is a sign pointing to it from the main road. try a google see if you can find it or use T4A
Damascus is also a very cool city and we spent a good few days there, again great food and loads to see.
East side of Syria also very beatiful in a deserty way, wild camping in desert near Palmyra is good

Jordan - Wadi Rum is superb, and there are a few campsites south of Aqaba on the coast, not the council run ones on the beach but on the other side of the road. Snorkeling is good here!
Dead seashould also be visited - you can camp on a car park for a mountain top historic religious site (forgot name sorry!) you just need to ask the tourist police there.
Lots to do in Egypt - worth going across Sinai to Dahab to do some of the worlds best snorkeling, you can camp at Crazy Camel
White desrt is very cool, as is the rest of the Oasis circuit, but the police can be arses sometimes - they dont like wild camping and are obliged to provide tourist protection, so if you dont have the name of a hotel to go to or wont let them take you to one you may be chased out of town - we were twice.
Sudan is a bit dry for campsites - after Wadi halfa there aint much, but we id some real nice camping in the desert in the north, had a shite camp in Blue Nile sailing Club, and stayed in a couple of cheap hotels after that.
Ethiopia - gonder is a nice town, before you reach there head for Tim & Kims on the side of Lake Tana - real cool couple and a very nice place to chill.
We camped in the car park of a hotel in Gonder also.
We didn't get into the simian mountain nat. park as they insisted we took a guide, so drove a very long and very rough route round to the north of the country. It is a bit wild out there and nowhere to camp, so when you see an option, take it. Axum is a nice town and the manager of the Yeha hotel will let you camp in thier grounds - nice place. for the remainder of our circuit of Ethiopia it was hotels - quite a few of them, and again if you see soemwhere that looks good take the option rather than pass it hoping to find another as its very hit and miss there. In Addis Abbaba then you need to get to the train station and look for Holland House - very basic camp but ace pub : ) Addis is an interesting city and an eye opener.
there are lots of historic sites to see in Ethiopia, but as mentioned by others, dont underestimate how bad some of the roads are and how long it can take to travel seemingly short distances!
In kenya we stayed at a cool campsite near marsabit - swiss henrys - you'll need T4A to get you there. And further down near mount kenya there is a very nice camp/lodge at Timau lodge - it's on the road that curves to the east of mount Kenya after isiolo - great sofas, currys, s there in a lovely setting.
kericho was great - you can stay in the teea plantations at the Tea Hotel - dont miss this place as it's a gem - fantastically old fashioned british plantation hotel which was built by Brooke bond and they have a nice camping field next to the gardens.
Masai Mara - crocodile Camp was the best we found.
Twiga Lodge on Tiwi beach south of Dar Es Salaam was tres cool and you can camp on the beach.
having to go quick now as battery going...
In Tanzania, there is a camp site south of Tanga, Peponi beach - very cool and the countryside is beautiful.
On to Dar and we are really enjoying Mikadi beach campsite which you have to take the local ferry across the sound to get to - again beachside camping. Easy 2 hour ferry journey (without bike I'm afraid) to get to Zanzibar where you should stay at the dhow place hotel in stonetown if you get the chance - cheapish and fantastic!!
thats all for now from me I'm afraid, powers going and it's my round - HAVE FUN!!!!

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