Drive Spain-Morroco-Mauritania-Mali (Tomouctou) by 2WD?

[EasyRodupukudorov]

Hello there,

We are planning our (2 friends) first trip in August by a 2WD (Opel Corsa) to Morroco. Also reading reactions on this forum this has to be quite easy and amazing. But maybe in addition we would like to travel thrue Mauritania to Mali going to Tomouctou I have a few questions regarding this:

- Is the road all sealed to Tomouctou If I see the map I think of taking the route: Dahkla-Nouadhibou-Nouakchott-Nema-Nara-Tombouctou and the same way back. Is this advisable?

- My car is pretty new (since feb. 2006). Do I need extra carnets or stuff like that? What if the car breaks down, are spare parts and garages available? Will my car be a target for cartheft, or is the chance for cartheft low in the area?

- My car runs on diesel, is that (widely) available in the area?

- What time would it take to make this trip

- Is it ok to travel this route with to people by one car?

- Can you give advise on crossing the borders of Morocco-Mauritania and Mauritania-Mali?

Thanks for now and I hope to get some answers.

Greetz Roel from The Netherlands.

[Richard K]

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

Hello there,

- Is the road all sealed to Tomouctou If I see the map I think of taking the route: Dahkla-Nouadhibou-Nouakchott-Nema-Nara-Tombouctou and the same way back. Is this advisable?

No ...and no. I was surprised how tough Nema-Nara was. in the dry season it's fun in 4wd and let's say 'gnarly' in a 2wd. In the rainy season it would be suicide for your Opel.

Nouakchott-Kiffa-Ayoun-Bamako-Timbuctu is an easier route, but still not problem free. They were working on the Ayoun-Bamako road last time I was there so maybe it is better now, but you will still encounter some nasty corrugations and sand in places.

Between the River and Timbuctu I believe there is also sand - although I have never done that stretch.

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

- My car is pretty new (since feb. 2006). Do I need extra carnets or stuff like that? What if the car breaks down, are spare parts and garages available? Will my car be a target for cartheft, or is the chance for cartheft low in the area?

No carnets needed. Generally, the more modern the car the more problem you will have finding someone to fix it. I've never heard of car theft as a serious problem in the area, although the corrugations may steal your car's resell value!

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

- My car runs on diesel, is that (widely) available in the area?

Yes.

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

- What time would it take to make this trip

5 weeks minimum, to have a proper chance of enjoying it.

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

- Is it ok to travel this route with to people by one car?

The more passengers, the more people you have to push!

Originally Posted by EasyRodupukudorov

- Can you give advise on crossing the borders of Morocco-Mauritania and Mauritania-Mali?

No serious problems. All on the forum.

[kaspars]

As previously - dont try Mema - Nera - Timbuktu in a Corsa, its too bad route!
Bamako-Timbuctou involves some 200 kms of dirt road, last January it was quite well mantained, and possible in 2WD

[Hans Bo]

Hi Roel,

I think it is an good idea to drive to Mali, but why do you plan to use your brand new Opel?
If you damage the car the resell value of the car will probably decrease more than you pay for a well maintained old car which you buy for the journey and sell in Mali or Mauri. That way you even don’t have to drive all the way back.
And I find it more relaxing to put not to much money at risk. If a car in Bamako scratches you vehicle and causes damage of say 1000 Euro (if you would repair the car in Europe), do your expect the driver to pay the money? Or if you have to leave the car for whatever reasons in Mauri or Mali I doubt that anybody would pay you the price you would expect in Europe.
In short take a reliable but old car drive it back or leave it there and have fun.

Hans

[chapati]

Originally Posted by kaspars

As previously - dont try Mema - Nera - Timbuktu in a Corsa, its too bad route!
Bamako-Timbuctou involves some 200 kms of dirt road, last January it was quite well mantained, and possible in 2WD

I hear that the route from Nouackshot to Nema is now entirely tarred (I would like some confirmation from others though). the stretch Dahkla-Nouadhibou is tarred as well.

I agree with Hans bo about your opel Corsa. If I where you I would get an old but decent 2WD and keep your corsa at home. buy a cheap Peugeot or Mercedes (for example the Mercedes 190D from 1988) and sell it in Mali. Both are popular vehicles in west-africa and the africans have much more experience with these cars then opel. If u are lucky u will sell it for double the price as u paid for it in the Netherlands (peugeot 405 is popular and you will find a decent/good enough one in the Netherlands for around 500 to 1000 euro).I bought a peugeot 605 2WD from 1993 this year for this purpose.

Cheers,

[Richard K]

Originally Posted by chapati

I hear that the route from Nouackshot to Nema is now entirely tarred (I would like some confirmation from others though). Cheers,

Hi Chappati, yes it's all sealed. Some badly potholed sections after Kiffa (and a lot of dead donkeys).

[teflon]

Originally Posted by Richard K

No ...and no. I was surprised how tough Nema-Nara was. in the dry season it's fun in 4wd and let's say 'gnarly' in a 2wd. In the rainy season it would be suicide for your Opel.

Hi, I'm new here. I've not done any kind of desert driving, but I'm thinking about the possibilities of going to the 'Festival au Desert' (Jan 2008) in Essakane, Mali, along the route the original poster mentioned. What did you encounter after Nema? Is 'gnarly' a technical term, or somewhere between ball-breaking and just difficult? Can I get 'gnarly' tyres?:confused1: