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 21 Mar 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 11
which road to Luanda?

anyone know which border for angola is better?Luvo or Matadi!any tips for Angola roads would be great!!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 21 Mar 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Belgium
Posts: 50
Here you can find my track of last year. I crossed the border at Songololo. So I can't say anything about the bordercrossing at Matadi.

It was half of february last year. The wether was almost dry. From Songolo you start with about 450km (maybe 500km) of offroad. From there to about 150km from the border with Namibia, there was a perfect new tar road. The last 150km to the border with Namibia the road was full of was potholes.
Attached Files
File Type: gdb Angola.gdb (220.8 KB, 238 views)
__________________
R 1200 GS '08 en G 650 X Challenge '08
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 21 Mar 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 738
Hey Veys,

As Rone mentions, the crossing at Luvo/Songololo is good, it's the crossing that most vehicles take nowadays. The road south of the Matadi crossing(assuming that it hasn't been worked on in the last couple of years) is rough. I think Mateo and the biker guy that was riding with them took that road for the added adventure so if that is what you are seeking you can go that way. There was also a Danish guy on a sport bike that came through there and they made it but from there pictures it looked like the road gets somehwat chewed up in the wet season and the holes fill up with water. Otherwise, it's easy riding through Luvo.

There is a gas station in Mbanza Congo, roughly an hour south of the border. Although it can be spotty to get gas at the station. Once it runs out, the roadside sellers in Mbanza will have bottles to sell. I would say that your chances of getting good fuel is best there.

The road from Mbanza Congo to Nzeto on the coast has been rebuilt by the Chinese in the last few years so is good.

In Nzeto, there was no petrol station so the only fuel available was from a couple of roadside sellers. I met a couple of Americans in southern Angola that had purchased bad fuel somewhere between Nzeto and Luanda so when I came up I carried enough to get to Nzeto. If you've still got your magic green can, top up in Mbanza and you should have enough to get to Luanda or pretty close.

From Nzeto south, the road is sandy in parts in the northern part but rideable. Closer you get to Luanda the better it gets. On the outskirts of Luanda there was some new road construction that seemed to offer a quicker way in and out of town so keep your head up for that or ask around as you get closer.

As you probably know, in Luanda stay at the yacht club, free to camp.

Ride safe.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 21 Mar 2012
Titbird's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Back in Europe
Posts: 181
So Veysel, where did you get your Angola visa?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 22 Mar 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Angola situation!

Thanks for the tips!i am finally leaving Kinshasa on saturday,and i am very happy after waiting three weeks here for my passport ,coming from Accra(hopefully with angola visa in it!!)i will also try Songolo road towards Luanda!i have been told that i should obtain my Namibia visa in Luanda as a Turkish passport holder.
p.s.if anyone knows any place to park my motorbike for 6 months in Windhoek.would be great too.cheers
Veysel
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 22 Mar 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titbird View Post
So Veysel, where did you get your Angola visa?
From accra.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 3 Apr 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 16
vehicle storage near windhoek

Hi Veysel,

For vehicle storage you could try the following guest farms:

Elisenheim: Elisenheim Guest Farm

Ondekaremba: Ondekaremba - A great start and ending to your Namibia holiday

Both are regularly frequented by travelers in overland trucks and 4x4 which are often stored on-site. I'm sure they have space for a bike, too, and both families are very helpful.

On the way to the airport is another place that does camping and storage, the Transkalahari Inn, but I have heard from several people (directly) that your vehicle isn't save there (break-ins, etc), so better to be avoided.

Have fun crossing Angola, we had to unfortunately rush through it on a transit visa...

Cheers, Micha
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
Sydney to Germany - the African way BikingMarco Ride Tales 320 23 Sep 2012 11:31
London to Cape Town, November 2012 Tfoy97603 Travellers Seeking Travellers 56 4 Sep 2012 17:51
A Gringo in Colombia Ride4Adventure Ride Tales 13 20 Apr 2012 03:15
Southern Tanzania Road Condition? Doubledown sub-Saharan Africa 1 19 Dec 2011 07:18
Khartoum to Ethiopia Birdy Ride Tales 2 26 Oct 2011 22:32

 
 

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 12:43.