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8 Jun 2008
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Questions on traveling through western africa...
Hello,
A friend and I are driving to Cameroon in a vauxhall nova.We're leaving in July and we're raising 1000 pounds for charity.
I no it has been asked in another thread but is there anyone who knows how much tarmac there is?I'm taking the coastal route as have been told there are good roads there,is this correct?We'll be going through Morocco,Western Sahara,Maurantania,Senegal,Guinea,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Togo,Benin,Nigeria and then into Cameroon.
Also,what will the conditions be like during the rainy season.I have been told that in some areas not matter what traveling in/on that its just not possable to get through,is this correct?
And one last things is there anything else I should consider?I haven't been to Africa before and any advice would be really helpfull.
Thanks for reading.
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9 Jun 2008
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I assume a Vauxhall Nova is a 2WD ?
You can definitely drive through Mauretania via Nioro du Sahel to Bamako, onwards to Ouagadougou and Cotonou into coastal Nigeria - 99% tarmac.
As far as I have read about entering Cameroon from the Nigerian South, this could be a muddy, 4WD only road. Had the same impression when reading on this forum about Guinea and Ivory Coast.
In Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal (if car is older than 5 years) you will need a Carnet de Passage. All countries (except Nigeria; not sure about Ivory Coast) will usually issue you a visa at the border.
My advice for your first Africa trip would be that you keep your itinerary and even your final destination open. You just go and adapt. I didn't bother about prior visas and carnet and didn't regret the decision.
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9 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Travelbug
I assume a Vauxhall Nova is a 2WD ?
You can definitely drive through Mauretania via Nioro du Sahel to Bamako, onwards to Ouagadougou and Cotonou into coastal Nigeria - 99% tarmac.
As far as I have read about entering Cameroon from the Nigerian South, this could be a muddy, 4WD only road. Had the same impression when reading on this forum about Guinea and Ivory Coast.
In Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal (if car is older than 5 years) you will need a Carnet de Passage. All countries (except Nigeria; not sure about Ivory Coast) will usually issue you a visa at the border.
My advice for your first Africa trip would be that you keep your itinerary and even your final destination open. You just go and adapt. I didn't bother about prior visas and carnet and didn't regret the decision.
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Thanks for the reply.Yes its a 2WD.
Where would be a good place to enter cameroon from?Can you cross near Mamfe?if so is this an ok area with a good road.
Yeah I have a feeling that we will have to adapt when we get out there,but it would great to make it to cameroon and to try and avoid any VERY bad roads in advance.
As mentioned above,would it be good to go from senegal into mali then burkina then ghana?
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9 Jun 2008
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I'm taking the coastal route as have been told there are good roads there,is this correct?We'll be going through Morocco,Western Sahara,Maurantania,Senegal,Guinea,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Togo,Benin,Nigeria and then into Cameroon.
Also,what will the conditions be like during the rainy season.I have been told that in some areas not matter what traveling in/on that its just not possable to get through,is this correct?
And one last things is there anything else I should consider?I haven't been to Africa before and any advice would be really helpfull.
Thanks for reading.[/QUOTE]
Not sure who told you that the coastal route has good roads. From Senegal into Guinea is terrible and again from Guinea into Ivory Coast the roads are atrocious! The road is tarred almost all the way from Senegal into Mali and along to Burkina, then you could head south into Ghana and along the coast that way.
You'll be less likely to be bribed that way too, the Senegal/Guinea border isn't good for bribes (on the Senegalese side at Fongelembi) and again in Guinea things aren't good .. crossing into CI there'll be bribes asked for again as you'll have to enter into the old rebel zone!
Kira
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9 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TT-Kira
I'm taking the coastal route as have been told there are good roads there,is this correct?We'll be going through Morocco,Western Sahara,Maurantania,Senegal,Guinea,Ivory Coast,Ghana,Togo,Benin,Nigeria and then into Cameroon.
Also,what will the conditions be like during the rainy season.I have been told that in some areas not matter what traveling in/on that its just not possable to get through,is this correct?
And one last things is there anything else I should consider?I haven't been to Africa before and any advice would be really helpfull.
Thanks for reading.
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Not sure who told you that the coastal route has good roads. From Senegal into Guinea is terrible and again from Guinea into Ivory Coast the roads are atrocious! The road is tarred almost all the way from Senegal into Mali and along to Burkina, then you could head south into Ghana and along the coast that way.
You'll be less likely to be bribed that way too, the Senegal/Guinea border isn't good for bribes (on the Senegalese side at Fongelembi) and again in Guinea things aren't good .. crossing into CI there'll be bribes asked for again as you'll have to enter into the old rebel zone!
Kira[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the reply,really helpful.
So the road along the coast from ghana to nigeria is OK,is it tarred?Also are there any sections of this route that are not passable during the rainy season.We'll be in a 2WD car.Also are there any boarders that should be avoided?Any that are 'easier' to get through than others?
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9 Jun 2008
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For an idea of the Mamfe border (Nigeria - Cameroon) have a look at Transafrika - Kamerun mit dem Expeditionsfahrzeug
Piste
Doesn't look like 2WD-territory.
Senegal and Ghana require Carnets de Passage and I found both borders a hassle. You can avoid both countries by taking the Route de l'Espoir from Nouakchott to Ayoun-el-Atrous, then into Mali at Nioro du Sahel, onwards to Bamako (all tarmac).
Then I'd suggest to take the road via Djenné to Dogon country and onwards via Ouahigouya to Ouagadougou. Mostly tarmac or good laterite. Dogon is one of the most interesting sights in West Africa.
Then you can head south into Togo and Benin until Cotonou. Or you go via Niamey into Benin. Both routes are - on the stretches I did - tarmac or good laterite
.
The coastal road from Accra is good tarmac.
Nigeria is supposedly one of the toughest countries in the world (although I personally made only good experiences in Lagos - by air). As you will hardly make it into Cameroon with a 2WD, you might want to miss Nigeria altogether.
BTW: Bamako, Ouaga and Niamey are good places to sell your car.
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9 Jun 2008
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Registered Users
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Travelbug
For an idea of the Mamfe border (Nigeria - Cameroon) have a look at Transafrika - Kamerun mit dem Expeditionsfahrzeug
Piste
Doesn't look like 2WD-territory.
Senegal and Ghana require Carnets de Passage and I found both borders a hassle. You can avoid both countries by taking the Route de l'Espoir from Nouakchott to Ayoun-el-Atrous, then into Mali at Nioro du Sahel, onwards to Bamako (all tarmac).
Then I'd suggest to take the road via Djenné to Dogon country and onwards via Ouahigouya to Ouagadougou. Mostly tarmac or good laterite. Dogon is one of the most interesting sights in West Africa.
Then you can head south into Togo and Benin until Cotonou. Or you go via Niamey into Benin. Both routes are - on the stretches I did - tarmac or good laterite
.
The coastal road from Accra is good tarmac.
Nigeria is supposedly one of the toughest countries in the world (although I personally made only good experiences in Lagos - by air). As you will hardly make it into Cameroon with a 2WD, you might want to miss Nigeria altogether.
BTW: Bamako, Ouaga and Niamey are good places to sell your car. |
It really doesn't,I'm getting the impression that this rally isn't doable.I think a telephone to the organisers is in order,its looks like there sending us into a dead end.Whats Chad like?could I miss Nigeria and go via chad,or is this going to be the same as nigeria?I'm getting slighty concerned about all this.Do you think it would be doable in a 4x4 at this time of year?
Sorry for all the questions,but I'm getting the impression that the organisers have not reseached and that it may not be possiable.
Thanks again for all your help everyone.
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9 Jun 2008
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yes, the Nigeria- Cameroon border to Mamfe is a bit rough, however you could do it in a 2WD depending on the weather.
If you were with other cars its easier especially if you don't mind twatting your vehicle, or waiting it out.
from my experience in April 2007 the Mamfe area was very bumpy but dry enough to tackle slowly in a 2wd. a bad monsoon could have made it a very different story.
thats the adventure
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