We went that way in March. Enjoyed it a lot, but very thankful it was dry!
IMG_2822 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
:thumbup1:

We got our Guinea Conakry visa very easily at the consulate in Bissau. It's located just one street of Praca Che Guevara. Had to fill out one form, bring one passport photo and they needed to copy our yellow fever certificates. Collection of the visas was at 14:00 on the same day.
Costs were 30.000CFA for one, 60.000CFA for two and 90.000CFA for three months all multiple entry.
They also predated the visas for us which was nice. :thumbup1:

Cheers from Bissau
Fabian

UPDATE: I met 9-001-SEB in Windhoek, Namibia last week. Apparently getting your GABON visa at the border is NOT something they're keen to do anymore. He had to wait something like 5 hours before they would give him one, and they tried getting him to turn back. Hopefully he chimes in. So I would suggest anyone using this thread as a guide try to get their Gabon visa before the border.

Just shortly our Freetown experiences:

Ghana visa:
The embassy of Ghana has recently moved from the city centre up the hill and is easiest reached by taking a poda poda up to Wilberforce Roundabout. The usually only issue visas to residents so it took us a couple of hours of explaining and waiting until our application was accepted. Having the Nigeria visa already in our passports helped as it proved our intentions to travel to South Africa. It took 6 days to process our applications as everything had to go through Accra and had to be done perfectly. Even the smallest mistakes on the application form needed to be fixed with correction fluid and rewritten.
You get one form from the embassy and need to copy it three times. The four identically filled out forms together with another form provided by the embassy and 4 passport photos should do the trick.
We paid 100US$ (no notes smaller than 50US$ accepted) for a 1 month single entry visa with entry within 1 month.

Liberia visa:
The Liberia embassy is situated close to the Ghana embassy and just opposite the British high commission. You supposedly need an invitation letter and reference but they did not care. We needed to fill out one form and bring one passport photo. The process usually takes 2 days but we said that we were in a hurry and could pick it up the next day. For 50US$ extra you can get an emergency visa the same day.
We paid 100US$ (Leone also accepted) for a 1 month single entry visa with 3 months time to enter the country. A 3 month multiple entry visa costs 150US$.

Cheers
Fabian

We have also posted our experiences from W. Africa about visas, maps, routes, waypoints, repair shops and others at:

ΒΔ Αφρική - mad nomad

We'll keep posting throughout our way around the continent!

Guinea Bissau visa in Zinguichor
 

Just went to the Bissau consulate in Zinguichor. Met the consul near the entrance. He filled out the form himself, and I left after 10 (!) minutes with a visa for one month (22.500 cfa). I congratulated him on what must be the quickest visa process in the whole of Africa!:thumbup1:

Cheers,

Gee

Some of you mentioned being turned away from embassies for wearing shorts and flip flops.

With all due respect, why would you turn up at an embassy in West Africa in shorts and flip flops?

We have developed good relations with most of the embassies in West Africa over the years, and a number of officials have told me that they can't stand foreign travellers turning up like they've just come in from the beach!

Sandals ok, but flip flops? You all know how these embassy officials are, doesn't take much effort to put some trousers on and decent shoes for visiting to create a good impression.

Completely agree!

Cheers,

Gee

Nigeria visa in Bissau
 

Hi,

Got my Nigerian visa in Bissau today. Took less than an hour - "tomorrow is Saturday and you cannot move without your passport", the man said - postdated 6 weeks, 3-month visa for 50.000 cfa. Very, very easy.
Highly recommended!

And if you have to stay somewhere, try restaurant Almagie. It's owned by a German, Andreas, you can camp, use a kitchen and toilets (clean), secure, guarded parking, has good free wifi and a restaurant. They also have rooms. Nigerian embassy 5 minutes walk.
Coordinates: 11.87839 15.63887

Happy travels,

Gee

Must agree with you there as I would not think of doing something similar when visiting authorities back home either.


Ivory Coast visa in Monrovia, Liberia:

The Ivory Coast embassy (N6 17.397 W10 46.712) is located near Congo Town together with diplomatic institutions of several other countries. The secretary was a very kind woman and we only had to fill out one form, hand in 2 passport photos and pay 69US$/person for a 1 month single entry visa valid from desired date. We could pick up our visas on the next day in the afternoon. Theoretically the price is the same for a 3 day till 3 month visa.

Visas in Accra, Ghana:

Benin visa:
The embassy (N5 37.005 W0 11.195) is a bit hidden but still in the main area of diplomatic representations. A 14 day single entry visa costs 40Cedi (11,60€) and a one month multiple entry visa 80Cedi (23,20€). They tried to extract an extra fee for same day processing but gave up quickly so we could pick up our passports at 14:00. We had to fill out two times the same form and provide 2 passport photos.

Togo visa:
The embassy (N5 34.559 W0 10.698) is located away from other diplomatic representations but easily reached via the Ring Road. A one month single entry visa costs 35.000CFA (53,30€) and we were told that it is not possible to pay in another currency. We arrived late in the afternoon and bargained hard to pay an extra 10Cedi/person (2,90€) to get the visas issued immediately. Two identical forms had to be filled out and 2 passports photos handed over.

Angola visa:
The embassy (N5 36.736 W0 11.219) is located in the main area of diplomatic representations but not signposted. The staffs were friendly and professional but also strict on requirements to obtain a visa. Applications are only accepted on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00-12:00 and visas can be picked up on Fridays. You actually keep your passport until Thursday when you have to come in to register fingerprints and pay the visa fee and thereby finish your application. The following is needed to obtain a one month single entry tourist visa:

3 passport photos with white (!) background
Filled out form provided by embassy
Passport copy
International driver license copy
Vehicle paper copy
Yellow fever certificate copy
Bank statement or copy of credit card (front suffices)
Letter of introduction explaining your situation and listing all the countries you will travel through
Itinerary describing your date of entry into Angola and places/sights you want to visit
Equivalent of 160US$ (116,80€) in Cedi (recently changed from US$ to Cedi)

Note that we were not allowed to place several copies on the same paper (e.g. driver license and yellow fewer certificate). The visa is valid for 2 months from date of issue which means you have to enter Angola before the expiry date and are then allowed to spend one month in the country. We tried everything to extend these 2 months or let them write down a later date of issue but to no avail. They were also not allowed to issue us with multiple entry visas which not long ago was still possible. On both matters several phone calls from different staff members were made with Luanda without results. As we want to enter into the Angolan enclave Cabinda first and do not want to use up our one month visa they provided us with a stamped and signed letter explaining our situation addressed to the Angolan consulates in Pointe Noire and Matadi. We will update later on the success or failure of us obtaining a transit visa for Cabinda.


For more information also on campings, fuel prices and so on feel free to visit our country info page. There you can also download a regularly updated PDF for quick offline access on the road.

Regards from Chez Alice in Lomé, Togo
Fabian

Very helpful!
 

Hi Fabian,

Thanks for all the information you've put together. I'm in Bissau right now, leaving for the Fouta Djalon and Siera Leone tomorrow, so it's very helpful!

Happy travels!

Gee

Angola visa in Ghana
 

Hi,
quick update to the ANGOLA visa letter from Fabian. We tried on 24 Feb and they told us rules had changed.
Now the paperwork must be translated into Portuguese, they will accept google translations.
Must pay in cedi, they prefer you pay into their bank.
The main difference to last letter is that now you have to wait 8 days after putting in on Monday or Tuesday. They assure me they will be open on the Wednesday for me to collect.
Otherwise as per above letter.

I am still waiting for the visa, go in tomorrow to hand in passport and collect on Wednesday.

Mike

More on Angolan visa
 

Hi once more,
just to finish my account I went to collect the visa and was told that they needed a copy of the Ghana visa and so I should come back in another week. It was partly my fault as they would have contacted me by phone but I do not have one.
In the end I advised my Ghana visa expired on the Monday and they told me to return then.
At that point I did collect the visa. The only problem I have, which I did not notice at the time is that they have put my wife's visa in my passport and mine in hers!! Just hoping they will accept at the border.
Mike

Ghana and Ivory Coast visa in Monrovia
 

Hi all,

Just to update the thread:

Got my Ivory Coast visa in Monrovia today. Took 2 hours, mainly spent with the consul who is a very nice, talkative man in need of a conversation. Cost 69 use for one month.

Also got my Ghana visa here. Easy: 4 photos, 4 copies of application form, copy of entry stamp, copy of passport, letter of introduction (in which you explain the reason for traveling, etc). Pick up next day, 70 usd.

Boy, I'm glad I can scan, copy and print in the car!

Safe travels from Monrovia!

Gee

Just a little update from us. We are happy to announce that we are through with the visa business for West and Central Africa.bier

Togo

Gabon visa:
The embassy (N6 10.832 E1 14.087) is located in the north of Lomé. A one month single entry visa costs 50.000CFA (76,20€) and can be picked up the following afternoon. For an extra 15.000CFA (23€) they issue it on the same day. Applications have to be handed in between 8 and 11:30 on weekdays. 2 passport photos (white background), passport copy, Togo visa copy, yellow fever certificate copy and hotel reservation (e.g. booking.com, can usually be cancelled free of charge) are necessary and you have to fill out one application form. Date of entry can be chosen freely.

Republic of Congo visa:
The embassy (N6 10.105 E1 12.460) is reached over a very rough track in an area where you would not expect a diplomatic representation to be located. They issue visas while you wait and the date of entry can be chosen freely. A 15 day single entry visa costs 60.000CFA (91,50€) and a 3 month multiple entry visa 80.000CFA (122€). Two passport photos, passport copy and copies of at least 3 African visas are necessary as well as completing one application form.

DRC visa:
The embassy (N6 08.764 E1 12.677) was a bit tricky to find and is located near the hospital. It is run by a lovely family and the husband speaks English. A one month single entry visa costs 40.000CFA (61€), can be picked up the following day and you state the approximate date of entry but it is supposedly valid from any date of entry. To be able to apply you need to become a Togolese resident and their son usually sorts that out for you. Costs are 12.500CFA per person (19€). It might be a bit cheaper to organize yourself at a police office. Apart from that you need two passport photos, passport copy and yellow fever certificate copy as well as one filled out application form.

Nigeria

Cameroon visa:
The embassy (N9 04.267 E7 29.389) is located in the city centre and easy to reach. A one month single entry visa costs either 50.000CFA West (76,20€), 120US$ (only large notes from 2005 onwards, 87,60€) or 18.500Naira (84€). Passport copy, 2 passport photos, yellow fever certificate copy, vehicle paper copy and copies of the Nigeria visa as well as Gabon visa (if already in the passport) are needed as well as one filled out application form. Pickup is the following day at 14:00.

Alternatively you can also acquire the Cameroon visa in Calabar (N4 59.777 E8 19.429) on the same day without any hassle.

All waypoints as .gpx as well as more info also as .pdf on our blog!

Cheers from Limbé, Cameroon!

Fabian