Mauritanian 'payments'?
 

Hey, a few of us are planning on driving London - Banjul and asking around, the topic of officials requesting 'small payments' to let you through in Mauritania has come up.

Im just wondering what peoples experiences have been?

I have been advised to contact the Mauritania embassy in Paris and get them to provide an official document showing border crossing and checkpoint crossings are free, presenting it on the occasion we are stopped for one of these 'payments'.

?c?

I ve crossed just few days ago Mauritania on my way to Dakar and I can tell you the last thing you have to worry about are payments. Not at all on the road, few road blocks but not money required. You will be asked for them in Senegal.

The main problem is gas. When I arrived the Total Fill Station 215 km north from Nouakchott there was no petrol for me. So take on you enough gas to ride 650 km from the moroccan border to Nouakchott.

Do not cross to Senegal by Roso ferry, better go through Diama border. There they probably would ask for 10 euros for customs and 10 more for the police pocket. Maybe useful that letter from the embassy.

Good luck

viajes de invierno

I crossed a month or so back.
Get your visa from Rabat. They are not issuing visa's at the border. No payments required. However loads of road blocks/checkpoints so have enough Fiche to give to them. Reckon about a dozen should be fine.

Thanks for all the heads up.

Wondering if having a official document from the Mauritanian embassy to prevent these 'payments' will just provoke the local authorities into not letting us pass or whether they will infact be worthwhile. What do you guys think?

Thanks

if your in a hurry or plan on doing something illegal like selling cars in the country then youll have to pay but i think a laugh and a joke with them, tell them - c'est interdit and youll be on your way no bother.. as afore mentioned, dont forget your fiches and if you travelling convoy put everyones details on one and give it to the front vehicle, its quicker..

We weren't asked for money passing through in January.
Quite a difference from a few years ago when they were endlessly searching our cars asking for bribes.
Perhaps their salaries went up.

Rosso
 

Forgot to add, as Miquel mentioned DO NOT, repeat DO NOT cross at Rosso.... Looking back it was an experience (a bit dogdy at that) but if you dont want to waste a whole day waiting, paying bribes etc go to Diama....

Actually, one of the best things we did was cross a border in the middle of nowhere from The Gambia back in to Senegal. There was a guy alseep in a room and we had to tell him what papers to give us. 200 Dalasi, a couple of ciggerettes and a laugh and we were on our way!
Point being, the smaller the border the better!