|
9 May 2012
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sark
Posts: 18
|
|
West African visas going north. Cape town - London
Hi all,
Im a British citizen hoping to head north from South Africa up the west coast towards the end of this year.
Ive seen a lot of info on getting visas and some horror stories, especially Angola, but most of it is for coming south.
Has anyone had recent experience going up? Any information would be great. I'm wondering if I can get my Angola visa in Cape town before I leave.
Cheers
|
9 May 2012
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 22
|
|
Just over a year ago we managed to get visas in Pretoria (where the Angolan embassy in SA is). This was an unbelievably drawn out process involving lots of letters including one from the British High Commission. The most common situation is the granting of a 5 day tourist visa, which is just about enough to cross the country with the new Chinese roads there. I would recommend trying to arrange this particular visa as far in advance as possible.
PS. some people have recommended getting a DRC visa in the passport before you apply to prove that you are just transitting - might be something worth considering.
|
9 May 2012
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 738
|
|
Holy cow, this board is inundated with bikers from Sark! How many of you guys can there be? Is the whole island out travelling the world on bikes?
A couple of years ago I got my Angola visa in Cape Town. It was pretty easy then, but now the rules have changed and you pretty much have to get it in your home country.
Same with the DRC visa, get it at home and save yourself a ton of hassle. This Christmas, I caught up with Veis in Mali as he was heading south and I was coming north. He didn't have his Angola visa yet and it was a major pain for him to get one and a few overlanders have even had enough problems that they have chosen to fly over instead of spending the time and money to courier their passports back home.
Ghana is another country that has changed their rules and at least on the surface is pushing for visas to be obtained in your home country. A couple I met in Ouagadougou were successful in getting a visa there, but if it's easy and you definitely want to go there, that's another one I would get ahead of time.
Say hi to George for me.
|
9 May 2012
|
Banned
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 971
|
|
Hi,
Oh yes to get the visa for Angola was a nightmare. First i tryed in germany then in capetown with a agency and finaly i spend hours waiting at the embassy my selfe untill i filany got it:
Riding the rough west coast through Africa part 3
Travel save, Tobi
|
17 May 2012
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sark
Posts: 18
|
|
Unfortunately i am in Australia now and will not be going back to the UK before Africa so this rules out getting it in my home country. Although i could post the passport back i suppose..
I will have to email the embassy I guess. Failing that, cross fingers and hope. That you guys have managed in SA is reassuring, at least there is a tiny chance.
@Mountainman. I will, he is off picking bananas in Queensland at the moment though! and I'm off bush for a while..
I heard Veysal was down there, I'm hoping to bump into him in SA and pick his brains over a few s..
|
17 May 2012
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 738
|
|
Aye, Veys is somewhere down there although I'm not sure how far along he is currently. He was still wearing the jacket that he swapped with George all those years back
I didn't realize you were in Aus, which complicates the visa thing a bit. If you are going to be there a while, couriering your passport back to the homeland is the way to go. I would definitely get the Angola and DRC visa ahead of time if at all possible, it'll save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Might be worth it to look at a visa service agency that can take your passport to the first embassy and then the second one and then courier your passport back to you. It can be a bit expensive, as a lot of visas cost ~$100USD on the west coast and you have to add the agency fee on top of that, but it beats that alternative of waiting and worrying in a country on the way up a few months down the road.
|
20 May 2012
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 129
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarkbiker
Hi all,
Im a British citizen hoping to head north from South Africa up the west coast towards the end of this year.
Ive seen a lot of info on getting visas and some horror stories, especially Angola, but most of it is for coming south.
Has anyone had recent experience going up? Any information would be great. I'm wondering if I can get my Angola visa in Cape town before I leave.
Cheers
|
Hey Sarkbiker,
How is the visa hunting going? Im going to be catching up with your brother George in a couple weeks in north Queensland. Depending on timing I may head to South America with him? Im off to Antartica for 12 months soon first. If not will be shipping my 4x4 to Africa to do West Africa after that. Will be interested in hearing how you go!. Looks like you had a good time in Western Australia.
Patrick
PS I meet George when I was working in Africa and helped him out with his bike in Egypt. I was the guy that looked after his bike for 12 months in Australia when he headed back to England to save money.
|
23 May 2012
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Rio
Posts: 8
|
|
Have just come north from Accra, Ghana to Senegal. Got the visas for Cote divoir, Burkina, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinnea all in Accra- around 80USD each. No carnet or laissez-passez needed for the bikes thus far.
Hope that helps
|
23 May 2012
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London and all over West Africa
Posts: 678
|
|
Hey Alex,
How easy was the Ivory Coast visa in Accra? Did you do the online payment and then have to go for fingerprinting? Or did they issue the old style non-biometric visas? Would be good to know, thanks for any information.
David
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 4 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 4 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2024:
- California: April 18-21
- Virginia: April 25-28
- Germany Summer: May 9-12
- Québec: May 17-19
- Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
- CanWest: July 11-14
- Switzerland: August 15-18
- Ecuador: August 23-25
- Romania: August 30-Sept 1
- Austria: September 12-15
- France: September 20-22
- Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3
2025:
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025!
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- France: September 19-21 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
HUBBUK: info
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|