UK to Namibia to Kenya ... Spring 2014

Hi -

I'm gearing up to leave the UK and drive down to Africa (West Coast route), down to Namibia and then up to Kenya in my Land Rover Defender 110. I plan to leave April 2014 (but, heck, it could slip). I'm so far solo ... maybe someone knows someone who'd like to come along? Equally interested in pairing up with another vehicle for parts of the route.

I've got a website and blog up and running (100% non-commercial). It covers the trials and tribulations of getting everything ready, and bits and pieces on what I've learned from previous trips. I hope you'll take a look for "africality.com" or it has it's own page on Facebook

Humperdinck

As mentioned elsewhere, a good few of our regulars on here are currently on their travels around Europe, culminating in a little excursion to Morocco pretty soon. Replies therefore may at first be slow coming, but come they will.

Highly volatile part of the world where you're heading, planning is going to be a real nightmare. How about shipping your vehicle halfway down the west coast and beginning your trip from there? Still masses to see and do from that point onwards, it would certainly be a lot safer and less hassle surely? Just an idea!

Yeah, I echo Tom's thoughts.

Also, based on other comments about now needing a Senegal visa in addition to everything else ... Nigeria, DRC, Angola ...

My recommendation would be to ship to Namibia and explore from there. The borer crossings are easier, most of the time visas are done on the border (no nightmare embassy processes), less unreceipted money / gifts changes hands at the borders ... surprisingly transparent!

Our plans were changed on route and we shipped from Dakar to Cape Town - at the time we were very sad, but our journey through Botswana (with GA Crew), Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda has been awesome beyond belief!! Friendly people everywhere who treated us with such kindness. Only 1 of 15 border crossings where we had a power hungry official who wanted a bribe gift, which we refused to pay and still got into the country.

Don't want to put you off ... but have a think ..

Lots of our adventure is here on this forum and also on our blog - feel free to ask any questions!

rgds
African GirlChild

I concur.... Botswana was fantastic, and even better since the GA team got to sample Kapp2Cape's beer bread!  

Scott & the GA team.

Tom Mc wrote:

Highly volatile part of the world where you're heading, planning is going to be a real nightmare. How about shipping your vehicle halfway down the west coast and beginning your trip from there? Still masses to see and do from that point onwards, it would certainly be a lot safer and less hassle surely? Just an idea!

Hi folks - I've been off travelling but for work rather than fun.

I know it would be easier to ship to Namibia or SA, but I really want to spend some time in Morocco and to see the Western Sahara, plus (Southern) Mali looks fascinating. Then there's the Central African Republic which is said to be a real gem. I'm just hoping that there's no other conflict which starts up over the coming months!

As one person wrote, if we don't hurry up the Chinese will have tarmacced the entire continent pretty soon!

I've just had my Brownchurch roof rack, ARB ten and awning fitted ... it's becoming very 'real'. It's also fun that my blog on the preparations has now had almost 12,000 hits in its five weeks. Crazy huh?

Fair enough, great terrain in that part of the world. Western Saraha was closed for so long, don't blame you wanting to explore. Never know when (or how long) it will be shut again.

Best of luck Humperdink!

You can cross any part of Africa today...if you are willing to put up with border/visa hassles, accept an element of risk in some areas and are okay with long delays when they happen for various reasons. Back when the first overlanders drove from UK to SA in the 1930's, 40's and 50's Africa was no safer and there was alot less support available. So the challenges have changed, more government, more red tape, more officials looking for a bit of something...but probably the same amount of hostile locals. But the trick is that even in the most unsafe countries you will find many more freindly locals than hostile ones. When the war started in Mali last year, Touregs were secretly sneaking westerners out of the north to protect them from the jihadists.

So if you have a healthy sense of adventure and the patience of a saint...plus a healthy bank account, yopu can still do it. And people are. Mostly Europeans for some reason, but they are out there still.

My two cents...

All good and valid points, it is 'adventure' after all.