Africa Overland
plus a return route through Asia - 4x4· Motorbike· Bicycle· Truck
by Bob Gibbons and Sian Pritchard-JonesPublication Date: 23rd Apr 2014
£18.99
Africa Overland Travel Guide – Holiday tips and travel advice including detailed routes and country guides, wildlife hotspots, safety and visas. Also featuring comprehensive maps, tips on what to bring and vehicle maintenance, national parks and game reserves, accommodation, eating and drinking, public transportation and organised tours.
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About this book
Africa is addictive. Africa has colourful people, bustling markets, starry nights, utter desert silence, a cacophony of cicadas, inviting nomads and modern entrepreneurs. Stuck in a deep mud hole, pushing a motorcycle through sand or enjoying the camaraderie of an overloaded public bus, no one is far from the soul of the Dark Continent. Africa Overland, the adventurers’ definitive choice, provides practical sections on buying, maintaining, and driving a vehicle alongside a new section on overland routes in Asia.
About the Author
Siân Pritchard-Jones and Bob Gibbons have been travelling in Africa for 30 years. Their combined travel experience spans all corners of the globe and has included working as guides and drivers on coach tours, leading mountain treks and operating cycle trips and desert expeditions.
Reviews
‘Africa Overland is not only a travel guide: it is also a key that would-be Africa hands can use to unlock their dreams’ South Africa Sunday Times
Additional Information
Table of ContentsIntroduction viii
PART ONE BEFORE YOU LEAVE 1
Chapter 1 The Basics 3
The budget 4, Route planning 6, Shipping your
vehicle 13, Starting a trip from South Africa 14,
Planning a motorbike trip 16, Planning a bicycle trip 16
Chapter 2 Overland Routes 21
Getting to Africa 21, African routes 23, Suggested itineraries 48, Out of Africa – the Asian option 50
Chapter 3 Vehicle Selection and Preparation 59
Selecting your vehicle 59, Vehicle preparation 64,
Vehicle equipment 73, Spares and tools 81, Suppliers
and useful contacts 85, Motorbike selection 86,
Motorbike preparation 89, Bicycle selection and preparation 93
Chapter 4 Organised Tours and Public Transport 107
The routes 108, What to expect 110, Choosing a tour 111, Other options 112, Overland operators 112
Chapter 5 Practicalities 115
Red tape 115, Embassies and consulates 121, Money 121, Health 122, Security 133, Women drivers and
travellers 134, Travelling with children 137, Accommodation 138, Post and telecommunications 139
PART TWO ON THE ROAD 141
Chapter 6 Your Vehicle 143
Driving techniques 143, Recovery techniques 147, Maintenance, breakdowns and repairs 148, Motorbike driving hints and repairs 161, Bicycle troubleshooting 163
Chapter 7 Day-to-Day Issues 165
Bureaucracy 165, Borders and police checks 166,
Visas 167, Money 169, Where to stay 170, Eating and drinking 173, Shopping 178
PART THREE THE GUIDE 179
Chapter 8 Background 181
Geography, vegetation and climate 181, Natural history
and conservation 181, History 182, People 187, Cultural
interaction and respect 188, Religion 188, Festivals 190,
Arts and entertainment 191, Travelling positively 196
Chapter 9 A-Z Africa Country Guide 203
Which country? 203, Notes on this part of the guide 203,
Algeria 206, Angola 208, Benin 211, Botswana 213,
Burkina Faso 215, Burundi 217, Cameroon 218, Central
African Republic (CAR) 221, Chad 223, Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) 225, Republic of
Congo 228, Djibouti 230, Egypt 231, Equatorial
Guinea 235, Eritrea 236, Ethiopia 237, Gabon 240,
Gambia 242, Ghana 245, Guinea 247, Guinea Bissau 250,
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) 252, Kenya 253, Lesotho 257,
Liberia 259, Libya 261, Malawi 263, Mali 266,
Mauritania 270, Morocco 273, Mozambique 277,
Namibia 280, Niger 284, Nigeria 286, Rwanda 289,
Senegal 291, Sierra Leone 294, Somalia 297,
Somaliland 298, South Africa 300, South Sudan 303,
Sudan 305, Swaziland 309, Tanzania 310, Togo 315,
Tunisia 317, Uganda 318, Western Sahara 321,
Zambia 325, Zimbabwe 328
Chapter 10 Guide to Countries on the Return Route via Asia 331
India 331, Nepal 334, China 335, Kazakhstan 337,
Russia 339, Ukraine 340, Poland 341
Appendix 1 Language 343
Appendix 2 Personal Details 346
Appendix 3 Checklist 347
Appendix 4 Visa Requirements at a Glance 360
Appendix 5 Further Information 362
Index of advertisers 367
Index