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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



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  #1  
Old 12 Dec 2007
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Visa/Invitation for access to Nigeria

Hi,

What is required for getting into Nigeria whilsst heading South to South Africa?

In London the embassy is saying that it is £250 for an 'invitation' to visit?

Does this sound right? Would it be better to get something en-route?
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  #2  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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Julian

So are you finally off on your trip?

My understanding is that you do not need a letter of invitation to enter Nigeria - this info is a year old though from when we were in Africa.

Any more up to date information would be great
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  #3  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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Interested in answer

Just about to follow a similar route down through Nigeria to SA so would be very interested to hear people's opinions on this.

I was intending getting my paperwork organised in either Morocco of closer to Nigeria in Ghana....is this possible?

Ben
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  #4  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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Smile Nigeria Visa Info

Hi all,

We're currently resting in Niamey, Niger due to my broken arm (see the blog for an explanation).

We picked up Nigerian visas in Banjul, Gambia in November. No hassle, no invite, about 50 quid (1985 dilasi), applied tuesday, got visas thursday.

Due to my arm break we won't be leaving Niger heading to Nigeria until late Jan at the earliest, causing our Gambian acquired visas to expire.

We just picked up new ones at the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey for 65000CFA (about 70 quid), no invitation, no hassle, while-u-wait service about 20 minutes.

Though I'm not sure how long they will be issuing visas in Niamey, the ambassador mentioned something about no more visas until sometime next year, could have been Christmas closing, not sure. You could always ring the embassy here to check, they speak English.

Hope this is useful info, if you're around Niamey anytime between now and the end of Jan, drop us a message and we can have a , we've got lots of time to kill!!
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  #5  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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visa for nigeria

hey Julian

welcome to dealing with nigerians!!! we got our visa in Accra cost $100 each and but that was 18 months ago!! you have to wait a few days but youll probably be parked in Ryans Pub carpark (great Guiness!) or at Big Millies (strange smelling baccy) and its an interesting town

get your self geared up for the road blocks!! print your self a letter from the Bishop of somewhere and learn some biblical and medical phrases and blag your self through the road blocks as a missionary!!!

It worked for me !! but as you know I have a certain reverential air about me

regards

jeff watts

Gone wandering
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  #6  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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Hi All,

Thanks for the info, I'll pass it on.

Unfortunately it's for a client heading South next week - with the new LC business and a new family member I doubt I will be doing a trip for a while.
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  #7  
Old 19 Dec 2007
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Hi there
We are currently in caroon,limbe.
Did Nigeria a week or so back.
Visa took 24 houers in Accra and costs $48 per visa,a lot off paperwork and coppies had to be made but all three of us got the visa.
Skipped lagos and went into nigeria from Benin in the north,think the town's name before the border was nicci or something like that,pretty straight forward and was no hassle.
The rest of nigeria was not fun and very dangerous,was part of a armed robbery between ilorin and lokoja,did nigeria in 4 days!!!!
The quicker you can get through the better.
The route we took was from Ilorin-lokoja-aba-calabar to cameroon.
We had to go to calabar to do visa for cameroon which was very expensive.
The road from the benin nigeria border was very bad,2 track through the sand and took us from about 9 in the morning to about 17:00 to get to ilorin where we slept at a cathlic mission.
The bikes is doing well sofar and have not had any problems,touch wood!!!!(3 KTM 640 adv)
Regards
MJ
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  #8  
Old 19 Dec 2007
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Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Thumbs up

MJ

Thats right on the button and exactly the sort of info that I need, a good friend had told me about the issue of avoiding the delta but did mention the idea of running the gauntlett as the road through can be driven in about 8hrs, so avoiding the 3-day drive around.

Would you recommend waiting around and trying to go in convoy with another vehicle?

Can't wait to leave now, just good to get some confirmation on the few points which are still of concern!

Thanks for the visa info too, have a safe trip and keep in touch

Ben
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  #9  
Old 21 Dec 2007
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We talked to the people where we slept at nights and the recomended this route
They said that as longs as you are a few people,we are 3 bikers, and do not go off-road or travel at night it should not be a problem
We were not really bothered by the police or road blocks,once we had to pay 5 dollars for road tax but taht was it.
I think in total we went through about 40 road blocks and we were only pulled of about 3 times.
It was rather strange cause even the locals has to pay these roadblocks to get through,very corrupt.
If it was me travelling through there i aould try to be at least 2 vehicles,always be friendly and wave and greet them by giving the hand,we found that by doing that they feel much beter and normally just asked us what our mission is and then let us go,if they asked us for a gift,we give the a smile and learrn them a speciale handshake,they have an laugh and ze are on our way.
It is Africa,just take your time and let them feel that they are in charge
Good luck
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  #10  
Old 27 Dec 2007
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Nigeria no problem

I'm now in Limbe in Cameroon I passed through Nigeria a couple of weeks ago with two other guys on bikes. We spent ten days there and really enjoyed it there were only a couple of small probelms. Very curious people, met many good people and had a good time.

I got my visa with Dan and Linz in Gambia but watch out you only get a month before you have to enter the country.

Check out my site www.mikeybeckett.com for more info on Nigeria.
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  #11  
Old 28 Dec 2007
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nigeria visa in Douala

Hi.

We are heading north and are presently in Buea, Cameroon.

We managed to get a Nigerian visa in Douala for 80'000CFA each within 1 hour. Its a serious rip-off but managed to save time and will be spending some extra days in Buea/Limbe.

Cheers Mark
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