Kent (UK) to Kenya with family in a 4x4 Route assistance required!
 

Hi All.

This is my first post. I have been reading through the forums and there really is some great information here. I apologise if some of my questions are asked quite often, but things change pretty quickly so any recent info would be greatly appreciated.

So I am hoping to relocate to Kenya, in 2013. Wife, Kids and the dogs! We would like to drive if possible. Ideally I would like to do the East coast route but the ferry (Egypt - Sudan) would be an obstacle, I wouldn't leave my hounds unattended with the car on the barge, so unless there is now a viable alternative I am left with the choice of Algeria-Niger-Chad-Sudan-ethiopia? or go completely West coast and cut across all the way down maybe Zambia which is a huhge increase in distance?

Any thoughts on those options or have I missed an alternative?

Also whilst here whats the consensus re. vehicle, I currently have Disco 3 nice and roomy, comfortable, great long distance cruiser and none too shabby off road, but I fear one glitch could leave us stranded, I am thinking 130 300tdi or even an old Range Rover 300tdi?

Am I mad for thinking about doing this with dogs and kids?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I am no expert, but these days I would not consider that route an option.

Ditto for pecha's comments. Read up on the current safety situation in those countries, not recommended.

Quite a few families have taken the east coast route, you may want to stick to that. Biggest issue will be the situation in Syria. As for bringing dogs, I'm sure might enhance your trip in some ways, but it would also limit you in many others.

[QUOTE=As for bringing dogs, I'm sure might enhance your trip in some ways, but it would also limit you in many others.[/QUOTE]

Hi I appreciate that. But we are planning to relocate, lock stock and would be keen to take the dogs with us on our road trip down there. I am not sure one of them would make the trip on as freight on an airline. So trying to see if anyone has any alternatives before we discount it as an option.

Cheers

Hi rdknight,

We are recently returned to the UK after traveling in the other direction (albeit without kids or dogs!).

East coast would certainly be the the obvious choice subject to the challenge of getting to Africa. Difficult to predict what may happen by 2013. Maybe you can drive via Syria then, maybe the Mersin to Alex ferry will be up and running, maybe you can drive across North Africa again.

We met more than one car with a canine passenger so it must be possible. Some friends of ours traveled on the ferry across Nasser with some people whose dog traveled on the barge locked in their truck. They were nervous wrecks but all turned out well. I understand your reservations though. You could check out the link below. I never met them but they had a dog with them - perhaps they could answer any queries?

The Africa Overland Network - Independent Overland Travel across Africa, Asia, the Americas and the World.

If you haven't already explored it this website has hundreds of trip reports which are great for planning purposes.

Happy planning.