AIDS Awareness Campaign -- Budget / Expenses

Basic Travel, Car, and Accommodation-Related Expenses



Fuel Costs

In order to keep expenses to a minimum and the vehicle in the best condition possible, as well as to avoid problems driving in large, massively overpopulated and congested cities with miserable roads, the African AIDS Awareness Campaign has limited the amount of city driving as much as possible.

The fuel costs listed below are the result of driving between major cities and countries. Within the cities, we try to save as much money as possible by walking and taking shared taxis (gele-geles, tro-tros and poda podas). However, sometimes taxis are still necessary. While such costs are not insignificant, they have not been included in the following numbers.





Earning fuel money the hard way

Team members gas up the Stingray in the bush


Day 3                                     24,000 CFA               $43.64             
Day 517,400 CFA$31.64
Day 520,000 CFA$36.36
Day 817,400 CFA$31.64
Day 924,400 CFA$44.36
Day 1220,500 CFA$37.27
Day 1310,000 CFA$18.18
Day 1415,000 CFA$27.27
Day 1518,000 CFA$32.73
Day 1824,500 CFA$44.55
Day 2120,000 CFA$36.36
Day 2425,400 CFA$46.18
Day 2521,500 CFA$39.09
Day 2722,325 CFA$40.59
Day 3256,500 CFA$102.73
Day 34326,000 cedis$36.59
Day 41230,000 cedis$25.81
Day 49100,000 cedis$11.22
Day 50150,000 cedis$16.83
Day 55200,000 cedis$22.45
Day 56200,000 cedis$22.45
Day 64200,000 cedis$22.45
Day 67200,000 cedis$22.45
Day 68150,000 cedis$16.83
Day 73200,000 cedis$22.45
Day 78575,000 cedis$64.53
Day 82306,800 cedis$34.43
Day 9023,000 CFA$41.82
Day 9725,000 CFA$45.45
Day 9814,000 CFA$25.45
Day 9923,400 CFA$42.55
Day 10720,000 CFA$36.36
Day 10854,000 CFA$98.18
Day 12124,400 CFA$44.36
Day 12518,400 CFA$33.45
Day 1327,800 nira$55.71
Day 1333,500 nira$25.00
Day 1435,180 nira$37.00
Day 14518,000 CFA$32.73
Day 15045,000 CFA$81.82
Day 15119,500 CFA$35.45
Day 15523,500 CFA$42.73
Day 15815,850 CFA$28.82
Day 16624,660 CFA$44.84
Day 17121,500 CFA$39.09
Day 17231,500 CFA$57.27
Day 17619,500 CFA$35.45
Day 18221,400 CFA$38.91
Day 18820,000 CFA$36.36
Day 19023,000 CFA$41.82
Day 19122,800 CFA$41.45
Day 19315,150 CFA$27.55
Day 19844,300 CFA$80.55
Day 207$100 US$100.00
Day 2113,730 Kw$45.49
Day 2143,250 Kw$39.63
Day 215350 Kw$4.27
Day 2164,100 Kw$50.00
Day 217300 Kw$3.66
Day 2192,400 Kw$29.27
Day 222480 N$$80.00
Day 223100 N$$16.67
Day 224100 N$$16.67
Day 232332 N$$55.33
Day 235240 N$$40.00
Day 241269 N$$44.83
Day 243482 N$$80.33
Day 244165 pula$30.56
Day 255296 pula$54.81
Day 261270 rand$45.00
Day 264275 rand$45.83
Day 267462.86 rand$77.14
Day 268650 rand$108.33
Day 276480 rand$80.00
Day 277225 rand$37.50
Day 283500 rand$83.33
Day 286445 rand$74.17
Day 288260 rand$43.33
Day 294490 rand$81.67
Day 295200 rand$33.33
Day 302294 rand$49.00
Day 303230 rand$38.33
Day 304230 rand$38.33
Day 307                          200 rand                $33.33             
Fuel Costs Running Total$3,662.93
Exchange Rate
$1 US = 550 CFA (West Africa)
$1 US = 8,910 cedis   
$1 US = 140 nira
$1 US = 550 CFA (Central Africa)  
$1 US = 82 kwanza
$1 US = 6 Namibian dollars
$1 US = 5.40 pula
$1 US = 6 rand



Nate waits while the Stingray gets new legs
Visas, Bribes, Car Repairs and other Fees

Obtaining visas for travel in Africa is often time-consuming and expensive. In every country, non-car mechanics bemoan the expense of repairing a vehicle. And there are always unexpected costs and tariffs to imbalance prior budgeting.

In the section below, you will find a country-by-country accounting of the basic travel costs of our campaign (besides fuel), including vehicle maintenance, visas, bribes, and road taxes (peages). In later sections of this budget accounting, we list other costs which are tedious to record and fairly petty, but which affect our pocketbooks nonetheless; such costs include laundry and clothing repair, Internet time and telephone calls, and medicine.



Gambia (Start-up costs)
Carnet de Passage (all-purpose customs document)$500.00
West African Automotive Insurance — 2,500 dalasis$92.59
Senegal
Visas (3) — Free$0.00
Car: Electrical rewiring — 2,000 CFA$3.64
Mali
Visas (3) — 15,000 CFA each$81.81
Entry bribe (3) — 9,000 CFA each$49.08
Car: Electrical rewiring and starter repair — 6,000 CFA     $10.90
Car: New tire and two inner tubes — 36,000 CFA$65.45
Car: Re-welding roof rack — 11,500 CFA$21.00
Car: New tire — 30,000 CFA$54.54
Bribe to "unwell" police official: 2 Tylenol — 20 CFA$0.04
Exit bribe — 10,000 CFA$18.00
Burkina Faso
Visas (3) — 25,500 CFA each$136.00
Car: 6 sparkplugs and tools — 26,000 CFA$47.27
Ghana
Visas (3) — 15,000 CFA each$81.82
Car: New tire — 90,000 cedis$10.10
DHL to U.S. and additional costs incurred in processing Nigerian and
Cameroon visas (441,599 cedis, $172)   		$221.56
Bribe to corrupt police 'meter maid' — 50,000 cedis$5.61
Car: Oil change, new filters, bulbs and coverings, new brake pads, various minor   
repairs, 6 new sparkplugs, spare tools, new fan belt bearings, new water pump,
spare fan belts and fluids, welding of trunk, four days labor — 1,630,000 cedis
$182.94
Business cards — 200,000 cedis$22.45
Togo
Visas (3) — 10,000 CFA each$54.00
Benin
Visas (3) — 15,000 CFA each$81.82
Niger
Visas (3) — 22,500 CFA each$122.73
Peage — 2,000 CFA$3.64
Car: New tire, new inner tube — 17,000 CFA$30.91
Gas refill for stove — 3,000 CFA$5.45
Nigeria
Visas (3) — $78 US each$234.00
Car: Rewiring driver-side window — 500 nira$3.57
Bribe to thirsty military officials: 3 bags "pure water" — 15 nira$0.11
SIM card — 500 nira $3.57
Cameroon
Visas (3) — $100 US each$300.00
Central African Insurance and 'Carte Rose' — 20,000 CFA$36.36
SIM card and phone charger — 7,500 CFA$13.64
Bribe for dirty seatbelts — 1,000 CFA$1.82
Bribe for eating bread while driving — 600 CFA$1.09
Peages (10) — 500 CFA each$9.09
Car: Sparkplug key and labor — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Car: Oil change, oil filter, WD-40, new sparkplugs, 1 day labor — 43,000 CFA   $78.18
Car: New back left shock, new bobine, 2 days labor — 30,000 CFA$54.55
Car: Tire maintenance, electrical rewiring of horn, new jack — 12,500 CFA$22.73
Official passport copies (3) — 1,000 CFA each$5.45
Police parking ticket scam — 25,000 CFA$45.45
Gabon
Visas (3) - 35,000 CFA each$190.91
Gift to Pygmy chiefs in three villages — 4,000 CFA$7.27
Gift to Pygmy forest deity — one bottle local manioc liquor$2.73
Gift to village chief in Mbondou -— 2,000 CFA$3.64
Towing/winching out of muddy pit with support from truck and nearby villagers
— 10,000 CFA + one bottle whiskey		$21.62
Car: Three new tires — 39,000 CFA$70.91
Phone calls to US Embassy in Kinshasa, Congo — 8,000 CFA$14.55
Congo
Visas - 190,000 CFA$345.45
Gift to Chief of Lekety — 2,000 CFA and one beer$5.18
Tractor to drag car for 5 days across 130 miles of jungle and desert
— 90,000 CFA   		$163.64
Cigarettes and beer for military gendarmes, police, tractor driver, and helpers
between Kabala and Oyo — 8,500 CFA		$15.45
Bribe to police officers for "Chancellors Charge" — two packets whiskey$0.55
Peages — 500 CFA$0.91
Rope — 1,000 CFA$1.82
"Use of Port" fee for Brazza/Kinshasa ferry — 5,400 CFA$9.82
Ferry passenger tickets — 1,800 CFA$3.27
Ferry passenger tax — 600 CFA$1.09
Ferry car ticket — 16,000 CFA$29.09
Ferry mayorrette bullying tax — 10,000 CFA$18.18
Assistance through port fee — 4,000 CFA$7.27
Additional dubious ferry tickets — 1,800 CFA$3.27
Democratic Republic of Congo
Visas — 85,000 CFA$154.55
Disinfecting car fee at port — $20 US$20.00
Old man guiding us through Kinshasa — 1,400 francs$3.11
Cokes for cops — 300 francs$0.67
Car: new tire, car battery, fuses, jack — 28,450 francs$63.22
Peage — 1,500 francs$3.33
Photocopies of essential documents — 1,800 francs$4.00
Whiskey packet bribes for cops — 300 francs$0.67
Taxi fare to Angolan Consular in Matadi — 3,000 francs$6.67
Phone credit for customs at border — $5 US$5.00
Phone calls to US Embassy in Kinshasa — 1,400 francs$3.11
Angola
Visas (3) — 60,000 CFA each$327.27
New Angolan transit visas (3) — $80 US each + 3,000 franc fee$246.67
Angolan passport photo swindle — 6,000 francs$13.33
Car: Back-up inner tube for tire — $25 US$25.00
Namibia
Car: 3 new tires — 600 N$$100.00
SIM card — 90 N$$15.00
Car: new fuel filter, oil filter, 10 liters oil, oil filter remover tool, sparkplugs, floor
mat — 483 N$		$80.50
Car: front tire realignment — 242 N$$40.33
Car: new front break pads — 485 N$$80.83
Car: new shock, spanner set, rental for welding tanks, gas, transport to desert,
fuel, welding plates, and other fees — 2,154 N$		$359.00
Car: welding, welding plates, gas, new fan belts, reflectors, sealant, lantern,
flashlight, radio work — 696 N$		$116.00
Car: rewiring windows — 92 N$$15.33
Botswana
Car: road tax — 70 pula$12.96
Car: temporary alternator belt — 25 pula$4.63
Car: new alternator and fan belt — 38 pula$7.04
South Africa
Car: speedometer cable — 120 rand$20.00
Car: canvas tarp — 320 rand$53.33
Car: fixing rear right tire well, new brakes, new spring, new u-joints — 800 rand$133.33
Car: structural rear welding and support on bowing tire wells — 2,000 rand$333.33
Tolls: 26, 21, 5.60, 9.50, 31, and 27 rand — 120.10 rand total$20.02
Car: used rear shock — 200 rand$33.33
Car: spare tire — 60 rand$10.00
Tolls: 5.50 and 10 rand — 15.50 rand$2.58
Tolls: 66 rand$11.00
Swaziland
Car: fine for driving "unroadworthy" vehicle — 60 rand$10.00
Mozambique
Car: insurance — 150 rand$25.00
Tolls: 120,000 meticais$5.00
Tolls: 120,000 meticais$5.00
Basic Travel Costs Running Total$6,008.81   
Exchange Rate
$1 US = 27 dalasis
$1 US = 550 CFA (West Africa)
$1 US = 8,910 cedis   
$1 US = 140 nira
$1 US = 550 CFA (Central Africa)  
$1 US = 450 Congolese francs
$1 US = 6 Namibian dollars
$1 US = 5.40 pula
$1 US = 6 rand
$1 US = 24,000 meticais


Accommodation


Camping in the bush


Sleeping three to a bed
Finding a place to sleep for the night in Africa is much more expensive then many people would expect. In the bush, when camping is possible, it is usually free. However, Western prices are charged for almost all types of accommodation within cities. Our primary concern, beyond that of personal safety, is ensuring the security of our vehicle. Once these basic needs are met, we choose the cheapest lodging available. In some places this means staying dormitory style at religious missions. In Bamako, for example, this meant paying $9 each per night to share a room with eight other people. This was the cheapest viable option in the city. In Bobo-Dioulosso, as well as other towns such as Biriwa, we saved money by camping in the parking lot of a hotel, paying around $2 each per night. In other places, such as Accra, we are sleeping in well-worn transit buildings where many patrons only stay for an hour. The three (or four) of us usually push together twin beds and play rock paper scissors to see who sleeps in the crack. These rooms typically cost between $7 and $20 per night.


Senegal
Sedhiou, 2 nights (3) — 3,000 CFA each$32.73
Tambacounda, 2 nights (3) — 2,500 CFA each$27.27
Mali
Keyes, 3 nights (3) — 1,000 CFA each$16.36
Bamako, 3 nights (3) — 5,000 CFA each$81.82
Djenne, 1 night (3) — 2,500 CFA each$13.64
Sevare, 3 nights (3) — 2,500 CFA each$40.91
Dogon, 3 nights (3) — 5,000 CFA each$81.82
Burkina Faso
Bobo-Dioulasso, 2 nights (3) — 1,500 CFA each   $16.36
Karifguela, 1 night — 1,000 CFA$1.82
Sindu, 1 night — 3,000 CFA$5.45
Boromo, 1 night — 10,200 CFA$18.55
Ouagadougou, 5 nights — 10,500 CFA$95.45
Ghana
Mole National Park, 2 nights — 120,000 cedis$13.47
Kumasi, 3 nights — 300,000 cedis$33.67
Biriwa, 1 night — 60,000 cedis$6.74
Accra, 13 nights — 1,400,000 cedis$157.13
Cape Coast, 2 nights — 158,000 cedis$17.73
Busua, 1 night — 40,000 cedis$4.49
Ada Foah, 4 nights (3) — 20,000 cedis each$26.94
Accra, 6 nights — 468,000 cedis$52.53
Ho, 3 nights — 180,000 cedis$20.20
Hohoe, 1 night — 80,000 cedis$8.98
Wli, 1 night — 80,000 cedis$8.98
Togo
Kpalime, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Kloto, 1 night — 3,500 CFA$6.36
Lome, 5 nights — 6,000 CFA$54.55
Benin
Grand Popo, 1 night — 1,500 CFA$2.73
Oudiyah, 1 night — 4,000 CFA$7.27
Cotonou, 4 nights — 24,000 CFA$43.64
Abomey, 1 night — 6,000 CFA$10.91
Dassa Zoumé, 1 night — 6,000 CFA$10.91
Kandi, 1 night — 6,000 CFA$10.91
Niger
Niamey, 1 night — 12,000 CFA$21.82
Agadez, 5 nights — 38,000 CFA$69.09
Bilma, 3 nights — 15,000 CFA$27.27
Zinder, 4 nights — 36,000 CFA$65.45
Nigeria
Kano, 7 nights — 9,200 nira $65.71
Maiduguri, 10 nights — 13,000 nira$92.86
Cameroon
Maroua, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Rhumsiki, 1 night — 4,500 CFA$8.18
N'Gaoundere, 4 nights — 20,000 CFA$36.36
Foumban, 3 nights — 15,000 CFA$27.27
Baffousan, 2 nights — 16,000 CFA$29.09
Douala, 6 nights — 45,000 CFA$81.82
Yaounde, 7 nights — 42,000 CFA$76.36
Gabon
Oyem, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Minvoul, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Njolé, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Libreville, 6 nights — 72,000 CFA$130.91
Libreville, 6 nights — Gift from La Catalina$0.00
Togolese logging camp, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Franceville, 2 nights — 16,000 CFA$29.09
Congo
Etsouali, 1 night — 5,000 CFA$9.09
Brazzaville, 4 nights — 40,000 CFA$72.72
DRC
Kinshasa, 3 nights — $60 US$60.00
Kintanu, 1 night — $25 US$25.00
Namibia
Ondangwa, 1 night — 100 N$$16.67
Tsumeb, 2 nights — 300 N$$50.00
Windhoek, 9 nights — 1,110 N$$185.00
Swakopmund, 2 nights — 240 N$$40.00
Walvis Bay, 1 night — 100 N$$16.67
Sesriem, 1 night — 250 N$$41.67
Windhoek, 6 nights — 300 N$$50.00
South Africa
Cape Town, 7 nights — 1050 rand$175.00
Swellendam, 1 night — 40 rand$6.67
Plettenberg Bay, 1 night — 150 rand$25.00
Jeffrey's Bay, 3 nights — 450 rand$75.00
Cintsa, 3 nights — 450 rand$75.00
Banana Beach, 2 nights — 300 rand$50.00
Krueger, 1 night — 150 rand$25.00
Nelspruit, 6 nights — 500 rand$83.33
Swaziland
Manzini, 1 night — 150 rand$25.00
Mozambique
Maputo, 1 night — 1,400,000 meticais$58.33
Accommodations Running Total$2,966.30   
Exchange Rate
$1 US = 550 CFA (West Africa)
$1 US = 8,910 cedis   
$1 US = 140 nira
$1 US = 550 CFA (Central Africa)  
$1 US = 6 Namibian dollars
$1 US = 6 rand
$1 US = 24,000 meticais


Food and Drink

Tuuli eats Ghanaian foo foo with bush rat


Our meals range in price tremendously. As much as possible, we eat street food, which typically costs one or two dollars per person per meal. This is easiest at breakfast time and in the afternoon. Evening street food is generally limited to unaccompanied grilled meat since the evening meal is typically taken with the family in the home.


Grasshopper, a delicacy in northern Nigeria

Anything other than street food costs three to five dollars at dinnertime when we are not cooking for ourselves at a similar price. We spend another couple bucks over the course of the day buying water, fruit, nuts and roadside snacks in an attempt to somewhat balance our diets. During the course of the trip, we are averaging about $9 per person per day.

3 people x 268 days x $9                                                       $7,236.00                   
4 people x 41 days x $9$1,476.00
Food and Drink Running Total$8,712.00


Communications

In order to keep the website fresh with photos and travel blogs, post new HIV/AIDS articles, research international and local organizations, and search for additional trip-related information, team members spend approximately 15 hours combined per week online. This number varies greatly from country to country, depending on availability and price. In some countries, such as Namibia, a slow dial-up connection can cost $9 per hour. However, in other countries the costs are as low as $0.80 per hour. The median price during the trip tends to be about $3 per hour. Telephone usage is also essential in order to contact organizations, confirm appointments, and connect with people in the towns and cities we visit. On average, we spend approximately $30 per month on telephone calls.

Internet Running Total (44 weeks x 15 hours x $3)                      $1,980.00                
Telephone Running Total (10 months x $30)$300.00
Communications Running Total$2,280.00


Laundry

Despite the difficult conditions that the African AIDS Awareness Campaign team is forced to endure during the course of our travels, we like to stay as clean as possible. Clothes have a tendency to rapidly dirty themselves in Africa. Taking our clothes to the local laundromat is generally out of the question; they do not exist in the areas we are traveling in. The only other option usually is finding someone who provides this service at or near the campground, hostel, or flop house that we are staying in. After hard negotiating, we typically pay around $0.20 per item. Laundry is usually done about once a week, with an average of about 60 items (shirts, pants, skirts, socks, underwear, etc.) washed each time.

Laundry Running Total  (44 weeks x 60 items x $0.20)           $528.00                   



Grand Total for All Basic Trip Expenses (as of 5.19.2006)    $24,158.04