Feedback needed -- ASAP

Before I left on the trip, I sent out 3-4 emails to companies that book spots on freighters for passengers to take. I had expected that getting a spot on a ship would be pretty easy and that there was a lot of commercial traffic to choose from.

As usual on this trip, I was sorely mistaken.

I got back emails from all the companies I'd found saying there was no available option from South America to South Africa in March/April. It seems there just isn't that much traffic between those two continents and the one freighter that was willing to take passengers in that time frame had been booked for months. As you can tell from my caption -- that was the route I wanted to take. I am totally and completely excited about seeing South and East Africa -- and even more excited now that I have run into a dozen people that all say it is spectacular.

After getting the universal rejection a couple of months ago, I had pretty much resigned myself to getting a freighter from Buenos Aires to Spain, going back across to Morocco and then across North Africa. Nothing wrong with that route -- I think crossing the Sahara would be a pretty great adventure. But for some reason, it just didn't 'pop' to me. It is on my life/travel agenda, but for some reason, this doesn't seem like the right time for that.

So recently, I've thought about revising the trip entirely. How about taking a freighter to Europe, whipping through Northern Europe quickly, then going to Russia and taking the Trans-Siberian railroad all the way to the Pacific?? Then go down China to SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand and back? I'd get to see Russia in May/June, which is perfect weather for that area of the world.

The down side is that I really, really want to do Africa. Problem is that I want to do it so much, I don't think three months is going to be enough time. As much as I'm loving traveling, I seriously think I'm going to do another full year trip in the next couple years -- and taking a whole year to do the Middle East and Africa seems like a perfect fit.

So, I'd resigned myself to the Russia/China option mentally in the last few weeks and was started to get pretty excited about it. I sent out a few emails to the frieghter companies that I'd contacted earlier about South America/Europe options a few days ago.

And today I got my replies: (1) I can take one from near San Paulo, Brazil (and add Brazil to this trip) in mid-April to Roterdam, Netherlands; or COMPLETELY out of the blue, (2) there is an opening on the one freighter from Buenos Aires to Capetown, South Africa.

So here is where I am.

Option A -- original plan. South Africa, up the East side of Africa. Then the Middle East (in June or July, which does pose some weather issues). Then to SE Asia by frieghter, Australia, New Zealand and back. Biggest problem. . . I think I want to do a whole year in the Middle East and Africa -- this route, this time, I'm looking at 4 months, max.

Option B -- Brazil (added to the South America route) to Netherlands. Northern Europe (likely crossing over to Sweden and Finland) in the late Spring/early summer. St. Petersburg, Moscow -- Trans-Siberian Railroad to the Pacific coast. Down through China. SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand and back.

Never thought I'd have two great options.

All input welcomed.