Africa fall 2008: Morocco to Cape Town & beyond

[Ride Far]

Any adventure riders up for Africa in fall 2008 into winter 2009?

We’re two guys heading into Morocco in about mid-October 2008. From there it’s south via westerly route to Cape Town and from there points to be determined. Option A is shipping from South Africa to India and riding north into the Himalayas and Nepal -- the Timbuktu to Kathmandu option ... then around the 'Stans and into Mongolia. Option B is to ride north via Africa’s east side up to Egypt.

We’re experienced mid-40s riders based in San Francisco on DR 650s. Thinking a smallish team of three or four or five riders would be ideal. If you’re interested, or planning a similar Africa ride, let’s talk.

[darren_m]

Hi will be in Morocco after 2nd october heading south. Meet up for a couple of s on the road or share a few days riding together.

Just sent you an e-mail with some details of my route if it coincides be glad to have a natter.

Cheers. Darren

[speedmaster58]

Hi Darren
Myself & my brother in law are planning to be in Morroco in early October for a couple of weeks to celebrate our 50th birthdays!. Plan is to get the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao & then travel down thro' Spaint to Tangiers & go to Marrakech, Fez & the mountains, hopefully we might see you on the road for a & a natter. I believe Ramadan doesn't finish until the 8th October, I don't know if that makes much difference to travelling?

[darren_m]

Originally Posted by speedmaster58

Hi Darren
Myself & my brother in law are planning to be in Morroco in early October for a couple of weeks to celebrate our 50th birthdays!. Plan is to get the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao & then travel down thro' Spaint to Tangiers & go to Marrakech, Fez & the mountains, hopefully we might see you on the road for a & a natter. I believe Ramadan doesn't finish until the 8th October, I don't know if that makes much difference to travelling?

Hi Speedmaster.

Yup sounds good mate,how long you planning on staying in moroc for? I'll be riding down to Algeciras ( stopping in portugal for a bit visiting a mate) then over to ceuta im leaving scotland around the 18th september so if your in spain round about that time and fancy a few days in portugal sampling the local vino i'll ask my friend if it's ok for a couple of other sleeping bags to be flung on his floor.

Ive done a quick search RE: ramadan 2008. When is Ramadan in 2008? - When-Is.com

Cheers. Darren

[speedmaster58]

Originally Posted by darren_m

Hi Speedmaster.

Yup sounds good mate,how long you planning on staying in moroc for? I'll be riding down to Algeciras ( stopping in portugal for a bit visiting a mate) then over to ceuta im leaving scotland around the 18th september so if your in spain round about that time and fancy a few days in portugal sampling the local vino i'll ask my friend if it's ok for a couple of other sleeping bags to be flung on his floor.

Ive done a quick search RE: ramadan 2008. When is Ramadan in 2008? - When-Is.com

Cheers. Darren

Plan to be in Morroco for a least 2 weeks, thanks for the info on Ramadan & the offer. Are you riding down thro' France via the tunnell or getting ferry to Spain? If you are going via Folkstone or Dover you are welcome to crash at our house as we are only 30 mins away from tunnell, an hour from Dover. I will let you know the exact dates we are leaving as we still need to book the ferry & my brother in law needs to buy a bike!!!!

Cheers Martyn

[Patrick1]

Ride Far, I dropped you an e mail, let me know if you did not get it.

Patrick

[kakpraat]

Ride Far...

We're doing a very similar trip, and are looking for travel buddies too! Our proposed route sounds exactly the same as yours (at least from Morocco down the west coast of Africa to South Africa), after this we're looking to return back up the Great Rift Valley through Eastern and Central Africa, and finally on to Egypt.

Our departure date is the same too - we're aiming to leave London around October 2008. Time-wise we're looking at roughly 12 months, although many people have said this is too short. I'm sure it'll take as long as it needs to take - we're definitely not keen to rush anything, and I'm sure the pace will set itself.

So far there are 4 of us - 2 on motorbike and 2 in a 4x4 overland campervan truck. 3 of us in our early 30's, and 1 in his 40's.

Ostensibly this trip is about having fun, exploring off the beaten track and experiencing the culture and beauty of Africa. However, we are also hoping that at the same time we can raise more awareness around the AIDS pandemic that is systematically destroying the African way of life. To this end we have teamed up with two charities, HOPEHIV and HandzUp. During our expedition we hope to visit some of the projects these charities run in Africa to see the great work they are doing.

Have a look at our website - www.overafrica.org - and get in touch!

[Ride Far]

Excellent! Thanks to all for all the replies. This is shaping up like a real expedition. If my math is correct (ahem, I was an English major) that makes eight adventurers so far with interest expressed.

kakpraat, good stuff with the AIDS charity work. As we're in no particular hurry I hope to be able to support your effort as well. Especially if you'll carry our gear in your 4x4!

All kidding aside, let's keep posting as plans mature. One of my next steps is to figure out bike shipping from the eastern U.S. or perhaps Toronto to whichever European city is least expensive (give or take) -- Paris, Madrid -- and within striking distance of Morocco. I'll be rooting thru the "Shipping the bike" section in the HUBB left column but if anyone has good info please drop a note. Til later ~~

Mark

[JeanVisser]

Hi Mark,

looks like we will be on the same road in the same direction, leaving South Africa in a month's time!

[Ride Far]

Jean, I checked your Web site ... good looking route! Best of luck en route from South Africa to Egypt / Tunisia and hope to see you in Morocco in October ...

[Alex Rubtsov]

Maybe anyone here think about start the trip from (via) Algeria? I am alone with my Africa Twin and an Algerian guide is too expensive for me. If we could go together...
I plan to start my trip in the end of October `08.

Alex

[geoffshing]

Hey guys,
Bloody hell, it's gonna be busy in October. 'Dave L' and I will be setting off in October to the Cape from Londinium then RTW on a couple of XT600's (no rush). I was getting a touch worried that there'd be no-one else to bump into. Obviously wrong there then!
Anyone fancy making it a bigger grouping for the african part or beyond?

[Ride Far]

Hey guys. I’m planning to fly into Lisbon on September 28 and meet up there with Darren (posted on this thread).

From there it should be into Morocco in early October. Some Morocco exploring, then down to Mauritania and east to Timbuktu … then south towards Cape Town.

Geoffshing, when do you guys plan to enter Morocco?

Alex, if you enter Africa in late October -- ride fast & catch up!

Mark

[geoffshing]

Ridefar,
Hey mate, we plan for mid (ish) October and are wanting to go to Timbuktu etc but the earlier the better.

[Alex Rubtsov]

Originally Posted by Ride Far

Hey guys. I’m planning to fly into Lisbon on September 28 and meet up there with Darren (posted on this thread).

From there it should be into Morocco in early October. Some Morocco exploring, then down to Mauritania and east to Timbuktu … then south towards Cape Town.

Geoffshing, when do you guys plan to enter Morocco?

Alex, if you enter Africa in late October -- ride fast & catch up!

Mark

The day of my entering Africa is not fixed. It depends on weather in Russia in october. Maybe I will ride out sooner.

P.S.
The Algerian question is still open for me. I want to find someone here who join me for riding via Algeria.

Alex