How long should we allow ? Tangier to Accra (Ghana)
 

How long is a piece of string?

Having read through “Sahara Overland” but awaiting delivery of maps we are now in the initial stages of planning our trip from Tangier to Accra (Ghana).

Following recommendations it seems that the best route for us “first timers” is the Atlantic Route. From our research it looks as though the route we propose is:
Tangier, Marrakech, (through the Atlas mountains … I always said I would come back), Quarzazate, Zagora, Tagounite, Mhamid, Forum Zguid, Tata, Assa, Tan Tan, Dakhla, into Mauritania: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Tidjikja, Nema into Mali on to Bukina Faso and down to Ghana (a country we know well).

My question is, to get the best out of a trip like this how long should we allow?

Also, has anybody any idea about shipping costs/practicalities of a LR110 or LCR from Ghana or West Africa back to the UK?

Many thanks for any given

Ian

As you say, how long is a piece of string, however as a guide we did it in about 5 - 6 weeks and that seemed okay. This including 6 days in Rabat getting visas, across Atlas, out to Zagora, down through Western sahara, 3 days on coastal route in Mauritania plus a further 2 days in Nouachoutt. Then out to Nema, down to Bamako, 2 days in Bamako then down to Abidjan where we had Christmas and I got Malaria so we were there for a week. Then 2 days across to Accra. Wasn't rushed, however we didn't go and see the much in Mali and we came back up through Ghana after this so that was another week.

For shipping out, your cheapest option is from Banjul, with 'Socar' www.socar.com, back to Holland.

Not done it, but did a lot of research for an up-coming trip.

Sam.

Ian

We have just finished the route you are describing and I am writing this post to you from Accra. We took just over 5 weeks to do the trip described below. In my opinion we did it too fast, but we had a time deadline to be here. Awesome trip, loads of photos and stories.

10 days in Morocco - We came over the Atlas, south of Marrakesh and then down to Dahkla (there is no convoy now)
3 days in Mauritania - the beach drive is fabulous.
8 days in Senegal I would suggest missing Dakar and spend more time in St Louis.
10 days in Mali - Segou is awesome, Djenne horrible, Mopti fun. Dogon country is ok, but we drove down the escarpment and approached it from the east. It was great to see it from this perspective.
We didn't go to Timbuktu as we weren't sure of the road. But we met some people who had just done it and said it was about 8 hours from Mopti and the road is OK.
2 days BF
8 days Ghana - Mole is nice. Kakum disappointing, Cape Coast great. Kumasi looks fun, but we didn't stop. Accra is interesting and very developed.

Send me a mail to samanthabrown@go-legend.net if you want any more info.

Regards

Sam