What is the best route? Through Egype or Morocco? Also, how many months should be allowed for this portion of the trip, assuming I plan to travel each day (where possible) for 6 to 8 hours? I am in the initial planning stages for this trip but plan to "fast track" and be in Cape Town early next summer. What seasonal weather conditions should I be concerned with? I have no knowledge of Africa (which make the trip all that more exciting) and would welcome any information you can give me.

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1 LIFE

Read a couple of books - Africa by Road (Bradt) and maybe Sahara O for vehicle prep.

Ch

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Adventure Motorcycling Handbook 6 - out now
Morocco II in June

For a light-hearted read, which will also give you an idea of what you are in for try "In Search of Will Carling" - a group of Brits that left UK and headed off in a Series III Land Rover to Cape town for the rugby world cup in 1995. They did the Atlantic route to West Africa (Morocco & Mauritania) and through Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo - a country which may be finally settling down what with Joseph Kabila integrating the rebels into a unified army under his command)to get into East Africa. From Kenya down to South Africa the only potential problem is Zimbabwe where there are currently chronic shortages of fuel and cash (neither of which should be a problem if you carry US dollars).

Assuming your driving a vehicle.

Coming up from South Africa up the East Coast is pretty straight forward up to Sudan. From there, currently heading west is a problem, there is trouble in the western region of Sudan and the border with Chad is closed. These things can change and this may improve but at present its an issue. I'm pretty sure you are noot allowed to cross into Libya although there is usually some German biker who has managed it to disprove the theory. It is an option to head up into Egypt, there are all sorts of hassles, there is a load of paperwork plus you have to get the barge from Wadi halfa to Aswan to cross between Sudan and Egypt. There is a regular passenger ferry but the barge for vehicles is irregular. Another option may be to cross from Saukin to Jeddah in Saudi, get a three day transit visa and head north to Jordan. Its a regular service between Suakin and Jeddan and if you allowed to do it its expensive but cheaper than Egypt.

Heading west, well as mentioned above, the Sudan - Chad border may still be closed. Southern Sudan / eastern Congo into CAR would be hard and a couple of South Africans who have headed through turned back from that route reporting that it looked to dangerous.

The main other route would be to come up from South Africa, Namibia, Angola up the west coast. There seem to be several travellers who have got through on this route recently. Whilst there are security risks - eg landmines in Angola for example its looking better. However it looks like One needs to stick to the west coast. Attempts to cut across the Congo look rather less secure, especially anywhere near Eastern Congo. The French are making some progress in their intervention but no where near enough so far to make it safe.

Alternatively you could go straight across the Congo and open up a new route, depends how adventurous you want to be.

Good luck.

hello lend, have you left yet. the route through saudi sounds good, has anybody managed to actually get a transit visa?
we are due to arrive in cape town mid dec and head north at not a slow pace . is any body about/going the same way.

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Certainly know of some travellers about a year ago who got transit visas. Don't know about more recently.

I tried to get the visa in Khartoum for four weeks in Auf 2002, without luck.