Atlantic route toTimbuktu on foot (sort of)
 

Has anyone here done the Atlantic route and followed through to Timbuktu with out bringing a Jeep? I mean taking the bus to Dakhla and flagging a jeep to Nouadhibou ect. Any idea what the minimum time it would take? Costs of transport along the way? Hope someone can give me some tips, Thanks

Would anyone want to do the route in a Jeep, anyway? :-)

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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.com

Sorry, where I come from we use the term Jeep for 4X4. I am essentially trying to get information on on traveling overland by public transit and bush taxi through Western Sahara, Muritania, and Mali. I have read most post related to the topic in the last year but have not found anything information what possiblities there are to cross the border by Nema to Mali without your own 4X4. Also, have any of you recent travelers noticed or been affected by anti western sentiment as a result of the Europien Islam/freedom of speech cartoon clash?

When I was going through the Nema border crossing from RIM to Mali this January I couldn't see a reason why they would not allow people through other than in their own cars.

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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.com

Its no problem doing the route without a vehicle. There are CTN buses all the way to Dakhla and mercedes 240 share taxis to the border. There are at least a couple of dozen vehicles passing the border each day so a lift to Nouadhibou or to Nouakchott is no problem. There is loads of transport doing the route from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott as well.

There is also no problem going via Ayoun to Nioro and down to Bamako. A more interesting route is via Senegal, along the river to Kidira and via Kayes to Bamako.

To Timbuktu you either go via Mopti or the newer route via Douentza or from Mopti by boat (long but interesting). Staying in campsites and keeping a general look out for Euro-registered vehicles increases the chance of getting a free or cheaper lift.

I dont know the prices from Dakhla to Nouakchott but the prices in sub-saharan Africa work out at euro2.50-3.00 per 100km, more if the road is unpaved or little travelled.

Its probably hard to discribew it but there is a massive movement of people and freight traffic in Africa and lifts are no real problem, the situation has improved enormously in the last 10-15 years.

To get

hallo
i meet just 2 weeks ago some french who did the rout from Nema to timbouctou by public transportation, i gave them a lift from lere to toumbouctou but its easy by public transportation.
greatings immanuel

i did similar trip some 7 years ago going by public transport to abidjan, although between layoune and nouadhibou i got a lift from a french couple as at that time there were public transport possibilities between morocco and RIM quite limited. now it seems it is easier also to get to nouakchott, i took then an the ore train and its famous "open air seat" to choum, with a little luck i got to atar. Tough, but this part of the journey i consider now the most unforgettable i ever taken. malian border i crossed between nema and nara in a bush taxi at the overloaded back with other 5 africans gripping 8 hours with fingertips the net fixing the load, but survived and in the end and home i would do the same route again...

This is great information... What would you say is the shortest time I should plan to do the trip? How much shoudl I budget?

well, i dont know now if you address me or immanuel before but as far as of my part of the route if i remember well yet: NDB - Choum one night for free, choum - atar 2 - 3 hours free lift, atar - NKT about halfday, NKT - Nema about 2 days, Nema - Nara one night. prices i dont remember anymore unfortunately but they were quite reasonable (in comparison to norway almost for free http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif