South Africa - we are coming

[sambor]

Ok, let's me explain smth. It is my first year in SA so I am greenhorn here. When I organize tour I always make shipping offer. You can see gyrocopters, cars, quads and even forklift but I don't organize another Dakar race. Many riders will go by their own and we will meet with them in Kenya. My group will have 8 bikes only and 2 cars. We have some small bike and big bikes and we must  split to keep riders happy. Some loves dust, others prefer tarmac. And forklift we left in Poland
I will wrote you more about plan , so you can suggest smth.
Thanks for warm reception

 

[Oubones]

This going to be good!
Thanks for taking us with on your journey!

 

[roxenz]

Welcome to South Africa and all of Africa! Hope all the logistics go smoothly so you can get into the fun part asap. This tour should be very interesting to follow on the forum. Looking forward to it.

How does the experience profile look of the individuals that will be on your tour? All lots of experience / not much experience / a mix?

Overnighting in formal lodging, or camping?

Who has the thankless job of providing food and drinks?  :biggrin:

 

[sambor]

I skipped all the feeders and delivered containers straight to Rotterdam. I hope MSC Alessia will be on time. I am in touch with the company in CT you recomended on the forum and everything looks good. But I expect something unexpected. Riders in my group are experienced. They travelled with me in Asia and South America.  Maybe hey are too experienced - the oldest guy is 75
We will take tents but this group prefer to stay in lodges.  I also don't like combination of tent and rain
Should we expect a lot of rain in March?

 

[Odd Dog]

Hello, and a pre-welcome to SA. This is going to be a memorable ride for sure, March is our ending of summer and can get pretty hot.

 

[Grunder]

I skipped all the feeders and delivered containers straight to Rotterdam. I hope MSC Alessia will be on time. I am in touch with the company in CT you recomended on the forum and everything looks good. But I expect something unexpected. Riders in my group are experienced. They travelled with me in Asia and South America.  Maybe hey are too experienced - the oldest guy is 75
We will take tents but this group prefer to stay in lodges.  I also don't like combination of tent and rain
Should we expect a lot of rain in March?

This is a year of above average rainfall for us here so it is difficult to say. 

Usually not so much of a problem in March

I would play it by ear 

Luckily there are a lot of lodges around as backup  :thumleft:

 

[troos]

Sub’ed


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[Kamanya]

Welcome! And the very best of adventures to you too!

A question or 2 if I may...

Do you have a more detailed route to share?

Quadbikes or ATV's are not road legal in our country, where will they be used?

 

[Karoo Rider]

Subscribed, looking forward to this one.

 

[Tonteldoos]

Looks like an epic one in the making  :deal:

 

[woody1]

:ricky:

 

[TVB]

Welcome bud, subscribed  :sip:

 

[sambor]

Do you have a more detailed route to share?

Quadbikes or ATV's are not road legal in our country, where will they be used?

As to the quads - I have no idea about their itinerary. I just transport them to Cape Town and should pick them from Mombasa. I know quads are not street legal in RSA. It is pointless to make such a discussion here but these quads are street legal in Poland and RSA is a part of Vienna Convention of Road Traffic.
One of the main benefits of the convention for motorists is the obligation on signatory countries to recognize the legality of vehicles from other signatory countries.

Anyway it is not my problem...

As to the itinerary I would like to ask you for some suggestions. I will arrive few days earlier and will have some tome to explore southern part but with group we will go straight north, We will avoid road no 7 and will go more east with stops in Cederberg, Calvinia and Augrabies. We plan to cross the border in Nakop, because Onseepkans is closed. I have to think also about PCR tests which we will need to cross to Namibia - Calvinia is small, probably we have to make them in Upington.
I have many waypoints along this route but any suggestion are welcome. As I wrote - we can and want to split for more offroad and more on road groups. But we prefer to sleep in the same place.
Also suggestion where to stop are welcome.

 

[Three Dawg]

If nothing has changed since December then a PCR test is valid for up to 7 days before entering Namibia, so you could perhaps get them done in Capetown.  We got ours done by Testaro, who were in a shipping container behind Richmond Corner shopping centre in Milnerton.  We found it fairly straightforward to get tested - iOverlander had some info as well as providers such as Pathcare.  The Namibians say they only accept paper copies of the results, but we just showed them ours on our phones at Vioolsdrif and got through no problem.

If you are going to Zambia through Katima then you can get tested there, or at the private hospital in Rundu.

 

[sambor]

Thank you Three Dawg, 7 days valid? Sounds strange to me. Can you share info where to get 3rd party insurace which will be valid in South Africa, Namibia and Zambia. I heard about Comesa, where can I buy it?

 

[Three Dawg]

Yeah, obviously please check the current situation with PCR tests and Namibia, but we had no problems.

Not possible to arrange insurance for foreign bikes  in SA and Namibia , Cars esp. 4x4s I believe can be done - try https://www.tuffstuff.co.za/  I made extensive enquiries here and talking to several brokers, but a basic third party (physical injury, not property) is included in the cost of fuel anyway.  BTW, you often need to buy road tax (eg Namibia but not SA) but that's done at the border.

Elsewhere we were able to buy insurance - at Katima Mullilo we got it at the very efficient border post, ditto Tanzania at Nakonde/Tunduma.  I did try to arrange COMESA cover with someone in Lusaka, but it didn't happen.

BTW, although it's been a while and he may have moved on, if you go through Nakonde/Tunduma, which is mental, ask for a chap called MP to help, you may save a bundle of time with a group.  I went through with a group of 4x4 drivers (long story, but they were great) and MP did a brilliant job getting us through quickly.  Nakonde is a hole, we stayed down the road at a place called The King's Highway near Kalungu.  Good campsite with rondavels, but no catering. https://tracks4africa.co.za/listings/item/w147560/kalungu-kings-highway-guesthouse-campsite/

In Zambia, Kapishya Hot Springs on the Shiwa Ngandu estate near Kasangala is a great place to stay (the hot springs are fantastic for easing aching bones!)  ;D

[EDIT] Looks like Namibia is 72 hours now - sorry, it it did change while we were there, as of early November it was 7 days... https://travelbans.org/africa/namibia/

Current info sems to be:

Open for international travel via:

    Airports
    Land borders, except MataMata.

Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on arrival

    Before arriving in Namibia, all travellers older than 5 years must take a PCR test within 72 hours from when the test sample was taken and upload it onto the Trusted Travel (TT) platform. Visitors will also be required to present the negative test certificate upon arrival in Namibia. Travellers with results from non-TT compliant labs must upload results to the Global Haven system. From 15 January 2022, only test results from the Trusted Travel platform or results that have been verified on the Global Haven system will be valid for entry. See a guide on how to use the Trusted Travel platform.
    All travellers must complete the COVID-19 Surveillance Form before departing to Namibia.
    Travellers are recommended to carry hard copies of all the above documents.
    Undergo health screening and temperature testing.
    Complete a short health questionnaire.

 

[Edgar]

I can't wait for the RR to start. Good luck!  :thumleft:

 

[Charel]

Welcome to RSA and Africa.
This trip sounds amazing and looking forward to reading along.

All the best and safe travels!!!

 

[Cracker]

African rain is not a problem, sambor, it is warm and refreshing. And the thunderstorms are quite an experience to see and live through.

For sure, it is not nice to sleep in it but your kit and clothing will dry quickly. In Africa, rain is your friend, except if it has flooded a river.

 

[EssBee]

[member=28292]sambor[/member]  welcome! This is going to be interesting.