bonjour
qq'un à t'il déjà voyagé dans le sud de la tanzanie en janvier et février?
je prévoie de m'y rendre en vélo mais je voudrais bien un retour d'expérience sur l'état des pistes et l'importance des précipitations à cette période
merci
bonjour
en Tanzanie en cette periode au sud il pleut, comme 30 a 50mm par jour, de gros orages. donc les pistes sont impraticables, boue, trous, et creusees par le ruissellement. et pleines de petites mares. il suffit dun orage pour les bousiller, y compris tous les chemins. et personne ne les repare.
au nord de Dar ca va.
a + Pierre
tout le monde prétend que la Terre est ronde, mais ne le croyez pas, en fait elle est plate bien sûr!
http://mandolpierre.overblog.com
Nous sommes allés plusieurs fois en Tanzanie du sud en janvier-février (Ruaha, Selous) comme en saison sèche (juin, octobre). Janvier et février sont appelés "petite saison sèche" d'une manière un peu abusive, mais il y pleut beaucoup moins qu'au printemps et moins qu'en novembre et décembre. Et comme chez nous, d'une année sur l'autre il peut y avoir des différences de climat très importantes, nous avons connu ça en 2006, avec sécheresse et hippopotames cherchant leur nourriture en plein jour loin de la Rufiji, et en 2007 avec des précipitations nourries et journalières et une multitude de tsé-tsé.
En janvier et février, il ne pleut pas 50 mm par jour, pas même 5 (cf. le tableau des précipitations de notre page climat en safari). Certaines pistes peuvent être impraticables, mais c'est loin d'être le cas général.
Safari njema! Bon voyage !
pierre
je te remercie de ta réponse, meme si se n'est pas tout a fait se que j'aurais aimé entendre, j'ai lue des articles parlant du climat dans le meme sens que toi et d'autres qui parlent de beaucoup moins de pluie et de piste en général praticables, je voudrais partir de daar es salam jusque mbaye et sa région descendre le long du mozambique et remonter le long de l'océan;
toi qui connait ces régions, le ferais tu a cette saison?
merci pour tes infos
samuel
bernard,
merci pour ta réponse qui me conforte dans mon idées d'itinéraire, si j'en crois ton expérience, certain endroits peuvent être un peut compliqués mais pas la majoritée des pistes, loin de la, et il ne pleut pas toute la journée alors j'imagine que les pistes ont le temps de réssuyer, de se que tu as vue imagine tu y rouler en vélo, sachant que la boue est une vraie galère pour le cyclo? " ça glisse, ça bloque les roues sous les gardes boues, ect…"
merci d'avoir pris le temps de me décrire ton expérience
samuel
comme dis Blezl, il y a des annees bonnes et dautres non.
Nous on est passe fin dec debut janvier de Mzuzu Malawi a Mbeya et les montagnes cote mozambique on ne les a pas vu, elles etaient perdues dans les nuages et les orages, et les montagnes cote Ouest aussi. et arrive a Dar ca ne sest pas ameliore. on aurait bien aime faire de Makambako a Songea et continuer par le Mozambique, mais on na pas pu. coince sur lasfalte jusqua Dar. ceci dit la route est simpa jusqua Morogoro, apres vaut mieux prendre le bus, trop dangereux et moche.
le long de locean cest asfalte maintenant dapres mes lectures.
il y a plein de routes simpas en tanzanie, roulables en janv fev, au nord de dar. faut juste eviter l'A14, et prendre la pisrte de la cote pour aller a Tanga.
bon voyage. Pierre
tout le monde prétend que la Terre est ronde, mais ne le croyez pas, en fait elle est plate bien sûr!
http://mandolpierre.overblog.com
bonsoir pierre
sympa les renseignements sur les routes praticable a cette époque, je pense que je vais envisager un itinéraire nord et un sud, et une foi sur place (le10 janvier prochain) j'aviserais suivant les nouvelles et les avis sur plasse
en tous cas merci à toi
samuel
Bonjour Samuel,
Nous étions au Sud de la Tanzanie en janvier et fevrier 2011. Petite saison des pluies comme précédemment évoquée.
Pas de souci particulier pour rejoindre Mbeya.
Nous avons séjourné à Njombe sur la route qui mène à Songea.Malgré les orages quotidiens les bus circulaient sur Songea, donc à mon avis les vélos passent aussi.
Nous voulions rejoindre le lac Tanganyika par le sud, on a emprunté les bus jusqu'à Sumbawanga via Tunduma.à cette époque l’asphalte s'arrêtait à Tunduma (porte d'entrée pour la Zambie), ensuite c'est une piste large qui mène sur les hauts plateaux de Sumbawanga. les bus circulent, les vélos aussi...
Les orages violents détrempaient les pistes et les bus ne descendaient pas sur le lac Tanganyika.
Il nous a donc fallu louer un 4X4 (avec chauffeur) pour rejoindre le minuscule port de Kasanga au bord du lac.
Le trajet a été long et le chauffeur a eu des difficultés à plusuieurs reprises (aide avec des camonieurs croisés sur la piste pour sortir des ornières) mais nous sommes arrivés à Kasanga. Sur la piste de nombreux locaux à vélo avec de la canne à sucre, on pousse souvent le vélo...
Bonne préparation;
je te laisse le lien de mon blog qui évoque l'Afrique de l'Est, voyage 2012/2013 (mais peu la Tanzanie, voyage 2011)...
cependant j'ai quelques photos évoquant les pistes Tanzanienne en 2011 (sur un autre ordi)... je peux te les envoyer avec quelques commentaires lorsque je serai de retour à mon domicile)
j'étais cette année en février à Selous et Ruaha, je n'ai pratiquement pas vu de pluie, mais 10 jours avant, un des camps de Ruaha était noyé, donc comme dit Bernard, c'est aussi une question de chance. Après une bonne pluie, la boue a quand même tendance à s'installer, ça risque d'être pénible en vélo.
Mieux vaut éviter les pistes comportant un passage à gué, il y a de fortes chances qu'il soit impraticable.
J'ai pris la route côtière de Dar à Mtwara puis entrée au Mozambique à la fin de la saison sèche ( début octobre ) l'année dernière. Si cet itinéraire t'intéresse je peux te le décrire, il est maintenant pratiquement entièrement goudronné mais le trafic y est très light. Ca se corse dès que tu quittes Mtwara.
Bon vent,
bonjour
je viens de lire le blog de la grande échappée, plein de détails interressant, chouette .
pour celui en espagnol, j'en suis incapable ,
cette partie n'a pas l'air redoutable, reste a en savoir plus sur les pistes qui rejoignent le lac malawi en suivant le nord mozambique en janvier février, je continu mes recherches
merci pierre
La route Dar-Mtwara n'était qu'un tas de sable il y a quelques années, presque entièrement goudronnée maintenant avec le développement en cours autour des champs gaziers offshore découverts récemment de part et d'autre de la frontière tanzano-mozambicaine... A mon passage il y a un an ( octobre 2013 ) seuls une trentaine de kms au sud du pont sur la Ruaha n'étaient pas bitumés ( 50 kms au nord de l'embranchement pour Kilwa Masoko sur la côte, petite ville sympa d'ailleurs, je te conseille vivement la visite de Kilwa Kisiwani et de ses monuments islamiques dispersés sur les îles alentours ). La route est agréable, vallonnée, pas trop encombrée pour l'instant. Bush sec à baobabs et petits villages partout pour le ravitaillement. Par contre tu ne vois presque jamais l'océan et son littoral à mangroves, sauf près de Lindi et à Mtwara où tu peux te baigner.
De Mtwara à la frontière ( petit ferry motorisé, 2 traversées/jour en fonction des marées ) et au delà jusqu'à Palma, la piste est assez dure, caillouteuse côté tanzanien et sablonneuse côté mozambicain ). Peu de véhicules, paysages superbes, tu entres dans un autre monde.
Après, de Palma à Mocimboa c'était l'enfer l'année dernière, vieille piste défoncée et sablonneuse et envahie par les engins de chantier qui construisaient la nouvelle, peut-être sera-t-elle goudronnée à ton passage. J'ai avalé des kilos de poussière.
Beaucoup de sections en travaux ou détruites aussi plus au sud, sur l'"axe principal" allant vers Pemba. Tous les gisements de gaz sont au large de la côte au nord de Pemba et la région se transforme très rapidement... Je te conseille d'aller à l'île d'Ibo si tu as le temps, tu peux rallier l'embarcadère à Tadanhaga via une piste qui part plein est et ensuite rallier Pemba par une autre piste assez bien entretenue.
L'axe Pemba-Namialo-Moçambique était roulant mais en travaux.
De Nampula à la frontière du Malawi via Ribaue et Cuamba paysages vraiment, vraiment grandioses, inselbergs géants! Cétait de la piste assez dure ( tôle ondulée, sable ) lors de mon passage, mais là aussi les travaux avaient commencé, les Chinois à la baguette, et il y avait une poussière énorme sur beaucoup de sections. Tranquillité absolue dans les portions oùla piste était encore dans son jus.
De Cuamba vers le Malawi il y a 2 petits postes-frontière, à Mandimba au nord-ouest ou le long de la voie ferrée ( piste, sablonneuse côté Malawi ) à Entre-Lagos/Nayuchi, celui que j'ai pris, à l'est de Liwonde et de son beau Parc National. Trafic inexistant, tu fais tamponner ton passeport à la gare des 2 côtés.
Hi,
what are the easiest ways to get back from Nordkapp without pedaling—
train, boat, or plane?
Has anyone already done this?
Thanks for sharing your tips!
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Hi,
I need to arrive in Thessaloniki by bike at the end of September and I plan to head to Istanbul along the coast.
Could anyone help me pick the best route? Safety, difficulty.
Thanks in advance.
Marc
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
