92-DAY AFRICA TOP 2 BOTTOM EXPEDITION

Arrival day for riders, motorcycles and support vehicles, with the entire convoy assembled in Málaga. Use the day for introductions, paperwork checks, bike preparation and the expedition briefing:

Ride to the Strait of Gibraltar and cross by ferry into Morocco for the official start of the African section. Allow plenty of time for Moroccan immigration and temporary vehicle-import formalities before heading to the hotel.

Follow the fast Atlantic corridor south, making this a straightforward introduction to riding in Morocco. Casablanca gives us the Hassan II Mosque and the famous Bogart connection without taking us away from the southbound route.

A relatively short paved ride brings the convoy inland to one of Morocco's essential destinations. Arriving early allows time to explore Jemaa el-Fnaa and the old medina.

Full rest and sightseeing day in Marrakech. The support team can simultaneously inspect motorcycles and vehicles before the long run into the Sahara.

Cross toward the Atlantic and descend to Agadir on good paved roads. This positions us perfectly for the long coastal run through southern Morocco and Western Sahara.

Continue south along the Atlantic through increasingly barren landscapes. Tan-Tan provides a practical secure overnight before entering the much longer desert stages.

Follow the main N1 south across the desert on predominantly excellent pavement. The riding becomes increasingly remote, but fuel and services remain available along this major transport corridor.

This is one of the longer riding days, almost entirely on the paved N1 through Western Sahara. The dramatic desert-and-ocean landscapes make the distance worthwhile, with Dakhla providing an excellent two-night stop.

A full rest and maintenance day before the Mauritanian section. Use it for tyres, chains, fluids, supplies and final preparation of the complete vehicle-document package.

Continue south to the final practical overnight before the Mauritanian frontier. The short positioning strategy allows us to attack the border early the following morning.

Cross at Guerguerat and complete Moroccan exit and Mauritanian immigration, customs and vehicle formalities. The short mileage is deliberate because the border procedures for 13 motorcycles and two 4x4s could consume much of the day.

Ride the long paved desert highway south between the Atlantic and the Sahara. This is a remote but relatively simple transit day with fuel strategy and convoy discipline important.

Rest, administration and vehicle-service day in the Mauritanian capital. It also provides an early buffer if the Guerguerat crossing took longer than expected.

Continue south and cross from Mauritania into Senegal, ideally using the most efficient operational border available at the time. Saint-Louis provides an attractive historical overnight immediately after another potentially lengthy frontier.

CONTINGENCY. If the expedition is on schedule, use the day for the wetlands and wildlife of Djoudj. If earlier borders have delayed us, this excursion disappears and the day becomes schedule recovery.

Follow the main paved road south toward Senegal's capital. Dakar is one of the major cultural stops of the expedition and also offers excellent logistical support.

Full sightseeing and rest day with the option to visit Gorée Island. The support crew can perform another mechanical inspection while riders take a genuine break.

Turn inland and ride east across Senegal rather than adding unnecessary borders through Gambia. This is a long but efficient paved transit that positions us for Guinea.

Cross into Guinea and continue to Koundara. The relatively modest mileage provides sufficient time for another full convoy border procedure.

Climb into the Fouta Djallon highlands on increasingly interesting roads. Labé becomes our base for both rest and exploration of one of Guinea's most scenic regions.

Rest day after the first demanding West African road stages. It is also useful for checking current road intelligence before continuing toward southeastern Guinea.

CONTINGENCY. If everything is running correctly, spend the day exploring waterfalls, highland scenery and local villages. The entire excursion can be cancelled if we need to recover a lost day.

A short southbound stage through Guinea's central highlands. The deliberately light mileage allows the group and support crew to stay fresh before several consecutive riding days.

Continue southeast through Guinea on the principal inland route. Road quality can vary substantially, so the relatively conservative mileage is intentional.

Another shorter positioning day deeper into southeastern Guinea. This allows extra time for fuel, checkpoints and unpredictable road conditions without forcing night riding.

Ride south through increasingly tropical countryside toward Guinea's forest region. Nzérékoré is the logical staging point before the more questionable road toward Côte d'Ivoire.

Rest day and, importantly, a road-intelligence day before attempting the Guinea–Côte d'Ivoire connection. Local information on rain, bridges and surface conditions should determine the following day's exact departure plan.

Cross into Côte d'Ivoire via the southeastern Guinea corridor, one of the route's potentially rougher sections. Once across, road conditions improve and Man offers a comfortable base beneath the surrounding mountains.

Rest and sightseeing around the mountains, waterfalls and distinctive landscape of western Côte d'Ivoire. It also provides mechanical recovery after the poorer Guinea roads.

Return to better pavement and ride southeast toward the Ivorian capital. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace provides one of the day's standout sights.

Continue toward the Atlantic and the historic colonial town of Grand-Bassam. This gives the expedition a relaxed coastal overnight after the inland crossing.

Use the short day to visit Abidjan and handle any servicing or supplies requiring a major city. Return to the quieter Grand-Bassam area for the overnight.

Cross into Ghana and follow the coast east toward Cape Coast. The destination introduces one of the most important historical sections of the expedition.

Visit Cape Coast Castle, Elmina and, if desired, Kakum National Park. This is a major historical day dealing directly with the Atlantic slave trade and European colonial presence.

A relatively easy coastal ride brings us to Ghana's capital. Arriving early gives time for supplies, laundry and city exploration.

Rest and sightseeing day in Accra, including Christiansborg/Osu and its Danish colonial history. This is also a useful administrative stop before continuing toward Togo and Benin.

CONTINGENCY. Follow the former Danish Gold Coast east, incorporating Danish colonial sites such as the areas around Ada and Keta. If the schedule has slipped, this historical touring day can be reduced or eliminated.

Continue east and cross the relatively short border into Togo. Lomé offers a comfortable overnight and good facilities after several consecutive countries.

Rest and maintenance day in the Togolese capital. It is a convenient place to prepare the paperwork for Benin and, more importantly, Nigeria.

Cross into Benin and follow the coast through Ouidah, with its major slave-route and Vodun history. Continue to Cotonou for the overnight.

Use local transport and boats to visit the remarkable stilt settlement of Ganvié. The motorcycles remain secure while the support team prepares for the Nigerian entry.

Cross at Seme and begin the Nigerian section under the pre-arranged security plan. The mileage is intentionally low because immigration, customs and escort coordination can consume most of the day.

Rest day combined with detailed security coordination for the Nigerian transit. Confirm police handovers, communications, fuel stops and the next several overnight compounds.

Begin the controlled eastbound transit with daylight-only movement and the agreed security support. Stops should be predetermined rather than improvised.

Continue east toward the Niger River on the principal corridor. The short stage allows flexibility for traffic, roadworks and security handovers.

A short escorted stage brings the group to Enugu. Arriving early allows the next security arrangements toward Ikom and Cameroon to be confirmed.

CONTINGENCY. This day exists primarily to absorb Nigerian administrative or security delays. If unused, it becomes a welcome recovery and maintenance day.

Continue southeast under controlled movement toward the Cameroon frontier. Ikom is deliberately used as the final Nigerian staging point rather than attempting the border late in the day.

CONTINGENCY. Finalize Nigerian exit and Cameroon security arrangements for the expedition's most sensitive border stage. The day can disappear entirely if everything is prepared and the convoy remains on schedule.

Cross into Cameroon and move through the sensitive South-West corridor under formal governmental security arrangements. The objective is to complete the entire section in daylight and reach secure accommodation in Douala without an intermediate overnight.

A necessary recovery day after the demanding Nigeria–Cameroon transit. Both motorcycles and support vehicles receive a detailed inspection while the group rests.

CONTINGENCY. If time allows, enjoy a paved excursion to the Atlantic coast and Kribi. If the Nigeria–Cameroon crossing consumed additional time, this is one of the easiest sightseeing days to sacrifice.

Ride inland on the main paved highway to Cameroon's capital. Yaoundé provides better administrative and governmental access before the Gabon crossing.

Rest and administration day in the capital. Confirm the Gabon border situation and prepare for the more remote Central African stages ahead.

Ride south through Ebolowa and cross into northern Gabon. Bitam provides the practical first overnight after completing the border.

Continue south through the forest interior rather than detouring to Libreville. This keeps the expedition on the shortest useful line toward southern Gabon.

Continue south through sparsely populated tropical countryside. Fuel and daylight planning become increasingly important in this part of Gabon.

A short stage positions the convoy immediately before the difficult Gabon–Congo corridor. Arriving early allows detailed local checks on the following day's road conditions.

Rest, service and preparation day before entering Congo. The support team should use it to verify the road, bridges, weather and border status toward Dolisie.

Cross into the Republic of Congo on one of the route's more uncertain road-surface days. Expect broken pavement, construction or dirt depending on how much of the corridor has been upgraded by 2028.

Follow the main RN1 east to Madingou on comparatively easy road. The short stage positions us for the P11 route south toward the DRC.

Leave the RN1 and use the P11 corridor toward the Congo–DRC frontier before continuing toward Luozi. This is a major border and road-condition day where government coordination will be essential.

Cross the Congo River using the Luozi ferry and continue toward Kimpese. This dramatically shorter DRC transit avoids the old Cabinda, Muanda and Matadi detour.

CONTINGENCY. This buffer absorbs ferry, border, road or security delays from the previous two days. If unused, it becomes a valuable rest and vehicle-check day before entering Angola.

Continue south via Songololo and cross directly from DRC into mainland Angola. This route avoids both Matadi and the Cabinda enclave, significantly reducing borders and unnecessary distance.

Follow the principal southbound road toward the Angolan capital. It is a long riding day but keeps us on pavement and completes the difficult Central African transition.

Full rest and major mechanical-service day after Congo and DRC. Luanda provides the best facilities for repairs, supplies and medical needs before the long southern section.

CONTINGENCY. This is one of the expedition's most valuable floating recovery days because it sits immediately after the highest-risk logistical section. If no time has been lost, riders get another proper rest while the support team completes preventative maintenance.

CONTINGENCY. If the expedition is on time, use the day for a wildlife or countryside excursion south of Luanda. It can be removed completely if Central Africa has consumed extra days.

Leave the capital and return to the Atlantic route south. The roads and overall operating environment should now become progressively easier.

Continue along Angola's increasingly scenic coastline toward Benguela and Lobito. This is a comparatively relaxed day with much better tourism and accommodation infrastructure.

Take a genuine rest day on the coast after the long Central African transit. It also provides a useful opportunity for another service before the southern Angolan highlands.

Turn inland and climb toward Lubango through dramatic changing landscapes. This is a longer paved riding day but positions us for one of Angola's signature scenic experiences.

Spend the day riding the spectacular escarpment roads around Lubango, including Tundavala and Serra da Leba. The loop provides major sightseeing value without requiring a long detour toward Namibe.

Head south toward the Namibian frontier on the principal highway. Ondjiva provides a practical final Angolan overnight and allows an early border start.

Cross into Namibia and continue south to Oshakati. Border formalities should be considerably more predictable than those encountered farther north.

Ride south toward Etosha National Park. The afternoon can be used for the first wildlife viewing depending on arrival time.

Full safari and rest day with the motorcycles parked. This is one of the expedition's major wildlife experiences and provides a complete break from riding.

Head south on good paved roads toward the Namibian capital. Windhoek is the logical location for the expedition's final major motorcycle and 4x4 service.

Rest, service and resupply day. Prepare tyres and vehicles particularly carefully for the upcoming gravel sections around Sesriem and Fish River Canyon.

Ride southwest into the Namib Desert with significant gravel sections expected. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as we approach the giant dunes.

Spend the day exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and the surrounding dunes, using 4x4 transport where deep sand makes more sense than taking all motorcycles. This is one of the expedition's defining desert days.

CONTINGENCY. If we are on schedule, use the day for Sesriem Canyon, sunrise or additional desert exploration. It can be sacrificed without affecting the essential Namibia experience.

Continue southeast across Namibia on a mixture of gravel and paved roads. This is a long transit stage designed to regain the main southbound corridor efficiently.

A shorter ride brings us to the immense Fish River Canyon. The afternoon provides time for viewpoints and a relaxed final Namibian wilderness overnight.

Ride south to the Orange River, complete the Namibia–South Africa border and continue into Namaqualand. Springbok marks the beginning of the expedition's final country.

Follow the west coast south through the vast open landscapes of the Northern and Western Cape. Paternoster provides an attractive Atlantic overnight before the final approach to Cape Town.

Complete the main Málaga-to-Cape-Town overland journey with a short celebratory ride into the city. Arriving with several days remaining protects the expedition against accumulated delays farther north.

A long day out and back to Cape Agulhas, the true southern tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean meet at the foot of the lighthouse. Having ridden from the Strait of Gibraltar to here, it is the photograph the whole expedition has been building towards.

A final rest and contingency day with no required riding. It can absorb an accumulated delay while still allowing the expedition to finish in Cape Town as planned.

CONTINGENCY. If all earlier contingency days remain intact, finish with a relaxed loop through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. If the expedition has suffered delays, this optional day disappears and Cape Town remains the final destination.