2005
??.01.2005
- ??.ca.07.2005 (6 months?)
Peter Brohammer (Sweden, born 1962)
Peter plans to ride to and in africa on a 2001 KTM 640 LC4 Adventure.
Purpose
of your travel: Experience Africa.
Route: Route to be decided.
Will probably finish in Cape Town S.A.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: See Australia Australia 22.03.1991 - 01.08.1991 and Iceland 22.06.2002-17.07.2002
07.04.2005 -31.04.2005
Gerd Middelmann (German, born 31.12.1962) and Gido Telker (German, born 23.06.1972)
+ Germany > Morocco. Gerd (BMW F 650 GS Dakar) and Gido (KTM 640 Adventure) rode to Maroc 6,000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Holidays and interest in Off Road .
Route: Europe: Train from Germany/Duesseldorf to France/Narbonne, 1.000 kms by bike (France/Narbonne - Spain/Almeria), ferry (Spain/Almeria - Maroc/Melilla). Africa: 2.000 kms around Maroc, ferry (Maroc/Melilla - Spain/Almeria). Europe: 3,000 kms (Spain/Almeria - Germany/Dortmund).
Highlights: first sights of the pre-sahara, invitation of a marocain family, off-road-trails.
The worst: flat tire
Book or publication (about your tour): -
My useful informations and TIPS for others: Need to talk French. Some words Arabian make friends. Be prepared for all weathers and a lot of fine sand coming from the side and find everyplace in your luggage...
My earlier experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: See above.
16.08.2005 - 21.04.2006
Adam Shani (Israel, born 21.02.1975)
+ Transafrica: South > East > West > North and Transeurope up to Northcape, Norway. Adam planed to start in june 2004. But because of 14 months work in Nigeria he
plans to leave in may 2005 from Capetown. At first he wanted to travel solo Transafrica
with BMW R 1100 GS Model 1997, but changed it into a lighter HONDA Africa Twin.
In 10 months he wanted to cover ca. 30.000 kms.
Finally Adam rode solo 36.000 kms through
14 countries in Africa. And 10 countries in Europa until 23.06.2006.
Purpose of travel: To
see the world as it is, meet its people, see how they live, what they think. To
see the landscape, feel the weather and like to be confronted with the the daily
challenge as a traveller and a bike rider. An adventure, something different,a challenge...to see other cultures with my own eyes.
Route plan : Asia (by plane from Israel to) Africa (South Africa - Namibia (05.09.2005) - Angola - Zambia - Tanzania - Uganda - Ethiopia - back to Uganda - DRC - CARep. - Cameron - and up the Sahara: Nigeria - Niger - Mali - Mauritania - West Sahara - Morocco.
The best: I hope: Angola, DRC, CAR
Route-done:
Asia (by plane from Israel to) Africa (South Africa (16.07.2005) - Namibia (05.09.2005) - no chance get a visa because the law changed in ca. 2005 that only Angola residents and Nambian residents get a visa in Windhoek - Zambia - DRC Congo - Congo - Gabon - Cameroon - Nigeria - Benin - Niger
- Mali - Mauritania - Senegal - Ganbia - Senegal - no chance to get a visa for Arabic country West Sahara- Morocco becaue of Israeli passport - Adam with his motorcycle with shippingline Grimaliline to Germany - by mc Germany - The Netherlands - Belgium - Germany - France - Spain - Andorra - France - Germany - Austria - Italy - Switzerland - Germany - Denmark - Sweden - Norway North Cape > Sweden. Motorcycle back to South Africa.
The best: Friendly people in Gabon, wildlife in Cameroon, the Sahara Desert.
The worst: Before: Loose my bike, or
my life?? On the road: Refusing the Moroccan Visa.
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Try to get as much Afican visas before you start.
Earlier experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: 1999: A tour from America to Mexico and back on a KTM 620 EGS (1996).
2000: 1 first tour in Africa. South Africa (Capetown) - Mozambiqe - Malawi - Zambia - Botswana - South Africa. On HONDA XR600R (1995)
2002: Tour in Botswana on BMW 650GS (2000)
2002\3: Namibia - Botswana - South Africa on BMW R1150GS. The bike was STOLEN. So now I have got a BMW R1100GS(2000) for the Transafrica-Tour.
19.10.2003 1st information about this planned tour
21.10.2003 1st request
for update
31.10.2003 Visited me for boxes and rack and recommendation
23.06.2006 Last
update
12.-23.04.2006 "Special Guest" on the 28th. Mc-Meeting for World-Travellers in Belgium.
21.06.2006 Personal guest on our party "Sommersonnenwendfeier" in Hammer
18.09.2005 Adam wrote to me from Lubumbashi before he rode this route:
After a crazy 5 hour border crossing in Kasumbalesa, and 45 USD, I'm in the Congo, Lubumbashi.
Some nice Belgium expats took me in as there guest, and they are wonderful and helpful folk.
According to them, the road is possible, but VERY hard. A permit for the mining are is a key for a safe passage, and they can help with that as well. Non of them drove this route in the passed 10 years. But due to their work, and born here, they are the best source of information.
The Only route is:
Lubumbashi - Kolwezi: Tar road x 160 km > to Luena : piste rough but doable 211 km > to Kamina mountain piste the rough type 174
km > to Mwene Ditu : piste in very bad state km 330 > to Mbuji May : tar road km 131 > to Kananga : piste with some long sand passages km 175 > to Tshikapa : sand all the way but manageable > to Kikwit : deep sand all the way > to Kenge : very damaged tar road but no problem > to Kinshasa : 140 km of deep
sands then 120 km of nice tar.
Petrol is a problem, and no one drives this road. The soldiers will give problems, but you can talk to them.
Some May-may rebels are reported next to Kamina, and if they catch you, "its a certain death" the Belgians say.
They kindly offer to arrange a FREE flight for me and the bike to Kinshasa on 20/09/05...
16.11.2005 Adam wrote to me from Rumsiki, North Cameroon after he rode from Lubumbashi to KInshasa somehow:
In Lubumbashi, I took your advice Bernd T., fueled my motorbike full with pertol, and started the ride to Kinshasa.
Before leaving, a Belgian friend got for me a "travel permit" to Katanga province. This was not enouth. By the official law, everyone needs a permit to travel in Kasai Oriental and Kasai Occidental provinces. These permits cost 250 USD etch!. They only issue it in Kinshasa, and it takes 2 weeks to be procced...
My plan was to travel with the Katanga permit in my pocket, and a smile on my face...
My route was: Lubumbashi - Likasi 120 km: Tar road > Likasi - Kolwezi 210 km: broken tar > Kolwezi-Tenke 80 km > Tenke - Les Biano 95 Km: deep sand > Les Biano - Lubudi 50 km: deep sand >
Lubud i -Bukama 115 km: nice mountain piste > Bukama - Luabo 125 km: VERY hard mountain piste > Luabo-Kamina 55 km: big "pot holes" up tp 3 meters deep!!! >
Kamina: there is a nice Catholic mission to rest in >
Kamina - Kaniama > 200 km: reasonable dirt road >
Kaniama-Lubilanji river 18 km: pot holes, deep mud.
This is the Kassi province border- many police and army! >
Lubilanji-Mwene Ditu 90 km: corrugated road > Mwene Ditu - Mbuji Mayi 168 Km: tar road.
The road Kolwezi-Luena is totally destroyed.
I was arrested just before Mwene Ditu for not having the Kasai province permit, and after long hours I was "sent free". I had a contact in Mbuji Mayi, so I rested there for two days.
My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon, so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD total) to Kinshasa.
From Lubumbashi to Mbuji-Mayi took my 15 days of riding. The road is very bad, deep sand, and mountain piste. I slept in the villages, and in the nice catholic mission in Kamina.
Petrol can be found in all the towns mentioned above, for 3 USD in average. For some reason, one can pay in USD(cash)notes!!
The Savanah is beautiful, and the locals are very nice.
Most of then do'nt speek French or English, only Swahily and Lingala.
This area is very remote, and the only transport is made on bicycles. The train from Lubumbashi to Ilebo works, and take 4 weeks!!!
The season was good for bike traveling. The rains where just starting, and this made the sand tracks a bit more compact, so is was EASYER to ride.
>
My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon, so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD total) from Mbuji Mayi to Kinshasa > from Kinshasa I took the ferry to Brazzaville > Oyo> West to Gabon (Franceville > Libreville > Ndjole. From here tar-route until Yaounde. > Bitam) > Cameroon (Ebolowa > Kribi > Edea > Yaounde).
Bernd T was asking: why did you take this much more difficult road instead of riding the normal road to Dolisie > Lambarene > Libreville ??????
Adam Shani answered:
My route is a far better option. On the road you described, there are many police. The route from Brazzaville to Oyo (400 km north of Brazza) is tar: Congo president was born in
Oyo.... > from Oyo going west on a good track. The Border crossing into Gabon at Leconi is easy. And from Franceville the roads are good piste.
Info: Your Box and rack are working VERY WELL- thank you for that.
16.11.2005 Next request for more details of road conditions between the towns.
30.11.2005 Good more detailed infos came. And : My girlfriend just left me, and went back to Israel.
She don't like the bike, and me, so we
separated...it's hard, but I believe it's the best way for the two of us
30.11.2005 Next request for update
27.11.2005 Nigeria, Ibadan
The Algerian ambassador finally refused to issue me (as an Israeli) visa, so I packed my bike, and left Yaounde.
My route was:
-7/12/2005-Yaounde, Obala, Bafia, Bandjoum, Bamenda, Batibo. >> 440km. Tar road in good contition, and very cenice.
-8/12/2005-Batibo, Mamfe, Ekok(the Nigerian border)Ikom. >> 178Km, bad road all the way to the border. Deep beautiful jungle.
-9/12/2005-Ikom, Abakaliki, Enugo, Onitsha, Benin city, Ejebo-ode, Ibadan. >>752km, tar road all the way, many police checkpoints, but no problem.
I'm visiting some friends here, and enjoying a clean bed, and hot meals!!
The bike needs a service, and next week I hope ride to Benin republic, and then to Niger. From there i plan to ride the original plan top Mali, Mauritania, and Morocco
03.02.2006
Mali, Sévaré, .
You - Bernd - where right-once I've crossed into Benin, things are different- more relaxed. And I can see other travelers...that's also a nice change.
My route from Ibadan/Nigeria, up to now:
-14/01/06 Ibadan, Abeokuta, Meko, Ketou(Benin), Savé, Kokoro. 444Km Tar.
-15/01/06 Kokoro, Malanville(Niger), Sabongari. 481Km Tar
-16/01/06 Sabongari, Dosso, Dogondoutchi, Birnin Konni, Moujila. 416Km, Tar.
17/01/06 Moujila, Tahoua, Agadez. 500Km Tar.
20/01/06 Agadez, Moujila. 500KM Tar.
21/01/06 Moujila, Niamey. 402Km Tar.
26/01/06 Niamey, Ayorou(Mali), Fafa. 290Km Tar to Ayorou, sand to Fafa.
27/01/06 Fafa, Gao, Bourem. 267Km-sand.
28/01/06 Bourem, Ber. 268Km-soft sand.
29/01/06 Ber, Timbuktu. 38Km- soft sand.
1/02/06 Timbuktu, Douentza. 225Km-sand in first 100Km, then badly coregated piste.
2/02/06 Douentza, Madougou, Douro, Bandiagara, Sévaré.
230Km- sand to Bandiagara, then tar.
>>>2 Tuareg dressed men jumped out of a bush, pointing
an AK47 rifle at me, signaling to stop. I just accelerated, and drove (FAST) away. This area is known for armed bandits, I was told here by some NGO's.
>>>the first pic is on the way to Timbuktu, the second
is climbing up the pass in the beautiful Bandiagara escarpment.
03.03.2006 Mauretania, Nouakchott: I will email you the route description
Bamako>Nouakchott in a day or two, but first, I need
your advice please.
As an Israeli, I need a visa to enter Morocco. I applied for one in the Moroccan consulates of Niger, Mali, and here in the Embassy in Nouakchott. The consulates told me that I need to apply in the embassy in Nouakchott, and here they said that since I'm riding a vehicle, I need to get it in the consulate in Nouadhibuo, at the border. So, I rode 500Km North to Nouadhibou, and was told to go BACK to the embassy in Nouakchott 500 km!!! This morning I came back to the embassy, and they said that I can only get in in it in Nouadhibou !
so it seems that i came to a dead end....
I'm staying in a nice campsite called "Auberge Sahara". The owner is a french born Muslim women, that married a Mauritanian man. They are very nice people, and treat me like one of the family. The campsite is full with interesting people, and I'm in good company.
26.03.2006, Senegal, Cap Skiring: The Moroccan embassy in Dakar also refused to issue me visa, even with an air ticket to Rabat...
So I see no other choice right now but ship the bike over to Europe. The Grimaldi lines agent in Italy is very helpful. The next ship sailing from Dakar to Europe will be in 30/03/2006, and I have booked a place for me, and the bike, all for EU 1000, including meals. That's the best option for me.
With the time I had left, i decided to explore Senegal a bit more.
The Casamance area is very nice, with friendly people, and beautiful "bush". Here's the route I did from Nouakchott to Cap Skiring:
18/03/06 Nouakchott>Tiguent>Rosso>Keur Massene>Diama.
334Km Tar to Rosso, and good piste to the border in Diama. I took this route to avoid the hassles in Rosso border crossing.
19/03/06 Diama>St.Louis>Thiés>Dakar. 351Km, tar.
22/03/06 Dakar>Mbour>Fatick. 211Km tar.
23/03/06 Fatick>Kaolack>Farafenn>Senoba. Tar. The 100
ton(!!) ferry across the Gambia river was stuck for 5 hours, but eventually was fixed. The border crossing between Gambia/Senegal was relatively quick.
24/03/06 Senoba>Ziguinchor>Cap Skiring. tar to Zig.
piste to Cap S.Tomorrow I'm planing to ride back to Dakar via Banjul, and on the 30th board the ship to Europe.
11.04.2006, Holland, Utrecht: After 9 days at sea, on board of the cargo vessel "Repobblica Di Amalfi", I disembarked in Hamburg, Germany.
The Sailing route has been changed at sea. I was told it might happen, and had the option of staying on board for another 9 days, to reach Portugal. But I had enough sailing.
From Hamburg I road the Motorbike to Utrecht, Holland.
There are a lot of things to organize; bike insurance, changing tires, and so on.
It will all be ready for the Tesch meeting I'm sure.
If there's any help I can offer you with the bikers meeting, please let me know. I will be happy to help in any way.
Take care, and see you soon.
Adam.
21.-23.04.2006 28th Motorcycle Meeting for World-Travellers: Adam was my special guest !
The African leg of this trip started in Krugersdorp South-Africa on 16/07/2005, and ended at 30/03/2006 in Dakar, Senegal.
The Europian leg is planed to take about 3 mouths more from now, general destination in Nord Cap in Norway.
08.05.2006. Spain, Segovia: ..greetings from Segovia, Spain. Thank you Bernd, for the wonderful bikers meeting you have arranged, and made me your special guest. It was a real honor for me, and I will never forget it: standing in-front of all these committed travelers, and telling them my story... And for all the nice and interesting people I have met during that weekend.
From the meeting I have traveled to Leonberg in Germany, to meet a very nice "Sandra". We have met in Zambia, and kept in touch ever since.
Now, I'm on the way to Gibraltar... Europe is another adventure, and I was happy to discover that I can camp here by the side of the road, and travel like I did in Africa. I'll up date you as always, about the route from Gibraltar to Nord Cap, and I hope we can meet again in a few weeks. I would love that.
28.07. 2006 Sweden: .. after about 4000km of riding from Germany, I have arrive the Nordkaap!
The ride through Denmark, Sweden and Norway, via road
E6 was spectacular. Fjords, rivers, and deep canyons where all along this beautiful region.
From Nordkaap I turned South, to Finland, and into Sweden, where I am now, with my mother's family in the North province.
It's wonderful to meet my family again, and tell them about the trip I have made from Africa all the way up here.
Eventually I decide to ride around the world, BUT not right now. So, I will get another job, for a year or two, to save the money needed to complete the
journey- Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
My Carnet will soon be expire anyway.
I will keep you updated, as always, and would like to thank you for all your kind help and advice.
B.T.: I accompanied Adam from before he started his Transafrica-Tour until "he made it in time to participate the 28th. Mc-Meeting for world-travellers". He is as nice as we all should be.
18.09.2005 Adam wrote to me from Lubumbashi before he rode this route:
After a crazy 5 hour border crossing in Kasumbalesa, and 45 USD, I'm in the Congo , Lubumbashi . Some nice Belgium expats took me in as there guest, and they are wonderful and helpful folk. According to them, the road is possible, but VERY hard. A permit for the mining are is a key for a safe passage, and they can help with that as well. Non of them drove this route in the passed 10 years. But due to their work, and born here, they are the best source of information.
The Only route is: Lubumbashi - Kolwezi : Tar road x 160 km > to Luena : piste rough but doable 211 km > to Kamina mountain piste the rough type 174 km > to Mwene Ditu : piste in very bad state km 330 > to Mbuji May : tar road km 131 > to Kananga : piste with some long sand passages km 175 > to Tshikapa :
sand all the way but manageable > to Kikwit : deep sand all the way > to Kenge : very damaged tar road but no problem > to Kinshasa : 140 km of deep sands then 120 km of nice tar.
Petrol is a problem, and no one drives this road. The soldiers will give problems, but you can talk to them.
Some May-may rebels are reported next to Kamina, and if they catch you, "its a certain death" the Belgians say.
They kindly offer to arrange a FREE flight for me and the bike to Kinshasa on 20/09/05...
16.11.2005 Adam wrote to me from Rumsiki, North Cameroon after he rode from Lubumbashi to KInshasa
somehow:
In Lubumbashi , I took your advice Bernd T., fueled my motorbike full with pertol, and started the ride to Kinshasa .
Before leaving, a Belgian friend got for me a "travel permit" to Katanga province. This was not enouth. By the official law, everyone needs a permit to travel in Kasai Oriental and Kasai Occidental provinces. These permits cost 250 USD etch!. They only issue it in Kinshasa , and it takes 2 weeks to be procced...
My plan was to travel with the Katanga permit in my pocket, and a smile on my face...
My route was: Lubumbashi - Likasi 120 km: Tar road > Likasi - Kolwezi 210 km: broken tar > Kolwezi-Tenke 80 km > Tenke - Les Biano 95 Km: deep sand > Les Biano - Lubudi 50 km: deep sand > Lubud i -Bukama 115 km: nice mountain piste > Bukama - Luabo 125 km: VERY hard mountain piste > Luabo-Kamina
55 km: big "pot holes" up tp 3 meters deep!!! >
Kamina: there is a nice Catholic mission to rest in > Kamina - Kaniama > 200 km: reasonable dirt road > Kaniama-Lubilanji river 18 km: pot holes, deep mud.
This is the Kassi province border- many police and army! > Lubilanji-Mwene Ditu 90 km: corrugated road > Mwene Ditu - Mbuji Mayi 168 Km: tar road. The road Kolwezi-Luena is totally destroyed.
I was arrested just before Mwene Ditu for not having the Kasai province permit, and after long hours I was "sent free". I had a contact in Mbuji Mayi , so I rested there for two days.
My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon , so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD
total) to Kinshasa .
From Lubumbashi to Mbuji-Mayi took my 15 days of riding. The road is very bad, deep sand, and mountain piste. I slept in the villages, and in the nice catholic mission in Kamina.
Petrol can be found in all the towns mentioned above, for 3 USD in average. For some reason, one can pay in USD(cash)notes!! The Savanah is beautiful, and the locals are very nice. Most of then do'nt speek French or English, only Swahily and Lingala.
This area is very remote, and the only transport is made on bicycles. The train from Lubumbashi to Ilebo works, and take 4 weeks!!!
The season was good for bike traveling. The rains where just starting, and this made the sand tracks a bit more compact, so is was EASYER to ride.
> My girlfriend was already wating for me in Gabon ,
so I had no more time... I took a cargo plane (150 USD
total) from Mbuji Mayi to Kinshasa > from Kinshasa I took the ferry to Brazzaville > Oyo> West to Gabon (Franceville > Libreville > Ndjole. From here tar-route until Yaounde . > Bitam) > Cameroon (Ebolowa
> Kribi > Edea > Yaounde ).
Bernd T was asking: why did you take this much more difficult road instead of riding the normal road to Dolisie > Lambarene > Libreville ??????
Adam Shani answered: My route is a far better option.
On the road you described, there are many police. The route from Brazzaville to Oyo (400 km north of Brazza) is tar: Congo president was born in Oyo.... > from Oyo going west on a good track. The Border crossing into Gabon at Leconi is easy. And from Franceville the roads are good piste.
Info: Your Box and rack are working VERY WELL- thank you for that.
16.11.2005 Next request for more details of road conditions between the towns.
30.11.2005 Good more detailed infos came. And : My girlfriend just left me, and went back to Israel . She don't like the bike, and me, so we separated...it's hard, but I believe it's the best way for the two of us
30.11.2005 Next request for update
27.11.2005 Nigeria , Ibadan
The Algerian ambassador finally refused to issue me (as an Israeli) visa, so I packed my bike, and left Yaounde .
My route was:
-7/12/2005- Yaounde , Obala, Bafia, Bandjoum, Bamenda, Batibo. >> 440km. Tar road in good contition, and very cenice.
-8/12/2005-Batibo, Mamfe, Ekok(the Nigerian border)Ikom. >> 178Km, bad road all the way to the border. Deep beautiful jungle.
-9/12/2005-Ikom, Abakaliki, Enugo, Onitsha , Benin city, Ejebo-ode, Ibadan . >>752km, tar road all the way, many police checkpoints, but no problem.
I'm visiting some friends here, and enjoying a clean bed, and hot meals!!
The bike needs a service, and next week I hope ride to Benin republic, and then to Niger . From there i plan to ride the original plan top Mali , Mauritania , and Morocco
03.02.2006 Mali , Sévaré, .
You - Bernd - where right-once I've crossed into Benin , things are different- more relaxed. And I can see other travelers...that's also a nice change.
My route from Ibadan/Nigeria, up to now:
-14/01/06 Ibadan , Abeokuta , Meko, Ketou( Benin ), Savé, Kokoro. 444Km Tar.
-15/01/06 Kokoro, Malanville(Niger), Sabongari. 481Km Tar
-16/01/06 Sabongari, Dosso, Dogondoutchi, Birnin Konni, Moujila. 416Km, Tar.
17/01/06 Moujila, Tahoua, Agadez. 500Km Tar.
20/01/06 Agadez, Moujila. 500KM Tar.
21/01/06 Moujila, Niamey . 402Km Tar.
26/01/06 Niamey , Ayorou( Mali ), Fafa. 290Km Tar to Ayorou, sand to Fafa.
27/01/06 Fafa, Gao, Bourem. 267Km-sand.
28/01/06 Bourem, Ber. 268Km-soft sand.
29/01/06 Ber, Timbuktu. 38Km- soft sand.
1/02/06 Timbuktu , Douentza. 225Km-sand in first 100Km, then badly coregated piste.
2/02/06 Douentza, Madougou, Douro , Bandiagara, Sévaré.
230Km- sand to Bandiagara, then tar.
>>>2 Tuareg dressed men jumped out of a bush, pointing
an AK47 rifle at me, signaling to stop. I just accelerated, and drove (FAST) away. This area is known for armed bandits, I was told here by some NGO's.
>>>the first pic is on the way to Timbuktu , the
second is climbing up the pass in the beautiful Bandiagara escarpment.
03.03.2006 Mauretania, Nouakchott : I will email you the route description Bamako > Nouakchott in a day or two, but first, I need your advice please.
As an Israeli, I need a visa to enter Morocco . I applied for one in the Moroccan consulates of Niger , Mali , and here in the Embassy in Nouakchott . The consulates told me that I need to apply in the embassy in Nouakchott , and here they said that since I'm riding a vehicle, I need to get it in the consulate in Nouadhibuo, at the border. So, I rode 500Km North to Nouadhibou, and was told to go BACK to the embassy in Nouakchott 500 km!!! This morning I came back to the embassy, and they said that I can only get in in it in Nouadhibou ! so it seems that i came to a dead end....
I'm staying in a nice campsite called "Auberge Sahara". The owner is a french born Muslim women, that married a Mauritanian man. They are very nice people, and treat me like one of the family. The campsite is full with interesting people, and I'm in good company.
26.03.2006, Senegal , Cap Skiring: The Moroccan embassy in Dakar also refused to issue me visa, even with an air ticket to Rabat ...
So I see no other choice right now but ship the bike over to Europe . The Grimaldi lines agent in Italy is very helpful. The next ship sailing from Dakar to Europe will be in 30/03/2006, and I have booked a place for me, and the bike, all for EU 1000, including meals. That's the best option for me.
With the time I had left, i decided to explore Senegal a bit more.
The Casamance area is very nice, with friendly people, and beautiful "bush". Here's the route I did from Nouakchott to Cap Skiring:
18/03/06 Nouakchott >Tiguent>Rosso>Keur Massene>Diama.
334Km Tar to Rosso, and good piste to the border in Diama. I took this route to avoid the hassles in Rosso border crossing.
19/03/06 Diama>St.Louis>Thiés>Dakar. 351Km, tar.
22/03/06 Dakar >Mbour>Fatick. 211Km tar.
23/03/06 Fatick>Kaolack>Farafenn>Senoba. Tar. The 100
ton(!!) ferry across the Gambia river was stuck for 5 hours, but eventually was fixed. The border crossing between Gambia/Senegal was relatively quick.
24/03/06 Senoba>Ziguinchor>Cap Skiring. tar to Zig.
piste to Cap S.Tomorrow I'm planing to ride back to Dakar via Banjul , and on the 30th board the ship to Europe .
11.04.2006, Holland , Utrecht : After 9 days at sea, on board of the cargo vessel "Repobblica Di Amalfi", I disembarked in Hamburg , Germany .
The Sailing route has been changed at sea. I was told it might happen, and had the option of staying on board for another 9 days, to reach Portugal . But I had enough sailing. From Hamburg I road the Motorbike to Utrecht , Holland .
There are a lot of things to organize; bike insurance, changing tires, and so on. It will all be ready for the Tesch meeting I'm sure.
If there's any help I can offer you with the bikers meeting, please let me know. I will be happy to help in any way. Take care, and see you soon.
Adam.
21.-23.04.2006 28th Motorcycle Meeting for
World-Travellers: Adam was my special guest !
The African leg of this trip started in Krugersdorp South-Africa on 16/07/2005, and ended at 30/03/2006 in Dakar , Senegal .
The Europian leg is planed to take about 3 mouths more from now, general destination in Nord Cap in Norway .
08.05.2006. Spain , Segovia : ..greetings from Segovia , Spain . Thank you Bernd, for the wonderful bikers meeting you have arranged, and made me your special guest. It was a real honor for me, and I will never forget it: standing in-front of all these committed travelers, and telling them my story... And for all the nice and interesting people I have met during that weekend.
From the meeting I have traveled to Leonberg in Germany , to meet a very nice "Sandra". We have met in Zambia , and kept in touch ever since.
Now, I'm on the way to Gibraltar ... Europe is another adventure, and I was happy to discover that I can camp here by the side of the road, and travel like I did in Africa . I'll up date you as always, about the route from Gibraltar to Nord Cap, and I hope we can meet again in a few weeks. I would love that.
B.T.: I accompanied Adam from before he started his Transafrica-Tour until "he made it in time to participate the 28th. Mc-Meeting for world-travellers". He is as nice as we all should be.
BT.: I have never heard that a man from Israel rode Transafrica. In any case this is a rarity ! I suppose that he is the first one - and I am relatively sure about this ! Transafrica: South > Central > West > North
BT.:
I have never heard that a man from Israel rode Transafrica. And not Capetown > Northcape! In any case this is
a rarity ! I suppose that he is the first one - and I am relatively sure about this !
Transafrica: South > East > West > North > Europe from Spain to Nortcape.
01.11.2005
- spring 2007
Martin Wellein (German, 25.09.1978)
-
Around Africa.Maschinenbaumeister Martin plans to travel solo around
Africa with a Yamaha TT600 Belgarda, ca.40.000 kms. Special: He travels most of
the time with a surfboard.
Purpose of your travel: It was a dream to
surf around Africa and do it by a bike and to meet my buddys in Namibia and South
Africa again
Route: Europe (Germany - Austria - France - Spain) - Africa
(Marocco - Sahara Occidental - Mauritania - Senegal - Guine Bissau - Mali - maybe
Cote d´Ivoire - Burkina Faso - Benin - Nigeria - Cameroun - Gabon - Rep.
Congo - Rep. dem du Congo - Angola - Namibia - South Africa. Then I want to stay
minimum 4 months in Capetown to be with my buddys and to work there. Route backwards:
Around september 2006...: Swasiland - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Mocambique - Tanzania
- Kenya - Ethiopia - Eritrea - Sudan - Egypt - Lybia - Tunisia - Algeria - Marocco
- Europe (- Spain - Portugal - France - Germany).
Highlights: I want
to find myself. Surf, surf, surf. Freedom. Sun. Meet my Buddys. Climbing the Spitzkoppe,
Drakensberge, Kilimanjaro... Having a bath in the Okavango delta......)
The
worst: I´ll find it out
Book or publication (about your tour): I am thinking about it
Useful informations and TIPS for others: not
yet...
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: none
10.06.2005
1st information
10.06.2005 1 st request
19.06.2005 2nd request for update.
< Foto: Corinna "off road" in Morocco
21.10. - 12.11.2005
Corinna Ziebarth (German, birthday 10.08.1977) www.CoWrinna.de
+ Morocco. Corinna planned travelling to Maroc on BMW R1200GS (modified by Wunderlich) round about 6.000kms in Maroc with three guys from Germany (Michael Paetsch, Lothar Bertels and Joerg Niemczyk). Finally she rode ca. 7000 kms.
Purpose of your travel: Holiday , motorcycle riding fun and getting impressions about different culture, nature, life and language of native people. Photography. During my time at Maroc the "Ramadan"-period finished with a big festival. I learned many things about differences between religions (Islam - Christians). Talking to/ meeting people during the trip.
Route : Düsseldorf/Germany - Narbonne/France by DB Autozug (Nighttrain) - Overland Narbonne/France - Barcelona/Spain - Port of Almeria/Spain. By Ferry from Almeria/Spain - Nador/Maroc (6 hours passage). I visited during my trip: Guercif (Souk), Missour, Midelt, Georges du Ziz valley, Er Rachidia, Source Bleue de Meski, Erfoud, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi (dunes), Mecissi, El Mharch, Zagora, Vallee du Draa, Agdz, Bou-Azzer, Tazenakht, Ait-Benhaddou (Kasbah castle), Kasbah Telouet, Tizi-n-Tichka, Marrakech (Souk, Medina etc.), Afourer, Jbel Tazerkount, Jörg GranderathOuaouizarht, Beni-Mellal, Azrou, Meknes, Larache, Tanger. Ferry from Tanger/Maroc to Tarifa/Spain (35min. passage) - overland to Moux/France - Back to Düsseldorf/Germany by Motorcycle Transport Company (Bike in a Box).
Highlights: Different landscape like Desert, Mountains, Oasis, Nirvana. Meeting very friendly people. Simply travelling by motorcycle. I bought my first Berber-carpet. Learning some arabian words. Friendship to other traveller I met in the desert. I learned how to ride on sand with R1200GS...and I needed 1,5hours for 100m... ;-), Marrakech Jemaa El Fna & Souk, The de Menthe. Friendly and helpful native people...
The worst: Missing the character strenght of my group members for a trip like this. Many discussions, many changes and misbehavieour on- and offroad. Missing the capability of alternativ group travelling.
Book or publication : none, only on my website and comercial websites www.cowrinna.de
Useful informations and TIPS for others: Actual information for travellers on website of Auswaertiges-Amt or Travel-Meeting. Otherwise call me or contact me on my website. Some tips will be nominated on my website. It is easy to travel Maroc in group or alone on motorcycle.
Earlier Experiences of big Motorcycle-Tours: Since 1998 Northern Europe (NO, SE, FIN, DK), Middle Europe (DE, NL, BE, LUX, AT, CH), Southern Europe (FR, ES, PT, AND, IT, Sicilia) , East-Europe (SLO, HU, SK, CZ, EST, LT, LV, PL), most countries of the EU, The Alpes, Romania, Croatia.
13.10.2005 1st summary
12.11.2005 Last update. 13.10.2005
Best Photo: -> I will send you my best Photo after finishing the trip! |