To Nigeria and back in 2 months

[Zoltar14]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and I don't know about any previous threads about this trip.
I'm planning to travel from Ceuta to Laayune, Atar, Nema, Timbuctu, Gao, Niamey and then into Nigeria.
Does anybody have experience with that, or part of that trip?
Will I encounter problems in Spanish Sahara, or will I be ok?
What's the condition of the roads/tracks there?
Is my plan (to southeast Nigeria and back in 2 months) a crazy one or is it possible? I'm not into sight seeing, I just want to visit some people in Calabar.
I'm preparing an XT 600 and I will leave by the end of June 2008.
I have been to Nigeria twice (by air), so you don't have to warn me about the Nigerian ways.
I'm hoping to see some response from people who've been there/done that.
Zoltar

[Peter King]

Hi Zoltar,

I have planned trip England to Tema (Ghana) by vehicle (?Landrover Discovery) taking 22 days including 4 days off. but from Laayoune due south to Mauritanian border and new road to Nouakchott, then south to Rosso and East/SE in Senegal to Kidara. Into Mali to Kayes, new road to Bamako, then Segou, Kotiala, Bobo Dioulasso and into Ghana. I know Tema - Calabar probably three days max so not a lot of time there if you have only two months. Since you are interested in speed, not sight-seeing, recommend this route but possibly via Ouagadougou and then into Benin and Nigeria.

Good Luck!

Peter

[Robbert]

I guess it's possible, but a stretch, and there's very little time for things not to go according plan (breaking down, forgot to get that visa and need to ride three days back, ...). Off course, Calabar is at the 'wrong' side of Nigeria. And it's a long way... . How long do you want to visit in Calabar?


There's nothing to really worry about on that route except Cote d'ivoir and the Niger Delta, and potentially the need for a Carnet if you want to ride trough Senegal.

[Zoltar14]

Thanks for the replies.
I have been to Calabar twice (by air) and I just wanna say hi to some people. Then back to Europe the next day or so.
I know I will have to plan everything almost perfect (visa, carnet).
I'll leave home (Holland) by the end of June.

[Peter King]

Now you mention your planned date it is more important to keep to tarmac as much as possible (suggest use ferry at Rosso rather than piste west to the Barrage Maka Diama).

Hope it all goes well,

Peter

[hopperzuiger]

Drove down to Cotonou in 2005, left Holland in July, and drove to Cotonou in 17 days doing 9000 + kms, doing the beach route in Mauri, 2 days in Dogon, and 2 days stuck in Penjari in North Benin. We did route d'espoir, nioro, bamako, bobo, ouga, and down into benin.

The stretches to drive are long, but absolutely do-able. These days all is tarmac, just make sure you get your visa's (multiple, as your going back) arranged in advance and do a pre-check of your car. Good luck!

Furthermore just back from a trip to southern senegal, with approximatly 20000 kms in just 7 weeks.

Good luck!

Tammo

[Zoltar14]

Thanks again for the replies.
I will be travelling by motorcycle and since most of the trip will be on tarmac I won't fit sandtyres. They'll wear too quickly. Just all-road tyres will do, won't they? For the return trip I might go straight north into Algeria (Tamanghasset) and for that I'll need the sandtyres anyway. So now I'm thinking about bringing them along all the way down and fit them in Niger.
Do I really have to pre-arrange all my visa? I keep reading about people who arrange transit visa on the border or in the capital of the country they are leaving.
Does anybody know where to find recent pictures of the roads in Morocco, Mauritania and Mali?
When I read about these trips, the "carnet" doesn't seem to be all that important unless you go into Senegal. Is that right?

[Peter King]

Regarding visas better to get them beforehand (and for multiple entry if you intend returning through that country). If you delay till capital of country before it is certain to be weekend, national holiday, just run out of forms or other reasons that may delay you several days.

Regarding carnet, while you can enter Mauritanania and Senegal without, if bike is less than 5 years old it is also possible (see Mali country info page) to buy Laisser Passer and Insurance at border valid in all CFA countries. That leaves you Nigeria. I know Ghana insists on Carnet and, being another Commonwealth country Nigeria may be same, ask your friends at Calabar to check with Abuja.

Tot siens!

Peter

[yorks-lad]

Zoltar14,

We are planning a similar trip but from Manchester stopping in Abuja, its about 6500km in total, we are hoping to do it in 8-10 days and spending about a fortnight and returning back to Manchester.

Our route are as follows: Manchester-Dover-Calais-across France & Spain to Algeciras-Tangier across Morrocco-Dakhla-Noudibou-Noukshot-Aleg-Kiffa-Ayoun-Nioro-Bamako-Ougadogou-Niamey-Sokoto-Abuja.

You should be fine, riding on to Calabar from Abuja. From Abuja head towards Makurdi down to Enugu and then to Calabar, may be 12-15 hrs from Abuja maximum.

[Zoltar14]

When will you be travelling?
I don't think we'll take the same route since I want to see Timbuctu.
Are you buying a carnet or just travel without, because many people say it's not needed anymore.
I remember getting my Nigerian visa 10 years ago from the embassy in The Hague, it was a disaster. Will I be able to get my visa on the Niger-Nigeria border or should I just get them before I leave? An invitation shouldn't be a problem, I know many people down there, but I wanna surprise them.

[airamerica]

I like that to! How safe is to come back home, trough Nigeria and Algeria?

[Zoltar14]

Personally I'm ok with Nigeria, but I don't know a lot about Algeria (safetywise). I prefer to return through Algeria, but it depends on how much time I have left and the condition of my bike/tyres.