England to Capetown in 2010 - Early planning and friend finding.

[*Touring Ted*]

Hey all...

Its finally set in and it didnt take long. I've only been back from South America for 6 weeks and already Im having to plan a second trip. This overland travelling, although hard work and stressful at times, is a real addiction and its got me good.

Obviously, im pretty broke from the last trip and its going to be at least 24 months before im in the position to leave for the next trip but for some people it really can take that long to get organsised and financed.

So anyway. I really like the idea of riding through Europe and into Africa and down to cape town and very southern tip of Africa (and maybe back again). Im still very open minded and rather naive about the whole thing so im looking for info, ideas and indeed, riding partners for the trip.

I think im pretty experienced now at this whole overlanding game, im a pretty good mechanic and a chilled out "anything goes" traveller.

Im looking forward to chewing the fat over this !!

Get in touch if you're interested !!

[Niva Say Never]

Hi,
It doesn't take long does it......me and my sister got back from Mali in January and were already scribbling on maps on the boat back to Dover!!

Sounds like we are thinking along similar lines, we will be leaving around september 2010, heading up to Nordkapp, then spending the next year making our way down to cape town and back to the uk.

We definitely don't want to over plan things in terms of where to be and when, one of the joys of this sort of travel is the freedom to wing it and let the trip unfold.

We'll be in our old Land Cruiser, are you biking it? If you want to meet up for a let me know, would be great to talk to someone else who's in the planning stage, i'm doing my friends heads in with it!!

Sam

[vagamoto]

Hey Ted
I am mid way through my Alaska to tierra ride, in Costa Rica. Plan to finish in South America around mid 2009, so wlll be ready to ride again anytime there after. Very keen to ride Africa (born ad lived there all my life).
I'll be passing through the UK i around September, perhaps we can meet?

Vagamoto

[uk_vette]

Hi Ted,
Hi Niva,
I was hoping to drive UK to Cape Town end'ish of 2009.
However I have just started a new job in Norway, so I have to put my plans back a bit.
I have a 2005 Land Cruiser, which myself and the wife will be in. Combination of roof tenting and cheap hotels/hostels
We have enough funds, but need to work around the new job.
We have a lot of family and friends in JNB and CPT, so I have great incentive to go.
Looking good for the west coast run.

[Niva Say Never]

Hi all
Are any of you thinking of starting off going to Tunisia and Algeria?
Situation at the time permitting, would anyone be interested in sharing the cost of a guide?

Sam

[*Touring Ted*]

BUMP !!

Still planning this for late 2010.

Got one almost certain riding buddy and a couple of interested fokes...

Probably going to go through Spain into Morroco, then go for the east coast route down..

Using Suzuki DRZ400's

[kimandmatt]

Kim and I will be heading down the East Africa route in 2010, will be starting in Tunis around Aug/Sept if that fits in with you, would be good to get a group together to ease the passage through Libya. We'll be on DR650's.

Matt

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by kimandmatt

Kim and I will be heading down the East Africa route in 2010, will be starting in Tunis around Aug/Sept if that fits in with you, would be good to get a group together to ease the passage through Libya. We'll be on DR650's.

Matt

Possibly a little early but plans are still flexible at this time !!

Cheers for checking in

[kimandmatt]

Well we wont be hurrying so hopefully be able to work something out!

[Vaufi]

Transit through Lybia might be a bit tricky, but there should be enough people to offer infos on hat in the HUBB. The rest along the eastern route is done by most people.

Regarding southern Africa: The best bikers' address are the guys from the Wilddog Adventure Riding forum Wild Dog Adventure Riding - Index

[maja]

Hi Guys, I'm in Mexico at the moment but as usual looking for the next trip. I have already done the UK - S.Africa east coast route and really enjoyed most of it but after getting to Nairobi I swore that I would never do anything like the Nile route, Wadi Halfa - Khartoum and the Moyale - Marsabit - Nairobi section again. That being said, Nairobi south was magic and doing it again would be a pleasure. I hope to be back in St Andrews at the start of June and look to leave the UK at the start of September but this time aiming to start from Nairobi or Mombasa depending on how I get the bike out to Kenya. I would definately be interested in riding with a small group and if anyone want's to come up to St Andrews during the summer for a chat feel free but not during the Open, the house is already full of long lost friends. Ride safe.

[tomhughes209]

I had been planning to leave late 2010/early 2011 on a similar trip and have just stumbled over the forum on some early research.

It would be great to share some thoughts on routes/times and planning.

I was allowing 3-4 months to complete. If I'm honest I'd rather see more of each country and have an experience than simply cover the distance...but here I go, digressing straight away into the details...

I'm a pretty chilled guy, and this will be my first overland journey. I've travelled around a bit and Africa is a dream place to spend some more time. last trip included buying a dug out canoe and paddling down the mekong into phnom penh, Cambodia - busier shipping lane that I thought!

You can get hold of me at tomhughes209@hotmail.com. Or alternatively I find things are done well over a , so if anyones in London, that's where I'm based at the moment.

Needless to say...already I CAN'T WAIT

Tom

[uk_vette]

Hello All,
Well it has been a while since I last posted in this thead, perhaps time for an update. I still can't believe it was August 2008 last post in this thread.
I have a newish land Cruiser diesel, which is more than up for the task.
Any way, our ( me and her ) will plan to go the West coast route, nothing out of the ordinary, and pretty much stay to all the well kbown, and tried and tested route through
Morocco,
Western Sahara,
Mali,
Burkina,
Benin,
Nigeria,
Camaroon,
Gabon,
Congo,
DCR,
Angola,
Namibia,
RSA
finishing in ===> Cape Town.

It will just be a "one way " trip, as we will be relocating there.
The departure keeps slipping away from me, with each luctative contract that gets pushed my way, beggers can't be chooseres, and it helps to keep the wolf from the door.
Well, It was going to be late 2009, then end of January 2010, now it could be June 2010, may be a month each way.

I will plan to do get us there in about 90 to 100 days, and with as little damage as possible.
Sure I will do some off raod track, but not by my self.
If any bikers are also in the same time frame, I would be more than happy to carry some fuel for you guys.

I plan for some thing like 14000 miles ( 23,000 ) km
so looking at about an average of 140 miles per day.
Some places I could do double or tripple that very easy, and then again in perhaps some very poor African roads could be much slower.
Also need to take into account the 'visa getting' days, which will be non - driving days.

'vette

[noel di pietro]

Originally Posted by tedmagnum

BUMP !!

Still planning this for late 2010.

Got one almost certain riding buddy and a couple of interested fokes...

Probably going to go through Spain into Morroco, then go for the east coast route down..

Using Suzuki DRZ400's

Hi Ted,

Your envisaged route Spain /Morocco and then cross to the east is possible but odd. You can't cross from Morocco to Algeria, borders are hermetically closed since many years. And it is still "impossible" to cross Darfur region without big risk. Also crossing CAR will be extremely challenging due to total anarchy, so to say. Don't know if that is what you want. Niger/Libya is also problematic, border crossing is unreliable, often closed. That effectively leaves the only the route Mauri/Mali/Niger and cut back north through Niger along the Air Mountains into Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt etc.... a big detour. Why not continue down the West Coast, its a blast (did you not buy my DVD long time ago?) West Africa is totally and absolutely worth visiting and the west coast is truly adventurous, and not particularly more dangerous then the east coast! Alternatively it could be Italy/Tunisia/Libya but then you would indeed miss the best part which to my opinion is west Africa.

Ciao,
Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

[waztafel]

Hey Ted,

We'll be driving from Holland to Cape Town too, starting somewhere in October 2010.
I think Noel is right for the first part; the border Morocco - Algeria is closed. in 2008 me and my girlfriend drove from Italy, Tunisia, Libya into Egypt. A fun trip and for desert freaks a real treat. If you would like to have a bit more information about crossing Libya, feel free to ask. I have a personal phone number from Ahmed in Libya, He'll guide you through Libya (since you are required to have a guide during the trip through L.)

It would be fun to meet up somewhere...!
Cheers,