Cycling through Benin, Africa

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andyn

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 15, 2005
2,392
29
Hampshire
www.naturescraft.co.uk
Next January I'll be undertaking a multi day mountain bike and camping trip through Benin in Africa.

Has anyone been and got any advice they might like to share?

Thanks
Andy

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
 

Two Socks

Settler
Jan 27, 2011
750
0
Norway
I have spent months in Togo, the neighbour country of benin, and have biked there too. The climate and landscape are comparable. The kit I would find most essential on a bike trip is a waterdrinking system to throw in your backpack to keep hydrated on the go. I used one of these, that works really well.

Platypus-Big-Zip-SL-Wate-18199T.jpg


I was amazed at how much water I went through there. 5+ liters per day isn`t much, especially when biking through hilly terrain.
 

Two Socks

Settler
Jan 27, 2011
750
0
Norway
Oh, and if you see one of these guys selling "fan milk" ice cream, buy one. Or many. My favourite was the "lait vanille" variant, but all of them are great to cool down with in the heat.
fanmilk-nigeria.jpg.img
 

redsalmon

Member
Jun 12, 2010
21
0
divot
done some cycling in morocco, gambia , guinea bissau (bijagos islands) and ghana. my thoughts ...

heat always an issue, good if you can lie up between 12-4pm .

i carried too much repair kit first time round, better for me to use the local bike repair shops and keep it lighter weight, there are lot around in towns and bigger villages.

light weight means it's easier to get off the main roads and onto the bush tracks between the villages. just accept that if something breaks it means you are walking out of the bush.

on the main roads most forms of public transport (or paid lifts) will carry your bike if you are knackered, bike broke etc

used a Tarptent last trip, brilliantly light weight, bug proof and airy for hot climates, https://www.tarptent.com/ best tent i've ever used in africa.

used ortleib 10ltr water carrier, typically filling it up before camp etc, very heavy to carry full but ok on a bike for short trips between well/spring and camp. also very tough.

no need for a stove (times i've carried one it's just become dead weight) , usually lots of wood around for a fire

pics from Canubaque, Bijagos islands 2014 ---------

bike on beach with ortleib water carrier, Canubaque, Bijagos, Guinea Bissau

https://flic.kr/p/n2zR8U

on the bush trails, Canubaque

https://flic.kr/p/n2zRCw


bike and camp , Canubaque
https://flic.kr/p/n2zRas
 

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