Originally Posted by Overlander1995

Hi Karim,
Well done! Inspirational and helpful post!

I am not on Instagram or Facebook and have some questions because I'm planning a similar solo trip (ex-Dublin, via TMT Morocco and then Nouakchott-Choum) this winter 2025-6 on my CRF250L with an ultra-light approach to packing (e.g. possibly no cooking).


why not? this is where people help each other. dont you want help? you need to be on facebook and instagram. especially the West Africa Travellers facebook group. and a couple of others to keep abreast of current border issues etc.

- You mentioned delays getting visas: Where did you get each visa for Guinea, Cote Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Angola. Is there a city from where one can secure multiples? Any suggestions?
(I appreciate there are some other posts about West Africa visas but you've excluded Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia and I'd like to understand your thinking.)

you just need to make a visa plan, use ioverlander and West Africa Travellers facebook group as your resources. but depends on your nationality. you need to work all the time to ensure the whole visa thing goes well. give it your top energy/priority. but its no fun.



I excluded them because I wanted to pass quickly through west africa to be passed Nigeria by end of march (rainy season start)


- Was 8 months too fast? Or could it be done quicker and still have some quality of life?

I did 6 months, and was fine for me. so its personal. I think the seasons affect greatly your time in each area. and how much money you budget

- Equatorial West Africa appears to be "not for the feint-hearted". Online I see few stories and youtubes of overlanders actually enjoying Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, etc. Was there much respite from the borders and roads?

its just hard work , hot and can be expensive. once passed nigeria it became easier. but many people find great places in west africa to spend alot of time.

Apart from iOverland and HUBB what Facebook groups are useful for overlanders in West Africa?
Regards, Ruairi

Originally Posted by Overlander1995

Thanks for your kind reply, Karim.
Just to clarify, I already use iOverland, and I will reluctantly be giving up privacy and joining Facebook

Just make it private


(and actually I love helping others and still have overlander friends from 30 years ago.) I didn't realise Instagram would be useful, so will go on that too, thanks.

One second-last question from a light-weight obsessed solo guy on a light bike, would I ever need a sleeping bag if I only brought 4kg tent/mattress and fleece and puffa and cap and longjohns? I reckon if I needed to sleep very occasionally in the desert in Mauritania or Morocco it might get cold at night?

I was in the desert in dec and it was not too cold I used a summer sleeping
bag. Here is the WhatsApp address of an Africa Pal who rode ultralight weight by motorbike to Cape Town same time as me just now. he will give you perfect answers I think he said the thing he most missed was camping stove.
You can mention I referred you. Jonny Flanders +44 7444 701982

One last question, I'm looking for the stretch of old beach road along the atlantic that pre-dates the current paved road somewhere on the way south. Lolo Cochet (@LoloCochetMoto ) rode it on Transalps and also on a Yamaha 100 recently but it is difficult to identify. Maybe it is just north of Dakhla.
I see you got stuck in sand, but I suspect that was the same place in Mauritania that Lolo bogged-down his Yamaha 100. I don't see mentions of the beach road in Morocco Overland, though there might be a stretch of it just below Sidi Ifni. Any advice?

I don’t know it. But Morocco is well documented,you can find it. The problem with beach riding is it needs to be a good beach otherwise it’s really hard on the bike and heavy on fuel so in general riding on beaches, which promises to be fun, unless it’s a well known driveable beach you quickly end up in trouble. Or can only ride short sections.

I got stuck on the beach run from Nouadhibou to Noukchott. Not worth doing it as heavy sand also expected making it no fun.




Also I'm leaving in either October or November (Ireland-Bilbao and TET to TMT to Iron Ore Train tracks to Choum.) Your profile says you're looking to to the TMT then give me a shout Or if passing Dublin?

Nice.if you need more tips, Easier to use WhatsApp/emsil=
Karim.Huss@gmail.com
+44 7879632263

Gotta go now and prepare for fitting an oversized tank to my CRF 250L.

Fun times
K