Transafrika possible these days?

[JulieW]

Hello everyone!

Has anybody done a transafrika crossing recently?
I'm trying to get information about possible routes but it seems like the entry into Egypt will be difficult, the exit into Sudan impossible and the passage through Libya not recommended.

The western route doesn't seem easier.. Any recommendations if Transafrika is possible at all?

I'm 29 years old, living in the north of Germany and would be happy about travelmates, starting in November 2020 (got 4 months off). Not sure which destination though

[mika]

Hi Julie,

welcome to the HUBB.

Africa never is easy.

Friends of mine are riding down the West Coast at the moment. They made to Cameroon a few days ago. So the West of Africa is possible.

Others here on the Hubb will tell you about the East Coast.

Four months is not a lot of time to make it all the way down to Cape Town, but possible.

All the best
mika

[markharf]

OP, I'm not sure what you mean by "TransAfrika." North/South routes are, if not exactly easy, at least often done--through either West or East Africa. Overall trip reports and threads addressing specific subjects are common on the HUBB. They can be easily found using search terms like "east coast Africa" or "west coast Africa" in the search box at the top right of this page.

If you mean east/west transits of the continent, these are far more rare anyplace north of Angola or Botswana and Zambia. Again, a quick search will turn up a couple of accounts (along with multiple reasons to find other ways to spend your time).

Hope that's helpful, and welcome to the HUBB.

Mark

[Chris Scott]

For West Coast route see the sub-Sahara forum. Lots of good info there.
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...saharan-africa
Along with Sahel insecurity, the visa dance can get slow and expensive down this side until you're in Angola.

Libya has been no-go for some time and is getting worse which, with Syria-from Turkey, has long made overland Europe to Egypt a problem.

Normally it is: ferry from Europe > Israel > Jordan > ferry to Sinai (Eg) > Sudan etc...

Another way might be Israel > Jordan > Saudi > ferry to Sudan.
Missing Egypt may make the carnet cheaper?

A more radical way which will happen one day is: Turkey > ferry Lebanon > Syria escort > Jordan (only 200km) > then ferry to Egypt or KSA and ferry to Sudan.

exit into Sudan impossible...

I have not heard this. There is a land border now from Egypt. See here.

[Alandob]

Hi Julie,

I did the West route in 2018 from Spain to CT and then back up the East route in 2019 to Alexandria and shipped our Land Cruiser to Spain, only travelling with my wife.

All straightforward, if you've done your homework.

If you plan Trans-Africa ie across rather than down, then you can do this but it will be harder (in my opinion) and you will need a fixer for Chad (especially for the East side to Sudan). I believe you need to cross Chad West to East as lots of paperwork and permissions are needed at the Capital which is just across the river from Cameroon.

Check a very good link https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...gh-sahel-95153

Also, you should get in touch with Alonso from https://kumakonda.com/ who is very knowledgeable about Chad.

A great trip.

[Vaufi]

If you're travelling on your own the book of Lois Pryce: "Red Dust and White Knuckles" might be of interest. She travelled down the west coast from the UK to Cape Town. A great read!
Doing the eastern route I'd favour Chris' idea to get a ferry right to Sudan. Should make things easier. The rest is IMHO far easier than the western route.

[JulieW]

Thanks for your replies!
I was talking about a north-south route (Europe to Cape Town), preferring the eastern route.
Sounds interesting, Alandob. Maybe you can give me some more details about your way back via Alexandria? Feel free to pm me.
And yes, I read the book of Lois, it's great!

[netllama]

Originally Posted by Vaufi

If you're travelling on your own the book of Lois Pryce: "Red Dust and White Knuckles" might be of interest. She travelled down the west coast from the UK to Cape Town. A great read!
Doing the eastern route I'd favour Chris' idea to get a ferry right to Sudan. Should make things easier. The rest is IMHO far easier than the western route.

I assume you're referring to "Red Tape and White Knuckles" as that's the only book written by Lois Pryce.

[mossproof]

Originally Posted by netllama

I assume you're referring to "Red Tape and White Knuckles" as that's the only book written by Lois Pryce.

Apart from "Lois on the loose", and "Revolutionary Ride" that is

[Vaufi]

Actually no. But that's the only one regarding the topic of this thread

Her other publications are on rides in other countries.

[Surfy]

I just try to track the "blogging" travellers on the transafrica over the west route. Im shure this list of travellers isnt complete, but it shows that the route is "possible".

Not many travellers did write a blog anyway...

At 2018 one traveller died in Congo, what happens too in Namibia and on the east route in the past years.

That there is a risk - we all should know while preparing.

Surfy

[TheWarden]

The Overland Sphere facebook groups are a good way of keeping up with current travellers in Africa. Their Overlanding Africa and Overlanding West Africa and Morocco groups are very active

[Chris Scott]

I also just found facebook.com/groups/watravellers

It is private, like ... groups/overlandingwestafrica, but seems at least as active, if not more.

Here's another page I just found for visas - not private: westafricatravelguide.com/visas/

[TheWarden]

There a lot of similarly named FB groups, some deliberately set up as copy cats of other group, the Overland Sphere ones seem to be the best and will have their logo just below the banner page

WATravellers is run by a member on here I believe

[Chris Scott]

Just been reminded of this useful webpage (for the east side)

https://www.aa.co.za/cross-border-information