One Road One World

Author: One Road One World

Nigeria road, people, checkpoints are interesting experience

Who we meet on the road or lives in Nigeria said that we need to be so careful when we ride in Nigeria because of roads and traffic are a nightmare. Also, said that be careful to people. Of course, I scared a little after listen all stories. But sometimes people can be lucky or unlucky to meet wrong or right person. We learned about it in Nigeria. The country made us a surprise. (If you looking about visa detail or border crossing&bribe you can click and open another page)

Our first stop was Lagos. So, we leaved from Porto-Novo, Benin on Sunday and ride to Lagos in the less traffic. We passed the Idiroko border to enter Nigeria. We came in front of a building where is passport control and custom service. It is big burned building, broken windows and you need to go behind the building, which is like abandoned building. I was thinking welcome to Nigeria. 🙂 Anyway, police/military were so helpful. We leaved one hour later and started to ride, after 50 km you can understand how much drivers are crazy like they loose their mind or wants to suicide. Some trucks pushed us out the road and we hit some potholes very badly. We saw a lot of checkpoints. They have big wooden sticks to close road and stop cars. Also, some of them were talking a driver with a gun inside their hand ready to shoot. Nobody stopped us; no accident and we arrive to Lagos alive. J We stayed one of FS friends place. Unfortunately he was in a holiday and we couldn’t see him.

Incredible help from a local guy

After got rest a couple of days, we started to search rear tires. We couldn’t find them the last 4 countries but we need them before the Gabon-Congo road. We were thinking what we should do. One couple who we met on the road in Mali, they gave us a name which is Toyin. He is Nigerian and living in Lagos. We contacted him on messenger. He started to search it and gave some number to talk as well but we didn’t have any top up to call at the moment. He sent money on our phone for that. 4-5 days later, he found tires for us, one is second hand other one new. He barged to price and everything. Finally we could meet him but only 10 minutes.

We got the tires and met some other people, went to dinner with them and had a lot of fun. When we came home we remembered that we didn’t pay it. We wrote Toyin to ask how we will pay it. He said that he was happy to meet us and the tires are a gift for us to safe trip in Congo. We couldn’t find words to say.

We had another amazing memory as well in Lagos. We saw that our fork seal is leaking and we didn’t have extra one with us. We asked Toyin and Dele they asked in motorcycle groups how we could find it. Our size of fork seal in or around Nigeria, no way to find it! We got stuck in Lagos. 🙁

Philip, who is from Sweden and living in Nigeria, was in South Africa at the same time for work but he was so busy. He hired a taxi and gave him the fork seal size to look around to find it, 2 days later he found it. We knew that he was flying to Lagos but stayed only 12 hours and going somewhere else. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see him and meet. He gave our fork seal to security and we picked up there. We called him to say thank you and ask how we can pay it. He said that he was so happy to help us. And wish a safe trip for us. It was another surprise for us. He also, traveled by motorcycle and a lot of people helped him on the road and he believe to time to pay for that 🙂

Meeting this kind of people on the road is incredible….

Are you going to hurt/kill us?

2 weeks later, we could leave from Lagos. Our plan was follow the coastline and pass to Cameron as soon as possible. We passed many checkpoints on the road and nobody stopped us. We were happy for that. I suppose that if we don’t have any experience for the checkpoint we can’t leave from the country. They stopped us when we were going to Onitsha. One soldier/police was talking with Ferry; the other two were coming to me. I opened my helmet and said hello. They got surprised to see me because I am a woman. J They were smiling and trying to talk with me. The same time I heard a scream and I saw that Ferry grabbed the soldier by his shoulder. I can’t describe the soldiers face it was so scary. Ferry was telling “take your key from the motorcycle to me and give back my key to the guy. Our engine was on and he got the key because he didn’t like that. I saw his hand was going to the gun. I turned to the two soldiers but I was almost going to cry. I asked them “what did we do wrong? Why is your friend doing this? I am really scared now. The other guy was so angry. Who were next to me they started to talk to the guy to stop it and gave back the key. In the beginning he didn’t listen he was just screaming. And than he got a little calm down, gave back the key and took back his hand from the gun. I was telling two soldiers ‘could we go now, please? I am not sure about to next step now.’ Finally, they allowed us to leave. I am so lucky that it was our first and last experience for the checkpoint. When we were leaving they wanted to take photo with us and we learned that the soldier got angry because Ferry didn’t stop the engine when he was talking to the soldier. And he wanted to show power and took the key. We never stop engine when we stop any checkpoint and we never had problem before 🙂

We went to Onitsha and found a little cheap hotel to stay. We had time to walk around after that and had dinner. In the morning we hit to road again to Calabar.

Terrible road and helpful or so angry people. How much we where lucky?

We arrived to Lagos begin of April but we started to ride again after middle of April. Therefore, we caught the beginning of the rain season. We took the main road to ride but when we arrived in a small village there was no way to pass the road! The road is under the water, deep and muddy; nobody tried to pass. We asked some people which road we need to take. They show us a short cut, which was soft sand. Good thing was just 10 km. 🙂 we arrived to the main road again and it was looking very good. After 50-60 km later the tar road collapsed and only, huge potholes. We saw some motorbikes were passing very tiny road next to it. We tried same thing but with our side bags we couldn’t pass as it was to small. One person came to us and said that he could help us to pass from another road. We didn’t sure to follow the guy or not because no other road around but we didn’t have any option more as well. We told him that we don’t have any money with us just we wanted to go Calabar. He thought a little and said that he could help us just we need to follow him.

He was talking about another road right! There isn’t another road just we have to pass private properties where they grow vegetables or cooking. Who saw us when we were passing they were screaming behind us or running. Believe me, it wasn’t a good experience. We were fighting with mud to ride and angry people running behind you. We managed it and turn back to the main road, which was look like tar road again. Who help us said that ‘no more problem. Just keep continue’ Really, are you serious!

20-25 km later we had to stop. The road collapsed and had one big pothole, which is totally mud, and 4-5 meters deep. We saw local people were passing next to it or inside. They were taking everything from the motorcycle and carrying the motorbike. Get out all bags tried to push motorcycles and than carry bags. Never happened for us because we don’t want to leave the bags or the motorcycles. If we turn back we have to pass again private properties but we never find the road. If we tried to pass from here we have no idea what was next. What should we do? We stopped the motorcycles and start to think about what to do? Of course, again a local guy came and said that I can help. Again same conversation we don’t have money? Are sure after that road is ok? Where will we pass from a private property?

No option more! Kept continue the guy. He was in front, Ferry behind and I was last. I got stuck in the mud. When I was trying to move I heard some sounds from intercom, which were not good sounds. I just opened the gas and went very quick behind. Of course, we were in the middle of someone’s private property and the guy was keeping Ferry’s in front tire between his legs and screaming badly. Ferry was so calm down and trying to explain why we were there. Just we were following a guy who said that he could help us. We didn’t know we were going to his place. We needed to do something but what. At that moment the guy came back and wanted to explain the owner…. Etc. Owner didn’t want to listen but his voice was going calm down, look like. I was just behind Ferry but he didn’t see me just focus him. One old woman was sitting in front of the house. They speak English so we can talk with her as well. I opened my helmet and waved my hand with smile. Yes, she saw me and came. Shake hands and looked inside my eyes, which is very important for them. We saw this in a lot of African countries. They want to see your eyes. I just said ‘ so sorry to disturb you. We didn’t know the place is private. You know the road how much bad. It’s my fault. I couldn’t pass there and somebody offered to help us to pass the hole and keep continue our road. We are not bad people. Please tell us what we can do.’ Anyway it was a sensitive moment and tears came to my eyes, couldn’t keep them. She just smiled and went to talk with her grand son. He was still screaming and not looking around didn’t want to talk anybody. Finally, she pulled his t-shirt and showed me without say anything. Ferry and I got surprise because he stopped to scream. We were so curios for the next step. He came to me and very polite ‘this is private property. You can’t pass it. Look what they did our plantations.” He was right but we didn’t have any change more. I told him the same thing what I told to his grandmother. A minute just silent and he said that “Please, keep continue” Yes we did runaway. 🙂

Finally around 5 pm we arrived to Calabar and found a hotel very fast to stay.

Calabar is a nice green city

The next morning we went to the Cameroon consulate to apply for our visas. Here we met Kevin and Emma from Australia and they were on the road for two years. The consulate said that we could get the visa in the afternoon. So we stay one day more in Calabar. Kevin and Emma came to the same hotel. We walked around the city center during the day and in the night we got dinner with the 4 of us. People were nice and street food was really good. Around the city look like doesn’t belong to Nigeria 🙂 We decided to be together a little in Cameroon. And next day morning we hit to road.

Note: We would like to share a lot of photos like other our articles but Ferry didn’t feel safe, therefore we could’t use camera on the road 🙁

GS

July 31, 2017
Which type of motorcycle to choose beginning or travel?
When we search about choosing right motorcycle for beginner we can find a lot of articles for that. You find a lot of info about motorcycle type detail as well. Who write all articles most of them really expert. So, who am I? How can I write something for choosing motorcycles?

I am just a rider like you or I was looking to find a right type of motorcycle when I started like you. Just want to share my experience and opinion for that.

I bought my first motorcycle on 2006, which was Honda Naked CBF 250. After that I ride BMW 650 GS. I had a change to ride also Honda Transalp as well. I am on the world trip since 2016 and have been riding Honda CRF 250L. We can get a lot of messages about choosing motorcycle.

Let’s start some questions before tell which one is the right motorcycle for yourself :
- I don’ t know who you are. What do you like to do for your travel or weekend? Camping, hiking, sport, nature, easy weekend, push yourself sometimes….
- Why do you want to have a motorcycle? All my friends have, want to something different, I saw some shows, don’t want to stuck on the rush hours, and give a feeling to you freedom….
- Have you never ride motorcycle before? Are sure you like to do that?
- How much money do you have to spend for a motorcycle?
- If you have a motorcycle do you want to just ride or want to learn mechanic as well?
- Do you have any health problem like back, neck, heart…?
I asked them when I was beginning. I like camping and nature so much. I saw some movies and I wanted to have a motorcycle 11 years ago. I was thinking more freedom. Also, I was living in Istanbul and rush hours are crazy there and I didn’t want to sit many hours in the car for go to only 20 km.

When I started to search and ask about motorcycles to who was riding motorcycle they give their opinion and almost all of it was different type or model. 🙂 I am 169 cm tall and how I can ride a motorcycle if my feet don’t touch the ground. We had always rush hour and not good roads what I can do with race? That motorcycle how I can buy because you said best? Do you have any idea how much it is? I had an answer to almost everybody what they told to me buy.

I need to choose a model to start, first I wanted to learn what does it mean the type!

Naked (Standard): The other name is street motorcycle and upright sit position.

Touring: Long distant motorcycle. They are general more big and heavy. Can’t find small cc alternative. Like a big brother for naked. 🙂

Sport: For me, it means race. Open the gas and go fast J a forward leaning sit position.

Sport Touring: It is between touring and sport model.

Cruiser: Means Harley Davidson for me. 🙂

Dual purpose and adventure: It can vary off-road conditions from tar road to dirt. Upright sit position.

Off-road: Motocross, Enduro, Rally, Dirty bike… in the same category type. They are good for sand, gravel, mud, river and snow.

Scooter : To be honest I never search about it.

How did I choose my first motorcycle in the beginning?

Even if a dual-purpose type of motorcycle looked like right for me, after answer all my questions, I bought NAKED. I was beginner. I prefer was practice more on the tar road. So, first one can be a street motorcycle J

I suppose a lot of new rider think same way. I could learn to ride. I can drop it easily so, nice to be light. I am beginner and I don’t need power so much. 125 CC or 250 CC could be a good start. Maybe 250 CC is better if I like and want to keep the same motorcycle for a while.

The price is important. I don’t want to pay a lot of money. If I drop it the part must be cheap. Mechanic needs to be easy to understand. Therefore, I can fix some basic things. If I don’t really like to ride I want to sell it fast and don’t loose a lot of money.

I wanted my feet touch the ground, not only my toes like a ballerina. I was sure that I would have a balance problem a lot.

I didn’t look for side bags, window, hand protection…etc. If I want to have them I could buy separate.

And I bought HONDA CBF 250. I ride 2 years and like it. I made 15.000 km. Only, long distant journeys (each day, 400 km ride with it in 5 days) killed me because it isn’t that type of motorcycle. 🙂

If you ask about Ferry He had only one motorcycle which we have been riding for our world trip journey Honda CRF 250L 🙂
July 27, 2017
Why did we choose the Honda CRF 250L motorcycle for our world trip?

You want to go a world trip by motorcycle and you never ride motorcycle before how you can choose a motorcycle, first you should learn to ride!

I didn’t ride motorcycle for 8 years and Ferry never ride before. We were getting ready to our world trip. First, we asked somebody who I can trust their opinion. After that we searched a little who went to motorcycle world trip before and which motorcycle they were riding.

First of all, it is a world trip and each country can have different road conditions which can be tar road, gravel road, sand, mud…etc. So we need a motorcycle to ride mix road. Motorcycle type must be Dual Purpose & Adventure.

We were looking a motorcycle light if we need to push it in the river, mud and sand or lift it up. Also, we won’t have any plan to ride fast even on a tar road, max. speed will be 100 km. So 250 CC motorcycle should be fine.

We will be on the road and we need to fix our motorcycles when have a mechanic problem. We need a motorcycle, which one easy to understand mechanic detail and fix it without being expert.

Some countries don’t have motorcycle or have small one. If we need a part of motorcycle how can we find it? Therefore, which motorcycle we are going to choose nice to find a part easily.

We were looking cheap motorcycle. Quit the job and go to world trip many years means need money on the road. 🙂 Also most of parts are cheap to replace.

When we made the list, we saw to we couldn’t have a lot of choose. And we decided the HONDA CRF 250L was the best match for us.

We have changed something and modify a little for long distance ride. You can find detail here…

GS

July 27, 2017
Sleeping Bag and Hammock

Another hard choose for camping to have a correct sleeping bag. Maybe it it’s not important what we have if we go to camping only for a weekend or sometimes for just fun. But for a long journey, we need to find best sleeping for ourself. Unfortunately, we are still looking for it. If you have any opinion you should tell us. We would like to hear about it.

We have a hammock with us as well but believe me not just for fun….

Sleeping Bag

Still we have been looking to buy sleeping bag. 2.5 years ago, I bought my sleeping bag in US from REI. It is so light and three season sleeping bag. I don’t remember the model but writing on it is “Travel Pack”. It was a discount and I didn’t know that much things about a sleeping bag. It was good opportunity for me to buy 90 USD. I have no idea why but I bought two. 🙂

We decided to start our trip with them and when we find something what we need we can buy it. Almost pass a year and still we have been looking to find correct one. The sleeping bag is so small and also light, we don’t need to think about space. 🙂 But around 18 degrees we can already feel cold. When you are alone it doesn’t matter female or male sleeping bag. When you are couple you need them like that because you zip it together and you can use like one sleeping bag.

Hammock

We have a hammock. In the beginning, I didn’t want to have one. But Ferry wanted to enjoy. After a little search we choose ‘Eno DoubleNest’ which is small, light and 70 Euro. Maybe, we couldn’t use a lot in the camp but we have been using a lot on the road. We are in Africa now and it is so hot. We don’t want to ride motorcycles middle of the day. We can find a shadow, open the hammock and get rest. 🙂 I wasn’t thinking in the beginning it can be so much useful like that.

GS

July 26, 2017
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV Tent

Before ride motorcycle I was traveling in South America with my backpack and look a tent which is light and easy to open it. After all my research, I decided to have the ‘Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2’ which is only one kilogram, three season and two person tent. I bought a two-person tent because I was sleeping with my backpack. 🙂 I paid 370 USD. I bought on October 2014 and still it is with us.

What is my opinion after use 2.5 years to Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2?

I would like to write all detail what I have in my mind. It’s not only about the tent it’s about when you look a tent for yourself which one is best for you to think all details.

It is not only so light at the same so small to pack. So easy to carry inside the backpack. Also, I can set it up in two minutes. I was always so careful to check the ground where I can open it. The floor of tent material is silicone treated nylon, so it is flexible but feeling is easily can have a little hole from sharp stone or needle… etc. I didn’t have any problem for that just check and clean the ground first.

It is three season tent. I didn’t have problem with cold when I slept in it around 7 degrees. Further, when it was so hot i just use the inside tent only.

The wind storms and rain were a nightmare in Patagonia. If they start they never stop. 🙁 I am not expert about waterproof things but I can tell that I stayed a couple of times in the tent all day because of nonstop rain, which was sometimes light sometimes was heavy, the tent kept to the rain well, nothing came inside.

It has only one door which is in front. Therefore, when I stayed two person it didn’t have so much problem. I suppose always nice to have two doors left and right to move easily.

The tent length is 218 cm which is good but wide is different in front (132 cm) and back (107 cm). The high is 102 cm when you enter the tent but the feet part is more low. When I was alone it was nice for me to sit or change closed but when two person are inside it’s a little hard to sit together. When sleeping with 2 people there is no space for any luggage inside as the foot part is smaller then your head part.

When we started to use the tent with Ferry we had another problem with the tent size. Our sleeping pad! We didn’t bought regular one which are general 50-55 cm. Our sleeping pad is 62 cm. Therefore when we tired to put to mattresses inside we had problem for that. When I was a lone I didn’t know that. If you want to have small tent you should calculate to tent and your sleeping pad size. 🙂

In front of tent has a storage to put backpacks. When I was alone I was putting everything inside,just dirty boots was outside. With two person and very big backpacks could be hard to put everything in the storage.

You can buy a footprint separately. You can more protect to floor. I bought it. Just don’t forget that the footprint cover only under the floor, it doesn’t include to storage part.

If you are looking for a tent which is high quality, ultra light, comfortable and set up easy I can tell you to look Big Agnes tents. Their price is worth it! Just find a correct tent for yourself. If you are not sure you can write them. I asked many many question and I learned a lot.

The tent is still with us and we use for hiking and tracking. I said before that every kilogram is so important for us on the motorcycle because we want to be light. But it is only 1.2 kg. so we can always find a space and never feel one kg extra on the motorcycle. 🙂

Set up the tent, camp everywhere and enjoy to live in a tent: ALL AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL CAMP

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GS

July 25, 2017
Save Money to World Trip! GS

When I started to work I was 20 years old. Very soon I figure out that I can’t work all my life. I like my job so much but go to work everyday and work more than 10 hours daily and also some weekends; it could be a little too much. Because I want to live my life what I want as well. What did I suppose to do?

It was a decision which is correct or not; I was young and had a lot of energy to keep continue work nonstop. Yes, I didn’t look for easy job, less hours work, more flexible… etc. I worked many hours to made extra money and got expert very fast on my business. Therefore, I got promotions very quick and made more money.

Welcome to see video :

Of course, I went holidays, spent times with my family and friends, wear nice clothes and go out to nice places. I wanted to do all to understand what I really want, what is so enjoyable for me. 5 starts hotel or restaurants are so good to stay or eat but I was happier to stay basic hotel/hostel and get more social. Also, eat with local people and talk with them about their life and culture. I wasn’t so happy to wear suit, make up everyday or go to hairdresser and spend a lot of time in there. Stayed big house, bought big cars…. etc were so nice in the beginning because my freedom and my money. 🙂 But I was more happy to stay in a little apartment. I am so glad to do all these things. Maybe I spent money for all but I understood what I want to do. What happened after that? I just focus to safe money and get retired early. 🙂 Means, go to discover the world and understand to life.

I worked 15 years and last 10 year only, I focus to safe money. I made a list to see I spent money where and how much. I did 3 months and wrote every detail. After that I could decide which details did not necessary or too much. Do not spend money again for that! I don’t need TV, a lot of clothes, shoes, hand bags, some bills, go dinner or out a lot … etc.

I closed the mortgage, sold my big apartment and bought a small one to rent and put money to safe account. I did same thing for my car as well and used more public transportation. I like to see my safe account to growing day by day. So, keep continue. But until when?

Sometimes, suddenly something happened in your life, which is unacceptable! I lost my mother. News came when I was on a holiday. She was only 57 years old and was such a healthy and happy person. I just thought, “Life is short. How long I want to work like that and safe money nonstop. Who knows that I am not going to die tomorrow.”

So, I quit my job. Collect my backpack and started my journey from South America.

GS

July 25, 2017
Ecowas Brown Card Insurance, West Africa Traffic Insurance
Original name is Assurance Carte Brune Cedeao but Everybody knows ECOWAS, brown card insurance, which is West Africa traffic insurance. 17 countries accept Ecowas in Western Africa;
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Congo Brazzaville
- Gabon
- Ivory Coast
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea Bissau
- Guinea Conakry
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
We get ours brown card motorcycle insurance in Senegal. We passed to Senegal border without Ecowas and get it in St. Lous. We had 4 months for 17.375 cfa (26 euro). Our friends paid 15.000 cfa for 3 months. The office is nearby a bank (GPS coordinates 16.026701, -16.505271) in St. Louis. (The owners of the Zebrabar camping told us where to go).

Don’t buy this at the border!! Because most of then is fake! When we arrived to Senegal border a lot of people came to us and they show their official card, which is show that they work with Ecowas company. It was look like totally fine for us which photo we saw on internet and what we read about it. But we always so careful these kind of things therefor we took one of the insurance paper and went inside. We found chief from the border to asked if the insurance documents fine; he told us not to buy it. Ecowas paper’s looks really good but it’s not! Because you need a stamp on your ECOWAS and you need to carry the bill with you as a prove of the payment. People are walking on the border with documents and nobody has a stamp to put on it or give you a bill to show payment.

From Senegal to Congo (Brazzaville), we passed total 12 countries and only once in Guinea Bissau they asked for our traffic insurance.

ECOWAS is two pages one is writing those 14 countries. Other one writes Cameroon, Gabon and Congo (Brazzaville). We have used it in all those countries. Some people said that we can not use in Congo we have to have an other document to cover Congo. But our Ecowas was writing include Congo. SO, we entered and exit from it without any problem with Ecowas.

If you have a plan to travel Africa by motorcycle or car you can check border crossing and bribes in West Africa also West African countries visa details.

FS
April 15, 2017
Visa applications in West Africa

Visa applications in West Africa countries to road trip;

Most important thing in West Africa that You need to know which countries visa where you can easily apply and get it? I will try to write up all our visa application around Africa. I will split them up in 3 parts, West Africa, South Africa and East Africa.

I will write our experiences, this is on a Dutch and a Turkish passport. I will write down as well if I have the information about other countries passports.

Our countries we visit in West Africa will be Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea (Conakry), Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic Congo, Democratic Republic Congo and Angola.

Morocco

Visa on arrival and it’s free for both of us. Also free for other European passports, also for Australian passport it’s free.

Western Sahara

The visa for Morocco is valid here as the Western Sahara is under control by Morocco you won’t even pass a real border.

Mauritania

Visa on arrival, the price is 55 euro. Make sure you have euro’s, they will give you a really bad rate if you pay in dollars or dirham. We only had dollars and ended up paying 70 dollar each. If you don’t have euro’s make sure you exchange them somewhere in the Western Sahara

Senegal

Visa on arrival, the visa is free for most of the passports. It is free for the Dutch, Turkish, English and Australia.

The Gambia

Visa on arrival, the visa is free for a lot of passports. It is free for Dutch, Turkish and English.

Guinea Bissau

Visa apply in Ziguinchor at the Guinea Bissau embassy, it takes about 5 minutes to get it. He’s just writing it in front of you. The price is 20.000 cfa (30 euro) for a Dutch, Turkish and English passport.

Guinea (Conakry)

We got our visa in Dakar, apply at the Guinea embassy. Costs 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for a single entrée valid for 30 days. If you want 2 entrees the price is 80.000 cfa (122 euro) the visa is valid for 60 days. It takes 1 working day. You need to bring in copy of your passport, 2 passport photo’s. All goes very easy. Better to do! Get it in Bissau, the costs there are 30.000 cfa (46 euro) you also need copy of your passport and 2 passport photo’s. This is all for a Dutch, Turkish and English passport. I don’t know about the multiple entrée in Bissau.

Mali

We got our Mali visa in Nouackott (Mauritania). This goes a little bit strange but easy to apply, you need to give your border crossing for us this was Kouremale as we will enter from Guinea. A single entrée visa valid for 1 month costs 6.500 um (17 euro), your entrée date needs to start within 1 month from the date you apply, otherwise you get a double entrée and visa that’s 2 months valid. The price will then be 10.000 um (26 euro). You need 2 passport photo’s and a copy of your passport. If you apply in the morning you can pick it up in the afternoon.

Burkina Faso

We got ours in Bamako (Mali). Easy to apply, costs 24.000 cfa (36 euro) for a single entrée visa that is valid for 90 days. You need 2 passport photo’s, copy passport and a copy of your vehicle papers. Apply in the morning pick up in the afternoon. This is for all passports
Better to do! (see VTE Visa).

Togo

Visa on arrival, costs 10.000 cfa (15 euro). Valid for 7 days, easy to extend it in Lome for 2.000 cfa (3 euro). This is for all passports

Better to do! (see VTE Visa).

Benin

We got our visa in Bamako (Mali). The lady there is not very friendly, you need 2 passport photo’s, copy from the first page of your passport, copy of your passpot, copy from vehicle papers and a copy of a reservation from a hotel in Benin. Costs of the visa is 12.200 cfa (18.5 euro), it takes 2 working days to get it. This is for all passports

Better to do! (see VTE Visa).

Nigeria

We got ours in Bamako (Mali). Easy to apply, costs are various. Dutch, Australian and German passport 60.000 cfa (92 euro), Turkish passport 65.000 cfa (99 euro) and English passport 90.000 cfa (137 euro). You need 2 passport photo’s, copy of your passport and a copy from your vehicle papers. First you pay 20.000 cfa (included the price I write above) to their bank account at the bank next door. This is one of the only places to get the visa for Nigeria.

Cameroon

We got ours in Calabar (Nigeria). Easy to apply takes about 45 minutes to get it. The price is 51.000 cfa (78 euro).

Gabon

We got ours in Lome (Togo). They wanted a lot of paperwork, luckily we knew everything we needed to take with us. The costs are 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for all passports. You need 2 passport photo’s, copy of your passport, copy yellow fever, copy carnet de passage, hotel reservation, copy of a credit card, copy of motorcycle papers If you have them all ready it only takes 10 minutes. Pick-up is the next day after 3 pm.

Congo (Brazzaville)

We got ours in Lome (Togo). First of all this was just in a flat building, it looked nothing like a embassy, but other overlanders got it here as well and entered Congo, so it must be ok. The price is the highest one we paid so far 90.000 cfa (137 euro) each. You need copies of 3 other West African visas and 2 passport photo’s. Visa is done in 20 minutes.

Congo (Kinshasa, DRC)

We got ours in Cotonou (Benin). Nice embassy, nice and helpful people here. The price is 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for all passports. You need 2 passport photo’s and they make the copies from your passport. It takes about 1,5 hours to get your visa ready.

Angola

We got ours in Point Noire (Congo Brazzaville). This is one of the hardest visa’s to get in West Africa. You can apply for the visa on Tuesday and Thursday between 9 and 11 am. You need to put 2000 cfa on their bank account before applying the visa at the Bank of Congo. We had a invitation letter from a friend of us who lives in Angola, copy passport, copy Congo visa, copy DRC visa, 2 passport photo’s and a big smile on our face when we applied. The woman working there only wants to speak French, not even Portuguese what they speak in Angola and she’s not helpful at all. We got a paper to fill in what only is in Portuguese, luckily there is a guard around who do helps people with their application form so we filled it all in and went to the woman at the desk, handover all papers and she straight away gave the invitation letter back, she didn’t want to have it! Instead we needed a letter why we wanted a visa for Angola in Portuguese, off course she pointed us out to where we can get it, it just costs another 2000 cfa extra per person. We got the letter and handed over all papers again and it looked she was satisfied. Now we needed to wait for a phone call, next day we got one around 2 pm. They only speak French again and the only thing I understood is they wanted a reservation, this must be a hotel reservation we thought. We made a quick booking online and printed it at a shop and run to the embassy to hand it over, they accepted and told us to wait for a phone call again. The next day we received the phone call at 2:30 pm, we run to the bank to make the deposit of 75.000 cfa each took the receipt and run to the embassy, we arrived at 3:05 and got send away, tomorrow we open again. When walking away they shout at us to come back and did give us the visa. What a relief! We had a multiple entrée visa in 48 hours.

What about border crossing and bribe in Western Africa?

We made a short video for our Africa journey, roads, life… We hope that you like to watch :

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FS

April 15, 2017
Visa Touristique Entente-VTE, West Africa Visa

Visa Touristique Entente-VTE, West Africa Visa

This is a visa what is hard to get! It is a West Africa visa that is valid in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo and Benin.

It is hard to get it when you are in Africa but you can get it in Barcelona at the Benin embassy. The costs for it are 100 euro, it’s valid in 90 days to stay 60 days. And you can enter each countries one time. We didn’t get it so I don’t know what you all need to apply for it.

If you want to have in West Africa You need to go Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso. Of course, first you need their countries visa to enter. After that you can apply. The cost is around 55 Euro in one of the countries. Some people told us when apply to VTE in Burkina Faso They look your Burkina visa and They want to you have 3 months Burkina visa.

LAST UPDATE : We just learned more details about VTE- West Africa Visa more. (January 2020) They are not giving more in Barcelona. Also it is not easy to get any where else. Looks like visa is official exist but They don’ t want to give or they don’t have visa paper to put on the passport.

You can check all Western African countries visa detail on our website:

VISA APPLICATIONS IN WEST AFRICA

We spent 9 months west of Africa. You never know what can happen or what is waiting for you but on the other hand it is amazing experience.
Also, if you have a plan to travel around West of Africa with vehicles also you can read our articles about border crossing and bribes :

AFRICA VISAS, BORDER

We hope you like to watch our short video for Travel Around Africa by Motorcycle :

FS

April 15, 2017
The Gambia Time

Our plan changed a lot on the road for The Gambia. We were planning to stay a place around 10-15 days and get rest. But when they had some politic problem and they closed the door for tourists. Everything got ok in 4-5 days. So, we could enter Gambia.

We took the ferry to go to Banjul. He went to the ticket office and didn’t say anything, he gave 2.000 CFA and bought our ticket. The ferry is so busy but for motorcycles there is always place. Actually, the river is not so long but water level is so low. Therefore the ferry is so slow.

We stayed two days in Sukuta camping. They didn’t had electricity and wifi most of the time when we were there but they did charge us for that. That’s why we didn’t want to stay longer. We ride to the south of Gambia to find a nice bungalow to stay. We asked a lot of hotels which are expensive or bad or we didn’t like it. We couldn’t find anything what we were looking for. We decided to ride Kartong and look for the small border. They said it is for local people. We saw a little sign says a hotel. Let’s go to check. ( GPS:13.068632, -16.747039) lovely place next to the river. We stayed two days and so much enjoy. The place is called Stala lodge, when you throw a rock across the river its in Senegal 🙂

And we wanted to follow our road because we couldn’t find a house to stay 10 days and feel we are like in a home. We ride east of Gambia and went to wild camping closed to Soma. People were so friendly and curios what we were doing. It was nice for us to communicate with local people. Because we can’t speak French but can speak English. 😉 Next day, we passed to Senegal again. (Click for border crossing and bribery)

(Click a photo to slide show)

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GS

April 12, 2017