MOTORCYCLE-TOURS · AFRICA
The Transafrica GO WEST motorcycle trips and expeditions
TransAfrica GO WEST: The Long Way DownThis motorcycle trip is an expedition with the travel enduro through the African continent on the "West Route" through Africa.
The Journey
Transafrica GO WEST the Long Way Down
Service Description - Overcross Expeditions - IMPORTANT!
This trip is an expedition, not a package tour in the legal sense.
Overcross organizes and conducts expeditions worldwide with the aim of providing experienced adventurers the true feeling of freedom, nature, unpredictability, and encounters: rugged, unpredictable, real.
Important Note
This trip is not a tourist-standardized service, but an expedition with unpredictable external influences including weather conditions, political situations, technical failures, road and terrain conditions.
Overcross takes care of the organization, preparation, and execution, but does not provide guarantees for fixed stages, accommodations, travel times, or routes. Changes are part of the expedition character and may become necessary at any time.
Character of the Expedition
These trips are aimed at participants with a spirit of adventure, personal responsibility, and the ability to improvise.
An Overcross expedition is not a package product in the sense of the EU Package Travel Directive, but a jointly conducted undertaking with expedition leadership and logistical framework.
Unpredictability is part of the experience, not the exception.
Organizational Services from Overcross
Planning and coordination of the expedition
Provision of experienced expedition leadership for the self-drive expedition
Organization of transportation and supply logistics
Administrative support with visas, border crossings, and vehicle documents
Safety and route planning based on current information
Liability and Personal Responsibility
Participation is at your own risk.
Each participant is personally responsible for themselves, their vehicle, and their equipment.
Technical preparation, physical endurance, and mental resilience are prerequisites.
Important Safety Notice
We explicitly point out that there are risks and dangers in all the countries visited.
We strongly recommend that you inform yourself about the current travel and safety advisories of the Foreign Office before booking and become aware that traveling (according to the specifications of German "bureaucracy") can be life-threatening!
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit
Transafrica EXPEDITION Go West Travel Options:
We can only offer this individual arrival option for this trip due to logistics & expedition experience.
With these options, you have the freedom to be with family at Christmas or to drive through the winter from your doorstep into the African summer.
- You travel from home with your motorcycle to Gibraltar through the winter for the tour start.
- You have your motorcycle transported to Gibraltar for the tour start and save yourself from the frostbite of the journey.
- You have your motorcycle transported to Marrakech and fly in a day after the tour starts.
On this expedition, we will likely travel through the following countries:
- Germany
- France
- Spain
- Morocco
- Western Sahara
- Mauritania
- Senegal
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Ghana
- Togo
- Benin
- Nigeria
- Cameroon
- Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Angola
- Namibia
- South Africa
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
Stage 1: From Europe via the Ivory Coast to Ghana
1st stage: From Europe over the Ivory Coast to Ghana, approx. 5555 kilometers 21 days
HERE is the link to the first stage of two.
Stage 2: Trans-Equator Expedition
2nd Stage: Trans-Equator Expedition, approx. 8888km approx. 29 days
HERE is the link to the second stage.
Motorcycle expedition in Senegal
Today we cross the border into Senegal. Our motorcycle tour takes us through Saint-Louis, a charming colonial city at the mouth of the Senegal River into the Atlantic. Afterwards, we travel through the Sahel zone, the transitional area between the Sahara in the north and the dry savanna in the south. Tonight we will camp directly by the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied by legendary cuisine and a dinner that is one of the highlights of the expedition. We are also expected to have the best breakfast of the entire Trans-Africa expedition here - the coffee is legendary and considered the best along the entire West African coast.
Expedition through the Courtyard of Hell: Nigeria
On the last day of the second stage, we cross the border into Nigeria. Nigeria is unfortunately also known for its high crime rate in southern Africa. We reach Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria. Lagos is often referred to as the 'Gateway to Hell,' while Kinshasa (in the DR Congo) is considered 'Hell itself.' Here we stay in a 5-star hotel, where our contact person welcomes us and can already provide a routing recommendation for crossing Nigeria.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Motorcycle tour through Nigeria and Cameroon
At the border post 'Out of Nowhere' we leave Nigeria and after about 20 kilometers we reach a small village hut in Cameroon. This hut can only be recognized by a flag; otherwise, the border crossing is quite informal, partly because the local customs does not issue an entry stamp. Without an official stamp, we initially continue on and look for an overnight accommodation - which will prove to be a real challenge. We will master this night as well before we finally reach the capital Yaoundé.
Motorcycle adventure to the Gollas in the Republic of Congo
We cross the Republic of Congo over perfectly paved roads to a camp where we set up our base. Here we take a gorilla tour - a unique experience, as there are only a few silverback gorillas left in this region. Their population is endangered.
The goal of the motorcycle expedition: South Africa
Passing the impressive sand dunes of Sossusvlei, Keetmanshoop, and massive granite formations, we finally reach the border crossing at the Orange River. After leaving behind the river landscape and the border post, we continue on to the Swartberg Mountains. After endless kilometers, hundreds of adventures, and unforgettable experiences, we finally arrive in Cape Town - the Rainbow City.
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-meeting for the motorcycle trip participants of the expedition
- Online tour guide, who is connected with us via satellite tracker
- Use of the satellite phone on the trip or guide's mobile phone
- Travel security certificate (insolvency protection according to BGB §651r) is mandatory for all OVERCROSS trips.
- Relatives and friends receive a location and status report of the expedition from OVERCROSS (upon request)
- Maps for the Africa crossing
- Support with visa questions as well as checklist and contact person
- Tour folder with travel information for preparing the motorcycle expedition
- Equipment and packing list for preparing the motorcyclists
- Post-meeting of the expedition
- Support for Carnet de Passage in cooperation with our partner ADAC
- Entry fee for the expedition
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Transporting your own motorcycle from Tübingen to Spain will cost you an additional approximately €500.
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We will provide you with the VISA organization, and you will receive all visas, among others, in DAKAR Senegal.
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Among other places, without problems at the Congolese embassy in Brazzaville within an hour.
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YES, this expedition is definitely dangerous! BEFORE inquiring/bookings, I recommend that you read all the travel warnings from https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/reiseundsicherheit/10-2-8reisewarnungen.
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On the road yes, off-road NO, especially the racing faction struggles when the ground is loose! In 2024, we had a circuit racer with us, and believe me, he worked hard and lost 6 kilos on the route until he reached the destination, Cape Town.
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Yes, you can, your motorcycle can be transported to Cape Town for a fee and then returned with the group container or transported from Namibia/Windhoek to Europe, which is considerably more expensive.
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Yes, we organize the return transport with the colleague in Cape Town, the costs for transporting a motorcycle (2023) are €590 to EUROPE.
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Transport for the Trans Africa participants is approximately €290.
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Of course ;-) We send several topic-related expedition information with all TO DO (in timeline), as well as equipment details, down to topics like VISA packing list, medical pack, tools, papers, GPS, and navigation, etc.
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Yes, we have an online tour guide during the tour, and all relatives have access to direct contact and can receive a status quo of the expedition weekly if desired. We are in touch via satellite connection 24 hours a day. However, this does not apply to various regions such as Congo/DRC and Angola, etc.
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Inflation, our government which constrains us with regulations and produces costs instead of efficiency, AND of course the cost explosion in Africa PLUS the effort for organization and fuel supply to bring the group over 1000 kilometers without fuel supply; additionally, travel accompaniment and online guide are active for over 90 days with expedition preparation/execution and handling.
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For long tours on and off the road, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is perfect. It is lightweight, off-road capable, and comfortable for long distances. Alternatives include the KTM 890 Adventure R or the Honda Africa Twin. In the end, it’s your decision which motorcycle you feel most comfortable with, even if it's a different model than described.
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We have among others the Tenere 700 available optionally with soft or aluminum cases.
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Officially the answer is NO. Unofficially, it is possible depending on the terrain and space. However, at your own risk, as diesel and gasoline are transported in the support vehicle, and we cannot take any responsibility for damage or theft. So at the end of the day, it's simply a decision and help from the driver which is fundamentally gladly and voluntarily done.
Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
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