Planning a Solo Motorcycle Trip in East Africa - Need Advice

Hey fellow riders,

I'm planning a 4-month solo motorcycle trip through East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda) from January to April, and I could use some advice from those who've done similar trips.

Buying/Selling a Motorcycle in Nairobi
How long should I plan to be in Nairobi to buy and later sell a motorcycle?
I'm looking at Chinese 150cc or 200cc bikes. Any recommendations or warnings?
Any tips on the buying/selling process or reliable dealers?

Safety for Solo Travelers
How safe is it for a solo traveler in these countries?
Are there any specific areas I should avoid?
Any safety tips specific to motorcycle travel in the region?

Road Conditions
What should I expect in terms of road conditions?
I've ridden in Colombia before, so I'm not entirely new to challenging roads. How does East Africa compare?
Are there any particularly tricky routes I should be aware of?

General Info
Any must-see spots or hidden gems along this route?
Tips for border crossings with a motorcycle?
Recommended gear or preparations specific to riding in East Africa?

Yikes, I know, that's a lot of questions. But if you have time, any information or advice you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

Ride safe,
Ruben

Hi,

That misses the two biggest questions that I would have:
1) How do you insure a motorcycle across those four countries?
2) What hoops do you have to jump through to take a private vehicle across those borders?

...3) How does a foreigner register a motor vehicle in Kenya?

Hey! Thanks for your reply.

The reason I didn't ask those questions is because I found a pretty good resource online.

But if anyone has info about this too, well by all means, please let me know

Moderator comment: please see Forum Rules

[ Edit: Link to Forum Rules added. ]

Hey Ruben, you should have a look at Ask Gudmundsen's profile for some inspiration.

He has a blog about his trip in West Africa (by motorbike) that might provide some good info. I know it's the wrong half of the continent, but even so. Also another one for Southern African - a little bit of overlap there perhaps.

Perhaps also some of the other highlighted blog content on the Africa / Middle East page could help with research.

Quoting Peter

Hey Ruben, you should have a look at Ask Gudmundsen's profile for some inspiration.

He has a blog about his trip in West Africa (by motorbike) that might provide some good info. I know it's the wrong half of the continent, but even so. Also another one for Southern African - a little bit of overlap there perhaps.

Perhaps also some of the other highlighted blog content on the Africa / Middle East page could help with research.

Hey Peter. Awesome, thank you, I will look into it!