This is my first post after a few weeks' browsing. This appears to be an excellent, no-nonsense site.

I leave Monday for Libreville and will spend through early October getting to Windhoek by public transport and hitching. My main concern is the Angola visa, but previous posts cover this pretty well--i.e., hope for a transit visa at Matadi (turned down even for a transit visa in NYC last week).

So the issue I would like some help with is Gabon to Brazzaville. My idea had been to train to Franceville and then head across from Leconi to Oyo via what appears the most direct west-east route, and then down the good road to Brazzaville (from there ferry to Kinshasa, then to Matadi, then figure out Angola). There appears to be one post confirming that this route is doable (at least, saying that the road from Franceville to Brazzaville "should be good"--not sure of the exact route). But most people seem to take the coast road, though I think there is still a Ninja issue there. Any suggestions one way or the other? I am a very experienced Africa traveler, but this will be my first trip to Central Africa.

I would be doing this sometime between approximately September 10 and 20, and am not sure how heavily the rainy season kicks in around that area by then.

Thanks very much for any help.

CK

I just did that route about 1 month ago.

The route from Fansville through to Lekoni is not bad. There is a nice hotel there and one can go and see the various canyons around there.

From there the road gets more difficult, although sandy, which means that even after heavy rain it should still be possible. We had very heavy thunder showers on that route and made it through ok.

Once you get to Oyo there is brand new tarmac.

I am really not sure about the public transport situation on this route and you might have to wait a few days for a lift.

I'm planning this route for 2008...by car (Wolkswaguen Passat 1995) from Spain...Do you think it's passable all te way down there(mauritania, mali, niger, Nigeria seem ok but the rest it's unknown for me, specially the Camerun, Congo, DR Congo to Angola path...
what about isas on route? Thank¡s for sharing the info !
robertson

In Congo and Congo DR there are some pretty big mud holes. I guess it is difficult and someone must be dragging you through with a 4x4, especially if there has been rain.

On main road to Matadi from Cabinda (imagine if this hole is full of water ):

UASky, do you or anyone know how far the tarmac runs north of Oyo?
I presume it is headed for Ouesso for the logging but from there it's a dead or sticky end as far as getting into/out of Cameroon goes...??

thanks

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

wOW! what a pic! We are plannig the trip starting on march 2008 in Barcelona..planing to spend 4 months in africa (we will try to reach Cape Town). No tarmac means problems as a Wolkswagen passat 2.0 has just 2WD. Any sgestions about what road we MUST take from CAmeroon to SA? We al have seen Peugeots and other Miracoulous cars in africa but I would like to know if you see those machines aroud those roads...
If not possible the we will try to find out if any public ransport can bring us from Cameroon to SA, but that option is less interesting...We can not aford a 4WD and riding a 2WD car in sand is not our favourite game..Any sugestions will be welcome!
robertson and Eva