Hi Jef,

a couple of us are in the Nigeria/Cameroon region at the moment and will be heading down the west coast route within the next month.

Have been following the Marburg outbreak on the BBC website. The way they are talking it seems like it's under control - is this not really the case?

We're intending to travel through Pointe-Noire, Cabinda and cross into Angola via Cabinda. Would be interested to hear updates from the ground - rather than third or so hand on the web!

Regards

B

Hi B(en?),

well, it's difficult to decide when it's under control or not. As I said in my message, there is no reason to panic at all, just to be careful and indeed try to get some information.

Thw whole thing about Marburg is, that it usually starts in remote areas - and, since people die pretty quickly and the means of transport are very limited, usually it can be contained relatively easy - but this case seems to continue moving slowly northbound.

Although I get indeed my information from the field via UN-agencies and NGO's here, sometimes the BBC can be more reliable - communication here is never the strongest point... but we also know that sometimes news is based on only a few quotes from one or another guy...

So, all this actually just to say: don't let it stop you from doing what you planned to do, but just keep your eyes and ears open for updates, and use your best judgement...

Jef

Thanks Jef.

I guess for the moment we'll just head down relatively slowly and make our decisions on the ground when we get nearer.

Does anyone know if there's a way to ship a vehicle and a bike from point noire to, say, Namibia - if it comes to that and the borders with Angola are closed?

Ben

[This message has been edited by BenW (edited 09 April 2005).]

Hi,

what's the weather/main routes like in Cameroon at the moment? In Ghana and considering either down the west route or up to Chad and across (by plane) to Kenya. On bikes.

cheers,
Doug

hi Doug... currently staying at Big Milly's near Accra and about to head South. Where are you?

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www.bigsky-adventures.com

Hi Dougie,

In Nigeria at the moment - the rains haven't started here yet. They should have started about a month ago, so it's hot and dry here at the moment. We had some rain the other night but it was a one off (so far). I don't know what the weather is doing in Cameroon yet, but it should be the start of the small rains (not the major wet season).

We're intending to go down the west coast and have a bike with us too.

B

solms,

staying in Accra itself. been hanging around Champs in the Paloma hotel. Currently trying to get a Nigeria visa.

fancy a beer?

Hey Martin,
Slightly OT, but never mind.
On your way to BM's did a young lad invite you to come camp cheap on the beach (in woven palm leaf cubicles)?
While you're chilling see if you can look him up; he's called Paul Ansan (or perhaps Hansan)
If you find him tear his lungs out for me; last Feb he broke a window and stole the money I had withdrawn to replace my rear spring packs!
Once you're sick of the sh1t on the beach, Ryan's Irish Pub is an excellent, secure place to park up and chill in Accra. They welcome overlanders to park in their guarded car park.
Have fun
Luke

On the crossing from Congo to Angola. There have been queries about the route from Cabinda. The site http://www.die-motorradnomaden.de/Afrika_aktuell.htm describes the ferry from Cabinda to Soyo, for motorbikes and bicycles. Doesn't say whether it can take four-wheeled vehicles.

This route has the advantage of only needing a single entry visa for Angola and avoids DRC altogether.

Note: the site is in German; the translated page is not always clear!

Once you got as far as Cabinda, there really is no reason to avoid DRC (if you stay west of Kin, I'm not talking about the east off course)

Although this thread would seem to indicate that driving down through the Congo's and Angola is doable, we are planning to ship our vehicle from Cameroon to Namibia. Does anyone have experience with this? I've posed the question in a new thread so please reply to: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000343.html