My fiance and I are hoping to buy a cheap 175 or 250 for around 5 or 600 dollars and make our way from Kampala, Uganda, to South Africa..

But we've got a bunch of questions before we finalize any plans.. So we're hoping that someone may be able to help with some of them....

our questions are:

1. We don't have the time or money to get a carnet, so do you know if it's possible to get other types of documentation for South Africa? People have said that temporary insurance would suffice for other countries such as Tanzania and Mozambique.

2. do you know how much these would cost?

3. We were planning on going through Tanzania, to Mozambique, and then to South Africa. Is this a good/possible route?

4. any guestimates as to how much we would be spending on auxiliary stuff on the road per week if we tried our best to keep the costs down?

5. any other questions that I should have asked but didn't...

Thank you very much

any info at all would be very much appreciated

Thanks a lot
Steve
IBeSteveB@gmail.com

I went Tanzania - Malawi - Mozambique - Swaziland - SA and you'd have no probs road-wise. Apparently (not been there myself) the roads in the north of Moz are a bit worse if you go direct from Tanzania. And Malawi's great.

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

cheers..

how long did that take you? we have 2 and a half months..

thanks
Steve

I was dawdling - probably took about 4 months from Dar to Cape Town. You could easily do it in 2.5.

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Hi

Yes and yes. I used a carnet but beleive you can do all those countries without one (defo Mozamb & SA). I did that leg in 3 weeks so a couple of months not a problem.

Road wise there is a total of about 100kms of sandy track South of Dar, and then the first 50kms into Mozambique after crossing the Rovuma are pretty intense. I would say the hardest on my trans-africa trip. But its amazing up there - wild as you like. Elephants in the road & all sorts.

Hope that helps

Mark

African Enduro - Adventure Motorcycling through Africa.

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Trans Africa 2008: africanenduro.com

In a '72 Series 11a Landrover to get back in time for return safari of 6 months! So take your pick how you want to do it. Try to avoid Dodoma but if you are on this road heading south, slam on the brakes when you see the sign for the Tarangire mine then proceed slowly.

The following information is 3 years old...
You only need a Carnet if you dont want to export and import your bike through every border post.
It is possible, from Uganda to Tanzania to obtain a temporary import permit for $90 covering three months. But this is virtually impossible to get unless you have a residence permit or citizenship of one of these countries. The same applies for Kenya and Malawi.
Zambia going South is a hassel but heading North into Zambia (ie from Zim was fine)

Dont know how happy I would be travelling with my fiancee in this situation. But maybe I'm a protective chauvenist git! I would leave that for Southern Africa and Malawi... Again thats just me.

A Carnet is a far simpler, and a considerably more versatile option.

If you insist on cash, go through into Tanzania then down into Mozambique for a very remote ride all the way to South Africa and miss out some great countryside. Be extremely cautious off a well used road. Landmines.

The road along the Kariba Lake shore is phenomenal; by bike better, yet very remote and isolated, ie dont break down.
Never camp in a dry river bed during the rainy season in S.Tanzania.
The potholes on the main road in Northern Zambia are intelligent and play mind games with you. Do not exceed 80kph.
Prepare yourself for at least one very cold night in Tanzania.
The road in Zambia on the Congo border has ghosts, I diddnt enjoy sleeping in the bushes, next time will head East not West, bad juju's

Oh so many things to do and so many choices, so much to tell.

with a ugandan registered bike, one would expect you'd be able to enter comesa countries without the strict need of a carnet.

bit if they insist, load it on a truck and import it as 100kg of scrap metal at the next border post...

Motorcycles, like cars, are quite pricey in Uganda. Were you thinking of an XR250 or something like that? You'll be looking at $1000 plus for a decent one. Plenty of choice, though.

If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Kampala come and see us here :

Welcome to the Red Chilli Hideaway website Uganda's No 1 Backpackers' Hostel and Campsite

Rich