Capetown to Europe
 

Hi all,

After having travelled around the world a fair amount, I have decided that it is time for a real adventure. I am ditching dodgy buses, and opting for independence in a challenging environment: riding in Africa.

I am planning a trip from Capetown to Europe (don't know where yet -- either Sweden or France) early next year. I have been doing quite a bit of research, on this great site, on travelogues, in guidebooks, and in Chris Scott's adventure motorcycling handbook, all of them making me want to this trip even more.

I was thinking of taking the East route, hoping that I will be able to get a visa for Sudan, and thinking that it is probably a little more reasonable than going West for my first motorcycling adventure.

I have a few questions:

I want to buy a bike (well two since I am going with a friend) in Capetown. I have a rather small budget (I'm a student), and I am pretty open minded as to what i'd be getting, as long it is reliable and can carry me and my bags. Any problems/recommendations? What should I expect to pay?

Any visa issues?

Anything I should really see?

I am an avid hiker, and East Africa seems to have some awesome trails. Any recommendations?

Anything else?

thanks
Albert

Me and my friend are also planning a trip from Europe to Congo. After a lot of seeking wich bike would be good for this trip, we have decided (and already bought) a yamaha xt600. Why? A reliable brand wich is easy to handle, one-cilinder air cooled. It is a endurocrosser, so it rides well on both road and offroad. There are also many accesoires on the market, like a bigger tank, a windshield, an oiltemperaturething,...
+ it isn't expensive (if you compare it to other brands)
On this board there's also a nice topic on the xt600.
Succes

did you end up doing the trip posted on hubb? im about to fly to SA after completing s america. looking for good beta...