Africa Maps

ac3bf1 · May 10, 2009

Hey everyone...
Wondering if anyone had any tips on where to get very good updated maps for African Countries... an e-store would work better to order them online, or if there is a "travel library" it would be awesome! I am near London.
Or at least a brand to suggest... that is available in the UK for purchase...

Thanks!
Jonathan

rustyrhinos · May 11, 2009

Would help people on here to give a reply if you said what parts you are travelling to

ac3bf1 · May 11, 2009

Aproximate route:
North Coast, East Coast, Crossing towards Namibia's North Border, South Coast.
Countries:
Tunisia
Libya
Sudan
Ethiopia
Kenya
Tanzania
Zambia
Angola
Uganda

Then maps for a possible way around the west coast to Marocco.

Thanks

I did not specify, since I thought there might be a "leading brand" which someone could have suggested

J

Griffdowg · May 11, 2009

You dont say if you require digital or paper versions. Do you require Piste information or just roads?

Stanfords are the 1st port of call for paper maps.

Digital mapping is a good way to navigate. If your running Garmin mapsource, Tracks 4 Africa have covered most of the continent, more so in the South though. Their coverage of Morocco for example is poor. They are now developing an Autorouting application for it which i hear is **** hot. It will give you estimated times of arrival for pistes etc, where a map wont show you piste conditions. Autorouting in Cairo is also said to be a godsend!

As an alternative for Morocco, there is a free map online. Linked from my website if you require it. Its more upto date and contains more piste info.

If you want more roads than "roads travelled" then Fugawi have digi mapping. They do use older IGN and russian based maps though for some of the central and northern African countries.

I dont think you could go wrong with T4A and paper maps (1:500,000 or 1:800,000 scale). If/When i manage to get to do this trip, thats what i will be using on a Dell PDA and Garmin chipset.

HTH

G

ac3bf1 · May 11, 2009

Heard about T4A (Tracks For Africa), but, even if I am an Camp Engineer and can get around fixing tech equipment pretty well, i would rather NOT rely on a GPS, for the trip. So T4A could work but I will definitely be using paper maps as main source.
Thanks for the tips.

I was looking in particular for maps with pistes as well, and trails that could be still there...
So the options you mentioned are all valid... Will lokk into them,
thanks!

Jonathan

Griffdowg · May 11, 2009

Tracks4Africa - T4A GPS Maps

Stanfords' Maps, Travel Books, Guides and Travel Information

Sahara Overland ~ the book and online resource

some links for you. Just looking at your route, dont assume you can just cross any borders you like. Alot will be closed for various political and military reasoning.

Lybia-Sudan for example is closed to tourists. Lybia also require you to travel is a group of 4 or more vehicles to obtain your tourist visa. There are many restrictions for various countries which you will need to research thoroughly.

Good luck

G

Griffdowg · May 11, 2009

ac3bf1 said:
i would rather NOT rely on a GPS, for the trip.

T4A are constantly updated with piste info that people have recently travelled on. All paper maps will be outdated, vague and difficult to navigate from (i am talking strictly Pistes here). Pistes change course and deviate quite alot over time for various reasons. For this reason i would use the GPS, with your passenger/navigator looking at the paper maps for a better overview and back-up.

Sometimes you cant rely on either of these and just have to go by dead reckoning!

ac3bf1 · May 11, 2009

I will take your advice and bring GPS mapping with me

And paper for backup ;-)
I must say stanfords.co.uk is a REALLY comprehensive solution!

Thanks for the tip!

Jonathan

Griffdowg · May 11, 2009

worth popping into the store for a browse, there are loads of them in London. If you know what you want, you can usually order it from them too.

other sources are here:

CGRER NetSurfing: Maps and References

I dont have anymore in my favorites here at work. There is another store near Glouster that is good with maps to. Cant find it now.

ac3bf1 · May 11, 2009

Thanks again

Will have some stuff to work on now!

J

ADHA2 · May 14, 2009

Hi 'Info' maps are good for Africa and now cover most countries. They have GPS waypoints which by and large are accurate. They are available online. cheers ADHA

ac3bf1 · May 14, 2009

info as in a brand named "info"?
can't find them online :-S

J

Africa Maps

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