Our Route through ANGOLA. Covered approx. 2400km on the motorcycles, of which 1800km on gravel.

Mar. 28, 2008. We enter Angola from Namibia at the Oshikango Border Crossing.

Evidence of the recent war are still visible everywhere.

Abandoned tanks and other military equipment are left to waste away on the side of the road.

The road initially is pretty good ...

... then it deteriorates into a trail, ...

...with huge mud water holes.

We try staying on the road, due to the land mines.

Bush camping therefore is out of the question, ...

... we stay at this pension in Cahama, the bathroom has no running water (flush or taps).

The room for $25.00US/night had seen better days, but it came with a couple of condoms.

Mar. 29, 2008. We have returned to the real Africa.

Baobab trees can also be found in Angola.

After 200km and (5)hours we reach Lubango. A replica of the Statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The Portuguese influence in building still can be found in Lubango.

As we enter the Malaria area again, this 80%Deet is very important.

Mar. 30, 2008. The 190km road from Lubango west to the coastal town of Namib is paved.

From Lubango we climb to over 2000m elevation ...

... to the LEBA viewpoint.

The view is totally amazing.

A perfect engineered road winds its way via switchbacks ...

... from the high plateau to the valley below.

In the far distance the Atlantic Ocean.

The coastal town of Namib is situated around a port ...

... with long sandy beaches.

It seemed mostly a ghost town, maybe it was due to being Sunday.

On the beach, stranded ship wrecks.

This ship wreck is located directly in the middle of the prime beach.

One of the weirdest trees we have seen.

Locals stop to chat with us.

They are not used to tourists and therefore either shy or want a picture taken of them.

A view of Lubango from the surrounding plateau.

The town is actually easy to navigate.

We detour to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, ...

... a replica of the one in Rio de Janeiro.

Our camping spot at the Casper Lodge under construction for $27.00/night.

Mar. 31, 2008. The 400km road from Lubango to Huambo ...

... takes us 13 hours to cover.

We met one other vehicle on the road all day.

Maybe because of this.

We were forewarned that Angola had the worst roads in Africa...

...and the endless potholes.

What was left of the pavement was more a hindrance then useful.

More fun ahead.

Sometimes the main road through Angola changed to a trail.

Then the potholed road gave way to deep mud rutted groves.

These area's do not dry out as it rains everyday for 8 months of the year.

We pick the best routes through, ...

... but it is still slow going, ...

... every waterhole and muddy section has to be walked first ...

... to ensure not getting stuck.

Red mud covers the motorcycles.

Apr. 01, 2008. From Huambo to Luanda we were told that the road was newly paved.

As can be seen from these pictures, only 300km of the 600km was completed.

Stopping for gasoline along the way.

Street vendors selling lunch.

We buy a couple of bottles of Coke ...

... from this vendor.

Life for the locals.

We saw this type of transportation everywhere in Angola.

Sleeping in the tent with a view of the motorcycles.

Luanda during the night.

A view of downtown.

Mike was stung by a bee & his whole arm turned blue & black and swelled hugely.

Apr. 02, 2008. We walk from our campsite to downtown Luanda, ...

... the Capital of Angola to apply for the DRC Visa.

A view across to the Peninsula across downtown.

The Sailing Club, where we are camping ...

... set up in the parking lot.

The parking lot is surrounded by sailboats & other items that have seen better days.

Who would ride on this trailer without any safety straps or barriers.

Mike's motorcycles gets a good wash with rain water by two (2) locals on the side walk.

Always smiling & happy Anabella, the cell phone minute street vendor.

The sailing yacht harbor, ...

... with Luanda in the background.

Our view from our parking lot (campsite).

Apr. 03, 2008. A classic picture. The wedding cake transportation vehicle (taxi mini-bus).

On the other side of the peninsula, ...

...a nice stretch of beach...

...were we watch kite surfers...

...and the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean.

It is Mike's Birthday as the sun disappears behind clouds.

The first signs of a huge thunderstorm brewing out on the ocean.

Apr. 04, 2008. We receive the DRC Visa within (2) days. Refueling with petrol. Note the police vehicle in the background.

We stay in the police stations yard in N'zeto approx. 300km north of Luanda.

Apr. 05, 2008. On the way to Tomboco, we are glad not to be on the broken bridge,...

...but on this make shift one.

In Tomboco we stop at the local market for some breakfast. We buy bread from these vendors.

Dried fish (no thanks).

This woman fries some type of dough. It has a sweet taste & is actually quite good.

After Tomboco the roads becomes a trail...

...and our nightmare begins.

Torrential rains every day means that this road never dries out.

There is deep, slippery mud every few hundred meters.

200km of this lies ahead.

Mike's battery is acting up & we have to boost it via Ruby's motorcycle. A not very happy Mike.

Lucky for those booster cables, as there is maybe (1) vehicle a day on this road.

The road continues to go up and down the hills of Angola.

Water crossings and...

...more water crossings.

Each one we have to walk to ensure that we will make it through.

This is fun for about a 1km not 200km.

Then we suck in water into the air intake.

Removing the air filter and spark plugs for drying in 99.9% humidity & 30+Deg Celsius.

We stop here to load up with some water.

Ruby is in the midst of very excited locals.

The little traffic this road sees ends up like this.

We did not use this truck to get Mike's motorcycle out of the Jungle.

Mike surrounded by locals.

Continuing on our trail.

It is like riding on ice.

The scenery is changing to thicker bush/jungle.

In addition the daily rain is moving in on us.

We set up camp 60km from Tomboco.

It took us (7) hours to cover the distance.

The locals are very curious about the inside of the tent.

Everything is soaking wet and muddy,...

...as is the inside of the tent. But we have no other option.

Apr. 06, 2008. Day 3 on the road from Luanda to the DRC Border.

Our tent site in a small settlement...

...right along the "busy" road.

Our hopes of improved roads vanish fast.

It seems they are getting worse,...

...with the bush closing in on the road.

In the midst of the jungle.

We stop for a picture & the Motorcycle will not start again.

The battery is completely dead, no boosting helps, we had covered 23kms.

Apr. 07, 2008. Day 4 after another night in the jungle, we draw up this sketch to help with communications.

26km from our campsite lies the settlement of Mpala. We find a truck.

It takes us (2) hours to reach Mpala...

...and another (2) hours to return to Bemfica, where the motorcycle was.

The road is brutal in a vehicle. Sometimes we did not think we would make it.

Our campsite in the settlement of Bemfica.

Loading the motorcycle on the truck...

...took a few people. They often do not realize that it weighs 300kgs.

It took all (6) guys to hold it (even with tie-downs) to make it back to Mpala.

The children are excited to see us leave.

In Mpala, a settlement of about 20 mud/brick houses...

...fresh bread is made.

We are in luck that there is a truck in this settlement, as they are building a new school.

As mentioned previously, most vehicles end up like that.

Making breakfast for the construction crew.

Our tent site in Mpala.

Apr. 08, 2008. Day 5 initially the truck breaks down and is repaired...

...than finally we are able to load the motorcycles.

One of the workers cuts himself & Mike uses our First Aid Kit to help.