London to Cape Town March/April 2007 - fellow overland novice wanted

[StroppyJoe]

I'm giving serious consideration to a London to Cape Town or Jhb trip in March/April 2007 by motorbike, and would ideally like to do it with a similarly minded overlanding novice (may/may not be a biking novice). Nothing planned as yet, just trying to guage interest/see if I can find anyone I could potentially spend 3-4 months with. I don't have a bike; nor have I ever owned one - therein lies part of the challenge (for me) at least.

Let me know if this sounds like your bag, and perhaps a bit about yourself (why you want to do it etc) and maybe we grab a or something to discuss.

Am 28, work in a London bank.

[Bossies]

I take it thats you on Gumtree?

[StroppyJoe]

Yup - figure I've got try every angle... Like your site; may drop you a mail or two with some questions, if that's ok?

Thanks

[Bossies]

Ja that's fine, any time.

[poldete]

Hello there!
i'm considering the same trip for mid-october 06... i`m on a '91 bmw r100GS..i have travelled in Morocco by bike twice but not really experienced with long-term bike travelling.

cheers
leo

[henryuk]

if I can find some way of funding the lot I would be well up for it, but as I am just finishing a trip myself it may tak ea bit longer than until next year........

How long does it take to develop an international acting career and get a major manufacturer and TV crew to foot the bill????

[wernerschmidt]

hi there , currently planning a trip from london to cape town for appx sept/oct 2007 . have done quite a lot of reading up and i thing that leaving in apr/may is the wrong time . there are about 4 guys that i am in contact with from europe that are also leaving appx the same time . we intend to meet up together to get thru egypt / sudan .possibly following a overland truck down . i am rebuilding a 1986 tt600 back in cape town . very simple bike and also quite cheap to apply for the carnette to get the bike thru africa . anyway drop us a email motorbiketocapetown@yahoo.com

[Alan Whelan]

Hi

I'm also planning a UK - Cape Town trip in 2007. I was hoping to go late June/July for a November arrival.
Werner - why do you say September/October is the best time? Weather? Other reasons? Any advice or knowledge will be appreciated at this early stage.

I'm also looking to pal up with at least one other biker for some/all of the trip for safety/morale reasons.

Thanks
Alan

[Chris Willitts]

Hi, I've just joined this site, I'm planning a trip to Africa on a motorbike at the end of the Sahara summer late october 2007, I see there's a few people with the same idea, it would be great to hear from you !

Chris

Willitts_1@hotmail.com

[hurcomb]

hiya,
i've got similarly undeveloped plans to a similar trip at the same time for approx 4 months, though was doubting whether i'd get to Cape Town in that time.

i've done a quite a bit of travelling but don't even have a bike licence yethttp://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/biggrin3.gif.

i'm in london too, drop us a line on [email]hurcomb@f2s.com

[jojojoj]

I am so keen to do a trip like this. Have never owned a bike and not done sooooo much riding, but if this does not bother people then would love to hear from people doing this trip.

Am officially unemployed after January, so time is no issue for me.
Just want to see as much of the world as I can!

my email is

thismailisforjo@gmail.com would love to hear from anyone doing this trip or something similar

Cheers

[Geoff van de Merwe]

Hi StroppyJoe,
I was in the same situation as you 4 years ago, except that I had a friend lined up to do it with. The problem with people is that circumstances change and sometime through no fault of their own, what they committed to can't be done.
My mate pulled out on me and I made the decision to carry on alone. Of course, at the time there was a war going on Iraq, which made the whole of North Africa very quiet tourismwise, but what better way to be immersed in new cultures than having no-one else to speak to but the locals!

My advice to you, is to go ahead and plan your trip alone. That way you're not relying on anybody but yourself. You;ll meet peopke along the way and then you can make the decision whether you want to travel along together for a while.

I left in early March and it was getting a little hot in southern Egypt and Sudan then, but I got used to it. I had friends do the same trip last year, but a month later.

The only thing I would have done differently if I was to do the trip again would be to have learned some French for North Africa and also to have taken longer/travelled slower.

As far as Kudu goes, if you've got the money and not the time, then why not use/support them?

Good luck all of you with your trip planning.

Geoff

[bikerfromsark]

Hi Ben
Im George I was wondering which route your taking to Cape Town east/west? Im 22, like you I fell in love with africa a couple years ago after living with a Kenyan family for a while. I am going down the east coast on my new bike (04 TT600RE). Saving is hard on an apprentiship as im sure you know! but im defently going!
Cheers
George
george_guille@hotmail.com

[stothard17]

I am a fellow novice who is also as barmy as to attempt their first trip across africa!

I have bought myself a 2005 honda xr650L and i havent even passed my test yet!!

im planning on leaving on for cape town oct 2007 with a loveable but very unreliable friend whos commitment to the trip is questionable to say the least.

For these reasons im looking for another wingman in case the worst comes to the worst and he lets me down.

im a 23 year old chef who enjoys nothing more than working his ass off to be able to afford this trip!!!

i live in glastonbury and fell in love with africa 3 years ago when i worked as a football coach in ghana for 3 months. Ever since ive wanted to go back but for other ventures such as university i havent been able to!

would be good to meet up etc.......exchange notes,plans,routes......

let us know if your up for it,

cheers

Ben