Shipping Vancouver to Capetown
 

We are planning to ship 4 bikes from Vancouver, Canada to Capetown, SA in December 2010 for a month of riding in SA and Botswana. I am not having much luck in finding reliable shipping information. I would like to hear from anyone with experience in doing this or anyone with suggestions including air freight as an alternative.
Much appreciate any help.
Tim

Hi,
I met a German rider in Malawi in August on a round the world trip. He had shipped his bike from Vancouver to Cape Town, round about May I would guess. The sea journey took a long time, many weeks as I remember, but he said it was very cheap. He'll be much further north by now so if you post your question under Saharan Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa he may see it. He uses the HUBB.
He was also trying to sort out how to get an Ethiopian visa in Nairobi, so have a look at those threads ("Ethopian visa in Nairobi") under Sub Saharan Africa and you may find him there.
Hope that helps.

Hey Tim,

As you know, it's a bit of trip so the options tend to be more limited and can be expensive compared to more straighforward hops. Timing is getting close so you'd want to figure out a shipping by sea alternative pretty quick if you want to make it in time. The good thing about air is that can be accomplished with much less lead time.

I note that you are in Van, happy to chat more about shipping or riding routes in SA if you want. I think you need 5 posts to private message other HU users so to catch up you'll have to enable contact by email under your user options, post an email address on this thread, or fire me an email directly. Cheers.

Try this company
 

Hi Tim
I shipped in the opposite direction with a shipping company called CSAL (Canada States Africa LIne) phone number in Qubec (514) 9400660
They are on the web and you can see there schedules. I was very happy with ther service and price.
At the South African end you can contact a company called Mitchellcotts
try Justin@mitchellcotts.co.za
I shipped a Unimog from Richards Bay to the US, ships also call at Capetown, Durban and sometimes Windhoek.
With bikes I would suggest you put all in one container - don't forget the carnet - abosulutly necessary in SA.
Regards
Gavin