Marrakesh to Nouakchott in 2 weeks- possible?

[katsu_kare]

Is hitching from Marrakesh to Nouakchott in 2 weeks possible, what with Africa Time and all? There was a notice (on the Atlantic Route page) saying that the Mori border post to Nouakchott is now sealed, can anyone confirm that?

As for visas to be had for 30 Euros at the border (supposedly, from the visa section), does one just go up to said border with the right forms and cash?

Thanks for your patience with my ignorance in advance...!

[lucas]

it's possible in 3 - days too

[katsu_kare]

Is that a bite? Or are you serious? If so, then by what form of transport?

[Sam Rutherford]

We drive that route, pretty hard, in 4 days. I think you'll be lucky to go even that speed 'hitching' - getting local night buses and taxis might be an option.

Coming back to the original question, 2 weeks is plenty of time - but I think you'll have to pay locals for some of the way (unless you get picked up by a friendly European).

Sam.

[katsu_kare]

Hey that's really great to hear! I've made incredible times before while hitchiking (faster than driving by myself), but that was a different continent so it's not really a helpful comparison.

That still doesn't answer the questions of visas though... does anyone know if they really are obtainable at the border? And if the boder is closed or not?

[Ian]

If it helps I once met a traveller who claimed to have driven from Germany to The Gambia in his own car in nine days. This was a long time before the Nouadhibou to Nouackchott road was sealed.

[Sam Rutherford]

Why??!!

Sam.

[Ian]

No idea Sam. I recall it may have been even shorter - back in Germany 9 days after leaving or something (flying back not driving). I think even when I met him it was just a two week trip including managing to sell a van. IMHO not the ideal pace for Africa, but if that's all the time you've got....

[marius]

I did Gambia - The Netherlands in march 2003 in six and a half day. Driving solo with wife and two children. So now with the new road in Mauritania it must be possible in four days with two drivers. We're trying to do so at the end of this month with a Peugeot 307 HDI which has to be delivered in Dakar.

Marius
www.transsahara.nl

[Sam Rutherford]

With kids?????! How old were they?

Sam.

[marius]

At that time 12 and 11. I have five kids. All of them have been in the Sahara before they were five years old. I took my youngest son with me on a trip from Holland to Guinea in 1992 (my first trip along the Atlantic route)when he was only two and a half. My wife has been twice with me on a trip to Africa being pregnant. And yes, we have heard a lot of stories about being irresponsible

[Sam Rutherford]

I wasn't thinking of responsibility - more whether they enjoyed it or not!

I know that long hours in the back of a car would not be something that my 3 year old would like (even if each day's end could have lots of fun stuff for her).

Sam.

[woo140]

You can buy your visa at the border for $50. Its in the second shed on the left that you come to on the mauretanian side of the border. Don't need to fill in any papers. They just scribble a load of stuff into your passport.

[katsu_kare]

Hey thanks for that last reply, now I can go in peace...! Well, relatively assured anyway!