Mauritanian border
 

I heard that there is no more convoy between Dachlka and the Mauritanian border and that the road is open until the last marocco check point.It would be fine, if it is true. Is anybody has real information about that,and about formalities ? ever in Dachkla l suppose...

Interesting news, it was bound to happen eventually as the need for a convoy was long redundant and we can go both ways now. Sometimes Sahara travel can actually get easier...
Anyone else with news?

Chris S

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris Scott:
Interesting news, it was bound to happen eventually as the need for a convoy was long redundant and we can go both ways now. Sometimes Sahara travel can actually get easier...
Anyone else with news?

Chris S<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have received a mail ( wednesday ) from my friend Philippe who lives in Nouakchott. He met a 4x4 arriving from the North on the beach; They said that they were coming from Marocco without convoy.
Well, if anybody has confirmation it will be a good information. Perhaps it was just this day or just for this car...
Just another information : the Bank of Mauritania says that they will change 1 Euro against 239 UM.

Dear all,

This is not true, there is still a convoy ftrom Dahkla and the endless pain staking formalities. I am now in Bob-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso and I undertook the Transatlantic route 3 weeks ago in mz series 3 Landie. There are however a few people now taking their chances and going from Dahkla to Nouadhibou and on to Nouakchott by themsleves with the supposed authorisation from the Morccan police in Dahkla as well as a hefty sum (cadeaux) to pay. Be aware that this does not alwyas work. I met a French chap at the Tergit camp site heading from Nouakchott back to Dahkla without a convoy. He told me that he had paid the police to allow him through the Mauritanian check point as well as into Morocco, he told me that tried this several times but that it does not always work. He was a well seasoned desert travller for over 18 years and I presume had some excellent contacts in the police and customs Johnnies.
I would advise not to do it as it aq painful experience evene when you have everything single paper you can possibly show. At the moment with the events, the Mauritanians are not particularly friendly to the Brits. I had to pay each customs post a 10 quid bribe ( 3 posts in total to get in Mauritania) where as the French and other nationalities paid nothing!

If you need any up date or other info then mail me back.


Cheers,

Andy Hunt
From a very hot and dusty Bobo-Dioulasso.
West Africa

Dear Andy,

I am planning a trip to Ghana end of the year. Are there any other countries besides Mauritania that you feel are not safe to Brits at the moment? Any other problems in Mauritania? Do you feel they sell visa at the border to Brits/Canadians?

thanks in advance,

Teun Usleeber

[This message has been edited by Teun Usleeber (edited 07 December 2001).]

Dear Teun,

Thanks for your reply. Mauritania is safe for Brits, Canadians and so on it's just that they don't particularly like these countries due to the current political situation and they assume, rightly or wrongly that we have cash coming out of our ears. I personally hated Mauritania and could not wait to leave and I have vowed never to return, however I met others who enjoyed it and did not have a bad word. Its a personal thing thats all. You can buy a visa at the boarder but be careful you will pay 300 FF and it will take time, between 3-4 hours. We bought our visa in Rabat in Morocco for about 200 Dirham which is a lot cheaper. I would suggest getting all the visa's you can from Rabat or your nearest consulate in Holland: It's a pain getting visa's along the way and its a gamble if and when you get a visa! No problem going to Ghana, the route is safe all the way although I wouold strongly avoid the Ivory Coast at the moment. You did not mention how you will get to Ghana but if it via the transatlantic route then no problem whatsover but keep your ear to the ground and eyes open at all times and don't talk politics or say anything about the president of that country, as I found to my peril. You just never know!

If you need any more info or help then just drop me a line ( barbvodop@hotmail.com)

Cheers

Andy
(Bobo-Dioulasso)