Hi All,

I am planning a trip from Dublin, Ireland to Cape Town for late next year when all this Covid madness has hopefully resolved itself.

I am planning to drive my Land Rover Defender 90, and take 3-4 months.

I have traveled in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania but the rest of East Africa is a bit of an unknown.

Has anyone who has done this trip share their itinerary or route plan with me?

of course if does necessarily need to start in Dublin, anywhere in Europe would work.

thanks

Ger

We may be able to help, or at least offer food for thought, for the bit from Kenya south. We drove from Nairobi to Cape Town and back in 10 months. Although your trip will be quite different from ours, it may be helpful for you to consider your route, in terms of places which might be worth including, and also our experience on the road.

We travelled from Nairobi to Livingstone as efficiently as possible, having to arrive in RSA as early as possible since the visa had an end date. We then slowed down and spent some time in Livingstone and then Zimbabwe before entering RSA. We also had visa limitations for Namibia and Botswana however were able to manage these without significant impact (Botswana was very negative and we were not able to follow our original plan which was to enter Botswana twice - once heading south and once returning northwards). We then spent (more or less) 6 weeks in RSA, a month each in Namibia and Botswana, a month in Zambia, 3 weeks in Malawi, 6 weeks in Tanzania, 3 weeks in Rwanda, a month in Uganda, and the rest in Kenya.

Some thoughts:

Make sure you visit Lakeshore Lodge in Tanzania, McBrides’ Camp in Zambia, and Barnley’s Guest House in Kenya.

If I were you, and I’m assuming that your time in Kenya and Tanzania has taken you to the “usual suspects”, I think I’d seek to visit Western Kenya, including Lake Turkana, a bit of Uganda, Rwanda, Western Tanzania, then Zambia, including Kasanka (which you’ll pass closely) and Kafue, then head to Victoria Falls, Chobe, Moremi/Okavango, then Namibia (Etosha), and south into RSA, stopping at RIchtersveld on the way to Cape Town.

I iniitally thought of routing to include Malawi and other places in the other countries, however with 3-4 months the route suggested may not be feasible without adding more.

Have a look at https://unochoenafrica.blogspot.com for ideas (most posts are in both English and Spanish, alternating paragraphs).

I hope next year is travelling possible again!



Here you find the most recent Transafrica`s over the west (ongoing)
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/04/...westroute.html

Here the most recent Transafricas over the east
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/03/...-ostroute.html

Hope that helps a bit, and gives you probably some informations specially over the Israel/egypt Border options..

I did the westroute in 2 months at 2012 - it is always better to have more time, but - better shorter than not doing it...

I suggest to plan further - but guess that after covid severall stuff has to be "tryed" again...

Surfy

__________________
About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Overlanding West Africa & Morocco and Overlanding Africa groups on facebook for the most upto date information.

With the current situation changing fast its better to have up to date info than old tales from months or years ago

I’m planning a circumnavigation of Africa, following the route of these 2 chaps, in 2023/4:
https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...ighlight=Gaels
https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...highlight=Gael
Please post up a ride report, if you go ahead. I’d be interested to see if it’s possible to go down the west side to RSA in 3/4 months. That would mean, if we left UK in December, it’s the dry season in West Africa till April. Then spend a couple of months in Southern Africa, again in the dry season, then follow the dry season up the east side.
I know there’s lots of advantages to travelling in the wetter months (animals and flora) but my wife just doesn’t like riding in mud and, to be honest, I’m not that keen either.
Good luck with your planning and trip

Hi,

If general conditions* will allow, this would be more or less my destination and time frame as well. All still written in the stars. I´ve registered here 6 years ago for planning this trip and there always has been some sort of no-go...Ebola, BokoHaram, stupid jobs and now Covid. I´d be happy to share and discuss anyone´s plans.

I´ve considered the western route, because down the east coast seems to be very difficult and expensive to set foot and tires on the African continent. Shipping horror via Alexandria wants to be avoided and shipping via Israel seems to be very limited as well. Also entering the Sinai by 4x4. Many travelers skip that part by directly shipping into Kenia. But that´s not what I´m thinking of a road trip. Kenia - Europe could be an option for a possible way back at the end of the trip.

So entering Africa via Morrocco, deciding sub-sahara where to continue, going by a "less money & time wasted while visa on the go"-strategy. Applying for visa upfront as far as possible is also worth looking into. Not sure yet about options and time limits. Political, pandemical and security issues causing detours not yet predictable, too.

Early to mid September seems to me a good starting point. I´d come from Germany via France towards Tarifa, Spain. I know a passionate Land Rover workshop in the hills over Tarifa where I´d like to pull in for a last check after a Pyrenees loop and before entering Africa. Good chances to meet for a sundowner at Bar Polideportivo, Tarifa, early September. Arriving well before Christmas in Cape Town is key.

Whether I´ll return the car by shipping or driving is not yet sorted out. SA (Cape Town, Walvisbay, Port Elisabeth) towards western Europe (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg) or Kenia towards south east Europe is considered. Container shares welcome. But leaving my car at friend´s places in Namibia, Capetown or Mozambique could be an option, if carnet situation allows.

Going in a slightly tuned Land Rover 109 at a trucking speed of 80-90km/h on tarmac. Daily legs shouldn´t max 500km average. Legs Tarifa to Dakar and Namibia to Cape Town will contain stop overs for few days of kitesurfing where windy with swell. Sleeping in the car preferred, which feels more secure in certain places with other cars as company. Occaisionally white blankets and a hot shower for reasonable money in stunning places is budgeted. So who is in to join a group for the dubious bits of the road?

Every input from seasoned travellers which places to visit or which to avoid along this route is highly appreciated. I´ve zigzagged the souther part of the continent, but western Africa is totally new to me.

So long

*Vaccination in Germany is a bit lacking in speed. But chances are good, to receive a shot around August/September. No vaccination, no traveling, I suppose...