Info needed for next leg across Africa
 

Hi all,we are currently in St Louis Senegal, heading for Dakar tomorrow as part of our RTW and have a few questions to ask;

1:Me and the wife are travelling on 2 XT600 YAMS, and we will need 2 rear tyres in Dakar, the question is do we get them in Dakar or DHL them from the UK, if from the UK will there be any duty to be payed here, we also need a better map than what we have, any shops in Dakar recomended?

2: after Gambia we are thinking of doing the Koundara to Labe road to get to the chutes du Kinkon, any info appreciated, condition of rd etc

3:Guinee, any problems there? do ATM,s work? hows the camping or are we definately in hotels

We do realise its coming into the rainy season but our itinery means we had to do it now or not at all,

Lastly folks anybody out there want to meet up in Dakar or Gambia for a drink?
We will pick up any replies in Dakar or Gambia over the next week, any info will be gratefully recieved

Pete, how is it, brother?

3 - Guinea atm - back in 2001, there were ATMs in Conakry, but nowhere else. And I had to get my visa in advance from the embassy in Bissau. The backroad dirt run in from Bissua though to Boke is probably the hardest trail I've ever ridden. And the tarmac run up through the highlands to the Mali border is beautiful.

Emailing you now with Dakar details. Keep on keepin on, kids.

Suerte, Dan

Ta Bro
 

Righty ho, we are now goingto try to find the Dunlop dealer we spotted on the way in, the tyre problem is paramount,We can,t move without em:(

Plan B our pals in Aylesbury are threatening us with a visit tomorrow, Amanda says she will bring me 2 tyres:thumbup1:

1. No idea, sorry, but hasn't someone posted about a dealer in Banjul? IGN maps are available in Dakar (the Guinea one is good) but not sure where the shop that does stock them is!

2. That road isn't bad apparently (for Guinea), mostly rough piste but with current rains .. it could be a sticky mess. I agree with the post about the Quebo (G.Bissau) - Boke piste which I did by truck, it's incredible.

3. Hotels are cheap. The Tangama in Dalaba & Sobane Village Touristique at Sobane were my two favourites. Camping is fine in Guinea, everyone is very friendly, or ask for a hut in a village.

Have fun!

Kira

mostly sorted
 

Tyres now got in Dakar,easy, all we need now is a entry stamp for Senegal,Brit Embassy am
Thanks for the rest of the info

Small world. Must be Pete and Dan?

Can't help on the Africa questions there Pete, but if you find yourself travelling through Saudi give me a shout and I'll stand you a non-alcoholic beer.

iRich

Small world indeed mate, me and Dan did our best re Bike Mag but hey ho,
We are the Gambia at camping Sukuta, top campsite, I have to service both bikes tomorrow and I,ve just got the bits so its dirty hands tomorrow, cold beers today.
We are getting conflicting info here about our proposed route to the chutes de kinkon, so if anybody out there has any up to date info it will be gratefully recieved

Busy bees
 

We are currently in Freetown Sierra Leone having been through the Fouta Djalon mountains in Conakry, absoulutely outstanding, but heres the rub
All the advice here is forget Liberia, apart from the Weather, armed gangs, rape, pilliage, pestilance famine and war, what else can go wrong(tongue in cheek)The brit consulate laughed at us, the locals say were crazy we still want to do it but its daunting and doubtful , has anybody any up to date info out there
Alternativly can anybody reccomend a shipping agent from Freetown to Durban or Namibia. Pete and Brucella

Typically the British 'powers that be' seem to be laughing in your face ... my advice would be 'GO'!

I'm probably going up through Liberia later this year and back into Guinea and as a solo female with local & friends who've done it I'll also be travelling by taxi brousse, I don't have a qualm about doing it .. keep going!

Kira

Thanks for the info
 

TT its all under consideration, we know Monrovia is ok, its the thought of a puncture/breakdown in the bush thats the worry, at least if your on a bus you have some kind of safety in numbers, yes?

I'm never on a bus but an overcrowded vehicle of some sort and usually the only toubab on board; which until I get to know my fellow passengers can be a little worrying. However I've never had anything but help & kindness; driving through Guinea (in particular) when we broke down or met another vehicle broken down they always helped out ... personally I think you'd be fine & possibly better off in your situation than in mine!

As you well know, in Africa everything can be fixed!!!

Kira

we will see
 

Kira, we agree about Guinea, the people were great we had a great ride down, the Fouta Djalon mountains were spectacular and the waterfalls were in full flood , the risk of doing it in the rainy season paid off.
It looks ia if we will head back up to Guinea, into Mali, Burkina and then drop into Ghana, we set off with no plan and still don,t have one so at least there is nothing to go wrong, yes