Sunday, 16 September 2007

Off the traveller's back

I just managed to get some good info from Bjorn and some others staying at Ashanti Backpacker's - thanks for the tip Anne!!

Bjorn just rode the west coast of his Yamaha XJ900 - what a beast! His pannier frame broke too many times, the welding jobs look dodgy but got him here!

Here's some info he passed on:
  • No Carnet required - just got Laissaire Passe at the border (sorry about the spelling)
  • Got most visa's in the country before...
  • Did not use the FISH system, which he does recommend though...?? It's having preprinted info such Passport number, Name, Job etc... listed on a paper ready to hand to the MD (main dog) at the border crossing...
  • Places to stay:
    • Cardboardbox in Windhoek
    • Luanda - stay at Club Nautico (Yacht Club) on the Island of Luanda for FREE...
    • Togo - Before Lome on the left, a place called Chez Alice - (00228) 2279172 - she is Swiss (lalala) chezalicetogo@yahoo.de
    • Ghana - Just after Accra, Big Milly's (apprently there is a sign!!)
    • Dakar - he was racking his brain for the name of the place and then said, just ride through Dakar, it's like a big car park, they have tenting facilities there... we'll look for it!
    • Bamako - Auberge Djamilla - Badalabougou Sema 1, Rue Gamal Nasser (Recommended by the Swiss in the Pinzgauer)
  • Routes:
    • Cameroon/Nigeria crossing, used Ekang border crossing - there is a awesome route down to Calabar.
    • The Swiss took the Brazzaville - Oyo route which tarmac then to Leconi which is the crossing into Gabon, this is a good route if there is rain...
    • Bjorn took the route Brazzaville - Ludima - Doulelise and crossed at Nyanga. Hectic dust on the road and therefore not good if there is rain coming down...
That's just a bit of info - the rest we'll know when we're done!!

1 comment:

Senor J. Onion said...

Did the same: Got visas in the country before (a bit of a buttpain - but it's like solving a treasure hunt), and temporary import permits for the bike at the border. I assume that's what a Laissaire Passe is?