MOTORCYCLE-TOURS · AFRICA
Trans Africa Motorcycle Tour: Go West
Trans Africa motorcycle tour on the western route covers 9,321 miles (15,000 km) across 20 countries — from Southern Europe through West Africa and the equatorial belt to Cape Town in 55 days.
The Journey
55-Day West Africa Motorcycle Expedition
Trans Africa motorcycle tour means expedition rules. OVERCROSS organizes and leads this transafrica expedition but guarantees no specific stages, accommodations, or route segments. Changes are integral to how expeditions work.
You ride at your own risk. Every rider is responsible for their vehicle, gear, and safety. Physical endurance and mental resilience are non-negotiable on this Expert-rated africa overland tour across Sahara sand and Central African laterite tracks.
Review travel advisories for all route countries at auswaertiges-amt.de before booking. Not subject to EU package travel law (§651a BGB).
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
Stage 1: Europe to Ghana via West Africa
The opening leg of this trans africa motorcycle tour runs 21 days from Southern Europe south through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Ghana — roughly 3,452 miles (5,555 km) of Sahara transition zones, Atlantic coast tracks, and West African inland roads.
Stage 1: Europe – Morocco – West Africa
Trans africa motorcycle tour departs Southern Europe heading south. You ride through France and Spain to Gibraltar, or your bike was shipped ahead and you fly into Marrakech to join the convoy one day after departure. The group assembles and moves. West Africa and the Sahara fringes begin almost immediately once you cross into Morocco. This leg covers approximately 5,555 km / 3,452 miles of paved road, sand, and coast track.
Senegal: Atlantic Coast Camp
You cross into Senegal on this west africa motorcycle expedition and ride through Saint-Louis, a former French colonial city at the mouth of the Senegal River on the Atlantic. The route continues south through the Sahel — the dry belt between the Sahara and the savanna. Camp is directly on the Atlantic coast. The food here ranks among the best meals of the entire motorcycle trip africa.
Stage 2: Trans-Equator to Cape Town
The second and hardest leg of this guided africa motorcycle expedition covers approximately 5,523 miles (8,888 km) over 29 days. The route crosses the equator through Nigeria, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, DRC, Angola, and Namibia before the final push south to Cape Town. Remote tracks, difficult border crossings, and fuel stretches exceeding 600 miles (1,000 km) define this stage of the africa crossing motorcycle route.
Nigeria – Lagos: Into the Deep
You cross into Nigeria on this africa motorcycle tour. Lagos is the largest city in the country — dense, high-energy, and operationally complex. A local contact meets the group on arrival and provides routing advice for the Nigeria transit. Overnight in a 5-star hotel. This is one of the most logistically demanding stops on the africa overland tour. Stage: variable, paved road.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Cameroon Border: Out of Nowhere
You leave Nigeria at a remote border post with no signage beyond a flag. Twenty kilometers in, a village hut flying a flag marks the Cameroon entry point — no official stamp at this crossing. The group pushes toward Yaoundé through paved and dirt track. This segment of the transafrica expedition tests navigation and patience equally.
Republic of Congo: Gorilla Encounter
The group crosses the Republic of Congo on well-maintained roads to a bush camp near one of the last remaining silverback gorilla habitats in the region. A gorilla tracking excursion is available on this guided africa motorcycle expedition — the population here is critically endangered and rarely encountered by motorcycle expedition groups. Stage: variable, paved road.
Namibia to Cape Town: The Finish
Past the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, through Keetmanshoop and the granite formations of southern Namibia, you reach the Orange River border crossing into South Africa. The route continues through the Swartberg Mountains toward Cape Town — the planned endpoint of this europe to cape town motorcycle route and south africa motorcycle tour. Not guaranteed. Stage: variable, paved and gravel.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
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Price Options
Additional Options
Trip includes
- Pre-departure group meeting with all expedition participants
- Experienced expedition guide, on-site and connected via satellite tracker throughout
- Guide vehicle with full expedition kit: satellite phone, tools, cooler
- Daily routing for the group, or individual routing on request
- Weekly status and location updates to family and friends via satellite (on request)
- Route maps and navigation material for the full Africa crossing
- Visa guidance: checklist, contacts, process support
- Tour pack with expedition preparation information
- Equipment and packing list for the full journey
- Post-expedition meeting
- Carnet de Passage support in partnership with ADAC
- Expedition entry fee (start fee)
- Insolvency protection certificate per BGB §651r — included with all OVERCROSS expeditions
Service
Teilnahmegebühr (Start-/ Nenngeld) € 14.399
- Startgeld der Transafrika Expedition
- Organisation Vortreffen für Teilnehmer
- Tourguide für die Expedition (vor Ort und online via Satelliten-Tracker)
- Tourguide-Fahrzeugs mit Expeditionsausstattung (Satellitentelefon, Werkzeug, Kühlbox)
- Day by Day Expeditionsrouting für Gruppe oder auf Wunsch von Einzelfahrer
- Wöchentliche Statusmeldung für Angehörige/Freunde via Satellitenverbindung (auf Wunsch)
- Nutzung Kartenmaterial des Guides
- Unterstützung bei Visumfragen, Checklisten, Ansprechpartner
- Tourmappe mit Reiseinformationen, Ausrüstungs- und Packliste
- Nachtreffen der Expedition (auf Wunsch)
- Diese Teilnahmegebühr deckt ausschließlich die Orga- Durch- Führung und Teilnahme an der Expedition ab.
- Die Teilnahme an der Expedition stellt KEINE Pauschalreise nach §651a BGB dar.
- Unterstützung Carnet de Passage durch externen Partner ADAC
- Guide Organisation von Grenzübertritten und Tourlogistik
- Aus Kostenersparnis Gründen für die Teilnehmer, werden die Externe Leistungen durch PR-Services
(siehe unten) ALL IN empfohlen das diese NICHT im Basispacket enthalten sind.
Nr. 1. Zusatzoption Start mit dem eigenen Motorrad € 2.800.-
- Teilnahme mit dem eigenen Motorrad.
- Diese Zusatzoption ist immer zum Basispaket hinzuzurechnen
Nr. 2. Bereitstellung einer voll ausgestatteten Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally € 5.890.-
- Überlassung eine Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally
- Inklusive Gepäcksystem
- Inklusive Navigationsgerät an Bord
- Oneway Nutzung von Tübingen nach Kapstadt
- Diese Zusatzoption ist immer zum Basispaket hinzuzurechnen
Nr. 3. Mitreise im Supportfahrzeug € 2.450.-
- Mitfahrt als Beifahrer oder Mitfahrer im Expeditions-Supportfahrzeug.
- Dieser Aufpreis ist immer zum Basispackt hinzuzurechnen
All IN Paket: € 2999
- Die unten stehenden All in Paket Leistungen werden von PR-Services extern angeboten und sind nicht Bestandteil der Transafrika-Expedition oder Zusatzbuchungen!
- Alle Camping-Übernachtungen im Doppelzimmer während der Expedition
- Hotel- und Lodgeübernachtungen (jede 3. Nacht inkl. Frühstück als kostenloses Upgrade)
- Spedition Einlagerung zur Zollabwicklung, Sicherheitschecks für Abtransport
- Flughafentransfer in Kapstadt (für die geschlossene Gruppe)
- Kfz-Haftpflicht (ECOWAS Brown Card)
- Flugbuchungen (optional, gegen Aufpreis)
- Preis für das Organisationspaket ist direkt an PR-Services per Rechnung zu zahlen und bedeutet eine hohe finanzielle und Organisatorische einsparung für den Teilneher
- Motorradtransport im Sammelcontainer von Kapsatadt zum vorgegeben Rücktransport und Ankunftsziel
- Diese Leistungen sind ausdrücklich keine Bestandteile der Transafrika Expedition und werden separat von PR-Services angeboten.
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The official start point is Málaga, Spain. Rental motorcycles are available for pickup there. Riders shipping their own bike or flying in meet the convoy in Málaga before departure.
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No. If you're riding your own motorcycle, you ship it to OVERCROSS in Germany (Tübingen). Transport from Tübingen to Málaga costs approximately €290, paid separately. After the expedition, OVERCROSS coordinates return shipping from Cape Town to Europe — approximately €590 via shared container through a partner in Cape Town.
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Yes. You can join on a rental Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally (picked up in Málaga) or ride as a co-participant in the OVERCROSS support 4x4 vehicle. US citizens can also participate in a rental 4x4 off-road expedition vehicle. Contact us before booking to confirm availability for your departure.
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Visas are required for all countries on this route. For US passport holders, there are specialized visa service providers in the US who handle the full application process — OVERCROSS shares their contacts in the pre-departure preparation package. Start the process at least 3–4 months before departure.
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After booking, you receive a full visa checklist and support contacts from OVERCROSS. Some visas — including Senegal — can be obtained en route. Details and current procedures are covered at the pre-departure group meeting.
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The DRC visa is typically obtained at the Congo-Brazzaville embassy, usually within one hour of arrival.
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Book at least 3 months before the tour start date. This allows time to complete visa applications, ship your motorcycle to Germany if applicable, and work through the full preparation package.
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Yes. This expedition is dangerous. Before inquiring or booking, read the current travel advisories for all route countries at auswaertiges-amt.de. Active warnings apply to multiple countries on this route.
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On paved roads, yes. Off-road, no. Loose terrain is a separate skill set. In 2024, one circuit racer completed the expedition to Cape Town but described it as the hardest physical challenge of his life.
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Yes. Your bike can be transported from Namibia to Cape Town for a fee, then shipped back to Europe in a shared container. Direct return from Windhoek is significantly more expensive.
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Yes. OVERCROSS coordinates return shipping through a partner in Cape Town. As of 2023, motorcycle return transport to Europe costs approximately €590.
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Yes. After registration you receive a full preparation package: timeline to-do list, equipment details, visa checklist, medical kit guidance, tool list, paperwork, GPS and navigation recommendations.
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Yes. The guide maintains 24/7 satellite connection. Family members can receive weekly status updates and have a direct contact line. Note: satellite connectivity is limited in certain regions including DRC and Angola.
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The cost reflects 55-day expedition logistics: guide and online support for 90+ days including prep and post-expedition work, fuel logistics across stretches with no resupply over 600 miles (1,000 km), and inflation in both Africa and Europe.
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For long-distance riding on and off paved roads, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 works well — light, capable off-road, and manageable over distance. The KTM 890 Adventure R and Honda Africa Twin are solid alternatives. Your comfort with your own bike matters most.
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OVERCROSS offers the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally with your choice of soft luggage or aluminum panniers. Pickup is at the start point in Málaga, Spain.
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Officially, no. In practice, depending on terrain and available space, the driver may accommodate small items — entirely at his discretion. The support vehicle carries diesel and gasoline. OVERCROSS accepts no liability for damage or theft of items stored there.
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