Burkina Visa

[hed]

Hello all, I am coming from Mali and was wondering if I need to get the visa for Burkina in Bamako or can I also just get it at the border ? I am on a german:south african passport.
Txs.
H

[sebch]

Hi hed!
Last time I was in burkina (winter 2001, long time ago I admit), it was hightly redcommendable to get the visa at the border (7 days) & have it extended in Ouaga. The total cost was about half of what I paid for mine in Bamako... Some friends tried the border option & were very happy with it. No problem for getting an extension if don within 7 days. I doubt this has changed, but check also with people urrently en route in the area.

good luck!
Séb

[hed]

Seb, txs for that, exactly the info I needed. Other question I hqve is: I am about to head off to Guinea, but I do not have a laissez passer. The guinean embassy in Bamako tells me I must have one and cannot get it at the border. Was that also your experience (at the border with Burkina), or could you get one there ?

Txs,

H

[Kevin]

You could get both the visa and the laissez paisser at the border in June of this year.

[sebch]

Hed,

I cannot speak for Guinea since I never stepped into that country. But for Burkina, everything could be set at the border. I entered from the North, driving the Koro-Ouahigouya road (that was a wonderfuly desolated track at that time...)

Anyway, the customs guys made the laissez passer on the spot for a fee. I recall the Mali asking 4'000 CFA but don't know about BF anymore. Probably a bit more.

Enjoy yourself, lucky man!
Séb

[sebch]

kevin, you beat me for 3 sec!
congrats!!!
Séb

[Kevin]

Thanks Seb

By the way Guinea Conakry is pretty unique in West Africa in that the laissez paisser has to be applied for at the embassy. I understand it is still qwuite expensive. icant remember what we paid for the Burkina papers as we arrived at the Sikasso-Bobo border with two blown out tyres. We were driving them on the rims only and leaving huge marks all over their newly asphalted road. So wer think that the border charges and the "fine" were one and the same.

[hed]

Kevin,

That is bad news about Guinea Conakry, as I am in West Mali and was planning to head off from here down to Guinea in a day or two. I have a carnet de passage, carte grise and malien registration, do you think I can make it into Guinea with the laissez passer. I do not want to have to go to Bamako just to get the laissez passer.

Txs.

Heye

[hed]

Sorry Kevin, I meant do you think I will make it WITHOUT the laissez passer.

Txs.

Heye

[Kevin]

If the vehicle is registered in mali then you just need the Malian Carte Gris to enter Guinea Conakry. This was the situation a couple of months ago, I dont think it has changed. the same is true for all other West African countries (and as far as I know all countries in Africa but I could be wrong here). Instead they usually give you a piece of arse wipe paper at the border and threaten to have you guillotined if you lose it etc. etc. etc.

If youre heading to Bissau give me a shout and we can go for a pint.

[hed]

Kevin, txs for that, I was hoping this would be the case. I have experinced no hassles at all with my Mali plates in Senegal, but never been to Guinea, so thought they have their own way over there, as they have so much other stuff on their own. I will report back on teh Forum as I am going along. Unfortunately not heading for Bissau, but txs for the offer, woould have liked to have shared a pint and some ideas. I am going from Kayes to Kenieba in south Mali, then either through Kedougou/Senegal to Guinea, or directly, will see what it looks like when I get closer.

Cheers,

H

[hed]

Hey Kevin and Seb,

Just came back from Guinea, crossed the whole country and stayed around for about 2 weeks, all went well. The Mmali plates are just lovely, no problesm at all, whatsoever, and only had to pay bribes twice, out of about 30 or 40 control posts. Got the Laissez issued atthe next largest twn after enetering Guinea, no problems at all. Watch out when leaving the country, they tried to rip me off by conning me iinto paying 30000 FG customs, had to pay about 5000 in the end, will post more info later,

CCheers,

Heye