London to Cape Town - Leaving Aug/Sep 2013

[OlympicBrett]

Hi,

After living in the UK for almost 9 years, I have finally got my first opertunity to do this ride on my AT. My plan is to ride leaving around August 2013 and be in CapeTown by Christmas. I am busy in the process of planning the exact route but it will be down the East Coast of Africa.

A bit about me... im South African, 33 male and been riding a bike since I was 12. Very easy to get on with...

The reason im posting this thread is that I am looking for someone who has a similar interest in doing this kind of trip and would be interested in joining me... mostly from a security point of view.

So if there are any readers out there who are keen then get in touch.

P.S making the dream become a reality

[olionel]

good luck dude. I wanted to do that ride...three years ago I said, in 2012 (when the PhD is over) I'm gona ride to SA... Then I found a woman...then it got serious... then we decided that Afrika won't be a holiday... so we decided to head Oz-wards instead...leaving in spring.

all the best to you though.. sorry my post is not helpful in the slightest to your cause keep a blog so we can read up.

Oli

[Brian Dublin]

Hey Brett
I was intending to do the same trip early 2013 (see my previous posts) but some commitments meant I had to put it back. So yes I would be very interested in talking to you about doing the trip later this year. I was intending to do the Classic route down the east. I am a reasonably experienced adventure rider - I did 8,000 miles across South America last year. I am Irish, living in Dublin
One issue though. I have been told that it is impossible to get a visa to go through Sudan! Indeed I was at the Bike show in Birmingham and talked the Nic Saunders about it and he reckons that Sudan will be impossible for the next couple of years. I'd be interested to hear if you have different information.
Anyway, hope we can talk about the possibility of linking up. I'm in London occasionally so maybe we could meet up. Brian

[Brian Dublin]

Just as a quick follow up - just saw a post on here - on the sub saharan thread re suban. Copy and paste below


If it is still possible get your Sudanese visa in Nairobi. It is very straightforward (we dropped off/picked up same day), cheaper and you don't need an Egyptian visa (which means you can pick this up on the Wadi Halfa/Aswan ferry and not waste time applying at an embassy). Visa is valid for 2 months (ie you have two months to get in) and they usually give two weeks (though some have had 2 months granted).

[OlympicBrett]

Thanks Oli ..... happy for you dude. Im know OZ has plenty of places to adventure ride, one day when you get the chance. I have setup a web blog site but it is very basic at the moment and not much information.... work in progress!!!

Africa Bike Ride

So hopefully people can enjoy and follow the adventure... This HUB has so much useful information that I have needed so if I can offer it back then hopefully I will be by doing this.


Hey Brian,
Thats great, next time you in London give me a shout and we can meet up and discuss... to be honest Im pretty flexable with the plan of the route at this stage. I also dont know that much about the visa sitauation in Sudan but it might be different for me as Im going to be travelling on my SA passport (but then Sudan is not one of the countries that I have to go see)...The countries I really want to do are Kenya->Uganda->Tanzania->Zambia->Botswana->Namibia->SA....

The route from leaving Europe to getting to Kenya is what Im having trouble deciding.

Im going to go to the Trailblazer Adventure Travel show in London Olympia and listen to Chris Scott on Sat 26th Jan. Hopefully I will be able to get a lot of information there about Sudan and rest of Africa.. will keep you posted.

Brett

[itchyfeet38]

I think whoever told you there was a problem getting a sudanese visa is misinformed. Everyone traveling up and down the east coast by road ends up crossing North Sudan. Visas are not a problem unless you are from the US (and even then people manage it). You can get them in Cairo or Aswan coming south (Aswan recommended for ease/speed) or in Kampala, Nairobi or Addis coming north (Nairobi recommended). I went that way in 2011 and know many people who have before and since without any difficulties whatsoever.

More challenging is getting your Ethiopian visa if you are coming north. Whilst I think a few people over the last couple of years have managed to blag a quick transit visa out of Nairobi the general rule is you have to get the visa in your home country - it is not possible to get one at any overseas embassy or any land border (though its perfectly possible to get one on entry if you fly in). For the last couple of years most people on extended trips have had to stop in Nairobi for a couple of weeks and get their passports couriered home.

We mananged to persuade the Ethiopian embassy in London to grant us a 6 month visa (officially the limit is three months) which gave us enough time to get there and then extend in country so that might also be worth a try.

[Ron GSA]

Hi Brett,

I am planning a trip from the Netherlands to the North Cape and then onto Cape Agulhas.
Starting Juli 2013, to the North Cape and then down south through eastern Europe into Turkey, taking a ferry to Egypt say mid September. Hope to arrive in Cape town by Christmas.
I would be especially interested in driving the Egypt/Sudan part with some one else (both for security and to support each other while managing the red tape).
Are you still looking for some one to join you?

Ron

[Crashbox]

Hello Brett
Planning the same trip leaving Sept this year. Ferry from Iskenderun to Pt Said then head S. crossing over to Botswana, Namibia, ZA. Ive done RTW with a group in '09 but fancy 'the real thing' I am retired but not old. Get in touch if you fancy a group thing.

[Ron GSA]

Hello Crashbox,

may be we could meet up in Turkey and travel through Egypt and Sudan together.
I am first traveling to the Nordkapp though, so no exact planning as to when I will be in Turkey, but would be somewhere mid september.

Ron

[Crashbox]

Hello Ron
That would be good to have some company.
Are you camping or hotel'ing it, I'm easy either way. Roll on Sept.

[Ron GSA]

Hi Crashbox,

I like a combination of both, the freedom of camping, but interspersed with the comfort of a hotel once in a while.
Any preference for a route through Egypt? I have been in Egypt on a organized tour, but not yet in the western desert, so that would be my preference.
I would also like to visit some of the archaeological sites in Sudan.

Ron

[OlympicBrett]

Hi Crashbox \ Ron GSA,

Sorry for my lack of response on here, I havent logged in for a bit.
This is good as I have been getting a few responses from a few bikers all thinking along the same plan and roughly around the same time of year for this trip.

My estimate time to depart London is around Aug/Sep but I have have not set a date until closer to the time once I got a few things sorted first. I am pretty flexable on this date as long as its after July. At the moment I am spending time getting my bike setup and looking at various routes. A lot can only be done closer to the time in terms of Carnet and paper work sorted.

I think the idea of safety in numbers through Egypt and Sudan will be a good idea.

Ok lets stay in touch and see how things work out.. if you want to email me on my address is olympicbrett at hotmail dot com.

Cheers,
Brett

[Ron GSA]

Hi Brett,

good to hear that you are still in the air and that there are more people looking to go to Egypt around September.
Just like you I am preparing my bike and getting as much information as possible, but will decide exact route later depending on the political situation, although at the moment Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya seems the most viable route, with multiple options from Kenya onwards.
Time wise I am a bit less flexible as my leave runs from July 2013 till early January 2014 and I do want to visit the Nordkapp first.

Lets stay in contact,

Ron

[Crashbox]

Hi Ron /Brett
email me on ecmould at talktalk dot net
Ethiopia is good but you must get visa at home, (no visas at border)
I'm planning on doing the oasis road loop from Gisa. Hope you are both on cheap bikes (Egyptian carnet£$£$£)
I'm using my trusty f650 Dakar which took me RTW. I'm a fair mechanic and my bike is sorted and waiting (new clutch and tappets set) There are reports of fuel rationing in Egypt but it seems to be diesel mostly. Camping and hotels is good for me. I am easy timewise just back for Christmas.

Christian

[Ron GSA]

Hi Christian and Brett,

I cannot find these high deposites for an Egypt carnet that everyone is talking about. At the ADAC site the deposite for a motorbike carnet for Egypt is 3000 euro upto a bike value of 15000 euro (it is a lot higher for cars though).
Can you clarify?

Ron