Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - africa, west coast to cape town from Jan 2014

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

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- - africa, west coast to cape town from Jan 2014 (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-seeking-travellers/africa-west-coast-cape-town-73061)

when I did my planning for Africa trip I asked the UK passport office for a 2nd passport and explained that travelling through Africa was sometimes a bureaucratic nightmare (they agreed) and was issued with a 2nd passport. That is now after 4 years of travelling nearly full even though I asked for a 42 page one. I always travel only one and keep the other as a back up.

Liam,

Sorry to hear about your passport. I'm in Abidjan now, and hopefully by the end of tomorrow should have the Cameroon and Nigerian visas wrapped up, so then all I need is Togo and Benin to get to Cameroon, and will sort the rest once I get to Ghana/Togo.

My plan is to be in Accra by end of April and likely to leave mid May ish, would be happy to meet anyone for crossing Nigeria mid to end of May.

Interested in Kinshasa - Lubumbashi, but not sure it's possible to do it unsupported (by 4x4) on bikes. Got some 10L bladders coming which will take my capacity to 46L!!! but then I'll be so heavy the bike won't be capable off road. Keep in touch with any research you have about the route.

Cheers,

Quote:

Originally Posted by liamparkin (Post 462707)

Hi guys.

So the details of how my passport went missing from the Benin embassy in Accra... Basically, I hand over visa forms with passport, go back 2 hours later to collect visa and they ask me why I didn't give them my passport...

After a lot of :censored: they think that someone else who came to get a visa has picked up my passport from the table. Before this happened they used to stack the passports with visa forms on the table where members of the public could sit. I remember there was an East Asian guy sat next to the passport stack whilst I was in there. The office has now been moved around.

Ridiculous.

They've reimbursed for the visas that I now have to get again and also for my replacement passport. Its proving an absolute ballache to get a replacement passport from the UK though. Its been 5 weeks since it went missing and it will be at least another 4 until everything is sorted and I can set off again.

Annoying.

Anyway, when are you thinking of crossing Nigeria, Spooka? I was planning on getting my visa for Cameroon in Calabar. I don't really want to go to Abuja. Does anyone have any recent experience of getting the Cameroon visa in Calabar?

Cheers,

Liam and c90 around the World

Thanks Jaybee.

What sort of bike do you have? I would say that its very possible to do Kinshasa-Lubumbashi on most types of bikes. I'm kind of thinking that the bigger the bike the more difficult it might be. I think lighter might be better. I'm going to give it a go on my Honda c90 anyway!

I know of a few people who have done it unsupported. There was even an English girl who did it on a bicycle on her own in 2011 - was completely fine.

I may have my passport here in around 2 weeks hopefully so I might be ready to leave Accra in 3, maybe.

I'm aiming to get both Congo visas in Lome (if I can replenish my Nigerian visa here in Accra) and then I'll be set to cross Nigeria.

Let me know if you're around then and want to go through Nigeria with someone. I'd be up for it.

All the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitablesnake (Post 462477)

We got it right on the border. It seemed to be at their discretion so not a certain outcome... an element of risk... but good enough for us. Once the stamp was in our passports we waited to hear the price but no one asked for money! We didn't hang around to check!!
I'll be back in Brazzaville 23 May... will you be heading that way?
Charlie

Hi Charlie,
I met Francis and Steven and travelled with them yesterday. I think you met them both.
I am in Bitam after crossing the border this morning. Which hotel did you stay here?
I am heading towards Brazza, and will stay some days at Hippocamp. After that DRC and Angola. Have to be in Namibia by the 31st of May, because my daughter is arriving then.

Cheers from Bitam, Gabon,

Gee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thimba (Post 464314)

In Bitam we stayed in the L'Horizon Motel... not great/fairly terrible but cheap. One day south of Bitam we camped next to the Ogooue River not far from Ndjole... it was at the end of a logging track and very beautiful. I may have the coords if useful.

I'll be leaving Brazza, heading south, around 24-25th May which makes me think I'll be about 10 days behind you at that stage.

Charlie

Hi guys, hope all your travels are going well, wish i was out there with you.
Any one doing the garden route in SA, get hold of me if you need a place to stay in Durban.
Cheers
JC