Preparation - The Why

My best answer is why not!!!  I always wanted to travel through Africa.  It has been top of my bucket list for a very long time.  Doing it on a motorbike just seems to good to be true.

This idea has been evolving for a few years.  Initially, I wanted to travel down to SA with the over-lander trucks for the soccer world cup.  As I started looking into it some friends suggested we rather do a motorbike tour of the souther half of Africa.  Africa, on a motorbike, with good friends... Fantastic plan!!  So we all started preparing for Southern Africa,  getting licenses, buying the bikes, and researching routes and equipment.  Sadly my friends had to pull out after more than a year off planning  Gutted!!   Now I was stuck with a bike and the initial plan of travelling the whole of Africa.  1 + 1 = Bingo!!  

My first sleepless night was after seeing this map.  Africa is HUGE!!!

I did have  a couple of big concerns. The first was  the safety of a solo traveller. Africa is not for the feint hearted, but after some research I found loads off stuff from others who have done the same and they were ok. Being solo also forces you to interact more, to get more involved in your surroundings, and the vulnerability of being alone makes other people open up.  Africa seems to be friendly and helpful, and being solo just reinforces that.

My second big concern was my lack of motorbike riding and mechanic skills.  The best answer for that was practice,  practice and then more practice.  Which I did as much as possible.  Í'm still not a master at either, but I am willing to try whatever is necessary, and the best way to get experience is to just go and do it!!

At this stage my I was 90% shure I could do it.  Still a few lingering doubts about taking on to much for a first motorbike adventure, but my family where great.  A chorus of 'just do it' was the final push I needed.
Solo across Africa is not as impossible as it might seem.  BUT it is going to be hard work!!

Research done and decision made.  I'm in!!!

Next was the planning.  MENTAL.  Hours behind the computer, reading books, going on courses, maps, equipment, passport, visas, carnet, immunisations and bike prep, so much admin. And so little time. The list of things to do just never got any shorter.  It is only now that I finally feel I am getting ahead with the planning.  But you can always do all in more detail.  The last three months has also seen the non stop arrival off stuff.  Every day a new packet.  Our house is littered with bike spares, bike gear, tools, electronics  and camping equipment.  Credit to my two flat mates for gracefully accepting the mess, and also for helping me sort out a lot off the UK admin.

Lastly, I have to do this trip with the right mindset.  Most accidents to previous over-landers happend when they where tired, pushing to hard and/or rushing for a deadline.  Trying to get somewhere too fast is a recipe for disaster.  In the middle of nowhere this can be very dangerous.  As much of a cliché as it might be :  Africa is about the journey, not the destination.  Take your time and do it right.  I gave myself five months to do this trip with nearly a month as backup.  It should be enough to not have to rush.  I just hope it is enough time to thoroughly immerse and enjoy myself.