Morocco to senegal

[Bernemil]

Is there a tarmac road from Morocco to Senegal? Has anyone driven this road?
I want to drive a sedan from Morocco to Senegal and was hoping to get some advice. The plan is to do this in December 2006.
Bernemil

[kaspars]

hi,

apart from appr 1000 meters between Morocco and Mauritania, 100 kms from Rosso to Diama ans StLois, IF you go through Diama, there is a tarmac all way.
Enjoy, and get yourself a map!

Kaspars

[Bernemil]

Thank you for your information.
What about the road from the moroccan border through old western sahara and Mauritania to Nouakchott?
Is this completely tarmaced. Or are there large streches of unsealed roads?
Will a sedan be a safe thing to attempt across this area.
Regards,
Bernemil

[kaspars]

Yes, W Sahara is sealed all way for several years now. Apart from may be some deviations due to roadworks or so.
And why not sedan? Hundreds of sedans on that road...
Kaspars

[Bernemil]

What is a Carnet or carnet de passe?
Do I need papers other than my Registration papers in the UK?
Where can I obtain the papers I need for my car to travel from Morocco to senegal or guinea.
Bernemil

[kaspars]

hmm. Officially in Senegal you can enter with car less than 5 years old. If it is your case - you might benefit from having carned de passage, issued by UK authorities (dont ask, whom they are). If your 'sedan' will be older than 5 yrs, carnet will not help, you will have to arrange a customs convoy thru country, usually for 30 - 80 euros. It is a hassle, thou. And takes a lot of time and nerves. But travelers have done without the convoy just with fee for that also. Try your luck.
see www.plymouth-banjul.co.uk , they have done a lot of crossing Senegal, once or twice also with braking border compound gate...
K

[Luke]

Hi,
Kaspars, you must have found the wrong customs officer.
The Carnet, or CdP, is a passport for the car enabling virtually all the vehicle related border hassles ans a lot of the spurious fees to evaporate.

If the car's over 5 years old, the CdP lets you in without fees, or convoy, or "laisser passer". The Senegal customs guy at Diama hates them because he knows he can't ask for any payment when you present a carnet.

I repeat, entry into Senegal with a carnet should not involve any customs fees! (depending on what you're carrying and how late in the day it is)

He'll try it on of course, even if it's your first time in Africa/Senegal etc. when asked, you've been here many times. They're more likely to try to screw a first timer.

Bernemil, read up the paperwork info on this site, Scotty's SO site and google "Carnet de Passage en Douanes" Usually you get it in the country in which your car's registered, and you have to leave some sort of deposit (size depends on your country's policy and the countries to be visited).

On the road you'll meet up with plenty of people who know the ropes and with whom you can convoy if the Senegal customs are still daunting. (Auberge Menata in NKT seems to be a major assembly point before the Senegal border)

Happy preparations
Luke

[moggy 1968]

see numerous prvious posts on this but I got two elderly TLCs in without carnet using the system of laissez passer. total cost was 80E which is a great deal less than a carnet and leaves you the option of selling the vehicle later, which you cannot do on a carnet.. Gambia will demand a carnet if the vehicle is not left hand drive

[Bernemil]

WE now want to get down to sierra Leone. It appears looking at the map that going from mauritania via mali ( close to senegal border) and then through Guinea to SL is a fairly straight path.Unfortunately, roads do not read maps and are never in the straight line.
Could anybody tell me if the way down to Sierra leone is best done via Mali or senegal?
I am concerned that the far west of Mali close to senegal may not have roads suitable for a sedan. if there are roads down there, then they may be heading west to senegal rather than south to guinea. Any feedback will be appreciated.
Bernemil

[craigcc]

From my trip last December.

Western Sahara. Good road all the way from Agadir to Dahkla. Watch out for the numerous fish blood dumps in laybys which have spread onto the highway. The fish lorries from Dahkla just empty their lorries of blood and melted ice straight onto the side of the road. Could be a slippery mess if still damp (they stink as well)
Dahkla to border. Good road, but less well marked and slightly narrower. Brilliant riding road and less traffic.
Border with Mauritania. 3-4 kms of poor rocky tracks and a few sand traps through minefield. Easy enough though and fun. (Saw a 38 ton artic go through here).
Border to NKC. First 10k good unmarked sealed road. Strong possibility of sand berms, watch out for these.
The new road starts from a junction after the border road crosses the ore train track. Turn right for NDB and an enjoyable time in the town (see the ship wrecks, drink and eat huge fish at the excellent and spotlessly clean Restaurant Canaria).
Turn left for NKC. If you run on petrol ensure that you have enough for 450k. Last December, no petrol on the road. (have things changed anyone?)
Diesel can be bought from bladders or bottles from various places along the route. There is a also a Diesel station about 50k from the ore train track junction.
The road all the way to NKC is world class brand new, well marked smooth heaven. It's a long stretch though with almost nothing to break the monotony.
Sand gets on the road and the Mauris don't seem to clear it off that fast. So look out for unexpected sand berms.
Some great dune country about two thirds of the way along
NKC to Rosso. Reasonably poor potholed and cracked road. Good enough for reasonable cruising speed, but stay alert for rough patches, holes and ruts.
One 300 metre stretch of missing road about half way along. Smooth hard packed surface though. Occasional bits where locals have dug up chunks of tarmac to repair their roofs.
Turn right in Rosso after fuel station (petrol here ususally) and before the port for road to Diama Dam (100k mixed piste, some soft sand, some corrugations, nice ride great scenery)
Or take ferry from Rosso to stay on Tarmac. Port and border a challenging experience, not recommended.
Diama Dam. Mauri exit a relaxed set of formalities. Pay fee for riding in national park
Senegal border. hundred times better than Rosso. Pay (or not) rip-off 10 euro to get through gate, then immigration, then customs. Carnet essential in my view. Douane guy was friendly and said that he was pleased to see my carnet as he wastes hours arguing with people who don't have them. His words; "no carnet, no entry".
Two camper vans at the border had been there all day and were not being allowed in. The guys in them were waiting to see what would happen.
For me, a quick chat with the Douane, a couple of stamps, ten minutes in total and I'm out of there. Unstressed and ready to enjoy Senegal
Folks do seem to be able to get these Lazzez-Passes, I suppose much depends on the atttude of the customs guy on a particular day. Others can advise on the procedure to get these. For me a Carnet always. Minimise hassle, enjoy the journey. I get enough hassle at home.

Senegal roads to Gambia good and enjoyable as far as Kaolack. Lots of check points all are OK. From there to border mixed. Starts rough, turns to total crap for about 20k and then turns into lovely smooth sweeping country road which seems to be quite new.

Gambian Border, yes they ask for the Carnet, though I understand that it isn't essential. We were on bikes and they wanted it. Plain clothes cops there who get offended if you question their credentials. This earned us a massive search of our luggage and an 'interview'. Nothing unfriedly though, just rather formal. They get very friendly once they're happy with you.

Then hellish disgrace of a road to Barra Port (15k), nervous hour on dangerously overloaded ferry and you're in Banjul.

Roads in Gambia mainly broken and potholed rubbish apart from road to airport from the Altantic coast resorts and the main road south from Banjul. The 2 metre deep pothole on the main road in Serakunda should be a tourist attraction in its own right. Avoid Westfield Junction, Serakunda in the rush hour.

Regards

Craig

[craigcc]

Hi,

If travelling through Mali, two basic options that I know of

Enter Senegal from Diama or the more difficult Rosso, then turn left along main road to Mali border at Kidira. This road is in a mixed condition, but OK for a sedan.

Take the new road to Kayes and onto Niro and Bamako.

The other route is probably more problematic for a car. A mate took this route by bike

From Nouakchott, take the new road for several hundred KMs to Ayoun el Atrous. Not sure about petrol avialibility. Then turn south for Nioro (around 200k). No road, just track sometimes through deep sand. It's apparently not that well marked in places either.

My mate heard that there's a plan to seal this route, though I'm not sure.

Can't advise about the wisdom of taking a car along this route.

Another possibility is NKC, past Ayoune, to Nema, then turn south to Nara and then Bamako, this may also have long unsealed stretches though.

Craig

[Bernemil]

Thank you CragCC, Kaspars, Moggy1968 and Luke. Your advice and suggestions are appreciated.
RAC is apparently the UK motoring company to issue carnets for my type of vehicle that is not been done as a business. RAC issues them for vehicles that are used as a mode of transport. Customs do not.
We will go through Senegal.
regards,
Bernemil

[Bernemil]

My sedan's insurance expired this week. Is it best to renew it here in UK or buy insurance on the way. I have just read that the insurance is required to cross from mainland Europe to Cueta. I was just going to buy some insurance at the Mauri border. Any advise will be appreciated.
Bernemil

[kaspars]

Originally Posted by Bernemil

My sedan's insurance expired this week. Is it best to renew it here in UK or buy insurance on the way. I have just read that the insurance is required to cross from mainland Europe to Cueta. I was just going to buy some insurance at the Mauri border. Any advise will be appreciated.
Bernemil

nobody looks at your papers when you exit EU. Moroccans will try to sell you their insurance, if Morocco is not written in your paperwork - normally it does not.
You need the insurance what covers EU anyway, dont you? So what does this question mean?
The advice could be - buy in UK insurance, what also covers Morocco. From Mauri onwards they will sell you their own insurances..

[Luke]

Originally Posted by kaspars

The advice could be - buy in UK insurance, what also covers Morocco. From Mauri onwards they will sell you their own insurances..

and then write back as you leave Morocco to cancel the insurance for while you're out of their coverage zone. They charge a handling fee, but you get some meoney back.