Western Africa in July?
 

I am looking into riding a scooter from Tanger to Dakar, maybe even to Gambia in July.

I've read that temperatures and rain in Western Africa can be ferocious. However, the sources generalise about an area far greater than the US or Europe, leading me to think that different regions are likely to be vastly different, just as the differnece between east-west-north-south are very different in both Europe and the US. Most sources advice against Western Africa during the summer. I don't know, but I have come to believe that the temperatures and rain really doesn't prove to be an issue unless you go further south than Dakar or if you go east, away from the coast. Any comments?

What I wonder is how would the conditions be on the route from Tanger to Dakar? I believe most of the stretch is close to the coast. Comments?

Temperatures, rain, humidity? Morocco? Western Sahara? Mauritania? Senegal? How about Banjul Dakar? Comments?

ROFLMAO

Really, is it that bad?... or am I just plainly ignorant?

stop Rolling about On the Floor Laughing Your Ass Off and speak to me in a coherant manner I can understand... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

>>Most sources advice against Western Africa during the summer.

Er, yes. Temperature charts show you the heat in the shade, but the real problem is the strength of the sun. You don't want to have to travel by night.

You'd be better lowering the challenge. Tanger to Marrakech would be a great trip, although even then I would really advise against July and August.

Tim

Are you thinking of doing this on your own?
The last time I was in southern Morocco in high summer the temperature was in the high 40's and we had to stop riding and rest up in the shade during the afternoon.
The atlantic route is a long long ride in temperatures that could well be higher. What happens when you break down/ run out of fuel/ run out of water? It's an annoyance at 20C (winter temp) but life threatening at +40C

It is my wife and I... we want to do the shortest/fastest route from Tanger to Dakar. We want to to it during our summer vacation... but not if it is hell on earth.

Looking at guide books I get the impression that the atlantic route would be OK, but I lack experience. The temperatures I have provided below are shade temperatures. Will the "sun" temperature would differ substantially between summer and winther when shade temperature is the sam? To clarify, if the temperature in the shade was 30 degrees on both a summer and winters day, wouldn't their "sun" temperature also be similar? Also, how much hotter would it be in the sun?

According to THE ROUGH GUIDE TO WEST AFRICA:

Max/Min average temperature day/night in July (October):

MAURITANIA: "The coast is cooled by sea breezes, but you'd probably want to avoid the interior between April and October".
Nouakchott: 32/23 (33/22)
Nouadhibou: 27/18 (30/19) - hotter in oct
Atar: 43/25 (38/23) - HOT HOT HOT! But I wouldn't go this far inland anyways.

SENEGAL:
"Senegals climate is one of the best in West Africa... The weather needn't alter your travel plans as a rule..."

Max/Min average temperature day/night in July (October):

Dakar: 31/24 (32/24)- Hotter in october
Ziguinchor: 33/24 (31/23)

MAURITANIA: "On the coast the rains don't begin much before July..."

Max/Min average temperature day/night in July (October):

Banjul: 30/23 (32/22) - Hotter in october

Banjul gets 16 days of rain in July and a total of 282mm.This doesn't really tell me much. Is it like in south east Asia where it can pour buckets for 20 minutes and then the sun comes out? How would the roads from Dakar to Banjul be? How much is 282mm?

Did a package tour (laugh all you want) to Tunisia a couple of summers ago, did the obligatory 2 hour package tour camel ride at the northern edge of sahara... it was hot but bareable... Not much experience in other words. I can tell a story or two of really cold temperatures from my army days on the Norwegian Russian border, but never experienced intense heat of 50 degrees (except for intensly hot saunas). Well this is why I am here, changing my ignorant ways. Again, any input would greatly be appreciated.

Wheelie,

Be aware that dealing with extreme heat is much harder than dealing with extreme cold. At least I feel that way, and have had my share of both.

I'm sure you'll be able to do the trip you want when you plan, but it might not be as enjoyable as you wished do to the heat. Could you move your vacation from the summer to Sept/Oct instead?

Good luck!

(Hilsen tidligere beboer av OP MIKE http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif )

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I experienced several days in succession in the US deserts where the shade temperature maxed out at 47C (117F). We were in an area of low humidity with air conditioning so were OK, but Texas had some humidity and hundreds died. Similar problem in France a year or so ago with an estimated 15,000 deaths, see http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news...nce-heat_x.htm

Altitude helps but not always--I was trekking with mules in the Atlas mountains in June 2003. We set off to summit Jebel Toubkal (14000 ft) at 4am. On the way down the temperature at 9500 feet was 92F at 10am.

My experience: In July the temperatures can be cooler in Senegal and The Gambia than in April/May, I guess because the rain has a cooling effect. Being by the coast can help due to the wind. But IMHO it's still uncomfortably hot to the level that it's still difficult to sleep outside of an air-conditioned room, and there's an increased risk of malaria because there's many more mosquitoes. Note that the popular Atlantic route is often quite a way inland so the effect of the wind off the sea may be lost.

Personally I wouldn't go to NW Africa at all outside of the winter months unless I had no choice.

Please don't think I'm against odd forms of transport--in my youth I rode a Lambretta GT225, and my first trip to Morocco in 1972 was on a cafe racer TriBSA 750.

When backofbeyond asked if you were alone, I think he probably meant would there be another scooter and rider in case of accidents or breakdowns. Two-up on the same scooter is probably worse news than going alone. If there's an accident you could both be injured and if there's mechanical breakdown the other person is no help.

And bearing in mind the need to carry LARGE supplies of water and fuel plus your luggage you could be seriously overloaded, thus increasing the likelyhood of breakdown or accident.

I did a quick google for comparison of sun and shade temperatures--depending upon the season and where you are sun temperature can be 15C or more higher than shade. Add to this the fact that you need to retain clothing layers in the sun that you can shed in the shade. On the other hand you have the cooling effect of the breeze of your progress (unless you break down). Dehydration can be a real problem--last May I had a really bad attack of the rigors (uncontrollable shaking) in Morocco brought on by a mix of too much sun and not enough water.

Tim

[This message has been edited by Zmeagol (edited 18 November 2005).]

We are going to ride two scooters. One 1960 Vespa touring (brand new 200cc px engine, new fork conversion, autolube conversion, larger wheels, hydraulic brakes and clutch, 12V electronic ignition conversion, and more). As for the second scooter, we have not decided yet, but will probably end up riding a two year old Vespa px200e, or I will do a similar conversion to a 1966 Vespa.

A 15C difference in sun temperature? With the shade temperature the same in winther and summer, would the sun temperature be the same also?

Has anybody done this distance during may-august on two wheels? How was it?

I've worked quite a bit on oil rigs in central Australia where summer temperatures can top 50 degrees in summer (in the shade). The biggest problem is water, you need about a litre per hour if you're being active in the sun at these temperatures, probably less riding a motorbike. If you are drinking but not urinating or have dark urine, you are dehydrated. Early symptoms of heat stress include irritability, nausea, irrational thinking. This can be dangerous/fatal.
I rode through Pakistan and Iran in summer in similar temperatures without too many problems. Doing long distances was uncomfortable, but doable, although i would much rather choose a better time of year. Remote areas would be the problem i guess in terms of expecting help in case of breakdown.
Sean

I am planning on sticking to main routes, so I don't think a break down would be fatal.

Another question. How will a 200cc aircooled two stroke engine handle this kind of heat? They are popular in South Africa, South East Asia, India, and a lot of other places where it can get hot...

Hey Wheelie, haven't heard from you in sometime. I know you have a lot of expericen with scooters so won't demean your choice of the vespas, but what you Can do to help them is cut holes in the front of the scoot to allow more air and never stop for even 5 minutes in that kind of heat. Where there is no shortage of water, make a retainer of some sort and hag a soaked towel in front of the holes yhou have cut. It helps. That is one of the big reasons we chose the Burgman, it is liquid cooled with a radiator fan for assistance and to date, have never had a problem. We also have a 250cc scoot here that is liquid cooled with the fan and getting stuck in traffic for long periods doesn't overheat the engine. Take care and enjoy the vacation. Hope to see you on the road next year.

Joe