From North too Cameroon
 

Hi,

We are a couple planning to drive from Copenhagen (Denmark) to Douala (Cameroon) in an old heavy-duty truck.

Even we have been reading all relevant post in this forum, Chris Scott’s books/homepage and what we have been able to find, but we are still thinking about the route to take.

Our priorities are:

1) Get as little bureaucracy trouble as possible (borders, guides…).
2) Get as much adventure, scenery and contact to local people as possible.

We have thought of 2 routes (any other suggestions?).

1) Going through Libya (possibly coming from Tunisia), Chat and down Cameroon from the North.
2) Going through Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chat and down Cameroon from the North.

Ad1) After reading at this forum it seems a lot of hazel to go through Libya. It seems very expensive to hire a guide and uncomfortable to be forced to have a person with you all the time. Is there any way to get around this? Like hiring a truck driver to drive for you? Or just being a truck driver yourself to drive the truck to Cameroon and thereby not being a tourist?

Ad2) One country/border more, it seems a more well travelled route and not as beautiful. Is it easy to get trough the borders? Is it a lot off trouble to get in to Chat and around Lake Chat? We don’t need a Carnet de Passage?

Which ferry is preferable? We are looking for the cheapest that take trucks.

Any additional information and suggestions are welcome, thanks!!

Sincerely,

Ana and Brian

In regards to your first proposed route, going from Libya direct into Chad is supposed to be very difficult and also potentially quite dangerous.

In regards to the second route going round Lake Chad is fairly easy. The tracks are fairly poor and you need to allow 3 - 4 days. However the Chadanians in general seem to be fairly hostile. Lots of travellers including ourselves got robbed in Chad. Its a good idea to keep out of the villages where possible.