Is going From Ethiopia/Sudan to Morocco possible??
 

Hey everyone,

I should be getting into South Africa late 2018/early 2019 and plan on riding up the eastern coast of Africa to Ethiopia. What I would like to do, but am unsure if it’s possible, is to get to Morocco so I can then make the hop into Spain. This idea is proving to be particularly complicated.

Is there any route that has been traveled by travelers in recent years east to west(or vice versa) across Northern Africa? Seems as though if I go up into Egypt there’s no foreigners allowed into Libya/Algeria. From what I read no foreigners have been allowed to travel across Chad/Niger? What about heading through Sudan to Central African Republic to Cameroon? Or do I need to go even further south through Uganda and the DRC?

Would it be possible to freight my bike on a truck through any of the northern countries(Libya, Chad, Niger, etc) and travel independently? I don’t like that idea but am trying to weigh my options. Would it be possible to fly my bike and myself over to west Africa?

Or have I already answered my own question and should plan on heading north through Egypt to the Mediterranean/Europe?

Hoping this is possible but not surprised if it isn’t.

Thanks,

Chris

No. Do you actually have an idea of the size of the African continent? Do yourself a favour, spend time in Southern Africa, explore SA, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Malawi and, time allowing, the natural beauties of Mozambique... as much as you can, and then when you’ll feel you’ll have seen it all, just head North-East through Zambia into Tanzania and Kenya, and if you still have guts and money, venture into Ethiopia or Uganda. Enjoy a Tusker and live the moment. Save yourself headaches and unnecessary complications otherwise. Good luck with your planning.

You may want to contact Jacopo_92.

He was in the Central African Republic last october. We have not heard from him since that time. Did he go to South Sudan or DRC? Or is he still there?

Assess your own risk no matter the others feedbacks,
Patrick

Thank you for your semi-condescending advice. Hahahaha. bier Duly noted!

But honestly I do appreciate your feedback. Thanks for taking the time to give me your advice.

Chris

Thanks Pat! I’ll send him a message and see if he has any tips.

Appreciate the feedback!

:thumbup1:

One way is getting to Khartoum, then flying bike to Al Junaynah on the other side of Darfur (or of course anywhere in West Af). From there cross Chad and, to avoid what's left of Boko territory, you might want to go via Cameroon for Nigeria then Benin > Burkina > Mali and so on.

Last I heard CAR was well worth avoiding.

Or do as most do: fly it out of Egypt or ferry out of Tel Aviv.

I crossed eastern CAR last year - it is well worth avoiding from a security perspective, at least with your own bike. A few places along the route had to be avoided last minute because we were notified that rebels had advanced into XYZ village/town and had burned it all down. Probably easier to fly over Darfur then Chad/Cameroon etc. Easier still, doing it as far south as Zambia.

Alternatively you could do a circular tour of Southern Africa then head up the west route which I believe is still possible and you will end up in Morocco, if you have the time and money perhaps travel some way up the east then double back first.

I would not rely on this option, it is rather a hit or miss. The flights are irregular, and the process of getting the permission to take it (not to mention taking the bike with you) is not for the faint hearted. The bigger problem is that once in Chad, you do not really have anywhere to go but down to the coast in Cameroon, to follow the Western route up along the coast (Chad-Niger border is a no go, and Northern Burkina/Mali also best left avoided). With CAR a full mess and the Eastern parts of Congo also rather dodgy, the last reasonably safe and straight-forward E-W crossing of the continent Northbound is from Zambia to Angola.

This seems to me to be a reality check on developments within Africa.

The EU is about to bring their own increased efforts to this party which can only stir the pot to achieve an increase in the geopolitical temperature.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKCN1G70J7

I travelled this route back in 2013/14 but the opposite direction.
I think you can still fly your bike from Khartoum to Aljunaynah. Ride from there to adre, Abeche and all the way to Ndjamena. Head south to Mondou and cross the border to Cameroon. Ride all the way to Mamfe and cross the border to Nigeria. Ride through Nigeria and into Benin and enter Togo. head up north in Togo to Dapaong and enter Burkina. Find your way through Burkina and enter Mali through Koro and through Bankas to Mopti. Now you are in the Dogon Land (Nice to spend time there walking through the mountains). Ride from there to Bamako. go up north and enter Mauri and head west all the way to Nouakchott and the rest is easy all the way up to Morocco. this route was very safe back then and I don't know how it is like now (If you go it please, please update!). Hope you have a safe and wonderful ride.

Chris,

Thanks you! I really appreciate your advice and expertise. This is sounding like a great option. Obviously this is a ways away so things/plans can change but this is really helpful for wrapping my head around what options I have.

Yeah, I think I'll most likely avoid CAR. Might be a bit too adventurous for me. When planning a rough route though this area it's important for to remember that I'm not Indiana Jones. Haha. :mchappy:

This is definitely a possibility. I'm really just trying to figure out my options right now and whats possible. I'll have to feel things out as I'm get closer.

Thanks!

Ahhhh good to note. Thank you for the heads up Andrasz. I figure if I end up going the eastern route up Africa and things get too complicated trying to head west in Sudan I can always continue north to Egypt or if time/budget permit I can make my way back down south.