Zurich to Cape Town Starting Nov. 2011
 

Hello everybody
I am planning a trip from Zurich to Cape Town starting in Nov. 2011. Ok, I know it's still a long time but I wanted to know whether there is anybody else planning such a trip for the same time.

My route would lead over Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botwana or Zimbabwe to South Africa.

I would enjoy company on my trip.

Cheers
Maatle

Hello Maatle

All the best for your trip! If you near bern sometimes please let me know. It would be nice to meet a HU member. :clap:

Greetings
Steven

hey maatle

i am considering such a trip myself starting late in 2011! its just an idea for now and still a long way off but i like the idea of riding with someone rather than by myself. PM me a little more info i.e. what stage of planning, how long the trip will be e.t.c.

cheers

The stage of my planning is still low. I have read a few books about this trip and am now considering what bike I should buy for this adventure (my Harley would probably not make it). Probably an Africa Twin.

I think the most considerable part of the route is the nubian desert in Sudan (around 700 km pists of deep sand). I read that they are building a road there but don't know how far the building has progressed yet.

I would like to start in November 2011 and arrive in Capetown end of April 2012.

Cheers for the moment!

Marc

hi marc

im planning a trip with a similar route next year, just about to buy an xt660 tenere which should do the job although i have read you can now do the whole route by tarmac,however i hope thats wrong. i am desperate for somone to ride with and have been looking for a while. was planning to leave in october but im easy!

yours

Lorry

If You come to Cape town must visit the Destination....
 

Hey Guys.... If You come to Cape Town must visit the Destination Namely Oberammergau Passion Play... and take an experience of pleasureful life..

Oberammergau Passion Play
The Oberammergau Passion Play is a play that has been performed by the residents of Oberammergau since the year 1634. The inhabitants of this small Bavarian Village vowed that if they would be spared from the effects of the bubonic plague, that they would perform a play depicting the life of Jesus. It is performed only once every ten years, for the course of the summer, and the 2000 performers taking part in the play are all required to be residents of the village.

whats on in Melbounre

i am on a similar trip but going down the west coast of africa leaving the canaries late November/early December, shame you are not on this side of Africa otherwsie we could join up. I am using a defender 110 and going to.

Morocco, Mauretania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin. Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Angola and Namibia or at least thats the plan

Ich habe das gleiche vor !
 

Hallo Maatle,

da ich gesehen habe dass du aus der Schweiz bist kann ich ja in Deutsch schreiben. Ich habe das gleiche vor wie du und suche auch jemanden der mitfährt. Ich bin männlich 41 und kaufe mir demnächst eine 1200 er Adventure von den Bayern :-)

Wäre super wenn du mir retourschreiben würdest meine E Mail adresse:

harri1969@hotmail.com

grüsse aus Innsbruck/Tirol

hari

Hi Lorry
I just bought a 10-year old Africa Twin but - as my offroad experience is nil - I would not mind if there is not too much deep sand. Good gravel road or hard piste is ok. I think I will visit an offroad/enduro course this summer;-)
How far are your preparations yet?

Cheers
Marc

Africa Twin :clap:

Great Choice

'vette

marc!

great to hear back from you. since my last post i have purchased the tenere and now getting used to the mechanics of it, ive got all info needed for vaccinations and will be getting them early next year, i now have a very good understanding of the possible routes, currently trying to get relevant paperwork sorted out, chasing likely sponsors and working my arse off to fund the trip so all going well.
i did motorcross for several years so not bothered about off roading but a course would be a good idea! dont know how keen you would be but i was planning to cross the salt pans in botswana
i was going to get a ferry over to egypt from either venice or athens but if i was with someone i would happily go another route. turkey?
would like to here how plannings going your end!

speak soon man
lorry

Oslo - South Africa Nov 2011
 

Hei
Anyone interested in coming along?
Thinking about leaving in the same direction and date. I am 42 years and will drive my r80gs from Oslo to South Africa. Didin't plan anything yet but there are many long winternights during the next months to do that.
I am interested in camping where its possible and not too interested in spending money for expensive hotels. Plan to spent some time in Malawi where I worked for 6 months last year.

I have travelled a lot, have limited experience doing it by motorbike but am optimistic :-) Important to have space for å bottle of wine among all the tools and spare parts and of course the towel.

Would be interesting to get information from other people what amount of money they spent on a 5 month trip in Africa.

Hi Maatle

I am planing to leave Ireland at the start of October and ride down as far as Greece and on to Egypt,but then I turn west for Libya,Tunisia,Algeria before catching a ferry back to Europe and heading for home.

Let me know of your plans and departure dates and we might be able to ride together for a small part of our journeys.

Regards
Decky

Botswana is on my itinerary as well and salt flats sounds well. I am open for this.

Hi Decky
I will start 1.11.2011 here in Zurich and then head probably south to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, etc. to Greece, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. I plan to stay a week or two in Jordan to meet a friend an visit Petra etc.

Regards
Marc

Hi
I am always intereste in company during my trip down south. I would also prefer camping but I wouldn't mind a decent hotel (nothing luxurious) here and there for a bit of a change. Although I have not calculated my budget in details I seem to be a bit limited as well. The bike and equipment is more expensive than originally expected (but who cares;-))

I only spent a few days at the shores of Lake Malawi in 2006 but it was great.

Maybe it works out well and we can travel together.
Regards
Marc

Hey Fellows,

Nice to read this tread because i'm also heading from the north to the south.
My trip starts in The Netherlands in the beginning of april going to the North first and then al the way down trough Russia, Balistics states, Georgia, Turkey and the route you name.

Hey Mimaweg, maybe we can catch up on the way down. What's your planning for leaving Oslo?

I ad this tread to my favorites .

Cheers Richard

Hey Maatle,
Im planning about the same trip as you are... I ride a Honda xl600v (transalp). Im interested in finding companions for the trip, so maybe we can see how riding together works out. I already did a solo 1,5 year RTW (not on bike)
Are you still on schedule to leave November? I want to leave oct/nov, do about 4 month to get to SA, and for me probably end up in Durban where I hope to find a diveinstructors job for a few month.

Greetz Fokke

Hi Fokke
Good to read from other travellers with the same route. I plan to start with beginning of November and will arrive in Capetown middle of april. It's been 15 years since my last very long trip. In the meantime I was more travelling for max. 6 weeks. But now I need this trip down to Capetown. I am always interested in good company especially as travelling by motorbike is not always easy. We should really find out whether we fit together or not.

I ride a Honda Africa Twin. Are you experienced in bike repairs, tire changing etc.? Me not but it's time to learn now.

Working as a diveinstructor in Durban for a few months sounds good. Do you plan to continue your trip afterwards?

Looking forward to reading more from you.

Cheers
Maatle

Can anyone be persuaded to do the west route ? :thumbup1:

My plans have changed for this year, as I was planning Alaska to Ushuai then across to Cape Town and north through Africa. Due to some other circumstances, I'm now going to reverse the trip and travel South in Africa and then across to Argentina from Cape Town. This means I will leave later in 2011 and this will give me the weather window for the journey north in the USA and Canada. After all this, I'm easy about the route, but initially thought I'd go over the eastern way, through Egypt and the route you posted Maatle. My initial planning is still rudimentary, so I'm very flexible. What do you guys think? My bike is a GS 1150 by the way.?c?

Hi Marc

just found your thread - even though my plans are not very precise at the moment, it would be great to get into touch with other travellers from this area. I currently live in basel and I ride a F650 GS... would be great to hear from you and maybe we could meet some time for a little tour and some motorbike travel stories...

Heike

Hi Guys, just stumbled on this myself, am currently living in Baden and while not make a trip to Cape Town yet am very interested to in your plans, and see how it all goes, i have been riding for years, started on a TTR250 back in Australia, then an XTZ660, but here in Switzerland i just have a cople of road bikes, if i can be of any help, or if anyone wants to go for a ride, just let me know.

Cheers Jason

Hi Maatle,
I have some experience in bike repairs, but not much. Then again, the engine should keep running, its honda. :) Repairs should only mean delay, and if the engine would stop you need a garage anyway. Changing tires is not difficult, sometimes just hell. Do you have a website where you keep progress of you preparations? I do not (yet). As for the diving, I like to work as a scuba instructor for a few months again, go back home, work and wait until the itch starts again and make new plans.

Keep you posted.

Greets Fokke



=Maatle;329995]Hi Fokke
Good to read from other travellers with the same route. I plan to start with beginning of November and will arrive in Capetown middle of april. It's been 15 years since my last very long trip. In the meantime I was more travelling for max. 6 weeks. But now I need this trip down to Capetown. I am always interested in good company especially as travelling by motorbike is not always easy. We should really find out whether we fit together or not.

I ride a Honda Africa Twin. Are you experienced in bike repairs, tire changing etc.? Me not but it's time to learn now.

Working as a diveinstructor in Durban for a few months sounds good. Do you plan to continue your trip afterwards?

Looking forward to reading more from you.

Cheers
Maatle[/QUOTE]

East route: VOA (visa on arrival) pretty much everywhere;
West route: visa hell. its just annoying. I rather go east. I guess more beautiful too.

Hi,

Me and a friend are also doing the East Coast from London to Cape Town starting Nov 2011.

Both on 1150GSA's. Plan to do it in about 3 or 4 months.

R

Hi Trichelia,

I want to travel in the south-east of Africa from early nov till late dec/early jan. I was planning to start in South Africa and then ride through zimbabwe-mozambique-malawi-tanzania-kenya and back to SA.

But after looking at the traveler's advice in the netherlands, I'm now also looking at the west route... What did you have in mind?

Hi Gideon,
In a nut shell.
The wife and I will be off backpacking for 4 months around SE Asia, returning 1 October 2011. I was planing on heading to Africa, from London, around the middle of October, giving myself 2 weeks to do some final prep before leaving. The departure date is relatively flexible from the middle of October onwards, however not before.

My wife has signed off on 5 months for this trip, I will be riding alone while she hangs out in the US and then Oz for a few months. I am not in a rush and not wanting to ride silly distances each day, however I also do not want to sit for extended periods in the same place unless I have to. Ride, check things out, then move on.....

My propsed route, which is also open to discussion:

Morocco
Western Sahara
Mauritania
Senegal
Guinea Conakry
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Cameroon
Conga
DRC
Angola
Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
South Africa

The countries Im excited to see though, are Guinea (depending on stability), Mali and Cameroon. It has also been suggested omiting Niger and rather to head through southern Nigeria via Togo/ Benin.

Anyways, there is flexability around this.

Let me know if this fits in with your schedule, would be good to to have a partner :scooter:.
Steve

Sorry to highjack this thread.

Good to find someone to ride with through Africa! Some of the countries on your list may not be that wise to travel through at the moment however, so maybe that's something to discuss. :thumbup1:

I think I'm going to open my own topic tonight or tomorrow so we can talk about planning and routes some more without hijacking the topic of Maatie.... :oops2:

route worries
 

hi all riders planning the east coast later this year
i know its a way off yet. but now that syria has kicked off, is everyone still going to be heading in that direction. If not, now that lybia is clearly not an option it seems the only way to go would be the ferry via venice. it may well have calmed down by the time we leave, just thinking out loud. anyone got an opinion?

I'll leave probably November and still hope Syria will be doable. If it changes for the worse. (which is a good chance) I might take this ferry too. But its an expensive trip this way, the ferry cost 448GBP, Venice to Alexandria.

I am actually starting to wonder what the attraction of going south is ?
I also wanted to go south, down to Cape Town.
But now the whole of Africa seems to be heading for self destruction.
Even looking at the situation in Sudan, makes me wonder just when its all going to kick off beteween north and south.
Some body just seemed to press the red button, and now all the tin pot nations there just want to uprise and revolt.

Instead of heading to the unstable south, I will head east, heading for Mongolia, with a thought about entering China.
vette

Austria - Cape Town
 

Hi all, i go on 31. july i try to go through Syria if it is possible if not i go over Cyprus ( With ferry ) you can follow my trip on

freedom-on2wheels.com

if any interessted to go a couple of weeks together pleasa leave a reply on

harrysworldtrip@gmail.com

greets

harry

Harry, good tip with the ferry to Cyprus. I will probably do the same if Syria will get worse.
Lorry, are you still ready to meet on Saturday?
Greetings
Maatle

Hey Maatle

I am planning to ride from turkey to cape town same time..

Let me know your plan, I am flexible with dates

We can keep in touch on tigerranch@gmail.com

Cheers..:cool4:

Kishor

tigerranch.co.in

Nairobi to Cape Town
 

Was planning a Nairobi to Cape town ride early 2011 would be interested in joining up with you in Kenya and riding down together.

Hi guys
I just found out that the ferry from Venice to Alexandria does not transport any tourists anymore for unlimited time, due to the political situation in Syria.

Does anybody know an alternative? Maybe a ferry from Greece to Egypt?