Trans Africa trip 2011

[Cam Johnson]

Hi All,
Planning a trip for later this year and wondering who else is interested. I have a KLR parked up in West Africa and want to travel down the coast (avoiding CDI if necessary at the time) as far as DRC and attempt to cross over to the east side via the southern Kinshasa - Lubumbasi route. With an eye to exit Africa to the middle east somewhere, taking in Lake Turkana along the way.
Especially keen to have a partner on a similar bike through the DRC stage.
Any takers?
Cam.

[Titbird]

I wish I could come with you.
If you take the Kinshasa Lubumbasi route, be sure to read this report on the HUBB:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kinshasa-53285

My friends are as we speak on a boat from Kinshasa to Kisangani:
Home is where we are
follow the blog if you want to know how that ends.

[harryontour]

Hi, Cam

i go down to Cape Town on 31.07 from Austria. Have a look an my website

Harald ( Harry ) Häninger | freedom-on2wheels ( german )

if you are interested we can ride a view weeks together..

greets

harry

[Trichelia]

Hi Cam,
Saw your question on the other west coast thread.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-2011-a-56713

I was planning on leaving the UK mid October heading for Morocco. The route I was imagining would be Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa.

I am flexible though. It has been suggested heading through Togo, Benin rather than Niger. I would love to do part of central and east Africa but havent researched it tbh.
Your DRC suggestion sounds pretty wild, I would certainly be interested. Having read the suggested thread from Titbird, it appears to be a crazy place. I wonder if being on a motorcycle brings less attention ?

I will be on a XT600E, busy prepping it. I have 5 months for the trip. Can you speak French ? - that is my major short fall, I cant.

I see you are in the Sudan currently, where is your bike parked up ?
Let me know your time frame, departure date, route, start, end etc. Similar to you, I am keen to ride with a fellow rider.

Cheers
Steve

[Cam Johnson]

Hi Harry, your route will be a lot of fun however unfortunately, my bike is on the west coast so I won't be able to join you on this trip.

Trichelia, seems like we are headed sort of in the same direction although I was planning to start a few months earlier than you. My bike is parked up in Freetown in Sierra Leone, so I'm tied to go back there as a start point for me. Worthwhile destination in itself by the way.

I had already read the suggested thread about the Belgian couple travels through DRC and hope to do the same in reverse. The way I see it, there would be many advantages to traveling by bike through this area. Not having to dig 2 tonnes of Toyota every 5 minutes is one bonus, with the trade off being even less privacy when stopping in villages.

Having done the east coast route and much of the west coast route, I was keen to link up the two. Luckily the people I work for have operations in DRC, so I wouldn't be 'cold calling', I'll have some kind of contacts throughout the country. My high school French is fairly comical, but it is able to prevent me from starving to death.

My start place will be Freetown. The starting date is very flexible, however I was either going to start before wet season kicks in or wait for next dry. If I wait for the next dry, it may fit in to your plan.

As for a route, I was planning to follow the coast more or less, then head across to the east side exiting out of DRC through Lumbumbashi, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti to Yemen (however recent events in Yemen might mean it gets dropped from the list).

This Africa trip is part of a larger trip that I'm making that is taking me in an Easterly direction for further adventures.

How does that sound to you?
CJ.

[Trichelia]

CJ,
If you were going to hang out until my dates, Id be interested to joining you. Im still am very keen to see parts of Mali, this could be done prior to potentially hooking up. What are the dates you referring to if waiting for the dry season ?
I was initially very keen to see Sierra Leone. The visa fee is quite pricey and that deterred me, however I could certainly add it to the budget or meet you outside. I was in Ghana for Christmas this past year but could pop through again, plenty I didnt get to see. With respect to DRC, the pics looked fantastic, the stories horrific, but the trip would make for fantastic conversation ! - I would be keen.

I would prob travel as far as Zambia with you, from there Id do Malawi, then head on south.

Im on an XT600E, top (comfortable) speed of +- 60mph. Im not in a rush and dont want to charge my way down Africa. Same agenda as you ?

I am unable to travel earlier as my wife and I will be doing a few months back-packing though the US, China and SE Asia before I arrive back in the UK 1 October (when she heads off to Auz and NZ).

Let me know your thoughs, could be possible ?

By the way, what are you doing in Sudan ? - I have a mate there, working for the UN I think, or some NGO as a nurse.

SM

[mus]

I am planning to head down the west africa route mid october , perhaps spend the night in Rabat sometime in the second half of october, need to get Mauritanian visa there . What day do you think you ll cross over from Algerciras ? we could ride toguether for a while , i m riding a GS , I am planning to get to SA by mid january though...

[silverback001]

Hi guys,

I left UK about a month ago, and am currently in Gambia. Am probably going to start heading east soon - Mali, B-Fasso etc. Hoping for CT around end Jan/Feb. Let me know how you progress, I'm going slow and steady, might meet along the way.

Henri

[mus]

Hi Cam , doing the crossing in Algerciras , the 25th of October , will stop in Rabat to get my visa for Mauritania , and then head south , perhaps spend a couple of days in Dakhla to do a liitle bit of kite surf , and then expect to hit the Mauritania border very early days of November . From there , I am very flexible . wouldn't want to do Central/West Africa by my self so will wait and hook up with people . Do you have an estimated date of departure ?
Luis

[Cam Johnson]

Trichelia & Fokke,
If by some incredible misfortune of navigation you end up in Libya, come and say hi. However, that's not really an invitation as I don't recommend independent travel here at the moment. Give it a month or two.

@mus, sorry bro, pulled out of this trip but Trichelia & Fokke are the guys to hook up with and are already on the road.

Safe travels boys.
CJ.

[bright eyes]

Hello sorry to intrude on this thread but im looking to educated myself on a few things and if you don't ask questions well you never know. I'm thinking about driving from London to Cameroon in a car maybe further probably next year now. Vehicle taking a little micra/panda or maybe a 4x4 and allow 4-5 weeks in total. Along the lines of London-Spain-Morocco-Sahara or Algeria-Mauritania-Mali-Burkina Faso-Benin-Nigeria-Cameroon. What i need advice on is how safe are these countries for foreigners at the minute. I'm not talking about local bandits serious stuff like kidnappings etc. The cost of visas and do you get them 3 months before travel or best at the borders. I have no idea about carnets can someone enlighten me. Final thing if i reach the finishing line i wanna sell the car to some locals or give to charity and fly back home how can i do it without paying importation tax. Any advice will be most appreciated.

[Laas]

Hello Mus, I'm currently in Granada for a few days, will be in Algeciras around 21th of October, I need to visit Rabat too for a Mauretanian visa. Next countries: Senegal - Mali -Burkina faso - Ghana ( plan is around christmas ) - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroon - ?

I am riding a Yamaha TTRE 600, would be nice to hook up in Morocco, see ya and save travels, Laas

Ps: other details : male, 37 years old and from Holland

[Aidjay]

Hey Laas,
Caught your comment on our website when you spotted our bikes in Rabat, thanks for that.
We're heading straight south to Mauritania looking to cross the border around the 30th Oct. We will then press on to Mali and Burkina Faso as we have to be in Accra before Nov 22. We'll be there for a week while I fly out to SA for a wedding, before carrying on down south. But stay in touch maybe we can meet up en route.

Adrian

[Cam Johnson]

Hi Trichelia & Fokke,
Where are you guys now?
CJ.