Driving to the World Cup

[brendy_éire]

Been talking about this for a few years, but seriously considering it now.

Anyone have any tips on driving in Africa?

Our idea is to drive to Spain, then down the west coast (we don't fancy driving through the Sahara much), though avoiding Western Sahara would probably be best. This route would also mean we wouldn't have to take a 4x4 (although it'd probably be best to anyway).

When we get to SA the idea would be to dump/sell/ship the car.

Have done some very quick research, and it does look possible. There'd be a feck load of customs forms to fill in, but we think we can do it.

Realistically, our main issue is safety. Don't fancy Western Sahara or Mauritania much, and Nigeria seems a bit dodgy too. I don't know how people would react to the sight of 3/4 pasty fellas in an Irish reg car, we'd stick out like sore thumbs.

Are we all mad or should we just go for it?

[pineapple stu]

It's a while back (1991 I think), but check out Michael Palin's Pole to Pole. It's an enjoyable series, but he also drives for a good bit down through Africa. Looked a nightmare. He went down the east - Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia etc.

[dfx-]

Pole-to-Pole and Long Way Down went down through the eastern side and I would love to do it. Though I've heard some dodgy stuff about driving in Kenya though. Wouldn't dare think of going down the West Coast..

Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana/Namibia, South Africa..

[MariborKev]

Brendy,

Don't you know to come to the expert on this? I'll discuss this with you at an upcoming match(couldn't be arsed typing it).

As stated, the West and middle is a no go, so the East Coast is probably you're only possible.

You need a convertible 4x4, a ton of spare, and a fair bit of mechnical knowledge(or someone will) if you are even considering this!

[pineapple stu]

You need a convertible 4x4, a ton of spare, and a fair bit of mechnical knowledge(or someone will) if you are even considering this!
Add a lot of time. I'd say work out how long you reckon it'd take, and then double it.

Could be some adventure though.

[MariborKev]

We did Nairobi to Cape Town in 73 days. There was a lot of driving involved(8-12 hours per day) and we'd mix it up between one night camping at the side of the road with a few days at organised campsites/sights ie we had near a week at Victoria Falls to go rafting etc.

Also, we didn't take the direct route. However you have to factor in madcap things(having to wait nearly 48 hours at the Zimbabwean border for correct customs stamp etc, 8 hours to get into Malawi, getting arrested in Harare, I could go on)

Brendy, there is an English fella we met along the way who wrote a great blog, I've the bookmark saved somewhere.

[Ash]

Or failing that, get a lift off GSpain :D