Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > sub-Saharan Africa
sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 1 Feb 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: on my GS
Posts: 5
Getting a bike drivers licence in Southern Africa on Tourist Visa

We are travelling on one motorbike through Africa, presently in Malawi. The plan is to travel up on the Westcoast on two bikes. But for that, I would need to make also a drivers licence for motorbikes - presently I have one for driving cars and small trucks, issued in Germany.

The questions are now:
- Is there a way to make a drivers licence in Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa or Namibia on a tourist visa?
- What are the requirements to pass the motorcycle licence to drive a 650cc?
- How much time is needed, to go through the process?
- What are the steps to get there? - Where do I have to start?

We are presently in Blantyre - and will next go to Mozambique - any help is highly apprechiated...

My details are: Nina - German nationality
Car driving licence since: 1998 - Germany

Thank you for all help

Nina
Willkommen auf Ninas und Toms Reiseseite
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: South Africa
Posts: 162
I believe you can do this in South Africa:

Firstly, you need a "Traffic number" which is something any foreigner gets when wanting to buy a vehicle or get a license in South Africa. You get this from any traffic office. I assume you will enter South Africa at Nelspruit (Komatie Poort) and that would be a good place to start.

Once you have this number (I believe you can get this on the same day) you have to make an apointment to write a learner's driver exam and have an eye test done. This is going to be the hard part. The best is to ask someone to write you letter stating that you need this licence urgently to enable you to do some work for them. Take that letter to a driving school and ask their advice. You can often get an apointment in the same week for this.

With a learners licence you will be allowed to ride a bike legally with some restrictions.

Getting an apointment to take the drivers licence test will be the next hard part. Again, the smaller the town, and the friendlier the driving/riding school, the easiert his will be.

So my advice: Get to Nelspruit and ask at back packers for some direction. Perhaps spend a week in Kruger National park while waiting for apointments etc. Once you have your learner's permid, you can carry on touring, but you'll have to stop for another week or 2 somewhere to have time to do the Licence test.
__________________
Dawie du Plessis
www.pictureafrica.org
www.photographersa.co.za
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 334
I think you can get away without driver license at all. In South Africa, for instance, I produced my Spanish ID and they didn´t notice It was not a driver license.

Read this post of one of my blogs. I crossed Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Acerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, both Cyprus, Greece and Italy with a fake driver license. It was written by biro and it worked even in the Israeli customs.

Marenostrum Trip: Riding the world without driver license
__________________
www.miquelsilvestre.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: South Africa
Posts: 162
I think it's irresponsible to advocate riding without a license or with a fake one. If you are in an accident and you do not have a valid drivers license, the accident automatically becomes 100% your fault.

No imagine get hit by a Ferrari F50 in Cape Town. Not your fault, but if you did not have a license, you will be liable for damages.

IMHO
__________________
Dawie du Plessis
www.pictureafrica.org
www.photographersa.co.za
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 334
I agree. It is irresponsible. So what?
__________________
www.miquelsilvestre.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Madrid , Spain
Posts: 239
well , I rode all the way Spain to Capetown and then again from Spain to Luanda on a bike and never -ever- was asked for a driving license . That was on a XL600 and DR650 .

I got the impression that motorcycles don't require driving licenses in the West coast . I was never even asked for the insurance -indeed I could not even buy insurance for a bike.

-of course , no mention of carnet - . I travelled all the way south by showing the passavant thing (I mean a single one -issued in Chad - ) , getting stamped In/Out in every country .-I mean the same piece of paper for every country - issued in Chad (???) , as If It were a carnet- until I physically run out of space for more stamps in which a white piece of A4 paper was added ,
and then they kept stamping it happily.

Of course SouthAfrica is different.There I was asked for license -upon entry- and as the previous poster I produced my Spanish ID card (which looks exactly the same as the driving license ) . Indeed not sure if they are not the same at all , as the licensing status is kept on the police's side computers, not in the card itself , so no trivial way to check it.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12 Feb 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: france
Posts: 109
Hello there,

I'm South African, but haven't lived there for the past 16 years. If I were you, (knowing South Africa), If you made a small effort:
exemple:
If you had an international driving license that was up to date, which can be issued by the AA. You might be able to get away without having a bike license. You might even be able to get the bike license mentioned just for the time you're there, (visas will prove this) on your AA international drivers license, having a truck license and all, it's worth a shot.

If you've got personal insurance for your being, that too should help you out of a sticky situation.

I understand for some, Africa is one big open land and you can just ride until the sun goes down. I've done the west coast many a time, and even though the people can be and are, very friendly, if they've got a road block going, which can be quite regular, you'll have to go through it.

Just my thoughts, as they say, better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck.
but you'll have a ball.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12 Feb 2010
Vaufi's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
Posts: 1,046
I wouldn't rely on my foreign id-card, even if you managed to link the police... Not all of them are as dense as that. I got stopped several times during my visits for different reasons - road blocks, overtaking where I shouldn't etc. Every time the police insisted on seeing both documents: my local (german) licence plus the international drivers license.

Besides that, like Freeflyd I consider fake documents irresponsible as well. In the case of an accident things may well turn out horrible for you...
__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Need info on American drivers licence (americans read this please) peter-denmark Trip Paperwork 10 28 Mar 2008 01:21
No tiene Internation Drivers Licence- Problemo? MikeS Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 8 26 May 2007 01:51
gaining a drivers licence abroad funkyorange Trip Paperwork 6 22 Mar 2006 02:19
Int Drivers Licence Richard Washington North Africa 3 22 Nov 2005 18:35
Forge a drivers licence ? niels Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 14 19 Oct 2005 01:56

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 17:54.