No real need for a radio, people will share their knowledge with you, particularly those on the road, you could probably pick up a few stations with a smartphone.

Language, if you have passable French you will find it easier ... known people without any French at all. Difficult for me to say as I'm bilingual. If you pick up some regional language words locally it'll go down well too!

Hi Bikergirl,

I did not mean just a radio, we had a small world receiver radio and we could pick up a lot of international stations on our way up the West coast. It was good to listen to in the tent for half an hour before sleeping. And as I said, in the five days we were stuck in Togo it was the only form of getting international news ... but of course most of the important infos we got from locals.

Sure understanding the language is of course key to understanding what comes out of any devise or from any local. French and English are needed in West Africa, of course you dont have to be fluent but you need basics skills.

Dont know if you can use a smart phone ( I call them spy phone) as a broadband world receiver radio ... but find out and you will save weight carring something you dont need.

Enjoy Africa.
mika

As others have alluded to, quite possibly the biggest problem is friends/family back home that alas, have bought into the myth of Darkest Africa. It is not dark. It is LIGHT. I lived in Kenya five years, Egypt for 7 years before that, have travelled throughout the continent since 1983 and (knock on wood) have never had a problem that fits the alarmist views we hear in the media or from friends who haven’t gone.

I always laugh when I hear people doing RTW and skipping out Africa. Um, really? Cradle of humanity, almost the biggest continent in the world and you're skipping it?? Sigh.

Like CREER wrote, the best source of info is the locals. Stay away from government news sources, as they have an agenda.

I’m currently making a film, Rallying for A Wild Life that takes place in East Africa. It’s about how motorbikes are being used to help wild life and conservation but it includes oh so much more! If any of ya’ll will be in Tanzania, Kenya and especially Uganda, (where you can RIDE IN the game parks next to wild life), message me and I’ll see if I can include you in the film. Or maybe we can meet for a mini-HU gathering! This would be February/March time scale.

Lorraine

Beware the official travel advisory
 

For those who speak French, "Le Monde" newspaper talking about how the french foreign ministry is killing tourism in Mauritania and Mali, while keeping other destinations like southern Turkey on the safe list.

Vent de colère contre les «*conseils aux voyageurs*» du Quai d’Orsay dans le Sahel

Great list but would disagree with that bit.
It's the only part of the Algerian Sahara open to tourism (mostly fly-in, tbf)
Looking forward to getting back there next year.
Only problem for southbound overlanders: no way out of Alg.

here is a blog of a wonderful couple who are travelling through africa by bike at the moment.. hope it gives you some current insight.. Pearls On Wheels I'm sure if you contact Diana directly (or Dick!) they'd be most happy to give you up to date info..