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The BIG Africa Ride page, for cycling ACROSS Africa

This page is to help plan long rides across Africa.

 

See also the ride IN Africa page - here

 

 

We've had some kind people doing sponsored bike rides across Africa to raise money for Re~Cycle.

Tour D'Afrique may be of interest = http://www.tourdafrique.com

 

BIKE REPAIR SKILLS

  • As well as fixing punctures, would be a good idea to have more skills, eg. brake adjust,
  • Emergency keep you going tips..

 

 

Choice of bike

See the main bike page

Factors specific to long tours:

  • Durability
  • Availabiltiy of spares

 

Getting sponosred kit

They'll probably want exposure

 

Ground support

- media - enquire, answer questions
- site update

 

Media

 

 

Visas

 

Many are very specific on dates, though you're not able to be - poss worth being loose with the dates.

UK not allow to ask for visa if not in your own country of residence - so check if ok to get in country next door.

Visas will cost a lot, more than $100 a time, doing it 'on the fly'.

Some countries need a letter of invitation, and some of these have to be signed by local police.

 

Can get visa for both Mali and Mauritania in Rabat, Morocco.  Their embassies are literally 200m apart -each costs 340 moroccan dirhams. They usually advertise the costs in dollars or euros  but expect to pay in dirhams.
Turn around is 24 hours.

I wouldn't recommend doing it at the boarder - word is it will cost you more - and you should expect delays.

As a British passport holder you wont need a visa for Senegal.

If you're not passing through Rabat (which may be some detour!) you're
probs best mailing your passport to Belgium or Paris.

Don't forget your yellow fever vaccine certificate - checks are more
common at overland board crossings.

 

Sponsorship

  • See also general tips
  • Per km?
  • Per country

 

Project visits

If you can swing by one of our projects, or our partners, would be good for a bike check up, getting feedback, meeting nice folk, a bed...

Look on the African partner pages or give us a shout.

If we know where you're going, we can also let you know about any prospective partners you can check out.

 

BACKUP

  • Worst case scenario, if lost passport, what do?
    • keep info online + USB memory stick

 

 

For people to call you from the UK on your travels, find super cheap prefix here, from Money Saving Expert.  Lots of other good stuff on the site, inc travel insurance...  Journalisitc research, and they give Re~Cycle money.