We spent 5 months driving our Land Rover Defender through 11 West African countries: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. To me, this is one of the world's most challenging overland routes - and one of the most rewarding!

Key lessons learned: 

• Visas require planning: Some you can get on the border, others require letters of invitation and additional supporting documentation. You can get them all on the road, but they require some careful planning and consideration
• Roads vary wildly: Paved highways in Senegal, challenging mud tracks in Guinea/Cameroon (especially after intense rain)
• Cultural immersion is everything: Spending time in villages, attending ceremonies, learning basic greetings in local languages opened doors everywhere
• Overlanding challenges: Fuel quality issues, spare parts scarcity, border bureaucracy - patience is essential but there is always a way!
• Safety reality: Despite reputation, we felt welcomed everywhere. Use common sense, don’t drive at night, ask locals for advice

Practical tips: 

• Best timing: November-March (dry season). We hit rainy season in Cameroon (and had mechanical issues as well) which made it much more challenging, but still doable
• Carnet de Passage: Really recommend for anyone doing this trip. Carnet is the way to get your car through Africa as hassle-free as possible
• Yellow fever certificate: Required at most borders
• French is crucial: English rarely spoken outside Ghana/Nigeria/Gambia (we don’t speak it and it was tough)
• Fuel: Carry 60L+ extra. Stations sparse, quality varies (filter everything / change filter regularly)
• Money: CFA franc in 8 of the 11 countries, different currencies in others
• Camping: Wild camping widely accepted with permission. Always ask village chief first

Unexpected highlights: 

• Mauritania’s untouched beauty - we spent 3+ weeks in the desert… I could still be there! AMAZING!
• Benin's voodoo culture - authentic, not touristy, deeply spiritual
• Guinea-Bissau's Varela - pristine, barely visited. A paradise!
• The kindness everywhere - invited into homes, helped with repairs, guided to hidden spots

The photography challenge was managing extreme humidity (rainforest), dust (Sahara), and in honesty having the motivation to grab the camera after draining days back-to-back.

This route really isn't for everyone - it's physically demanding, logistically complex, and requires serious vehicle preparation. But I think it’s fair to say it is one of the world's last true overland adventures! And I reckon for many people on here - something you’ll be itching to get your teeth in unless you’ve tackled it already!

Happy to answer questions about routes, border crossings, cultural etiquette, vehicle prep, or specific countries! 🚙