Mauri-Mali border crossing
 

The LP guidebook show me three point at the border for crossing.
1. Western point (near Senegal border)
2. Middle point (Nioro)
3. Eastern point (Nara)
Which of them are easy for crossing? After Mali I want to reach Niger.

Alex

The main road nowadays is from Ayoun al-Atrous to Nioro du Sahel. It is almost completely tar.

We entered without a visa or carnet - no problems.

The hotels in Ayoun al-Atrous are bad, but that's the maximum distance you can reach in a day from Nouakchott. We passed a nicer looking hotel in the center of Nioro, which seemd to be a hang-out for travellers.

Hi Travelbug. Is the visa not required in Mali? Did you get it at the border?

Yes, we got the visa at the Mali border (January 07). No problem, no questions, no hassles.

I don't like paperwork.

We also entered Mauretania, Niger (at Tera), Benin, Togo without prior visa.

Believe it or not, we were turned back in Ghana.

There is another more eastern point via Nema .
I've tried Nara/Timbedgha crossing last year ( coming from Niger ) : nice tracks and beautiful villages with very good welcome.
RR.

Another nice route in is Kiffa-Kayes, which we did last year. Nice track, nothing too sandy, and villages to ask for directions if required.
There is no border post, you need to visit the police on arrival in Kayes.
From Kayes on to Bamako, it is all either tar, or under construction and well graded.

D

Fassala
 

I heard about straight track from Nema to Timbuktu via Fassala (border crossing), Lere and Niafounke. This March the road was passable for Niva. But the people who did it never sat on a motorbike. They told me the road was good, but their Niva was fully destroyed in Timbuktu. Two Spanish riders on a KTMs succeeded them. They was looked ok. Like Mark Coma :)

Alex

For a decent hotel at Ayoun head a little east of the road junction, where the Nioro road branches off, and there are some pleasant auberges. Ayoun itself is an unflushed toilet.