Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > sub-Saharan Africa
sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 1 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hull
Posts: 18
Road conditions south of Dakar to Sierra Leone

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to get a feeling on how the road conditions are or will be south of Dakar til Sierra Leone. I'm driving to Sierra Leone in March of next year and I'm worried that south of Dakar the roads will destroy my Landcruiser.

Does anyone know?

Thanks

Jonathan
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 9 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 249
In fairness if you are worried that the Landcruiser is going to get destroyed in Africa it's probably best to stay at home and take it to the Lake District for the weekend.

Most roads in Senegal sre good tar, some stretches are potholed. Conakry can be easily done in the dry season by any 2WD with decent ground clearance like a van or a 2CV.

Sierra Leone I dunno.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hull
Posts: 18
Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually running a charity drive to Sierra Leone with 5 Landcruisers going to the anti-traffiking activities of UNICEF there. The team are worried that the vehicles will be useless when we get there. I'm less worried about that and more worried about the political situation in Guinea.

Do you have any knowledge/experience of the situation in Guinea at the moment?

Thanks

Jonathan
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 249
Hi Johnny

Guinea is for the most part fine, the police are a bit more keen than in other countries but the people and the landscape are excellent, certainly along with Bissau West Africa's most beautiful country.

That said the south east is extremley dangerous although I haven't been there since 2002. It's all about diamonds and the overspill from the conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

I suggest you find more info on this area before you go there (if you intend to go there) but it's also a bit off your route.

Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 17 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
You'll have no problems as far as the senegalise border. the new rd betwen Nouackchott and Nouadhibou (spelling?) is very good. Once in Senegal they aren't as good, also the police in senegal were the worst on our trip, absolute nightmare,especially in St Louis, even though we were a charity (running 2 lanndcruisers).

Probably the worst stretch of rd is the last stretch runnning down to diama barrage. It is very potholed with big corrugations and washouts, my mate bent a wheel here, which takes some doing on a landcruiser, I'm amazed he didn't take his axle off! fortunately this bad stretch doesn't last too long. I would still rather take this route than rosso! the roads can be very potholed and when we did it 3 years ago in the PDC a lot of the cars bent rims, but this year in the 'cruisers it was just a bit uncomfortable. the rd down to and around Banjul are pretty good, south of there I can't help you as that is a far as we went.

with a bit of care though you shouldn't do any damage to your vehicles on this stretch, we were on a tight timescale and running old H60s and they survived, and we had already done 1000 miles of piste driving.
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

Last edited by moggy 1968; 17 Sep 2006 at 12:41.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 17 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hull
Posts: 18
Thanks guys for the really good advice.

Essentially, we are driving from Hull to Sierra Leone down the Atlantic road.

I had heard that vehicles over 5 years old are not allowed in Guinea also only LHD vehicles are allowed.

Do you know anything about that?

And I presume, we can drive this route without Carnet de Passage?

I didn't realise there was a new road between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. Is is metalled?

When we get down to Bissau, do you know what the roads are like to Conakry? My Michelin 741 says that some of the roads are impassible during the rainy season. Does that mean that they are just earth tracks that break up in the rains?

If any of you guys have the time then do feel free to have I look at my latest project plan downloadable from hullfreedomtrail.com.

Thanks

Jonathan
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 18 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
the road is metalled as of last year. you are supposed to have a carnet for senegal if your vehicle is over 5 years old, but in reality you can get a laissez passer at the border. we paid 80Euro + a coat for 2 landcruisers. you will need a carnet if you are driving RHD vehicles to get into The Gambia. LHD is not a problem. you won't get in without a carnet if you are in RHD. If you have a carnet you can't even dispose of the vehicles in a country that does not require carnets, they must come back to the UK.
we managed to get into Gambia with RHD without a carnet on the basis we were donating the vehicles to a charity, but that required letters of authorisation from customs and chief of police, achieved through contacts within the charity.
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 18 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hull
Posts: 18
Hi Moggy 1968,

It's really good to talk to you because we are wanting to donate our vehicles to UNICEF in Sierra Leone.

We will be travelling with a certain cameraman who filmed Ewan Mcgregor's Long Way Round series and he has quite a few contacts in this area.

Do you know what we need to do to get leave the vehicles in country?

Many thanks

Jonathan

PS. If this would benefit from a telephone conversation them please let me know and I'll call you!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 18 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
I don't know what you will need in sierra leone, if anything, but for the Gambia you need to speak to the customs people and the head of police there. I believe that the British consul in senegal also covers Gambia (we bumped into him at the gambian border). he might be handy as your first port of call, although if you are heading right through if push came to shove then you could bypass Gambia. For Sierra leone I would speak directly to the charity, if they are benefiting from your activities they ahev a vested interest in trying to sort it out for you. If you want you can email me. my address is the same as my user name (without the space) @hotmail.com

Andy
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 22 Sep 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hull
Posts: 18
Good advice - thanks Andy.

Jonathan
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Landcruiser hire in UK for trip to Sierra Leone JonnyRichards 4 wheel Overland Travel 4 4 Jul 2006 01:16
Road South of Punta Gorda Belize? msg996 South America 9 28 Mar 2006 07:02
Chita to Khabarovsk route description Chris Scott Northern and Central Asia 3 23 Feb 2005 18:13
djibouti - eritrea miles murray sub-Saharan Africa 3 13 Jan 2005 19:56
Sierra Leone Update PanEuropean Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 3 17 Sep 2004 16:26

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-14
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:56.