Mauretania Mali X-XI 2011

[Tomek]

Hi all,

me (in HJ61) and Bartosz (in LR110) are plannig to make a loop around Mauratania and Mali. We will be starting at Tetouan around 16.X.2011. The tip will last about one month.

Our route: Poland>Tetouan>Larache>Rabat>Casablanca>Marrakech> Agadir>Goulimine>Layoune>
Nouadhibou>Choum>Atar>Passe d’Amogjar>Ouadane>Chinguetti>Terjit>Akjoujt>Noua kchott>Nara> Sokolo>Niono>Massina>Djenne>Mopti>Bandiagara
>Segou>Bamako>Dideni>Diema>Nioro>Ayoun el Atrous>Kiffa>Matmata>Alak>Nouakchott>Nouadhibou>La youne>Goulimine>Agadir>
Marrakech>Casablanca>Rabat>Larache>Tetouan>Poland.

We are looking to share costs, can carry bikes and gear.

Tomasz

[emgee2002]

Hi Tomasz,

Me and a friend are planning on being down that part of the world around the same time, although doing a straight run from Morocco to Ghana via Mauri, Senegal, Mali and BF, probably passing N/S through Mauritania. We'll be in a 4x4 with not a lot of space but happy to drive in convoy. Would be good to discuss routes, dangers etc at some point. It's a drive I've done several times over the past few years.
Cheers,

Tom

[Tomek]

Hi Tom,

our route in Mauri: Nouadhibou>Choum>Atar>Passe d’Amogjar>Ouadane>Chinguetti>Atar>Tidjikja. If you drive along with us we may try to do Atar> Tidjikja together.

Anyway, we will be glad if you join us at any section of the route.
We should be in Tangier on 17.X at 3 p.m.

Cheers

Tomek

[Nic and Henry]

Hi Chaps,

We plan to leave london on 24.10.11 and travel down south to Nouakchott, hopefully getting there around 7.11.11. We'd be keen to hook up and head East into Mali. We are on a F800GS and a 1200GS.

Nic and Henry

[Whiskey]

Hi Tomek and Tom. I'm also planing going into this part at same time. Traveling alone with BMW R-1200gsA. After Atar my plane is going south to Nouakchott, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, north to Gambia and on end to Dakar. I'm very interested can I join on route in Mauri: Nouadhibou>Choum>Atar>Passe d’Amogjar>Ouadane>Chinguetti>Atar. I have some previous Africa expirience from 2009 Namibia 3500km gravel ride. Not riding on deep sand more than 5km yet. Please any answer on my eMail: tzt@t-2.net

Regards, Tomaz

p.s. (3x T )

[Tomek]

Hi Nic, Henry & Tomaz,

we would be glad if you join us, the only condition for you is beeing at the right place at the right time and going in the same way

P.S. Nic and Henry- If you give me your e-mail we might contact in Africa.

Regards

Tomek

[Whiskey]

Questions to anyone:

I am interested for track condition information on route Chinguetti > Ouadane. Is it possible to pass both way's with loaded BMW R-1200gsA? It seams to me that track Nouadhibou > Choum even with 4x4 support should be extreme hard or ... ?

Back up plan: Does anyone know for guided tours from Atar to Ben Amera and Chinguetti to Ouadane?

Later I will travel south to Senegal and Gambia. Is it possible to get Gambia visa on the border? I heard many problems entering into Senegal several times with vehicle. In my option 3x: 1x Mauri/Sen and 2x Gamb/Sen. Do I need multiple Senegal Carnet for bike?

Last one for Morocco: Any track info for route Zagora > Foum-Zguid ... direction Tata, Guelmim.

Many thanks, Tom

[Matt Roach]

Nouadhibou to Choum is possible, but would be extremely hard work on a 1200, unless you are a very good sand rider. I have done it a couple of times with soft luggage on a KTM 640 Adv, which is fine, but I personally wouldn't want to do it with anything heavier.

Chingetti - Ouadane via the main plateau route should be ok for a 1200. I haven't done the sandy track via the plain, so can't comment on that.

Gambian visa used to be available on the border for commonwealth passports. Not sure re: other passports.

I haven't done Zagora - Foum Zguid, so can't comment, but the track from Mhamid to Foum Zguid is reasonably interesting, although it is a bit rocky at times. Chris Scott's Sahara Overland has full route descriptions of both tracks.

[Tomek]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Last one for Morocco: Any track info for route Zagora > Foum-Zguid ... direction Tata, Guelmim.

No sand. At first it is quite bone-shaking. Then it changes into a gravel road, but watch out! the road is washed out in many places so do not go to fast(there are very deep ditches which are not always clearly visible from distance).

Ride safe

Tomek

[Whiskey]

Many thank's Matt. A lot of usefull informations. I will prefere to use train getting into Choum. Just Gambian visa on the border should remain still open. Do I need multiple motorbike Carnet for Senegal entrance? Do you mean this track from Chinguetti to Ouadane?


Also many tkank's to you Tomek for Morocco info. Probably I will start from Genoa same day, same ferry. With which liner you will travel? Can you forward it's web site, please? I'm from Ljubljana, Slovenia and over 30 years in Ham Radio (S59W).

P.s.: In our Ministry of foreign Affairs site said it is very dangerous traveling into south Senegal (robbery, ...). Is that true or another false alarm?

[Trichelia]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi Chaps,

We plan to leave london on 24.10.11 and travel down south to Nouakchott, hopefully getting there around 7.11.11. We'd be keen to hook up and head East into Mali. We are on a F800GS and a 1200GS.

Nic and Henry

Chaps,
Fokke and I are doing the West coast heading to South Africa from Morocco. I will be leaving London around the 6th October and meeting Fokke in Morocco on 1 November (Ill be taking in some of France and possibly Germany...hense the 3 weeks ride). Im on an XT600E and Fokke a DRZ400s.

Not sure of your plans but may be interesting to hook up ? - we will be acquiring our visas on route.

[Richard K]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Questions to anyone:

I am interested for track condition information on route Chinguetti > Ouadane. Is it possible to pass both way's with loaded BMW R-1200gsA?

As Matt says, the hard piste on your map is no problem.

Can you ride your 1200 in the sand? The sandy piste leaving via the Oued is much more fun, but difficult if you are loaded up. If you attempted it the sensible thing would be to leave your panniers in Chinguetti.

Originally Posted by Whiskey

It seams to me that track Nouadhibou > Choum even with 4x4 support should be extreme hard or ... ?

It's not extreme, but again it will be very difficult on a big loaded bike. If you can handle your 1200 in the sand and you have a 4x4 to carry your kit then you could do it.

You will need company for the NDB/Choum piste and Chinguetti/Ouadane via the Oued. It would be very dangerous to ride these routes alone.

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Back up plan: Does anyone know for guided tours from Atar to Ben Amera and Chinguetti to Ouadane?

You can arrange this in Atar without any issue. speak to Justus at Bab Sahara.

[Whiskey]

Thank's Richard. I never drove on sand with my bike. As wrote before just 20-30 km sand section with unloaded Yamaha XT-660 in Namibia. That time I made 3.500 km gravel roads. With my bike I did this June many gravel and rocky tracks in Albanian mountains. In next days I will replace original clutch with Touratech ceramic clutch.

Next week I have to meet Guido, italian guy, who had owned lodge in Atar. My friend Marco will introduce it to me. Marco made last year same time Paris - Dakar with bycicle. We will discuss about safety and what should be the best solution. I already decided to travel NDB/Choum with train. Tomek will be on this section at least 10 days before myself. Is the track Chinguetti/Ouadane as I posted before safe route for me alone or not? I was also thinking to drive this section (up and down) together with local 4x4 tourist jeep.

@Tomek: I already booked same ferry, so we should meet us on the ship.

p.s. Richard, great pictures!

[Richard K]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Is the track Chinguetti/Ouadane as I posted before safe route for me alone or not? I was also thinking to drive this section (up and down) together with local 4x4 tourist jeep.

I would say safe. There is daily traffic on this piste, no sand to speak of and it is clearly marked. If you fell or broke down somebody would find you before too long.

[Tomek]

Hi Richard,

what would you say about the traffic on these pistes:
1.Atar> Tidjikja
2.Tidjikja>Tichit>Oulata>Nema

Tomek

P.S. Great photos.