Carnet de Passages for Mauritania and Mali
 

I have read that Carnet de passage are not required for mauritania and Mali for a vehicle but that it is only necessary to get the passport stamped at the border with a tempoary import stamp but for Mali that this is only valid for 8 days and it is necessary to travel down to Bamako to get it extended. I have also had replies to a previous question about visa say that one is required for Mali. All confusion. Anybody got a difinitive statement. Also if it is the temporary stamp can this be extended in any other towns in Mali other than Bamako, i.e Timbuktu so allowing Bamako to be bypassed?

Mali and Mauri don't seem to specifically require a carnet, but Senegal definitely does. Mali requires a visa, and seem to insist that you get it from either Paris or Brussels (if you're a Brit). They say that you can't get it en-route (though that seems very odd to me).

My visa came back with an 8 day validity. We spoke to the Britih Embassy in Bamako, who told us that it's a straightforward process to get an extension. Whether it's straightforward or not is another matter, but at least it looks as though extensions are possible OK.

Craig

(Simon Milward Memorial Run (www.millennium-ride.com / www.motorcycleoutreach.org) Leaving for Banjul and Kayes 10th Nov)

Luckily they're lying!
You can get a visa for Mali from their embassy in Nouakchott (Mauritania). It took me 5 minutes and was fairly cheap (this was 9 months ago). I think it was for 30 days...
I did have a carnet which was asked for in both Mauri and Mali but maybe you can get away without one. Definitely need it for Senegal though.

I went through these countries in December 2004 - January 2005.

Back then (and as far as I know nothing has changed), it was possible to get a temporary import permit for both Mauritania and Mali. The permit for Mali is good for something like 30 days. If you enter in Nioro, for example, then the reason you might need to go to Bamako within a week or so is to buy insurance.

You can get the Malian visa in Nouakchott and it took about 10 minutes for me (Canadian).

If you don't get the Malian insurance when you get to Bamako, then be prepared to bribe a cop if you get caught. . .

With a car less than 5 years old, do you need a carnet for Senegal?
I am confused - can anyone enlighten me please!

see www.plymouth-banjul.co.uk they are traversing senegal in hundreds of wehicles much older than 5 yrs. I was one of them last year. OFFICIALLY you cannot enter Senegal. What customs do - they set up a conwoy for your wehicle from border to border, and charge up to 60 eur for that. But go through DIAMA point, avoid ROSSO.
Another story - Mali Senegal border neat Tambacouta (or smthg similar) - Senegalese so welcoming, not checking wehicle documents at all. Source for this info - Paris Dakar journalists, traveling on their own wehicle.
This year I am again going to west africa - wont have any carnet http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif
Good luck,