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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 27 Nov 2009
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When to ship to Capetown?

I am 3/4 of the way finished with the South American leg of my journey. I am looking forward to shipping me and the bike to Capetown sometime in 2010, and spending about 10 months traveling up Africa's eastern side. I am wondering when then best time to ship is? I assume that the seasons follow the normal southern hemisphere patterns, but what else should I be concerned about, i.e., wet and dry seasons?

Thanks,
Mike
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  #2  
Old 29 Nov 2009
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How to avoid the rains..

My girlfriend and I travelled on a DR650 from CT to Swaziland, back to CT and then up through Nam, Bot, Zam, Mal, Moz, Tan, Ken, Eth, Uga, and Rwanda.

We started at the beginning of March 09 and spent 7 months on the road.
I don't think we could have picked a better time to travel through Africa.
Namibia's very lush towards the end of the rainy season, it's a cooler time of year to drive and you'll avoid the strong cross winds that pick up later in the year.

In all the time that we were on the road it rained 4 times.. and we were dry five minutes later.

Africa throws everything at you, enjoy it..

p.s. You'll find the best drivers in Mozambique and the worst in Uganda, the friendliest people in Malawi and Zambia and the worst in Ethiopia..
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  #3  
Old 29 Nov 2009
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Southern Africa has its rainy season before Xmas, so no worries about rain. The western & central parts are arid anyway. Feb can still be quite hot, esp. in the Kalahari wih temps soaring around 40°C but hat's not he rule.

Enjoy Africa - one of he most amazing continents.

Hans
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Old 30 Nov 2009
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Hi Mike

I'm planning to cross from Brazil to South Africa some day of november 2010. How do you planning to cross from south america to africa? do you have a estimated cost? shipping company? send me a PM if you like. thanks in advance!
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Old 4 Dec 2009
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Thanks for your help. Africa sounds amazing!
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  #6  
Old 10 Dec 2009
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The main rainfall season in southern Africa is November to March, with the western parts (Botswana, Namibia) having more rain in March and less in November and the eastern parts of South Africa the opposite.

The wettest season in East Africa (middle of Tanzania, Kenya) is March, April, May (called the Long Rains).

In July to September the rains are over Ethiopia. East Africa + southern Africa is driest then.

Note also that the SW Cape (Cape Town + 300 km east and north) have winter rains (May to Sept) and are dry for the rest of the year. Capetown is the old colonial way of spelling Cape Town - not much used these days except, I noticed, on the British Airways in flight magazine maps....
Have a good trip.
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