marokko - mauritanie - senegal - mali

[Ka]

Hi there,

I am going to maroc by plain in octobre and then to mauritanie, senegal, mali and Niger. Who has any tips about campsites and transportation in these countries?

Thanks

[mormos]

Hi,
We planned the same route, around the same time. But we are going by car(starting form Brussels). We have a hard time now to find a car. This because our first idea was to go by 4x4.
Therefore I would like to ask if you guys think it is really necessary to do this 'trip' with a 4x4. Anybody have done this by 2wheel drive?
Any other information would be nice also.
Thanks a lot.

[Chris Scott]

http://www.sahara-overland.com/routes/atlantic.html

Ch

[traveller]

hi there, i have done almost the same route twice, in 1999 and 2000. but only from Nouakchott i went east direction Nema. from Timbedgha i went straight to Nara in Mali crossing the border somewhere halfway. both times with a 2wd. i avoid Senegal because Mali is very difficult to reach from there.
good luck,
Ties

------------------

[Tunde]

Hi Ka
Lots of Campsites in Morocco, a few in Mauritania (mainly in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott), Senegal I haven’t been to and in Mali they are hard to find and when we did find one it was run down. As per transportation I went with my own car.

Hi Mormos
I did Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria in December last year (Dec 2004) with a 2 WD (Peugeot 505 GTI) without any problem as long as you stay along the main route. Between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott the first 80km is bad, got stuck a coupe of times. Those who want to be more adventures drive along the coast through the national park which can take 2 day. The worth bit of road was from Nioro to Diama in Mali partly because we did it at night taking 7hrs to cover 100km.
Senegal we heard is becoming problematic so we avoid it.

[mormos]

Thank you all for the information,
Got 2 more questions:
- Tunde,
What do you mean by; Senegal is becoming problematic and to be avoid?
- I know there's already a topic open, but just this question. Would it be possible to go to the 'festival du desert' by 2wheel drive?
I was thinking to go via Nema-Nara-Tombouctou. Maybe would go to "festival sur le Niger" afterwards, if possible ...

[fons]

Mormos,
I'm living in brussels. I'm planing to go to Maroc & Mauritania this Dec. r u looking for a 4x4 ? which car u prefer?

fwang at tiscali.be

Fons

[mormos]

Hey Fons,
we were indeed looking for a 4x4. But it's hard to find (a car that is prepared for a trip like this, where you can sleep in or on top of it, ...). That is the reasen why we are thinking of going by 2wheel drive. Also our budget is a bit limited ...
The last car I saw was really nice. A Toyota Landcruiser PZJ75. But they sell it before we could decide to take it or not.

[Alistair]

Mormos, you ask if it is possible to go to the Festival-Au-Desert by 2WD. In 2004 I went to the Festival (excellent), and the track between Timbuktu and Essakane is 4WD only. It has lots of sections of soft sand, and I did not see any 2WD at the Festival. I think everyone arrived by Landcruiser or camel. (The camel trip is either two long days, or three shorter days of travel.)

[greenbug]

No probs to drive the route from Marok border to Noakchott in a 2WD. 80% of the transafrican highway is completed to the capital and the remaining desert section are driveable as they are easy to navigate. Save your money and buy a Peugeot. As to Senegal they have a law forbidding cars that are older than 5 years, only permitted entry with a carnet. There is no way around it, they will turn you around at both the Senegalese borders in Mauritania.

[fons]

hi Mormos,
if you wanna looking for a second hand landrover. i can suggest you a very nice landrover garage. it's not so far from Leuven.


drop me a email. i will send you the detail
fwang at tiscali.be


Fons

[mormos]

Hi,
don't you need a carnet for Marocco, Mauretania and Mali?

[greenbug]

No carnet needed for Marok and Mauiritania don't know about Mali.

[Robbert]

No Carnet needed for Mali. Without Carnet you need to get a stamp after 8, 21, ... days though.

[Quintin]

Hi you asked about 2WD going to the Festival-au-Desert. In fact you can. I too was at the 2004 Festival and saw a number of Citroen 2CV's from the Citroen Club of (I think)Slovenia there but the going North of Tombouctou is very hard and virtually impossible in a rear wheel drive car. I saw many 4x4's stuck including the Malian minister of Culture's! However, as the route is very busy on the way up to the Festival you'll certainly get a tow out.
Incidentally, since then the piste from Douentza to the Ferry to Tombouctou has been improved and a Toyota 20-seat bus has made it up there several times.

Hope this helps.

Q