Africa Trip from Kenya to Cape Town

[carsten_hamburg]

Hey there,

i am planning a ride in 2017, starting in June. Available Time is 3-4 Month.
Please find the first draft of the route as attachment.
Especially the part from Skeleton coast to cape town is very very rough planning so far. :-)

Getting some tips on places to see and the roads would be great.

Bike is a KTM 1190 Adventure R.

thx for your input :-)
Cheers Carsten

[Vaufi]

Looks like a great trip! Can't say much to the northern parts, but a bit on Southern Africa.

The route through Zambia I'd prefer to ZIM as well. Zimbabwe isn't dangerous, but quite a hassle due to the political and economic problems.
BOT: The area around Maun isn't that interesting. I would suggest to ride through the Chobe NP and cross to Katima Mulilo. There is a nice lodge with German speaking proprietors and budget prices. Then travel through the Caprivi Strip and more or less along the Kunene River to the Epupa Falls. If they have lots of water they are much more impressive than the Niagara Falls. There is a fantastic campsite right next to the Kunene. You're bound to meet some Himba people there.
From Epupa go south to Opuwo and carry on to Palmwag. There is a nice lodge with campsite and a snug African pub. Further south there are some interesting sights: At Twyfelfontein the ancient rock engravings and at Brandberg the Bushman paintings, the "White Lady". But I suppose the Skeleton Coast is also a special experience.

From Swakopmund (a must-see) you planned your ride into the Khomas Highland. I would suggest to carry on to Walvis Bay and take the C14 eastwards. Still inside the Naukluft NP you will cross the Kuiseb Canyon. Then turn left on the C26 until you hit the D1265 leading to Nauchas. From Nauchas via the Spreetshoogte Pass to Solitaer. Make sure to stop at the service station of Solitaer. The shopkeeper is a real character ;o)

Now go south to Sesriem/Sossus Vlei There is also a campsite with lots of equal-minded travellers. Get up before sunrise and zoom down the road to the Sossous Vlei, stop enroute to climb Dune 45 to enjoy the sunrise. Absolutely special!

Fish River Canyon is on your planned route. Perfect. If time permits, visit Luederitz, the first German settlement in NAM, with the "ghost town" Kolmans Koppe.

Along the coast before Cape Town is reasonably interesting. I ould suggest to skip this and turn eastwards to Clanwilliam. From there across the Pakhuis Pass to the old mission station Wupperthal (coordinate: S32 16 30.3 E19 12 56.8) and then straight south on a partly rough piste along the Cederberg Mts. to Ceres. Fantastic landscape!

When in CT plan a circular trip via Stellenbosch (old architechture) across the Franschhoek Pass and along the coast back to CT. Another trip would be to Cape Point and Boulders (funny Penguin colony).

If you need any more details, just PM me.

[carsten_hamburg]

hey Vaufi,

thx a lot for this fantasic input.
I will check and rework my plans :-)



Thx Carsten

[gbags]

This is great. Just the thread I want.
I'm aiming to air freight my bike out in ten days and fly to Nairobi the same day. I'll have a week before the bike arrives then hit the road.
The problem is that my iPad won't open your attachment and the laptop doesn't know which program to use...but Vaufi clearly got it.
Any ideas? I'm really interested in you route and can give you feedback on mine.