Africa West Route Cameroun-Gabon-DRC-Angola
 

To anybody who has done this route recently; If we plan to do it with a TLC 4x4 would you recommend to fit a winch on the car? If we will do this route we will try to avoid the rainy seasons but you never know.... Hense my question!

Thanks in advance,

Noel

We did it last year in the rainy season. We had a winch but didn't use it. If you are travelling with another vehicle, the winch is not needed. If you are on your own, you might need one. I can only speak from our experience, and we didn't need one.

cheers

Graham
www.africaoverland.org

Hi Graham,

Thank for the reply. My question now is... did you travel with another vehicle or on your own?

Cheers,

Noel

I did this route last year with a LR disco. Didn't got stuck (had to reverse out a few times in the dessert, but that's not really stuck is it?).

I think if you have something like a high-lift kind of devise, sand plates, a tow rope and a shovel, you're pretty much set. If you want more, I would consider such a cheap hand winch. Not as fancy, but surely makes you feel macho.

Hi Noel,

currently in Luanda, having passed the route you're contemplating in the last couple of weeks.

It was the start of the rainy season in Cameroon but not too wet. The roads have been improved massively in the last year, though we did slide into a ditch and needed to be pulled out by 7 locals... I'd say there's no need for the weight or expense of a winch but that's up to you - they do look good...

Ben

Noel,

When we went through Gabon/Congo/Congo and Angola we were with 4 other cars, so quite a large group. 3 Defender 110s (2 with winches) 1 6x6 Pinzgauer and 1 78 series TLC (with winch). Used 1 winch 1 time to pull a local out of a mud pit.

cheers

Graham
www.africaoverland.org

OK, that is clear enough to me. Eliminates another dilemma. Won't get a winch and will do with the Trifor that i have.

Thanks everone!

Noel

Hi,
we have done this trip just a few months ago!
You can rad the story at our homepage under www.motorradnomaden.de
there click "Reisetagebuch"!

A friend of us came also down this route and drove alone on a VW transporter without 4WD and much specials!!!!


------------------
Best wishes
:-)
RalEva

http://www.Motorradnomaden.de
around the world on 2 motorcycles

The homepage has a translation service!!

Although this thread would seem to indicate that driving down through the Congo's and Angola is doable, we are planning to ship our vehicle from Cameroon to Namibia. Does anyone have experience with this? I've posed the question in a new thread so please reply to: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000343.html

Hi Redhouse,

Why do you want to ship? Would like to discus. You can contact me via our web-log
www.exploreafrica.web-log.nl

cheers,

Noel

Hi Redhouse,

i completely agree with Noel. We drove our two wheel drive van through the Congo's and Angola just two months ago. Except for the muddy Muanda to Boma piste in DR Congo we didn't have any real problems.
Most people seem to worry about safety, but we didn't feel this stretch of our trip was less safe than for example Cameroon or our stay now in South Africa.
Save yourself a lot of money and shipping hassle and just drive on. We found especially Angola to be a very nice surprise.
Whatever you do, enjoy it,

Koen

Hi Koen,

Can you tell me which route or road you took from Gabon to Congo Brazzaville, DRC and Angola ? Or which border crossings?

Thanks,

Noel

Hi Noel and Koen,

OK, to explain you the situation: If I had the time I would be willing to try Cameroon->Namibia overland. But unfortunately I do not, so my trip will end in Cameroon.
My sister and her boyfriend would like to take over our vehicle but they are less experienced travellers and are not keen on starting their trip in the Congo's. They would like to drive through Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi or something similar.
So there, that's the story and the reason I'm looking to ship the vehicle to Namibia.
But thanks for your help and to repeat: If I had the opportunity I would like to drive down.
Just out of curiosty: If you were in a hurry, how quickly could you drive from say Douala to Windhoek?

Thanks,
Michiel.

PS: Noel, I will contact you also on your weblog.

I would say it's doable in 2weeks, depending on how long it takes to get the visa. (Gabon, Congo B and DRC can be done in 24hr in Yaounde if you pick the right order), I got my Angolan visum the same day in Pointe Noir, and same in Matadi, but had to wait a few days because of holidays and weekends on both occasions.

except from visa, following is possible
1 day to Yaounday, 1day to pik up visa
Gabon 2 days (unless road is blocked due to landslide...)
Congo B 3days
Cabinda 1 day
DRC 2 days
Angola 5 days
1 day to Windhoek.
Let's say another 3 days for the Angolan visa, and you'll be very happy to be in windhoek and get some sleep...

OK, maybe we could consider driving through, at least it sounds very interesting.

However: We would then be likely to do this in February. I believe this is very much the rainy season down there. So does anybody have any experience with doing Gabon-Congos-Angola in February? We are just a single vehicle and have no winch mounted (I could buy a hand winch).

Thanks!