OP, your original post makes it sound like you're going to make a detailed plan in advance covering every aspect of your trip. As eurasiaoverland points out, a lot of that planning should probably include your Plan B (also C and D), at least for potentially problematic areas. IMO that's true no matter where in the world you travel, no matter how apparently stable--think Ukraine, Israel, perhaps Korea, even southern California--but especially true in Africa.
You asked about route-planning perspectives. My own includes first and foremost an ongoing awareness of current and recent historical events in the areas I'd like to visit. This would include recent extended wars in multiple places along your route (Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire), along with current unrest in (especially) West and Central Africa. Note that this is not meant as a complete list.
I love traveling in Africa, with and without my own transport. But blithely hoping that long-term conflicts will have resolved within 18 months doesn't qualify as good planning in my book.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
|