Planning 6-Month Overland (West) Africa Trip (Mauritania -> Nigeria)

Hey everyone,

I’m a 28 year old guy from Germany, and a long, more adventurous trip through Africa has always been on my bucket list. I want to do 6-8 months, probably in 2026 or 2027. I’ve already been to Nigeria and other not so common destinations, so not a newbie when it comes to more "extreme travelling". When it comes to common languages in Africa, i speak English, Portuguese and French.

My main plan is probably going through West Africa: start in Mauritania, then overland down the coast to Nigeria, passing Senegal, Gambia, Guinea(-Bissau), Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin along the way.

I want to travel mostly overland by "public" transport (buses, shared taxis, hired drivers), avoid flying, and keep it as continuous overland as possible.

However I am also open to alternatives like Kinshasa- Cape Town or the ultimate Cairo to Cape Town (seems impossible with Sudan atm though).

For anyone who has experience with one of the countries mentioned, I would love your thoughts on:

-Whether you think my route is realistic

-Realistic daily budgets

-Safety situation/what to be aware of

-Must-see countries or places worth skipping

-Best transport tips for long-distance routes

-When to travel to avoid rain and hassles

Or anything else you think might be useful for my planning.

Thanks a lot!