Angola, Angola - a tale of “três cavaleiros”

[DD650]

Now we really want to do a trip like this! Thanks for sharing; great RR!

 

[Tankwa]

Thanks again guys for sharing - Brilliant !!

 

[Doc Holiday]

Stefan! manjifieke forum hierdie, moes al bietjie vroeer op hom afgekom het. Die manne het vir my weer erg begin laat juk... Laat weet as jy weer wil ry,  ek sal eerste in die ry staan..

 

[Hondsiff Honda]

Epic trip :thumleft:, thats what its about! perhaps we should all do, knock 2 weeks out of our 'busy' lives and go experience stuff before we get taken out like the poor oke on sandton drive today, no dis respect intended but **** life is soooo short?


Thanks guys for sharing a fab trip, It really looks like an awsome experience

 

[Beserker]

Aaaa, the unsympathetic doctor...Doc Holiday is quite apt.

...The crucial point is timing in the year and availability of petrol in Nankova.

Just on this...the fuel in Nankova is mainly for generators, as I said there were virtually no through traffic, Nankove is the end of the line coming from the south in what I would imagine to be diesel vehicles.

As it was, we caught the guy on a good day, bought 45 liters, which basically drained is stock..  :-[

Our saving grace were the fact that going from North to South, we did not have that many km left to Calais...

 

[bradleys]

This was one riveting read ,well done guys,KTM bigger and myself are discussing  and trying to put a trip like this together.Some of your pics brought back lots of memories,I was in 32bat and spent many months at lots of the places you were at,thats one of my resions to go back, would love to know what the rough cost of your expedition was and to get yourtracks.
Once again well done ,that was a epic read,thanks for sharing :thumleft:

 

[Nardus]

Befok julle !!

Reminded me of my best trip I have had !! Was actually hoping for some action at the Doodsakker.

Nice report

 

[Brakenjan]

Ongelooflik!! Dankie julle drie - dit was 'n great lees!! Hall of fame stuff!!

Beserker, dankie vir al die moeite met die RR.  :thumleft:

 

[Nardus]

"We were invited to stay the night, unfortunately Mr. Papas biggest success story is his shebeen/disco, and the number of inebriated patrons hanging around made up our minds..we filled up, bade the kind people of Nankova adieu , and took our leave."

Also just wanted to quote this poor decision that was made - I think you guys have there missed on the best kick-*** boogaloos !!!

Faaaak - the people of Angola is just so bloody friendly

Thanks for the great report

 

[peter stuyvesant]

Awesome trip report.  Hats off to all 3 of you!
Mentally and physicaly, this trip must have been a mind **** of note.
What if a bike broke down with something major, what if someone fell and had a serious injury? the mind boggles....................
Everyone thinks that they'd love to do a trip like this, but at the end of the day, there are only a handfull of okes that would take it on and make it.
Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Beserker]

Also just wanted to quote this poor decision that was made - I think you guys have there missed on the best kick-*** boogaloos !!!

Of the three towns we stayed in, Biaxo Longa had nothing, but both Cuito and Calais had a thumping nightlife, and friendly locals..

At Mr. Papas place however, I got there before Danie and Peter, and was greeted by 2 quite drunk policemen, not jolly, plain drunk.

They so argued as to whom shall ask me for my whatever, it turned into a full on fist fight. Later on, at the Admimistration building, one these tried to make his presence felt again, only to be "klapped" by one of the clerks.  He also could not stay of the bikes..

I did not relate this incident fully, as it was the one exception during our whole trip, and an isolated incident like this should not mar the positive impression experienced interacting  with the Angolans, as stated previously.

Although I'm sure nothing would have happened to us,I just did not have the energy to deal with it right there and then. Also..Mr Papa was expensive, we had no K$ left...was time to move on.

 

[Beserker]

Angola, Angola​

A tale of “três cavaleiros”​

Preparation

Administration

As all aspiring Angola expeditionists are probably aware…getting in is the first hurdle.

You need to be invited, by somebody from Angola, and in Angola at the time…no use you know somebody from Angola residing in Gauteng or having a holiday in Mauritius at the time of faxing your invite…it needs to happen from Angola, and it gets checked!

Don’t waste time with bogus invites, or invites not originating from Angola.

The sure fire, absolutely painless and cheapest way is to contact Lezle at ([email protected]) 

She arranges everything for a nominal fee (about R250.00 pp…just taking time off  to visit the Angola embassy will cost you more)

She will also do your booking at Flamingo Lodge, as they are the party inviting you.

Visa application in total is R750.00, for which you need:

1. Passport
2. 2 x colour passport photos
3. A letter of employment, with the following stipulations:
a. In Portuguese (use Google language tools to help you
b. On a company letterhead
c. With a company stamp (or you pay R120 extra)
d. Signed by a director or HR person
4. Copy of your Yellow fever vaccination.

Border crossing you will need :

1. Passport + 4 certified color copies
2. Vehicle registration—original + 2 certified copies
a. After the inspection make sure the police stamp the date on the back of the vehicle registration paper copy that they used to check the engine and chassis numbers
3. Police Clearance certifying that the vehicle is not a stolen vehicle (SAP263)
a. When you come back, you need to go to the Police Vehicle Inspection and declare your vehicle back in South Africa
4. Identity Book
5. Drivers License RSA + 4 certified copies
6. International Drivers License + 4 certified copies
7. Proof of vehicle insurance for Angola
8. International certificate of vaccination (Yellow fever)
9. Letter of invitation to Angola – From Lezle
10. Letter from host in Angola - From Lezle
11. List of valuables—cameras, cell phones etc. + serial numbers.  This list can be attached to the Namibian Customs and Excise Certificate.

Other documentation I took with:

1. Letter explaining who we were and itinerary in Portuguese
2. Insurance of vehicle –
a. Cross Country Cross Border Insurance - Peter Norenius 0825688518
3. Proof of financial means for the trip: Receipt of dollar exchange transaction
4. MRI  International Travel Doc,
a. I’m with Discovery, you phone them and they send you the whole shebang with numbers to call etc.

Arrange with your banker that you will be going away…nothing worse than having your card facilities frozen because of a withdrawal from a suspicious foreign country. Also, the banks there are not that “on-line” and if you need to arrange a manual transfer, better that your banker is contactable, and knows you are there.

The documentation that I generated (e.g. the itinerary), I got an Angolan/South African flag of the internet and used that as a letterhead, and had everything certified…nothing impresses an official more than a few official stamps on a document.

Kit

Medical

Make sure you know how to use, and administer whatever you take with.

Medication

Eye drops, eye pad - Covomycin D
Strong pain killers for broken legs etc - Pethadine,Voltaren supository, Penicillin tablets
Common pain killers - Synap Forte, Gen Payne
Antiseptic cream - Bacitracin, etc. for lacerations and wounds),Betadine (for cleaning wounds) Bactroban 
Anthisan - insect bites
Anti nausea tablets
Anti Diahorea - Loperamide , Lomotil (or equivalent)
Ciprofloxacin - Ear Infection
Coryx - Flu and Cold
Cetirzine - Allergic, hay fever to stings
Prednisone - Exceptional, Take 8 tabs immediately, 2 Cetirzine, then 1 less each day.
Lip Balm
Staal druppels  - stops bleeding instantly
Sugar or glucose sachet - for shock
Oil of clove - toothache
Cytomax - (or similar electrolyte replacement drink for relief of muscle cramps and symptoms of heat exhaustion)
Water purification tablets, 1 bottle (Steritab)
Suntan/Sunblock lotion
Baby Wipes

(This was our shopping list, but we substituted for alternatives at the recommendation of doctors)

Software

Cotton wool
Burnshield, Burn dressings (various sizes)
1    triangular bandage
2    75mm x 5m roller bandages
2  compression pads
1  roll elastoplast
1  pack assorted adhesive strips
10  assorted safety pins
5  sterile gauzes
4 or 5    assorted dressing pads
1  small scissors
1    small tweezer
1  small dettol
Alcohol Cotton swabs
Ear buds
A pair of disposable gloves
Razors, 2 disposable (for removing hair before taping, stapling))
Syringes and needles (10cc)
Emergency blanket
Scissors (med. surgical type)
Scalpel blade
Wound Super Glue (Derma Bond) or Butterfly plaster, Micopore and or staple gun
Local anesthetic


Mechanical

Spares

Spark plug
Front optional Rear tubes
2 x Chain link
Assorted nuts and bolts
Spare chain…about 10 connected links

Sundries

Patch and solution
Qbond with powder
Pratley steel
Chain lube
Zipties
Hose clamps
Duct Tape
Electrical tape
Fuel hose
a BIC lighter. (better than matches.)
1' utility wire (useful for strapping broken things together).
15' 1/2" flat webbing
1 liter Engine Oil
K&N Air filter service kit…better, go with spare OEM air filter, oiled squashed in a jiffy bag.

Tools

Needle nose vice
Wide mouth Shifting
5 mm Allen
8 mm Allen
Multi Screw screwdriver
Copper thistle brush
Tire valve tool
Valve puller
½ Hack saw blade
Tire levers with integrated wheel spanner (Front and Rear)
Spark spanner
Needle nose pliers
Nail file
8,10,12,13,14,15 socket with extension
8,10,12,13,14,15, 17 Ring spanner
Feeler gauge
Bicycle Pump
Chain breaker

Personal Kit

Tent
Sleeping bag
Mattress
Groundsheet
Stove
Additional Battery (Camera, GPS)
Head torch

Water Bladder
Mug
Dixie/Plate
Spork
Leatherman

Shorts
T-Shirt Long
T-Shirt
SlipSlops
1 Change (socks an' jocks)
Polyprop top
Hiking Towel

Dettol soap
Toothpaste
Tooth brush
Toilet Paper
Soap box 1/2 CakeSunlight + 1\2 Spons

Navigation

GPS : Tracks for Africa, and various custom maps.
Paper Maps

Bike Prep

Mechanically, the bikes obviously need to be 100%  sound. A catastrophic engine failure would have been disastrous.

Servicing, and working on the bikes yourself would go a long way to negate the mental stress that one has regarding your “bony” (grew up in Natal, we called them bony’s) It also helps you to make up a spares and tool list…(I try where possible to use my trip toolkit, that way I can confirm that I have the right stuff packed.)

As the distances were vast, and the riding mostly off road, we all had to make provision for fuel, and in my case, I decided to balance the bike where possible. A prime motivation is regularly touted “weak” sub frame of the XR.

I moved my tools down, to a homegrown aluminum toolbox….the biz, it is now a semi permanent fixture on my bike.

Simple solution to transfer a lot of weight down low.

My wife made up a tool bag from black denim of the exact width,

and once rolled, fits nice and snug into the toolbox, no rattles.

Washing it with TechWash, sufficiently waterproof to withstand the water crossings we did.

Next up fuel bladders made from a DuPont material used for fuel bladder systems that goes into the wings of aircraft. Supposed not to burst easily, which I put to the test. Filled one up half, and jumped on it, and it held up well. Next, drove one wheel of my Hilux over it..no issue, it is strong.

Notice the bung, you unscrew the cap with it,

Then reverse and use it as a spout:

The fuel runs smoothly and accurately..no glug glug that splatters fuel everywhere.

Fixing it to my bike, Raj, from Rocksoles (Cape Town) came to my rescue, and we made up these saddlebags from a material similar too that of the tonneu cover found on the back of bakkies..super strong.

A big percentage of the wait is transferred to the centre of the bike as opposed to the rear…relieving stress on the sub frame and serves to centralize weight. Compression straps keep it all together.

Total fuel capacity, 53 l (23 Acerbis, 15 + 15 bladders)

Loaded as is, with tools and fuel, I managed to squeeze the medical kit, the spares, oil, kitchen, sleeping bag etc into some Kriga luggage. I made do with a 20l  main compartment, and 2 x 10l side bags, quality kit, and with a dry bag construction, water and dust proof…apart from the clothes I was wearing, I literally took one extra pair of jocks, socks, t-shirt and long-sleeved shirt - none of us bothered with raingear, jackets etc.

:Well, that is about it…any questions, shoot!!

 

[Frohan Visser]

Dankie Beserker!!!
Dis waardevolle inligting wat jy gratis uitdeel!!!
Daai fuel bladders en toolbox lyk na wenners!!!

 

[Stevie]

Awesome......
Awesome ......

More info on the fuel bladders please.

• Material supplier
• Type of adhesive

• Do's and Dont's
• Cutting list

[/list]

 

[africanSky]

Thks for the amazing report.

Out of interest how often did you lube your chains and clean your airfilters?

 

[Beserker]

Out of interest how often did you lube your chains and clean your airfilters?

Thanks man...
We try and not touch the airfilters unless there is something wrong, manifesting itself as poor performance, black smoke etc.
Chains were lubed daily, sometimes more.

More info on the fuel bladders please.

On the bladders, I am sort of looking at putting together a sideline business making the stuff.

It is kind of difficult though as everybody wants something different, and considering the cost of manufacture (material, cutting, glueing etc), and the possible exposure in the marketplace, a custom solution vs a mass manufacturing run of three will not result in a huge price diff.

If you need something like this, best is to make a mock-up of carton, fit it to your bike, and once satisfied with that, a drawing with dimensions. Send that through to me and I can give you a price.

You will probably look at about R4k, incl. the panniers....so if you do your planning thouroughly, you will be able to use the panniers seperately as I intend to do. They are as strong as commercially available panniers, has the necessary compression straps, and install/uninstall in less than 5 min. (Actually faster by the second time)

 

[nreyneke]

:thumleft:

 

[Mark Hardy]

Thank you the last 3 hours of wonderful reading.

Respect to you all for doing that trip.

:thumleft:

 

[2 Stroke Dan]

**** Dave, now you tell us, was I suppose to carry all that stuff???!! I only brought 5 spanners and a tjoep :3some:

 

[Woestersous]

**** Dave, now you tell us, was I suppose to carry all that stuff???!! I only brought 5 spanners and a tjoep :3some:

:imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer: