Thread 2823579

I will be following the footsteps of an older close friend of mine who went /out/ing in Africa in the 80s after he ran away from home at 17.
We met on similar desolate paths elsewhere and I learned much from him when it comes to approach and attitude to make a journey that doesn't rely on money to get you to your destinations. But, I had never dared to go to a place like Africa before talking to him.

But, I will need some modern preparations such as the ability to make e-Visas, what power plugs are used, where to avoid insurgent or militia ruled areas, etc.
Is there any better source than https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Main_Page
Any personal experiences and advice is also welcome.

>inb4 go /out/ing in your backyard like we always do
No

>>2823579 (OP)
>power
There hasn't been any work done on the grid since your mate went through there 40 years ago.

>>2823579 (OP)
just avoid the sahel entirely, probably same with Sierra Leone and Liberia, and make sure there's no election coming up, just check before
and it will probably help a lot if you speak some french
your country probably has some kind of ressources for foreign travels search for that

>>2823582
this

>>2823966
b

Don't let anyone tell you you can't do this. I used to visit Senegal just for fun, and was in Bissau one time. I've walked into the impenetrable bush plenty of times with no plan, though always with a good map. You would fulfil my dream if you were to do this type of adventure in all the countries in the region. Senegal is objectively the best though, with no visa, unrest, or corruption to worry about.
Pic is a crocodile-infested water hole I found after walking across dried-up streambeds for a day and a half.

>>2825963
>I used to visit Senegal just for fun, and was in Bissau one time.
Can you share more? How would you go about your visit in the past? Were there tourist trap areas you had to avoid to make the most of your trip? In my experience you have to leave the big cities that attracts local migrants and the typical foreign tourists. But what you encounter in the smaller places can vary from completely closed off to welcoming curiosity and willingness to give recommendations.
>Pic is a crocodile-infested water hole I found after walking across dried-up streambeds for a day and a half.
How did you manage your actual outing periods? Did you dare bring a tent?

>Senegal is objectively the best though, with no visa, unrest, or corruption to worry about.
I have found that many of the countries I wanted to go to aren't even offering tourist tier visas anymore either because they are in a current conflict or a recent change in government means the new military leaders put a blanket ban on most foreign entries.

>>2826617
There's not a shithole on earth you can't get a visa for if you really want it. You just have to have boots on the ground in a neighboring country and talk to people. Check out the FB group West Africa Travellers for country-specific protips.
>Did you dare bring a tent?
I have a Hennessy hammock, the kind with the double bottom so mosquitos can't bite your ass. I string it up high when I'm in lion country, although a ZA fag i talked to told me lions don't fuck with tents, because they don't understand there's food inside them.
My strategy is just to browse google maps and look for neat wilderness/topographic areas, then I go camp there. I've never met locals who were anything but chill, so I've never had to revise my methods.

>>2826647
here's one of my campsites in the upper gambia basin.

>>2826650
>>2826647
>You just have to have boots on the ground in a neighboring country and talk to people
Thats the plan I set out for myself as well to still make my destinations.
>FB group West Africa Travellers
Great recommendation. Getting a lot of useful information from the posts there.
Thanks! Sounds like youve been doing exactly what I'm keen on doing.

>>2826764
there's so much more I want to do but i have a life now and it isn't so easy to take 2 months off anymore. I hope you come back here and report on your trip. Better learn French if you haven't already.

>>2823579 (OP)
The Gambaga Escarpment in northern Ghana looks badass
Also the Loma Mountains, so high you're no longer sweating from the tropics.

>>2823579 (OP)
Avoid Mali, Burkina, Nigeria (northern Nigeria is a no-go zone for anyone who isn't part of Boko Haram) and Niger at all costs, unless you're idea of going /out/ consists of being taken hostage by jihadists or captured by mercenaries who will try to sell you out to the authorities by claiming you're a french agent (they do not care that you're not french, if you're white they can and will try to sell you out and run away with the money while the police slowly realizes you're not one of Macron's special agents the Wagner Group told them are everywhere). Sucks if you want to do desert stuff I guess but if that's the case you should look at Namibia and Botswana, or the Arabic Peninsula.
Cameroon is a bit of a crapshoot. The north and north-west have had some pretty unstable coexistance for the francophone population and anglophone minority and things have gotten a lot worse in the last decade. Incursions by nigerian armed groups and jihadists do not help. The south is okay but tough to get in unless you're travelling with a guide or some people who know their stuff because it's mostly dense tropical forests.
Central African Republic is o be avoided unless you want to get shot.
Congo-Brazza is fine, Congo-Kinshasa is to be avoided.
No matter where you go though, you must first map out the parks and if you plan on getting in there, contact the rangers beforehand. Depending on where you are, you could wind up in areas that have to deal with poaching be it of animals or wood, and rangers don't fuck around with that. They need to know what groups to look out for and what guys to shoot at because they're trying to grab some gorilla sperm to sell to chinese madmen who think it will make them immortal or some shit.

>>2827833
I stumbled on a ranger camp in Senegal after camping illegally in Niokolo Koba for a week. They just looked through my bag and told me I was an asshole, then gave me dinner and a ride to the park office so I could buy a pass.
Not saying you're 100% wrong. But if you can be chill and honest, and flatter anyone wearing epaulets, you'll go a long way.

>>2827954
is that muzzle on the gun chipped off? kek

>>2823579 (OP)
West Africa is probably the worst part of Africa for /out/ing unfortunately. Theres probably a few nice gems, but every other part of Africa has what it has, but better
>dense endless jungles with unique fauna
Central Africa does it better
>vast semi arid bush, and all that comes with it
Southern and east Africa mog
>deserts of all kinds from rocky cliffs to towering dunes
Southern and North Africa win. The parts of west Africa that do have this are no-go zones
>tall mountains and dramatic landscapes
Eastern and southern africa win again

West Africa only has like 3 kinds of landscapes that look the same across all the countries that share it

>>2829080
it's a vibe, tho

>>2825963
Are you able to camp in National Parks in Africa or did you stealth camp (sounds kind of risky in a foreign country desu).
>>2826650
How do you even climb around to get your hammock tied so high up? My fat ass could never do that.

>>2828008
No, moron.

>>2830764
rude.

>>2830762
Africa is the only continent where nobody cares where you camp. The real danger is being found by children, who will give you no peace and pester you for ballpoint pens. Police might want to flex their muscles and make you camp somewhere they consider "safe", usually near the police station. In this event I either ignore them or pick up sticks and move as soon as they turn their backs.
>how to climb a tree
don't be such a fatass

>>2831208
Africa is the only continent where nobody cares where you camp.
Based.
But how don't you get harassed for money or extorted from it by cops? Do you make yourself look poor somehow? Maybe you have to bribe like people do in SEA?
And do you recommend a hammock tent or a standard tent?

>>2825963
>>2826650
>>2831208
is it better in the dry season or rainy season? i imagine the dry season has less bugs and humidity but in the rainy season clouds offer shade and the rain cools down the heat

>>2831470
Dry season is better. Fuck the rainy season. You don't want to know what it's like when your sweat no longer evaporates and mushrooms start growing in the bottom of your backpack. Also public transport is more limited. If you can't take the heat, this region is not a good destination.
>>2831451
Yeah it helps to be a crummy backpacker. I wouldn't go out of my way to look dirty, but locals will find you fun and relatable if they see you in contrast to the French and German weirdos buzzing around in rental cars. You interact with police every day at roadblocks; none has ever tried to extort me -- but i do understand that can be a problem when you have your own vehicle. I've never paid a bribe either. Only time i was caught speeding (friend's car) i spoke to the cop in the local language and that made him really happy.
>Hammock or tent
Tent in the dry season, hammock in the rainy. I do really love my hammock.

>>2823579 (OP)
You're gonna get raped, bro.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Also, inb4 Ebola.

>>2833050
bro do you want to read through the thread and learn something or do you just want to shitpost
here's your (You)

>>2833178

> Africa pool's closed, nigga.

what kind of food do you take on long trips like these? i''ve only ever done 2-3 day trips and if i pack food like i do for that but for say a full week i would end up with an enormous backpack. is it normal?

or are you supposed to have on you 2-3 days worth of food only and resupply on the way

>>2834025
I am planing to spend months in the region, so I will definitely need to figure out the best local foods I can stomach and where to buy.

Obligatory

>>2836576
this is nothing compared to that anon who worked in China and absolutely hated it. This screencap amkes Africans seem more civilized and reasonable than the China experience anon. I was expecting some serious degenerate and debased things for an aid worker peace corps in Africa, but this is harmless.

>>2823579 (OP)
look up overlanders and their forums, a lot of them unfortunately might not be in english they are often in the german sphere of internet. thoose boomers have no regard of war, political stability, corruption, terrorism and such they just pack up their 'cruiser and go for it and its supprising how little problems they get into. in the high risk/red marked areas of most travel advice its almost always one route thats safe'ish if you follow the local customs. i know there is one mountain pads in the sudan/ethiopia area where they dont allow foreigners to drive without an armed guard and that cost money. but by doing so you have paid the local community a stable income more vital than robbing one car and then no one else will come, and whatever bandits might be along the road know that a toothless 60 year old guy with an ak47 is still a guy with an ak47.
plus you get to try his gun for a few bucks...

>>2836607
Like the anon said they're harmless children if left alone. Most of the problems in africa are influenced by third parties like russia, france and america.
>that anon who worked in China
Can you post the link?

>>2837334
I assume that's the greentext anon was thinking of
I'll add two things though :
>certain sectors in the chinese industry have really gotten their shit together recently so do keep in mind that the posts are from 2016. Keyword is "certain sectors". No doubt there's still a whole lot of shit going on
>on the whole "cops wouldn't call an ambulance because it's not their job" : China doesn't have any "good samaritan laws" in any form so if you help someone who has been in an accident or who got hurt, you can end up liable
>that's why you can find so many videos of people in China getting into traffic accidents and nobody seems to care : they know that if they decide to help, THEY will have to pay for everything and then some

>>2837334
>*chops your head open with a machete to look for gold*

Just harmless child things haha

>>2837929
>>2837352
guys, no one here is going to America. He'll be safer in Africa than roaming around the US.