tour of Africa in a few steps
 

Hello everyone!

As I am a (happy) father now, it will be more difficult for me to leave home for a long time. Therefore I am beginning to plan a tour of Africa in a few steps.

How can I leave my bike for a few months in a country? Which countries will make that easier?

Any experience welcome!

Thanks

Guillaume

Hi Guillaume,
Great plan for a young father! You must have a fantastic wife!
Have you any idea which side you want to go?
At the Moment the east side seems to be easier - also as far as the customs issues is concerned. F.E. in Nairobi there is "jungle junction" a Long time traeller stop that will help you. Ask for example the guys at 2radkamele - they did it that way.
I´m currently on my way on the western side - also stage by stage. We did go from Europe to Gambia - then Togo - then Cameroun. Besides Senegal Gambia and Ghana, nobody wanted a Carnet de Passage (which makes you definetely a case for the customs). In all the other Westafricarean or centarl african countries we crossed the border at very small border Posts that did not care or told us that we Need nothing because we are on Transit to South Africa.
Of course at beginning we had the same worries but managed to get that far. Because of the security Situation in DRC we don´t know at the Moment how to proceed.
Hope that helped a Little
best regards
Tom

Hello Tom,
Oh yes my wife is wonderful!!!
I plan to go to the west side.
How did you manage to let your bikes for some months in Gambia, Togo and Cameroon? Do you have a carnet, do you obtain long TIPs at the customs?
Can you give me the contacts of the places where you left your bike?
Thanks
Guillaume

There seems to be a myth about Ghana, they don't require a Carnet at all, I've had many people successfully cross the border from Cote d'Ivoire into Ghana with the minimum of fuss ... however if you enter from Burkina at Hamale it's a different matter as it appears the guys don't know what they're doing. About 10 days ago some Canadians crossed into Ghana from CI, worried they'd have problems, none at all, they were thrilled!

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I was planning on entering Ghana from Burkina at Hamale in about 2 weeks. I don't have a carnet, so I read this and it got my attention. I have read that they make you buy some other sort of bond insurance, but I'm not sure if that's still the case or if they just flat out refuse your entry?

Is it the same if I cross from Burkina from Leo or at Paga? Or do you think it's best to just go through CI?

Thanks!

It's a good question, one that I have so far not found the answer to ...

I know both Hamale & Paga borders well, crossed them many times but on foot. Paga is far more advanced, not quite so much as Elubo (CI border on the coast) but far better than Hamale. They might allow it ... if not it's a long way to ride back and cross into CI south of Kampti (BF) north of Doropo (CI) at Koguienou

Hamale - CDP
 

Hi,
I crossed Hamale last year and they asked for a Carnet - as well as when we left at Wli Afegame, which is a very small border crossing to Togo.
So I guess you should stick to Creers previous remarks on Ghana Border crossings
best regards
Tom

Hi Guillame,

I've been doing a trip down West Africa in a small 4x4 in multiple stages over the past couple of years.

I've done it in 2-3 week hops to Cameroon but am now planning to do a longer stint down to South Africa:

- Morocco to Gambia
- Gambia to Ghana
- Ghana to Benin
- Benin to Cameroon

For car storage:

- In Gambia I stored it in Sukuta camping which is used to doing this and can arrange for an extension to the import papers so you can store it there for as long as you like

- In Ghana I left it with a friend in Tamale. Following advice on this forum, I deliberately entered and exited on quiet, non computerised borders to make sure they didn't link my car to my passport (so I wouldn't have issues flying out). This seemed to work and they didn't flag it up that I left the car in there for so many months

- In Benin, I left it with Au Jardin Helvetia. I just contacted them through their website and they said they had a spare garage for around £25 per month I think. It actually took me longer than expected to return to Benin to pick it up which meant my Carnet had expired. I was a bit worried about this but got a new Carnet issued when I was in the UK and at the next border just hoped they wouldn't query it. Fortunately I was lucky. I used a really small, friendly border to go to Nigeria and they couldn't care less

- In Cameroon, I contacted a few people online to see if I could store a car and someone I contacted on Airbnb had a friend who could store it in a hotel car park. A bit expensive ($100 per month) but they run the engine and keep the battery charged at least

All in all, I'd say go ahead and do it. I thought it might be a nightmare but it's really quite ok (and on the plus side you can sort all the visas at home which avoids spending so much time in embassies whilst on holiday).

Hope this helps.

Hi,

Crossed the CI to Ghana border at Niable few months ago on my bike; no carnet was needed, no temporary import.

Hi,

Crossed the CI to Ghana border at Niable few months ago on my bike; no carnet was needed, no temporary import.