London to Cape Town

[TheMoose]

Heya

I'm currently in the early stages of planning a trip from London to Cape Town. With regards to actual route, I'm quite flexible, however I'd very much like to go through Kisumu in Kenya for personal reasons.

As a starting point, I pulled up Google Maps, put my postcode in the UK as the start, a via point of Kisumu and the destination of Cape Town and so the route planning begins!

Obviously the route it's suggesting through Europe isn't one that I'd likely take, however this can easily be refined once I've planned my way through Africa (i.e. to take into account entry points etc).

I had initially imagined a route consisting of entering Egypt at Alexandria and heading pretty much due South all the way - Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Swaziland and of course South Africa.

However, Google Maps is suggesting a slightly different route - one to be honest I hadn't even considered. Entering Africa in Algeria then to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe (however I'd actually probably go Botswana instead) and ultimately South Africa.

Obviously I don't intend to set up the Garmin in London at Hyde Park, select Cape Town and bugger off hoping for the best - I'm just looking for the start of a basic route, however there are some countries on the Google Maps list that I'd naturally steer clear from however based purely on a gut instinct.

I'd appreciate some thoughts/comments if anyone has any experience in this area.

Many thanks in advance

Cheers

The Moose

[PaulD]

Moose,
Don't bury your head in planning it's a waste of time just get to Africa & head south. I planned our trip for a year & was supposed to take 3 months & we took 11 months to do it, thru all my itineraries out in Aswan when I found out the ferry would not leave for 2 weeks. You will have a blast enjoy & I have been to Kisumu pretty easy to get to & I remember they grow shit loads of tea there.

Cheers
Paul

[PaulD]

I suppose you should plan your Visa for Sudan & Ethiopia tho.

[TheMoose]

Originally Posted by PaulD

Moose,
Don't bury your head in planning it's a waste of time just get to Africa & head south. I planned our trip for a year & was supposed to take 3 months & we took 11 months to do it, thru all my itineraries out in Aswan when I found out the ferry would not leave for 2 weeks. You will have a blast enjoy & I have been to Kisumu pretty easy to get to & I remember they grow shit loads of tea there.

Cheers
Paul

It is very tempting to just jump on my GSA with my friends AMEX, VISA and MASTERCARD and see what happens.

Unfortunately, it's not in my nature not to at least plan some stuff - I'd not be looking to plan everything down to the last 't', knowing how many clicks to be covered each day etc, however I'd be looking to put together an idea of options of where to stay - different lodges, camp sites etc. Also, some ideas of things to see etc!