KARIMS TRANS-AFRICA TRIP REPORT
photos here=
https://www.instagram.com/vintagetenere/?hl=en
(a few photos copied below, cannot fix orientation...)
TRIP AND DATE
Route: UK to South Africa
Timeframe: 2024/2025
DURATION, DISTANCE, COST etc.
• Duration: 6 months
• Distance: 22,100 km
• Cost: €8,000
• Fuel Consumed 1039 liters
• Piston Cycles 56,500,000
• Punctures 2
COUNTRIES TRAVERSED (17)
Spain, Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Cabinda, DRC, Angola, Namibia, South Africa
BIKE DETAILS
Model: Yamaha XT600 Tenere 1984 (34L)
MODIFICATIONS
• New engine build by David Lambeth (faultless throughout the trip)
• Hyperpro rear shock (strong and reliable)
• Luggage racks
• Oil temperature gauge
STRENGTHS
• Simple, reliable, robust design
• No fuel injection, no electronics
• Classic vintage styling and engine sound
• Excellent power delivery off-road
WEAKNESSES
• Side stand mount (strengthened during the trip)
• Kick Start mount (known weak point)
• Casing vulnerable to damage
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
• Chain came off due to rope caught in rear wheel (resulted in casing damage and oil leak)
• Oil cooler and tachometer drive removed
• One broken rear spoke
• Lithium battery replaced
• Kick Start Mount broke
BEST EQUIPMENT
• iPhone 13 Mini
• Quadlock wireless iPhone mount with damper
• Garmin Montana 750 GPS
• USB-powered air compressor
• Motoz Rallz rear tyre (lasted the whole trip)
• Chain and sprockets (lasted the whole trip)
• GPD PocketPC Mini Laptop
• LS2 helmet
• Leatherman Wave multitool
• Heliox Ultralight Camp Chair
POOR EQUIPMENT
• Thermarest sleeping mat (4 punctures)
• Automatic chain oiler (damaged by jet wash)
• Coleman fuel stove (major leaks)
• Bike power accessory module (failed after 6 weeks)
• Multiple small electrical items failed – even “rugged” ones
BIGGEST HEADACHES
• Visa planning and acquisition
• 10-day wait to cross Nigeria–Cameroon border
• Empty fuel stations in Guinea, Angola, and Congo
• Losing a bag with spare parts and shoes from the bike
• Jacket damaged after getting jammed in the rear wheel
• Frequently losing small items despite care
BIGGEST SURPRISES
• New jungle road in Congo
• Positivity of Nigerian people
• Intense heat in Nigeria (41°C)
• Unexpected wildlife in Namibia
FAVOURITE PLACES
• Desert crossing: Algeria/Mauritania
• Angola
• Namibia
• Mountain crossing: Nigeria to Cameroon
LEAST FAVOURITE PLACES
• Conakry (Guinea)
• Yaoundé (Cameroon)
• DRC
• Any place with open roadside sewers
BORDER EXPERIENCES
• Best: Namibia / South Africa
• Worst: Angola / DRC
NEXT TRIP IDEAS
• Southern Algeria
• Trans Morocco Trail
BEST THINGS ABOUT THE TRIP
• A truly authentic motorcycle adventure
• Genuine kindness from strangers
• Camaraderie and support from fellow adventurers (met in-person and online)
• Encouraging messages from home
• No major illness, accidents, or unfixable mechanical issues
• Immense satisfaction from making progress and crossing borders
• Plenty of time for personal reflection while riding
WORST THINGS ABOUT THE TRIP
• The cost, stress, and effort of visa applications
• Getting deeply stuck on the Mauritanian shoreline with rising tides
• Supermarket guards repeatedly asking to move the bike
• Engine casing damage on an Ivorian beach
• Struggling to sleep in hot climates with tents sealed against mosquitos
• Scam fees at the Diama border
• Eviction from a Namibian campsite for no clear reason
• Witnessing severe poverty, human suffering, and animal cruelty
• Being constantly asked for money by police and civilians
• Eating healthily was difficult
• Being seen as an “object” in some places
• High risk of accidents with harsh legal consequences
WHAT I’D DO BETTER NEXT TIME
• Install a small, hidden dashcam for accident documentation
• Invest in hot-weather riding gear
• Spotlights for occasional night driving
• Carry more emergency cash for breakdowns, illness, and remote area needs
• Visit countries bypassed: Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea