Trans Africa trip 2011
 

Hi All,
Planning a trip for later this year and wondering who else is interested. I have a KLR parked up in West Africa and want to travel down the coast (avoiding CDI if necessary at the time) as far as DRC and attempt to cross over to the east side via the southern Kinshasa - Lubumbasi route. With an eye to exit Africa to the middle east somewhere, taking in Lake Turkana along the way.
Especially keen to have a partner on a similar bike through the DRC stage.
Any takers?
Cam.

I wish I could come with you.:(
If you take the Kinshasa Lubumbasi route, be sure to read this report on the HUBB:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kinshasa-53285

My friends are as we speak on a boat from Kinshasa to Kisangani:
Home is where we are
follow the blog if you want to know how that ends.:thumbup1:

East Route 31.07. Austria Cape Town
 

Hi, Cam

i go down to Cape Town on 31.07 from Austria. Have a look an my website

Harald ( Harry ) Häninger | freedom-on2wheels ( german )

if you are interested we can ride a view weeks together..

greets

harry:scooter:

Hi Cam,
Saw your question on the other west coast thread.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-2011-a-56713

I was planning on leaving the UK mid October heading for Morocco. The route I was imagining would be Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa.

I am flexible though. It has been suggested heading through Togo, Benin rather than Niger. I would love to do part of central and east Africa but havent researched it tbh.
Your DRC suggestion sounds pretty wild, I would certainly be interested. Having read the suggested thread from Titbird, it appears to be a crazy place. I wonder if being on a motorcycle brings less attention ?

I will be on a XT600E, busy prepping it. I have 5 months for the trip. Can you speak French ? - that is my major short fall, I cant.

I see you are in the Sudan currently, where is your bike parked up ?
Let me know your time frame, departure date, route, start, end etc. Similar to you, I am keen to ride with a fellow rider.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks for your replies.
 

Hi Harry, your route will be a lot of fun however unfortunately, my bike is on the west coast so I won't be able to join you on this trip.

Trichelia, seems like we are headed sort of in the same direction although I was planning to start a few months earlier than you. My bike is parked up in Freetown in Sierra Leone, so I'm tied to go back there as a start point for me. Worthwhile destination in itself by the way.

I had already read the suggested thread about the Belgian couple travels through DRC and hope to do the same in reverse. The way I see it, there would be many advantages to traveling by bike through this area. Not having to dig 2 tonnes of Toyota every 5 minutes is one bonus, with the trade off being even less privacy when stopping in villages.

Having done the east coast route and much of the west coast route, I was keen to link up the two. Luckily the people I work for have operations in DRC, so I wouldn't be 'cold calling', I'll have some kind of contacts throughout the country. My high school French is fairly comical, but it is able to prevent me from starving to death.

My start place will be Freetown. The starting date is very flexible, however I was either going to start before wet season kicks in or wait for next dry. If I wait for the next dry, it may fit in to your plan.

As for a route, I was planning to follow the coast more or less, then head across to the east side exiting out of DRC through Lumbumbashi, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti to Yemen (however recent events in Yemen might mean it gets dropped from the list).

This Africa trip is part of a larger trip that I'm making that is taking me in an Easterly direction for further adventures.

How does that sound to you?
CJ.

CJ,
If you were going to hang out until my dates, Id be interested to joining you. Im still am very keen to see parts of Mali, this could be done prior to potentially hooking up. What are the dates you referring to if waiting for the dry season ?
I was initially very keen to see Sierra Leone. The visa fee is quite pricey and that deterred me, however I could certainly add it to the budget or meet you outside. I was in Ghana for Christmas this past year but could pop through again, plenty I didnt get to see. With respect to DRC, the pics looked fantastic, the stories horrific, but the trip would make for fantastic conversation ! - I would be keen.

I would prob travel as far as Zambia with you, from there Id do Malawi, then head on south.

Im on an XT600E, top (comfortable) speed of +- 60mph. Im not in a rush and dont want to charge my way down Africa. Same agenda as you ?

I am unable to travel earlier as my wife and I will be doing a few months back-packing though the US, China and SE Asia before I arrive back in the UK 1 October (when she heads off to Auz and NZ).

Let me know your thoughs, could be possible ?

By the way, what are you doing in Sudan ? - I have a mate there, working for the UN I think, or some NGO as a nurse.

SM

Hi mate,
I've been away from the internet for a while, so sorry for the slow response. It's looking more like an October-ish start for me as well.

Sierra Leone is good place for a bit of RnR after the long haul down from Europe and I've got a few mates there with access to workshops.

As far as agenda goes, I'd like to keep a steady pace, do a few back roads and attempt to camp as much as possible too.

I travel as light weight as I can and end up being a bit of a smelly biker after a few short weeks. I've found that the most memorable trips in Africa I've done are the ones where I kept away from the big cities and interacted more with people in the villages. DRC may test that theory!

BTW, I may be in the UK at the end of this month. We could meet for a beer?
CJ.

Hey guys,

Im off to Africa as well.... probably October or so. Was planning east route because of visa issues. But the more I read here, the better it looks to take the west route.
How far are you guys with scheduling?
I ride a 91 Honda transalp. If I would take the west route, Id definitely be keen on having others around to ride with.

Greetz, Fokke (from Netherlands)

Hi,
I might be interested for early Oct, I will be spending the summer in Western Canada and Alaska with my wife who just bought a 650 GS
I am shipping my bike to Paris in early September, I don`t have any firm plans at the moment for when I get to the old continent.
It doesn`t really matter, East or West coast,
I do speak French, I am riding a Dakar
Cheers

A gang of tall bike riders heading for Africa. Nice one!

Visas for western route are not that bad. Morrocco at the border. Mauri & Mali embassey in the same street in Rabat. Guinea Conakry in Bamako (although very difficult to find consulate). SL in Conakry or border. Apart from that there is a mythical visa for all ECOWAS member states that is apparently available on occassions.

Compare that with the east coast: trying to get a visa for Sudan when you are traveling north and now Ethiopian visas must be issued in your place of residence & that's not to mention the Egyptian chaos at the border.

As I'll be rejoining the road in Freetown, I'm a bit ahead of everyone. Meaning: I was thinking of pushing off from there in October. It takes minimum of 3 weeks to get to SL on a bike from northern Europe, although if you stay off the tarmac roads, it can take 3 months (like what happened to me).
CJ.

Hi Guys

I'm hanging around Morocco at the moment waiting to hook up with one or more people to do the same trip. I live in Cape Town and must go back home at some point but don't want to do it solo. Done the east coast so would like to stick to the west coast.

If you have room for one more bike, I'd like to join in. If you're only leaving in October I might go north again and see what Portugal looks like first.

Cheers
Neville
Ps I'm on a '08 KLR

Hey guys,

As you can see on the Africa trip End 2011 topic, I'm also planning a trip to Africa from Europe starting somewhere in October. So if plans are going to be made to travel in a group I would also like to join in the fun and ride along!! :clap:

@ Fokke: I'm also from the Netherlands. I'm currently studying medicine in Rotterdam, where are you from?


gr
Gideon

I guess we all watch this space as the time to depart gets closer.

I hope to be in Freetown September -ish and can provide a base camp there if anyone is on the way down.
Seems like 6 guys are thinking about the west coast. Even if we don't all travel in the same group, it would be good to keep in touch.

Until then, it's back to the grindstone.
CJ.

Seeing that there are indeed a couple of riders planning a somewhat similar trip in a similar time-frame maybe it's an idea to start a mailing conversation and see if we can sort something out...

If I don't see any responses on this forum/topic in a couple of days I'll try to see if I can find the mail-adresses of those people who seemed interested and try to include everyone in a group-mail. Of course everyone is free to respond as they like (or not respond), but I think it's worth a shot trying to organise a trip traveling together. (especially considering the current situation in a lot of African countries)

Hey All,
I am riding 99.9999%, whatever happens myself and the bike need to end up in SA by +- March 2012 by whatever means, preferrable not air freight.

I will be leaving the UK 14 Oct, so can be a definite in any plan making. If timings arent perfect, I can lasso the hammock between 2 trees and wait it out a bit.

CJ, beer would be good, let me know when you about.

Happy days !

hammock
 

You might be surprised how few places there are where trees are in the 'right' place for those!

No worry about the Visa for the east route!
 

Hi gys, i go on 07.08. down to cape town the east route, no worry about the visas it will be not to bad to get some visa for egypt and sudan and ethiopia, you get it on the border i know 2 german gys which are on the road now. If you need more information let me know or visit my website ( german )

Harald ( Harry ) Häninger | freedom-on2wheels

greets

harry

Well I just posted on another thread - but any of you going down the east coast - I'll be heading out that way sometime after September 7th when my contract finishes :-) I may want to hang around in TZ a week or so as my girfriend is working out there from June. Plus - I've got to catch up with the potential in-laws in Kenya and maybe find a place to run a business, though that can wait for the return leg :-)

Hi All

I have been planning a solo trip to West Africa for next winter, hoping to leave late Nov for 3 months, aiming to go Mauritania, Mali, B Faso, Benin, and back via Guinea and Senegal. Be good to try and meet up on route, so please keep me posted in your plans. Am on XT 660 Tenere and am looking to do some dirt routes.

all best

Alex

All,

(CJ, hope this is not considered hijacking your thread but this appears the most comprehensive chat on the West Africa route planned for end of this year)

Just to update, Fokke and I will be teaming up for the trip south.

Our plan is to meet 31 October 2011 around Gibraltar or on the Moroccan side. Once introduced in person, we will head off to sort out visas for the following countries....and then ride.

FYI...Fokke is on a DRZ400, Im on an XT600E, any additions to the crew would be great.
Gideon, any chance of twisting your arm ? :thumbup1:

CJ.....weve been chatting about DRC and are both keen to get involved. It would be great if we were able to join up at some stage on route and potentially run the gauntlet together. I know you are planning to head off slightly earlier, perhaps you will be sitting with your feet up to some stage giving us time to catch up ?

Anyway, plans are underway.....any additional riders welcome!

:scooter:

Hi Trichelia, Fokke inboxed me with an update about you guys travel plans. I'll most likely still be around at the time you guys are in the neighbourhood so fingers crossed it all works out.

No sense traveling during the RWC!!

My travel plans to the UK were delayed, but I plan to be there mid July. Might see you then.
CJ.

Trichelia and me are still on schedule to start riding our bikes south early October. Just over 2 month before we head off to Africa. :)

CJ, do you already have a plan on moving onwards?

Any others riding south... keep us informed. :)

Also heading south...out west!
 

Planning to take the ferry to N Spain around mid November....cross to Morocco and head south via Mauri/Mali...hopefully reaching B-F and Benin....3 months or so to get there and back on a Serow. Love to know who's around and maybe meet up here and there.
Richard

Original poster punks out!!
 

Oh dear.

I'm very embarrassed to say that, contrary to the very essence of this website, I have allowed work to get in the way of motorcycle riding and have taken up a new job recently and as a consequence will most likely have to delay any thoughts of starting off on this trip as planned. I will still be visiting Sierra Leone to prep the bike so that it is ready to go but I will probably will miss you guys this time.

I'm bummed that I'll miss riding with Trichelia & Fokke as it seemed that we all had the same idea in mind. Let me know what happens.

It was a once in a lifetime offer that couldn't be refused. Honest!!!

*Groveling finished*

CJ.

@ CJ: 2 bad mate, but must be good job then. We'll upload a pic once a while to get your priorities straight.;) GL with the job! :)

@ Richiewizz: We leave a bit sooner than you are... but keep us posted, you might catch up with us. We'll take a bit of time exploring Morocco.

Fokke

Hi guys!

I'm preparing my trip to Africa with the intention to start October 14, 2011. I planned to begin with some collegues a short 10 day offroad trip trough Western Sahara and northern Mauritania, after finish that I want to continue alone to the south during the 1 up to 3 following moths. I have not stablish my exact route yet except some aproximate points of interest (Mali, Burkina, Ghana and maybe some more) . I was wondering if my plan could be shared with yours.

I'm from Barcelona (Spain ) and I'm riding a Honda XR650L with 23l. large fuel tank plus a 6l. rear extra tank. I would like to ride off road tracks and secondary roads trying to avoid as much as possible the main "fully trucked" roads. I have some experience traveling in west Africa with my old Africa Twin.

We'll start directly from Dakhla ( Western Sahara ), we'll pick up our 6 bikes in a truck to Dakhla from Barcelona to start from Dakhla exactly on the date 14 october and finish 25 october when I'll get alone and my collegues come back to Spain. If you are interested in to share some information about our plans and study some options to get toghether to the south after 25 october tell me, it wold be grat to me

Cheers,:mchappy:

Good luck guys. Send lots of pics and keep good waypoints so I can cheat off them later.
CJ.

Cam.....its a pity mate, you had us salivating at the idea of taking on the Congo (My wife will breath a sigh of relief)

I hear ya on the work front.....life can be delayed forever cos of that place the office ! Perhaps we will still be able to catch up for a drink somewhere sunny. - Im in the US currently, taken a few months to backpack the world until Fokke and I head south.

Xrvicker, we have a very similar plan in mind, there seem to be a fair bunch looking at this route around the same time...lets chat by mail and see how things fare.

stephenmcgown@yahoo.co.uk

To recap, Fokke (Dutch) and I (South African) are 100%, short of any unforseen calamities, doing the trip. We both leave our departure points beginning to mid October (UK & Holland), meeting 1 November in Morocco to begin our ride south. Fokke is on a DRZ400s and Im on a XT600E. The exact meeting place is not yet determined but will be closer to the time.
We are planning on arriving in South Africa around February, taking in as much dirt track as possible, sleeping rough where possible and also acquiring all visas on the way, not prior.

As I say, this trip is confirmed...any interested parties, pull in....good times :D

Leaving for Cape Town in 10 days
 

My bike arrives on the 25th of Spetember. As I'm heading north and you're heading south it seems we may meet in the middle. I am interested in the DRC/Congo portion. Keep in touch. Keith

I am planning to head down the west africa route mid october , perhaps spend the night in Rabat sometime in the second half of october, need to get Mauritanian visa there . What day do you think you ll cross over from Algerciras ? we could ride toguether for a while , i m riding a GS , I am planning to get to SA by mid january though...

West Africa
 

Hi guys,

I left UK about a month ago, and am currently in Gambia. Am probably going to start heading east soon - Mali, B-Fasso etc. Hoping for CT around end Jan/Feb. Let me know how you progress, I'm going slow and steady, might meet along the way.

Henri

travelling to cape Town
 

hi everybody. I am in cape town and should any of you make it to the mother city I would like to take you on a ride to the southern most piont of africa, i just had a visitor from the states and we rode the route and he thouraly enjoyed the tar and gravel sections.you can contact me via the forum but you can also email me directly at achmat@bergstan.co.za Hope to see you guys soon in Cape Town

on the road
 

Steve and me are both on the road. Meet up this week and we take the ferry sunday 16th in the morning to Morocco... I know of an other Dutch guy in the area with same destination. Maybe we see him on the road too.
So far the update. Ride safe.

Hi Cam , doing the crossing in Algerciras , the 25th of October , will stop in Rabat to get my visa for Mauritania , and then head south , perhaps spend a couple of days in Dakhla to do a liitle bit of kite surf , and then expect to hit the Mauritania border very early days of November . From there , I am very flexible . wouldn't want to do Central/West Africa by my self so will wait and hook up with people . Do you have an estimated date of departure ?
Luis

Slightly jealous.
 

Trichelia & Fokke,
If by some incredible misfortune of navigation you end up in Libya, come and say hi. However, that's not really an invitation as I don't recommend independent travel here at the moment. Give it a month or two.

@mus, sorry bro, pulled out of this trip but Trichelia & Fokke are the guys to hook up with and are already on the road.

Safe travels boys.
CJ.

Hello sorry to intrude on this thread but im looking to educated myself on a few things and if you don't ask questions well you never know. I'm thinking about driving from London to Cameroon in a car maybe further probably next year now. Vehicle taking a little micra/panda or maybe a 4x4 and allow 4-5 weeks in total. Along the lines of London-Spain-Morocco-Sahara or Algeria-Mauritania-Mali-Burkina Faso-Benin-Nigeria-Cameroon. What i need advice on is how safe are these countries for foreigners at the minute. I'm not talking about local bandits serious stuff like kidnappings etc. The cost of visas and do you get them 3 months before travel or best at the borders. I have no idea about carnets can someone enlighten me. Final thing if i reach the finishing line i wanna sell the car to some locals or give to charity and fly back home how can i do it without paying importation tax. Any advice will be most appreciated.

Hello Mus, I'm currently in Granada for a few days, will be in Algeciras around 21th of October, I need to visit Rabat too for a Mauretanian visa. Next countries: Senegal - Mali -Burkina faso - Ghana ( plan is around christmas ) - Togo - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroon - ?

I am riding a Yamaha TTRE 600, would be nice to hook up in Morocco, see ya and save travels, Laas

Ps: other details : male, 37 years old and from Holland

Hey Laas,
Caught your comment on our website when you spotted our bikes in Rabat, thanks for that.
We're heading straight south to Mauritania looking to cross the border around the 30th Oct. We will then press on to Mali and Burkina Faso as we have to be in Accra before Nov 22. We'll be there for a week while I fly out to SA for a wedding, before carrying on down south. But stay in touch maybe we can meet up en route.

Adrian

Update?
 

Hi Trichelia & Fokke,
Where are you guys now?
CJ.