Touring on a Motorcycle in East Africa

[jason99]

Touring on a Motercycle in East Africa Hi all, just going to post some info on an idea i'm toying with. Who knows maybe i'll get lucky and hear back from someone who has also thought of doing this or can give me some info.

On Jan 14th i'm flying into Nairobi, Kenya. The next morning i'm going to head south to Moshi, Tanzania. I have a couple contacts there that say they could hook me up with a bike. Actally they say you can get a new bike for $600. I'm thinking this must be something like they picked up in Mongolia on "long way round". (If you have not seen that series you need to! if your into biking and this site)

I have a couple concerns however:

1. I have been warned that the driving is terrable. That buses will come up behind you and honk 1 sec before they plow into the back of you.

2. Border crossings - I have been told that licencing the bike is not a concern and you can get insurance there but i'm not too sure what it would be like crossing borders. If I keep the bike my whole trip I will be crossing into Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and possibly DRC.

3. Travelling across the south side of Lake Victoria. The region from Mwanza to Kigali. From what I hear I don't know how much of roads there really are and how easy it will be to find Petrol.

4. I also don't have my motercycle licence yet (getting it in the spring) but from what I hear that is not a big deal in this region.

I like the idea of taking the bike for the freedom to go where I want to when I want to and the fact that I could stop along the way. If I take a bus I will just be going city to city and not getting to stop at great spots along the way to take photos or meet locals.

Love to hear back from anyone on tips/comments.

Thanks,


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Jason Stein
www.jasonstravelblog.com