Recent overland trips to North/East/West Africa?
Amanda Ryan
Lizette Swart
--
--
To STOP getting T4A Mail, make sure that you are sending mail from the SAME ADDRESS that you used when you joined the T4A list and then click on this link:
mailto:tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com
If that does NOT work, then please try mailto:mode...@tracks4africa.co.za
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tracks4Africa" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/CAGmrUnvCxJLQqAuweWAomXFwuUq%3DvoqtAUKvLBzPgO6FGe5v_Q%40mail.gmail.com.
Amanda Ryan
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/CAPpYDkTK4oDYL3-dwOVrc47QnyfwnAFee-dZY72_h%2BLp4H29RQ%40mail.gmail.com.
Bobby Stodel
Dear Mandy
I encourage you to be clear about your objectives. Do you want to wear a badge that says ‘I travelled the length of Africa’ or do you want to really enjoy your travelling while you experience beautiful places and magnificent wildlife at a reasonable cost?
I met a British man in Ghana in January 2024 who had struck a deal with the management of the overland company, Mad Ventures, that he would be allowed to travel in his 4x4 behind their overland truck from Fez to Cape Town and then back to Cairo. The clear advantage for him was that his visas were organised with the group and he was part of the group when crossing borders. From my perspective, the problem was that the truck was on the move every day and was moving at quite a pace. He is certainly the talk of his British village for his achievement of crossing Africa twice – but I question how much he really experienced or enjoyed?
We are spoilt in South Africa because we cross borders easily but once you start heading north to Angola or Zambia and further north, every border crossing becomes an ordeal, may be scary, is sometimes expensive and always takes hours to get through. Going from South Africa to Morocco you will have 21 borders to cross – most of them requiring visas. But most of the time it is easier to get the people through the border – the bigger challenge is getting the vehicle through. You may need a Carnet de Passage.
In 2014 I turned 60, bought a 4x4 and travelled in it about sixty days each year. In that time, I have done about 140,000 kms in all Southern African countries but also to Angola and Tanzania. I had previously travelled in a 4x4 in Kenya. I have concluded that going forward I am going to concentrate my African travels in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. In my opinion there are too few significant places of interest in Angola, and they are far apart; the many game reserves in Tanzania (with the exception of Ngorongoro Crater) generally do not match up to South African reserves and are extraordinarily expensive and in Malawi too many people are polluting the country and the lake.
In January 2024 I chose to travel with an Overland company called Overland West Africa for a month in Ghana, Togo and Benin. I felt that if this trip was a success, at a later stage, I could travel with them on the three other legs that they do from Accra to Marrakesh. The company did exactly what they promised. I however was hugely disappointed. In South Africa there are 50 people per square kilometre. In those three countries there are 140 people per square kilometre – a huge difference which means that there are very few remote areas without people. The pollution of plastic bags extends across the country and in their rivers and coastlines and millions of motor bikes pollute the air in the cities. There are few geographical wonders. Accra, Kumasi, Lome and Cotonu had little to offer the traveller. The museums that we did visit were generally poorly laid out and of limited interest. What we saw of Mole National Park demonstrated a game reserve in trouble. I am fearful that the much of West Africa is similar and have decided not to travel further in that part of the Africa.
If you already have a 4x4 you have probably explored much of Southern Africa and want to do more. As a starter I suggest that you drive to Kenya. Logistically, except for the border crossings, it is relatively easy to do and is safe. Do your research and travel slowly. You will have a wonderful time, but I will not be surprised if you conclude, like me, that the gems for overland travelling are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. In 2020 I paid $110 per night, excluding accommodation, in most Tanzania Game Reserves and $220 per night in Nyerere National Park. Compared to that the SANP Wild Card is a bargain.
To start your research, I recommend the Facebook groups – DriveBots, DriveZim, DriveZam, DriveAngo, DriveTan, 4x4 Overlanding expeditions and trails, Overlanding Africa, Overland Morocco, African Overlanders and Overlanders.
My final advice is that if you are going to be on the road for months at a time, keep a diary or write a blog. Otherwise, you will have difficulty remembering what you did thirty days ago. Seven years ago, I resurrected my blog which I essentially write for myself. I get a lot of enjoyment from reading my blog of a trip I did three years ago. I regret that I did not do it earlier. I am currently backlogged with my West Africa and Zimbabwe trips from last year not yet posted. My trip from Cape Town to Tanzania and two later trips in Tanzania in 2020 and 2021 are on the blog at www.bobview.com . On the latter two trips I often stayed in lodges because they were cheap in COVID.
I wish you well in your retirement travelling.
Bobby Stodel
--