Hi StroppyJoe,
I was in the same situation as you 4 years ago, except that I had a friend lined up to do it with. The problem with people is that circumstances change and sometime through no fault of their own, what they committed to can't be done.
My mate pulled out on me and I made the decision to carry on alone. Of course, at the time there was a war going on Iraq, which made the whole of North Africa very quiet tourismwise, but what better way to be immersed in new cultures than having no-one else to speak to but the locals!

My advice to you, is to go ahead and plan your trip alone. That way you're not relying on anybody but yourself. You;ll meet peopke along the way and then you can make the decision whether you want to travel along together for a while.

I left in early March and it was getting a little hot in southern Egypt and Sudan then, but I got used to it. I had friends do the same trip last year, but a month later.

The only thing I would have done differently if I was to do the trip again would be to have learned some French for North Africa and also to have taken longer/travelled slower.

As far as Kudu goes, if you've got the money and not the time, then why not use/support them?

Good luck all of you with your trip planning.

Geoff

Great to hear there's so many plans out there. I am looking at South Africa down the eastern route next year to celebrate my 40th (leaving May/June). Have down a couple of west coast excursions (Morocco/Mauritana but no further).

Current thinking is Italy, Libya, Egypt, Sudan (or perhaps getting a boat down the Red sea to say Djibouti if overland is a problem), Ethiopa, Kenya & onwards. Does anyone have recent information/advice on this route ? Is it possible to cross Sudan overland these days ?

Always good to travel together. Let me know if you want to catch up. I will keep an eye on your plans via the site.

Best of luck - D.

Now this thread has gone quiet, but my plans are developing by the week. I've handed in my notice and am spending all my hard earned pennies on gear and bike parts. I plan to leave mid Feb and head south.

Now i'm meeting up with the London HU Hubbers on 30th Nov so if anyone wants come down and talk 'Trans Africa' stuff come down. It would be good to compare plans. Maria is organising it the details are below:

Hi London HUBBers!

Trying to get a drink organised on thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...961#post117293

Date: Thursday 30th November

Venue: Duke of Kendall, Marble Arch: http://www.fancyapint.com/main_site/...s/pub1387.html
Address: 38 Connaught Street, W2 2AF - Tube: Marble Arch/Edgware Road/Paddington

From:6:30 - 7pm onward

Everyone welcome!

Let me know if you intend coming so that I have an idea of numbers and can grab a big enough table or zone!

How to recognise us? I will try to sport my HU T-shirt (and I invite you to do so) but if it's too cold we'll have the Mondo Enduro book well in evidence!
See you there!

Maria

__________________
www.onabikeinafrica.blogspot.com

I'm also doing trans africa in April 2007... will be good to meet you guys and share some ideas... see you there on 30th.

Nik

on 30th Maria
see you there
Bert

Hi there - I am leaving March 07 from London heading Libya/Egypt/Sudan/Ethopia etc. Good to hear how your plans are going. I am finding the Libyan & Sudanese visas tricky. Whats your route ?

D.

Tom,

Which route are you taking ?

I want to go via Libya to Egypt but am finding the costs high - particularly because I have told I must have a driver accompaning me in LIbya (at 100 Euros a day!).

Would be good to do the Sudan/Ethopia with others. I am leaving March 1ish. What's your plan ?

Dave.

Will be there early doors - 7ish I think. See you then - Dave.

Hello!
Me myself, a Norwegian, with a Yamaha Tenere 660, gonne leave Tanger going south in the beginning of march.

Greetings
Haakon

__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run

Hi, I'm currently planning a Round the World trip starting Jan 1st 2009 with first stage being Africa - Morocco to Cape Town down the West Side. Have no time restrictions so it isn't a problem but I would like to get a more precise guesstimate of how long it would take. Reading thru the Hubb and other sources seems like 4 - 5 months is about right. Route I'm looking at is:-
Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Cape Town. Anybody got any thoughts/tips on this route, am I being to conservative with the time scale? Any tips on places I shouldn't miss. Anybody else doing any of this at the same time would be glad to hear from you.

__________________
RTW Jan 2009 - Aug 2012. Currently in Europe waiting for the next ride
www.takingthelongwayhome.co.uk

I am a fellow novice who is also as barmy as to attempt their first trip across africa!

I have bought myself a 2005 honda xr650L and i havent even passed my test yet!!

im planning on leaving on for cape town oct 2007 with a loveable but very unreliable friend whos commitment to the trip is questionable to say the least.

For these reasons im looking for another wingman in case the worst comes to the worst and he lets me down.

im a 23 year old chef who enjoys nothing more than working his ass off to be able to afford this trip!!!

i live in glastonbury and fell in love with africa 3 years ago when i worked as a football coach in ghana for 3 months. Ever since ive wanted to go back but for other ventures such as university i havent been able to!

would be good to meet up etc.......exchange notes,plans,routes......

let us know if your up for it,

cheers

Ben

Hi Ben
Im George I was wondering which route your taking to Cape Town east/west? Im 22, like you I fell in love with africa a couple years ago after living with a Kenyan family for a while. I am going down the east coast on my new bike (04 TT600RE). Saving is hard on an apprentiship as im sure you know! but im defently going!
Cheers
George
george_guille@hotmail.com