I have travelled to several countries in Africa but mostly the southern countries. I would like to find out how best to travel the length of the continent? I met a 17 yr male form England in Lesotho on a 50cc Honda motorbike. He claimed to have made the trip all the way from London. (And by the looks of his rig I beleive him) I also would like to hear some views on what to bring and what not. My view is to have your own vehicle but I would like to hear some other suggestions?
Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 30870 Posts: 960
Posted: 2006-07-21 17:01:00
The 50cc (175cc for my bodyweight) option amazes me as not a bad option. One can use the light motorcycle on good and open roads and load it as baggage on the roof of a bus between difficult legs. One is then mobile again in the next city and thereafter. If the maschine is japanese, a spare part, even replacement is even easier. RR
50cc ... is impossible to cross all Africa. Well maybe not impossible but really complicated.
It sounds adventurous anyway!!
I canīt imagine a 50cc motorbike with a man and his backpack ridding up the mountains in Ethiopia or through the desert in Sudan .... ŋ?
Of course is possible through the plain area of Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, etc... but at north .. mmmm ....
Why not something powerful?
By public transport is not that difficult.
And sounds xtrange that any bus in Africa could carry the motorbike on the roof. And, if possible, sure will be very expensive ... they will overcharge you a lot for that.
But try man, try and then explain us your adventure.
Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 30870 Posts: 960
Posted: 2006-07-22 03:22:00
Dani, I know a lot have done it with light motorcycles (other than the guy mentioned on the top of the page) and even bicycles or on foot without public transport! Not for me either, I can remember how hard just doing 600km on a 175cc (Johannesburg-Durban) over three days was when I was a student, I could hardly walk properly after that and took a train back home!
http://africanmoped.over-blog.com shows Vincent Colin riding from Burkina Faso to France on a tiny moped 50cc! Well at least the northern part is also possible!
Kudu Expeditions runs 650cc motorcycle adventures across Africa with a four-month trip to South Africa leaving again in March 2007. www.kuduexpeditions.com
Getting back to the subject, I think the BEST ECONOMICAL way is like you done it, a combination of different public transport means but an own 4x4 vehicle even expensive must be great too. When I was young, I dreamed of doing Munich to Johannesburg with a Mercedes "Unimog", could never raise the funds though!
R'Rudi
P.S: the VERY best is also the safest and cheapest way: TO FLY! :-) ha-ha
[ This Message was edited by: rangutan on 2006-07-22 03:44 ]
well, how about this, we look at the journey as a whole, say from durban to cairo or something, then try to break it into segments and then give our comments as to whether that course would be possible on a 50cc or not. Having said that, ill tackle namanga (northetn border of tanzania to kenya) ---> Nairobi -->Nakuru -->Eldoret --->Kitale ---> Kapenguria -->Lodwar ---> Lokichoggio. Which aout covers Kenya. then someone can take over. so here goes.
1: Namanga --. nairobi.
Piece of cake, bad roads though might make it very uncomfortable. Youll be passing by Maasai Mara, and if you are on some time, you could take time off and have a game drive using one of the KWS (kenya Wildlife service) toyota land rover 110's. anyway, this section shouldnt take you more than a day's ride.
2: Nairobi Nakuru.
Again, the road is terrible, more than a quarter of it is stripped and being re-carpeted, so depending on when you pass by, you might find a very good road, or drive in the dust beside grimy and sweaty construction crews.
this is also a days ride.
Nakuru --> eldoret.
Shortest course, roads fairly good and the its an uphill climb and you might discover a need to have extra fuel, and time off to acclimatize.
Eldoret --> Kitale:
last leg of what you would consider safe and almost carefree ride. from here onwards, there is virtually no road, and you are into the early stages of the sahara.
Kitale ----> Kapenguria.
the road starts to deterioriate and you might require more hands on work in terms of fixing and repair works. however, youd still be able to accomplish the journey on a 50cc. alternatively, get onto a truck bound for lokichoggio direct, (there are no buses here) and cover the sun baked earth in 12 hours.
kapenguria lodwar.
lonely, hot and tough. if you do this on your 50cc, let me know.
Lodwar--> Lokichoggio --> northwards.
this is where someone needs to take over.
cheers. and good luck.
--- For Africa Travel Forums, visit Maasaicountry.com.
Motobike, 4x4 vehicle, truck company, public transport, they're all possible. You can even do it on foot if you want to.
I think it depends on you.
i presonally loved doing South East Africa in our own vehicle. We took an Isuzu bakkie/Ute/pickup and three of us (my father, my brother and myself) did a month with absolutely no problems. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to pretty much go where you want, when you want. I suppose a motorbike is the same, but you can take so much more in the vehicle - and buy so much more....
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