Avoiding Angola
 

Since it seems that getting an Angola visa is a real problem, what is the best way to get around it to Namibia? Fly across from somewhere north, go through DRC, or possibly get a coastal schooner? While I am not sure why Angola is persistent in denying visas to tourists, it is their country and so they can make whatever rules they want that they believe keeps trouble away, I am not prepared to spend two or three weeks sitting around waiting for a visa application to be processed only to be denied. By the time we get there things might have changed, but knowing there are alternatives allows planning that keeps the head banging stress away.

thanks, joe

Angola
 

Hi Joe!

Angola is a really nice country and you shouldn't miss it!

You know the option of the 5 day Transit Visa from Matadi without waiting at the Border?

We did Angola last year in 6,5 day's (it is a shame i know... you can spend weeks in this country!!! But we had a date with a friend in Windhoek) We met some other travellers on the Transit visa. They overstayed the Visa for 4 day's and it wasn't a problem at the Border.



Greetings from Perth werner+claudia

THANKS! No I didn't know about the transit visa. It wasn't mentioned on the visa web site nor could I see anything about it on the HUBB search. Just a lot of problems. We can cross Angola in two days. Not much to see and we want to get to Namibia in time for the festival there and then to SA for arrival of the penguins.

BTW, what other African countries have transit visas? As I said, I didn't see any mention of transit visas on the web site called "Project Visa" but if we can get transit visas for Togo, Benin and Nigeria that would be great.

For Togo & Benin just pick up a VTE (Visa Touristique d'Entente) which covers 5 countries (Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire & Niger) you should get it from one of the abovementioned countries from an embassy in W.Africa (Benin embassy in Dubai also issues them)

Kira

thanks Kira, that sounds like an easy way to get through those countries.
joe

in 2 Days?
 

Don't count too much on that. Crossing Angola in 5 days is push. And it's beautifull! And as soon as you emerge out on the otherside, you're in a different Africa. You'll miss the other Africa.

Joe, you might want to take a read of Lois Pryce's new book, Red Tape and White Knuckles.

Amazon.co.uk: Red Tape and White Knuckles: One Woman's Motorcycle Adventure Through Africa: Lois Pryce: Books

She covers going thru Angola with considerable detail - particularly road conditions ... and riding flat out, sunrise to sunset and later, manages to make it across the country with 10 mins to spare on her 5 day visa.

I dont know of anyone who has done that 1200 miles in much less than 5 days, even though everyone is just gunning it for the southern border to make it before the visa expires.

(she got her visa in Matadi as well)

Well, I guess if we have to push hard for five days to get across, we will because I won't wait around two weeks hoping for a visa only to be denied and have wasted two weeks. Everything I have read indicates that whatever Angola offers can be found in other countries whose visas are more easily obtained. Even if it is a beautiful and unique country it is not worth waiting three weeks as one of the other posters did and were then denied. If I can't run at 40 miles an hour for 14 hours a day, then I will fly across it. I have ridden many times from daylight to dark, the most recent time was last summer when we rode 900 miles in 13 hours. Would have done better, but stopped to take pictures, eat a leisurely lunch and then stopped again for an early dinner at our next to last gas stop. Yes, it was freeway riding, but When time is pushing, 5 days is a lot of miles even at 30 miles an hour.

Ah yes, Colebatch--but key point in your reply was that you don't know of many who have made it in much less than five days. BUT they did make it less than five days. A lot of it depends on the individual's ability to absorb discomfort and his or her determination. Some riders can't ride for more than 400 miles a day and believe they have accomplished a bunch while there are hundreds of others who have covered 1000 miles in 24 hours and believe they have done something special. Figure if you ride for 16 hours and average 25 miles an hour for 12 of those hours you will arrive with at least one day left on the visa. Riding 16 hours is a cakewalk. If Daylight begins at 5 am and ends at 9, that's your 16 hours. Subtract gas time and a 10 minute break when you get gas with one 30 minute break for lunch and are on the bike for 12 hours. There must be some parts of the road that you can roll for 10 or 15 minutes at 50mph and that brings the average up a little.

Angola roads
 

Obviously you haven't been there yet... count on 10 hours driving a day making 100 miles MAX in the southern half of Angola, unless the Chinese have advanced so far that the situation has improved. That's is 4x4. On bike you could do a bit more but 1 mistake and your f#$@ed!! Potholes the size of swimming pools.


But its still worth going there because of the people, the absence of a tourist industry, its all very authentic!

Also, if you skip it, you haven't made a full overland trip!

Cheers,
Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Wow, for such authenticity I just guess flying over it or riding through the DRC sounds better all the time. I guess I could hang around for two or three weeks for the privilege of riding through a country that offers nothing except landmines and treacherous roads, but there are better things to do. Ten miles an hour maximum just doesn't carry the thunderous appeal needed to entice me into doing the ride.

Hindu, I hope you get through Angola. I spent some 2 weeks in Windhoek trying to get a visa but failed. I had the help of an Angolan friend but still didn't get it. With summer on the way to the eastern Sahara, I felt compelled to continue up the eastern route rather than continuing to wait. I have met quite a few people from Angola and can say this- they are fun! I rarely make generalizations like that, but it is true. I am starting down the western route in September with no set timetable. I plan to spend a couple weeks chilling on a beach while waiting for an Angolan visa. By that point on the ride I believe I'll be ready for a nice break- and my little bike will be needing some care! I believe Angola will be worth the effort- I'll let you know after I visit! Be steady, Hook.

:-D
 

Starts to get funny.

4 days is probably feasible on a bike. I did it in 5 days in a Landrover in 2004. Lots of driving! But I'm sure you can drive more if you want. And in 2004, there where at least a few 100km's around Luanda with about the best tar you can find in Africa. I'd guess there's more tar these days. Before and after that, there're stretches with about the worst roads in Africa.

Get the transit visa and give it a shot. It will be easier then getting the permits etc to ride trough DRC to Zambia.

Oh, ... and there are things to see in Angola you won't find anywhere else... .

Ask for a 10 day transit visa (because your bike isn't very fast with all the lugage, or anything else that sounds acceptable). You might be lucky and get the time.

Let us know how it all works out!

All the best,

Rob

discomfort
 

Hindu,

Apparently you're not interested in all aspects of travelling through Africa, but just interested in getting to your end destination, probably Cape Town. With that mentality it will be hard to put up with all the other hassle you'll encounter along the way and it will be hard to enjoy travelling in Africa. Why not stay home all together and don't even bother with all the hassle, including the discomfort of waiting a few days and bad roads. By the way, we had to wait 3 days for the Angola Visa (double entry, 30 days!)


cheers,

Noel