Dangers from wild animals to the motorcyclist (Africa)
 

I and my wife :mchappy:are going to do a long trip on a single motorcycle from Cairo to cape town and back. How likely is it that we could encounter some :oops2:dangerous wild animals (lions, leopards, Elephants, Rhino and buffalo) on our motorcycle route apart from the game reserve area. How could we :confused1:defend if we encounter some:taz:muggers? Are we allowed to keep some arms or weapons? What are the charges or punishment for if we ran over some minor wild animals? Has motorcyclist encountered such situation in Africa? Thank you.

Africa is densely populated, especially along the roads. This means:

a) you shouldn't worry too much about a lion chasing your motorbike - he is more likely to eat one of the several hundred pedestrians around and save himself the effort,

b) you are many times more likely to hit a person than a wild animal.

There are only a handful of places where you are likely to encounter potentially dangerous animals on a public road. With very few exceptions you won't be allowed into game reserves on a bike (though there are a few where a main road transects them eg Mikumi in Tanzania, Kafue in Zambia and Chobe in Botswana). Just keep your distance and be prepared to move away if they come towards you. Be wary of elephants in particular - they have impressive acceleration.

African roads are full of hazards, wrecked trucks, potholes, donkeys, goats but probably the biggest hazard is people. You need to ride/drive defensively all the time. If you are unlucky enough to hit something whether it be livestock or (heaven forbid) a person then yes you may have real difficulties with the local people/law. Try your very hardest to ensure this never happens.

No you can't carry a gun and attempting to use any weapon risks making an unpleasant situation into a very dangerous one. But you won't need to anyway. There is really no more need to arm yourself than there is driving around in your home country.

Hi,

If you are lucky you will see Monkeys and Zebras in Ethiopia and Kenia. In Tansania the main road is crossing the Mikumi National Park were i saw girafes and had to stop for an Elefant in front of me:

Adventure Motorbike expedition through africa - Transafrika part 1


As i said you will be lucky if you see some because usuarly they go away if they hear people. I would not take any weapons. You dont know how to really fight and will not find them if you need them. When i gay pointed his machine gun to me it helped me to be friendly and pretend not to understand him / be stupid.
The chance to run over "normal" animales like cows or even people are much higher so take it easy specialy during the night.


Enjoy it, Tobi

Mini bus taxis, trucks, kids, donkeys, dogs and goats are a much bigger hazard. Antelopes are a nuisance as they are bloody quick, as are ostriches. I've come across ellies on several occasions and stopped at a respectful distance if they look as though they are going to cross the road. Hit anything bigger than a cat and the animal will be the least of your worries. Go easy and be prepared for the unexpected.

Guns? Madness. Who are you, John McClane?:rolleyes2:

Thanks
 

@ Reggie3cl, tobi and Itchy feet 38, thank you very very much for this useful information. Obliged to you guys. Now, I can show this reply to convince my wife that we don't need to bring our huge 4x4 vehicle for only two of us that motorbike is okay and we don't need to worry much. We are looking forward to doing this adventure. Thank you again. :clap::smiliex:

I did see a few of the smaller wild animals on my trip, jackals, warthog, zebra, but never felt in any danger from them on my bike, this was the only creature which did concern me as it was under my sleeping matt when I camped under the stars near Wadi Halfa, after that I always used my tent.

http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/O.../0/M/036-M.jpg

There are loads of ride reports here and on advrider.com as well as loads of books on the subject to show your missus. Be sensible about where you camp, take local advice about dodgy areas when you are in larger towns and cities and don't ride at night. Just about all the people I've ever encountered in Africa were very friendly and often interested in our travels.

In my experience making sure your pillion is comfortable is the most important thing. A big GS* and lightweight riding gear with lots of vents and a Camelback go a long way in this respect.:innocent:

*I'm not very hardcore...

I had my tent surrounded by about 20 Hippos one night in Kenya. I camped too close to the lake lol. I couldn't get out my tent until morning and I was dying for a piss...

Elephants can block roads when you drive through some parks. Just give them A LOT of space and they will move when they see you.... Probably ;)

There is really nothing to be scared of. There are people EVERYWHERE in Africa. Animals don't like people.

You're more likely to hit a pedestrian than an animal.

The locals are only used to slow moving small bikes.

Ted, they were looking for you during the day as well......
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...s/roberts1.JPG

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...s/roberts2.JPG

When DID you get out of the tent??? :cool4:

Me, they were munching grass 10 inches from my right shoulder one night. What entertainment!!! :thumbup1:

Sureis, visit Robert's Camp, Lake Boringo. (N. Kenya). You won't be disappointed.
It's all there to be enjoyed. :funmeteryes:

I had to wait until about 7am... BURSTING I was lol.

They are the most dangerous animals in Africa though. Far more likely to attack and kill you than lions and Hyena etc.

Good times though :)

Riding in botswana now
 

Yesterday we rode south from zambia through chobe np. 50 plus elephants on the road over 300 km, fantastic. Just stay your distance and enjoy. Goats, cows and stray kids are more likely to bring you down. Do not carry a weapon, that is asking for trouble. Happy travels Brian

Africa
 

My wife and I just completed our Cairo to Capetown, we loved every bit of it.
Elephants are fine if you give them space as with all the Baboons etc. We did have a couple of run ins with Lions tho that was not fun. If you ride to Mweya in Uganda you will see them for sure, we camped at No. 2 campsite and the lions decided around midnight to camp with us. We stayed in our tent & did not move (or Breath till morning) when they had gone. Uganda you seem to be able to ride thru any park you want. Lake Baringo (Kenya) will have hippos around your tent, I think they are that used to campers that they enjoy scaring the crap out of you by eating very close to your tent. Chobe & Moremi you can not ride thru, but if you hire a vehicle to do these two parks ! don't make the same mistake we did by just using our ground tent, get a roof top one as we had more Lions & Hyenas around, one Lion actually growled at us 3 times as we had a tent with a big open window and we had the light on & every time we stood up to turn it off the bloody thing would growl at us eroding 5 yrs per growl off our lives, the 3rd attempt I got it off & eventually they moved on. Then two nights later we were woken but a bloody huge roar at 2am and then the zebra's nearly run over our tent making there getaway, we did not know weather to make a dash & run with Zebra's or discreetly try and get into the car at 90mph. Or just freeze (which we did) I looked at my wife whose heart was beating so fast her chest was nearly touching the roof of the tent & thats saying something as she is flatter than a McDonalds Coke.
But you will enjoy & will look back and Laugh.
It's great to be alive & travelling on a bike.
Cheers
Paul