nijeria ferry cross
 

hi,does anyone know about ferry cross with a motorbike from Calabar to limbe?is it still running and convinient?

Hey Veys,

Glad to hear that you survived the festival and the ride in Dogon.

I took the ferry headed north a couple of years ago to avoid the road in rainy season. Can't remember when the worst of the rainy season is, but guessing that February is ok for the Ekok-Mamfe road? Someone on here can confirm but if it isn't the middle of rainy season, that would be my first choice.

If it is rainy season, then it's pretty easy to take the ferry south. It's mainly a passenger ferry, so you have to negotiate with the touts to load your bike. If you are lucky, there is room and it'll fit into the hold in the back, (which is sort of like loading your bike down off the dock and into the side of the Aswan ferry).

If you are unlucky, then they will heave your bike onto the prow of the boat, which as you can imagine is a terrifying experience as you watch your bike passed over a thin plank with only a few skinny arms holding it from dropping into the ocean. This process has to be reversed at the other end, much negotiating to get it off as they will start high and you have to grind them down. The ferry runs a couple of times a week, leaves in the morning from Calabar (at night from Limbe).

From what I remember, ticket is reasonable, they will try to charge you for the bike as cargo, depending on what you can negotiate. Loading and unloading is another cost to factor in. Ride safe.

Actually, I'm just going to agree with everything MountainMan said- I took it in the rainy season Limbe to Calabar and it worked out well.

The cost of the ticket and bike weren't too bad, but you have to neg with the guys on the dock to load the bike and they start at a stupid price. Loading you are somewhat at their mercy, but unloading they need to get your bike off so the longer you negotiate the lower the price gets as the ferry captain starts getting pissed of at the dock guys, not you.

Do everything you can to get the bike in back- it's way easier and cheaper to (un)load and your nerves will thank you- my bike was in the bow and the (un)loading was a nightmare to watch even if everything came out okay.

Limbe is a really nice town (I've got some posts from just over a year ago about it). If you head to the black sand beach on the far side of town from the ferry you can get fantastic fresh fish and then have it cooked up for you. There is also decent cheap accommodation. I think it would be a nice break after Nigeria and before diving back in the wonderful crazyness that is West Africa.

Enjoy the ride!