Ferry Cotonou - Port Mole

[laurent wydemans]

Hi all,

Do you have any information regarding the ferry between Cotonou (Benin) and Porte Mole (Gabon). I've my bike stored in Lagos but the way by road seems to be defintely dangerous regarding BH along the coast and between Calabar and Abudja.

Any info since 2016?

Regards
Laurent

[PatOnTrip]

Hi Laurent,

There was nothing to worry about last year when staying on the main roads.

If you want some security and avoid wasting money on the ferry, I would contact We.ABC on facebook. They organize events for West African Bikers. From memory, the women in charge is also working for the Nigerian Department of Transport. They could organize an escort for you. Many have sports bike and they cross nigeria in a few hours.

I did not contact them, I rode on my own. But I got this info from the Togo Moto Club.


Patrick

[Brian Dublin]

Originally Posted by PatOnTrip

Hi Laurent,

There was nothing to worry about last year when staying on the main roads.

If you want some security and avoid wasting money on the ferry, I would contact We.ABC on facebook. They organize events for West African Bikers. From memory, the women in charge is also working for the Nigerian Department of Transport. They could organize an escort for you. Many have sports bike and they cross nigeria in a few hours.

I did not contact them, I rode on my own. But I got this info from the Togo Moto Club.


Patrick

her name is Queen and she is a translator for ECOWAS in Abuja and she would not recommend travelling overland to Abuja. There is no need to go that far north when travelling the west African route.

[PatOnTrip]

Thanks Brian for clarifying who that women is.

Patrick

[Chronist]

Hi, I have been riding from Lome to Yaounde last january crossing Nigeria from Kaiama to Ikom. No Problems at all. Very friednly People, no hassle. Never paid anything. Especially Army, Immigration and Police were helpful and correct. My recommendation just to it - following the middle belt such as most of the foreign Offices recommend. best regards Chronist

[Margus]

I remembered exactly the same story back in 2012 when I rode through Nigeria.

Since it was a wet season we skipped Mamfe mud trail (our friend did it, took him weeks of mountanous mud drowning struggle, mostly with local hands pushing his bike) and took the Limbe-Calabar "banana" ferry (our bike was drowned under bananas, and we were ordered to keep under deck when entering the Cross river delta - piracy is common in the area and while tourist is a great bargaining chip)

We took the southern route from Calabar to Benin City, between Ibadan and Lagos entered Benin a tad bit more north from a small very quiet and smooth border post. Nigeria was very fine and felt reasonably safe despite the endless warnings.

[simon dippenhall]

As Patrick said.

I crossed Nigeria solo in February without problem, entering at Nikki from Benin and going via Shaki, Ibadan, Benin City, Onitsha, Oweri, Aba to Calabar and then on to Cameroon via Mamfe.

Lots of very friendly and helpful people - the inevitable checkpoints from the myriad agencies who feel they have to check something - but a positive experience.

Decided not to go as far south as Port Harcourt.

Simon


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