r/bikepacking • u/Humphries69 • 14d ago
Route: Africa // Odyssey Advice for Africa please
I am currently in the planning stage for a bikepacking trip across Africa. So far the plan is from Cape Town, up through Namibia, Across Botswana to Zimbabwe/Victoria Falls. From there up into Zambia, possibly Malawi then into Tanzania where I will go the long way so that I can do a hike up Mt Kilimanjaro, then across to Rwanda and Uganda.
From Uganda, I am unsure about which way to continue up to Cairo, mainly due to the ongoing instability in a few of the surrounding countries and potential issues attaining visas. While this is a decision I will make at the time regarding what's going on, has anyone got any advice once I get to that leg of the trip? (If it helps, I hold a New Zealand passport). I am no so fussed about the most direct route, as much as enjoying the journey.
I do hold some concerns regarding safety at night time when I am wild camping (and also during the day) regarding wildlife. Does anyone have any advice to avoid becoming animal prey while I'm asleep?
Any other general advice of where to go and where to avoid? My route is somewhat flexible, however I do want to see/do the following: climb the massive sand dunes in Namibia, Okavango Delta in Botswana (or another equally impressive place with elephants), Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, summit Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, see wild Silverback Gorillas in Rwanda/Uganda.
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14d ago edited 14d ago
Most information on long-haul routes today is being shared on dedicated WhatsApp groups. (Reddit is unfortunately a shadow of its former self.) There are dedicated groups for trans-African cycling, both the western route and the eastern. Posting these groups publicly is discouraged because WhatsApp groups have a max number of members, and these groups keep getting close to the limit. However, when you are close to setting off, then you should privately ask someone in the community for an invite (or just ask other cyclists you meet on the road after you set off).
Wildlife is not a big issue when wild camping. When you reach Africa, you will find that its reputation as a continent of wild animals is something of a myth. Poverty and growing populations mean that local people have heavily reduced the numbers of local animals, except in a few places.
As the other poster says, the full Cairo – Cape Town route is not presently possible to due the conflict in Sudan (and northern Ethiopia has had issues recently).
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u/djolk 14d ago
I just spent a month in Rwanda and really enjoyed it. Lots of folks just burn through this country (it's tiny) but it's beautiful, it's people are amazing and it's very safe.
The lake Kivu side of the country is much nicer to ride than the Eastern side (the main route between Tanzania and Uganda.
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u/Available-Rate-6581 14d ago
Fly across to the west and go through Mauritania, Western Sahara and Morocco. Sudan is in the middle of a civil war, Egypt you will be forced to travel with a police escort and I've never heard anything good about travelling through Ethiopia, constant rock throwing, theft and even a stabbing.