Distance UK to Cape Town

[uk_vette]

Hello fellow overlanders,
Can anyone please put a figure on the distance from U.K. to C.T.
Assuming one sticks pretty much to the standard route, with not to much deviation to towns and villages that are not on the route.

I gave tried to use Google maps, but it says there is no route possible. ?

Perhaps I will have to break it up into separate segments?

Also is there a short route, or is the East coast of Africa a similar distance to the West coast of Africa.

Graham

[juddadredd]

Think Long Way Down stated it was 15,000+ miles on their new trip but I can't remember for sure.

[luangwablondes]

IF you have Google Earth and a fast connection, I believe you can zoom in and out and measure the routes seen on the Tracks4Africa layer.

[backofbeyond]

Just to update Juddadredd's reply, Long Way Down say in the book they covered 14,600 miles but that was from John O'Groats. They recorded the distance from there to London as 896 miles so take off whatever portion of that applies to wherever you're starting from.

[Surfer]

I think we did 40000km's + but we went through europe first. Also the distance will pend on the amount of sight seeing u do. And it ads up very quickly! very!

So take extra dollars for fuel.

[danward79]

We have estimated our trip at 25000km, for our budget, but will probably be more!

[uk_vette]

thank you to all who replied, on the answers given, I estimate the rough distance from the Manchester area UK down to Cape Town will be around 14200miles.

We are now considering when to leave, and mid 2009 looks good.

Quite which route we take is no where near being confirmed.

We would like the East coast of Africa, which would take in Egypt, then we would like the west coast also, to take in Luanda, and South West Africa,.

Opinions please, good, bad, indifferent !!??

[danward79]

Before you decide on a date for leaving I would look at the climate in each country you plan on travelling thru.

Some become impassable at certain times of the year, i.e. when wet.

[onlyMark]

Before you decide which side to take have a look at what deposit you need for a carnet valid for Egypt as opposed to the west side.

[jeff_watts]

its a good point that mark makes about the cost of a carnet and dont forget the cost of visas..but both routes are totaly possible (even without a back up of 4 vehicles and a office full of staff in the uk)..

first get your vehicle and keep asking questions!!!

good luck

jeff

Gone wandering

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by luangwablondes

IF you have Google Earth and a fast connection, I believe you can zoom in and out and measure the routes seen on the Tracks4Africa layer.

Way off topic, but how do you get that layer on basic Google Earth? - I'm a newbie to Google E, you can tell!

Thanks,

[luangwablondes]

On the left you have 3 sections. Search, Places and Layers. Open Layers up.
Open Featured Content.
Find Tracks4Africa and check that box or if it is too busy for you, open that section up and check T4A Roads.

Tracks4Africa is evolving with GE, and you should see more information in the future appearing on this layer. The Zambia downloads I have on my site, I suspect a few of those will be a part someday. luangwablondes | A guide for the overseas self drive, self sufficient, vehicle dependent visitor in Africa
Plus many I have yet to put up.

[Surfer]

i have a weather planner. send me ur email and i will send it to u. have some other useful odds too if u want them.

egypt! make sure the carnet is in your name and the car papers too. no match no entry.

[uk_vette]

Hello Surfer.

I have now got a 2005 Land Cruiser.

I don't have any fixed plans yet, it is still being debated and talked about.

As time going down would be at a premium, I am starting to look at the East coast.

I had planed to sell the LC in CPT, as we are SA residents, however, we may just drive back on the other coast to what we came down on, if that makes sense?

How long would it take to drive down, the shortest route, not stopping to fanny about, as this would be done in plenty on the return..



graham

[Bundubasher]

A real thumbsuck would be 20000km for the westerley route with a 20% variation for not being a crow.