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Info needed for next leg across Africa Info needed for next leg across Africa
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 2 Jul 2008
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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
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  #2  
Old 2 Jul 2008
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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
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  #3  
Old 4 Jul 2008
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Ta Bro
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan 23 View Post
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
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
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  #4  
Old 4 Jul 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jabez Clegg View Post
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
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
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  #5  
Old 6 Jul 2008
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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
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  #6  
Old 10 Jul 2008
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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 .

iRich
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  #7  
Old 16 Jul 2008
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Originally Posted by redsnapper View Post
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 .

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 s 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
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  #8  
Old 28 Aug 2008
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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
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  #9  
Old 29 Aug 2008
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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
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  #10  
Old 30 Aug 2008
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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?
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  #11  
Old 31 Aug 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jabez Clegg View Post
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
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  #12  
Old 2 Sep 2008
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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
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