Route to South Africa

Today when I told an old friend about my plans, his reaction was "Are you crazy? That's a really bad idea!!"

So, I decided to research a bit more about a potential route to reach South Africa. Using The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office I was able to make an entire list with the current conditions (as of 12 July 2012):

• Spain: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Morocco: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Western Sahara: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Mauritania: Advise against all travel to Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant and Hodh el Chargui, Daklet-Noudhibou and Inshiri, and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country

Definitely a country painted on red and orange is not the most encouraging thing to see, but there is no alternative route as the border with Algeria is closed. I don't think we will be able to avoid crossing Mauritania!! Fortunately I have a friend who came from Gambia to Spain the last week. Time to ask for advice.

• Mali: Avoid all travel to whole country

After years dreaming about going to Mali and particularly Timbuktu, it seems I will have to postpone to the next time... Going to avoid Mali and cross through Senegal!

• Senegal: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Guinea: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Côte d'Ivoire: Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country
  • We advise against all but essential travel to the western regions of Dix-Huit Montagnes, Haut-Sassandra, Moyen-Cavally and Bas-Sassandra. 
  • The regions to avoid are located on the Southwest, close to the border with Liberia (a country with the same disclaimer: Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country). 
  • However, using Google Maps, there is a route from Conakry (Guinea) to Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) through Kankan (Guinea) avoiding the more dangerous areas. 

• Ghana: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Togo: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Benin: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Nigeria: Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country and avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Not the best news but not as bad as they seem at first sight when looking to the map. The way from Benin to Cameroon should be done with caution but it is not under alert.

• Cameroon: avoid all travel to part(s) of country
  • We advise against all travel to the areas bordering the Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria, in the region of the Bakassi Peninsula. 
  • Not the best news, but crossing the border close to Gembu (Nigeria) avoids the Bakassi Peninsula and Central African Republic and Chad are not in the travel plans 

• Congo: we advise against all travel to the Likouala province, and against all but essential travel to the Pool region
  • Likouala is in the North, bordering Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo and Pool in the East, bordering Democratic Republic of Congo. Both of them are easily avoidable when traveling South. 

• Democratic Republic of Congo: we advise against all travel to specific regions of DRC and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country
  • We advise against all travel to eastern and north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This includes entering DRC from Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
  • We advise against all but essential travel to Kinshasa and the rest of DRC because of continuing tension and insecurity.
  • It seems it is going to be a challenge to cross... A good alternative is to go through Angola which seems to be in a much better shape. The "only" hassle is to obtain the visa.

• Zambia: No restrictions in this travel advice

• Mozambique: No restrictions in this travel advice

• South Africa: No restrictions in this travel advice

Certainly it is not going to be the easiest trip, but it seems feasible!!!