African route?

[Barnoe]

I have wanted to go through Africa for years but there never seems to be a time when its safe.
That said over the years I have bottled it and then see others on YouTube riding through lol

The below isn't a carefully planned route its just an idea of travel
Starting from the Spanish side through Morocco.
Either getting back out by way of Iraq or back round back to Spain.

I have a few concerns.
Iraq, Mali and Libya - How safe is this for two English men to travel through in 2025!

Any advice welcome.

 

[TIJ650]

What size are your boots?

 

[Wapping]

Contact @simondippenhall of UKGSer. He’ll probably be able to offer some good advice. He can even sell you a bike!

 

[ChasF]

The west coast route is viable at the moment. There are occasional ferries from Jeddah to Djibouti avoiding Yemen which may make the east coast route viable
Edit: It would be a shame to miss out Malawi and Zimbabwe

 

[Barnoe]

The west coast route is viable at the moment. There are occasional ferries from Jeddah to Djibouti avoiding Yemen which may make the east coast route viable

I did think there would be a ferry option.
Also wondered if doing the full Sahara or jumping out into Mauritania halfway would be better advised.

 

[Wapping]

Contact @simondippenhall of UKGSer. He’ll probably be able to offer some good advice. He can even sell you a bike!

For Sale Post in thread 'Honda CRF 250 Rally 2017 in Gambia: £1,500'

Nov 24, 2025

... Or, as Simon suggested, someone wanting to go further south and cutting out the hassle of the western Sahara...which opens up tremendous opportunities!

• Kitsilano

• 

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

The 'Red route' should be fine, just avoid Mali.... oh and be careful in the area where you have that yellow/gold star on the map.

 

[Barnoe]

For Sale Post in thread 'Honda CRF 250 Rally 2017 in Gambia: £1,500'

Nov 24, 2025

... Or, as Simon suggested, someone wanting to go further south and cutting out the hassle of the western Sahara...which opens up tremendous opportunities!

• Kitsilano

• 

You wasn't kidding about the bike lol

Sadly I don't need a new bike, and I'm sure Simon wouldn't want to wait a year or more for me passing by either.
Nice looking bike though, to say where its been.

Simons Advice would be welcome though.

 

[Barnoe]

The 'Red route' should be fine, just avoid Mail.... oh and be careful in the area where you have that yellow/gold star on the map.

That star is Valencia
I starred it when I travelled there in 2022 then deleted it from Google.
As you can see its not very deleted!

Its not listed on my starred places anymore, but its still on the map.... very annoying lol

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

That star is Valencia

I know.... it's just a few clicks from where I had my bump in 2009.

 

[Barnoe]

I know.... it's just a few clicks from where I had my bump in 2009.

a "Bump"?

A lot more than that pal.
If you had been in a lesser car you wouldn't be here.

 

[dommiek]

The route down the west coast look ok but do your research on Mali, or maybe avoid it. Similar with Nigeria.
As I understand Libya is possible but you need to arrange for a guide and be escorted everywhere which isn't ideal; Algeria is possible bit do your research.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Algeria is possible bit do your research.

Algeria to Morocco is not possible.

 

[ChasF]

I was advised that Algeria was closed entirely to foreign vehicles (even French) - I wanted to go from Morocco to Tunisia back in October, no such luck.

Personally, I’d avoid Mali although the southern corner may be OK. Why are you avoiding sierra Leone, Guinea etc? I don’t know how Nigeria is these days but it’s always been a country to get across as quickly as possible.

 

[dommiek]

I understand the border from Tindouf Algeria into Mauritania is open and there's rumours of a new crossing opening between Bir Mogrein (Mauritania) to Smara in WS

 

[Barnoe]

Personally, I’d avoid Mali although the southern corner may be OK. Why are you avoiding sierra Leone, Guinea etc? I don’t know how Nigeria is these days but it’s always been a country to get across as quickly as possible.

I was avoiding that section while i was researching some interactive map i found online that shows danger to travellers.
it showed that as an area to avoid.
But you saying Mali is better avoided.

 

[fatbaldbob]

Look up a German guy on YouTube, his channel is called “Max Roving” he is currently cycling around the world and is in Algeria at the moment. It’s interesting stuff, he had a lot of difficulty getting into Algeria and spends a lot of time trying to avoid his Police escorts that they insist should follow him everywhere. To get into Morocco he is going to have to go via Spain as mentioned in an above post that border from Algeria is closed.

I would avoid anywhere in the Sahara region that borders Algeria, Mali and Libya as this is true bandit country for smuggling, weapons trafficking, terrorists hideouts and kidnapping. As it’s easy to disappear across the borders that are vast and in open desert therefore almost impossible to Police.

I worked on rotation in Algeria for 10 years and had residency there. I was not allowed out in the desert regions without an armed police or military escort numbering several vehicles even if it was just me on my own.

However in major cities, Algiers for example you could do your own thing. But I never did see any foreign registered vehicles.

 

[simondippenhall]

Barnoe

Drop me a line if you want a chat. Did some of what you are describing ending 2019 as shown in my avatar. Also Syria 2008, Iran 2015, Saudi etc 2019.

Avoid Mali at all costs at the moment.

 

[gspod]

Did you do this trip.