UK to Senegal in an Astra 1.3petrol.

[rachel.m.]

I will be travelling at the end of October into November, probably via the coastal route in an Astra 1.3petrol. I know it's not the best vehicle for the terrain, but finances dictate that this is my best option (I already own it). So any advice for me about routes and vehicle conversion? Is anyone else doing the same thing at the same time? Also, I'm a female travelling alone - don't I just know how to make things easy for myself??? The reason for the trip is that I'm going to live in St. Louis in Northern Senegal. (Went to the International Jazz Fest in May of this year and decided that this was a fine place to live!). Anyway - I make for a good spectator sport and so look forward to seeing all you trans-sharans soon.

[Chris Scott]

St Louis is a nice spot. But getting there in an Astra will be tough - there is nothing on it worth converting - just take it as far as you can and hope it gets to Senegal. 2WDs do make it of course - I did it muself - but many get mashed on the way.
If it gets from the Moroccan border to NDB then stick it on the train to Choum and then hope it makes it from there to Atar wherr it is tar all the way south. Travel with other 4x4s on these bits (easy to arange on the convoy).

Chris S

[Chris Scott]

You may find this handy (its in French)

http://janinejirou.multimania.com/

Ch

[kitmax]

Hello Rachel
Astra to St Louis? - this will be difficult, the going is soft and sandy.
By this I mean lots of pulling, digging, shoving and puffing.
Check out my comments to Sara in “Mali in an 2WD” dated 01 July 2001
The biggest problem with your Astra will be low ground clearance.
Can you fit oversize tyres on it?
– you’ll enjoy the trip MORE if you get stuck LESS
And you will get stuck, of that you can be sure…!
Good luck - Kitmax

[kitmax]

Hello again
<<And you will get stuck, of that you can be sure…!>>
I forgot to add, Rachel, that getting unstuck is all part of the fun!
Have fun this Christmas - Kitmax

[rachel.m.]

Kitmax - thanks for the advice - I'll be taking a large shovel and fitting some mega strong towbars to the chassis!!!! Will anyone involved in this site be out there in October/November time. Perhaps we could meet up whilst waiting fo visa's in Morocco?

By the way, can you get good wide 'slicks' in Southern Morocco? I will travel down with normal tyres as long as the going is good if I can buy dessert-suitable tyres when the going gets rough.

Also would like to have an aluminium aero-dynamic box custom-made in Morocco for the roof of my car whilst I wait for visas to come through. Is this possible? Can I also buy gerrie cans etc. in Morocco? And will they be less expensive?

cheers
Rachel

[GWJ]

Since your car has very little ground clearance, it is very important that you travel as light as possible. Since you are also travelling alone, you should avoid having a roofrack as it will encourage you to carry more than you should. The more weight you have the more likely you are to get stuck and or break something. The front lower wishbones on an Astra are only pressed steel and are not very strong. You need to try and prevent grounding these as much as possible(which will be next to impossible), hence the need to drive carefully and carry as little weight as possible. You might consider taking a spare pair of wishbones with you. Don't bother trying to buy jerry cans or tyres in Morocco, or having a roof rack made. Take the time to get some good deals on suitable stuff here rather than end up with settling for whatever you can get in Morocco. If you have time on your hands waiting for visas, you can spend it enjoying the country.
Be aware that liquids are very heavy - approx 1kg per litre so if you have a full tank, say
45 litres + 2 jerries(40litres)+ 50 litres of water, that is 135 kg before you have put any luggage in!
Sorry for rambling, but my point is that to increase your chances of getting the car through the rough stuff, you need to work out what you are going to take and what it is going to weigh. You should then load the car up with that amount of weight and see how the car feels and whether it is riding close to the bump stops or not. Don't forget, if you meet someone who you decide to take with you it will add considerably to the strain on the car in the sand.
I am not trying to put you off, I believe wholeheartedly in making use of what you have got and I think you should do it whatever.But it is MUCH more pleasurable if you can get through without breaking the car!
Good luck, and whatever happens, have fun. If you do get stuck, don't forget to admire your surroundings!(It is easy to concentrate so hard on the driving that you forget to look at the view!)

[rachel.m.]

cheers for the advice - you can ramble all you want - the more info i get the better! So what about getting the wide 'slicks' in Morocco?

And what about jabs? Should I post this next bit in the health and safety section?
is the yellow fever jab necessary for this route? and what about anti-malerials - i hate taking them, and have only ever done so for about a week despite being in Maleria regions in Asia for over 3 yrs. but i was aware that 90% of the world's maleria is in Africa and so it wasn't such a bad decision - now i'll be in Africa I should probably take more precaution. But as I'll be living in Senegal for a few years I would like to avoid taking anything if I can

cheers

[Terry Davies]

To get into Mali you must have an International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. You ought to get the following brought up to date: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hapatitis A, and Meningitis.

Southern Mali is a high risk Malaria area, so don’t take any chances. You might not want to take Mefloquine because of the potential side effects (mood changes, weird erotic dreams, etc). One of my colleagues nearly died taking it, and it took him two years to get his immune system working properly again. Alternatives are Doxycycline (start three days before and continue for four weeks after) or the new wonder drug Malarone (start two days before and continue for seven days after). Doxycycline has a side effect on some people making them much more allergic to the sun. Malarone is fairly expensive at £22 per week, and is a combination of Paludrine and Atovaquone. Paludrine is also known as Proguanil and gives some people mouth ulcers.

[rachel.m.]

cheers for the advice Terry

I took Paludrin for a week once and it made me really sick and my hair started falling out - apparently no other Eoropean country will prescribe it (!?)

You only mentioned Mali in relation to Yellow Fever jabs - does this mean that I don't need a Yellow Fever jab for Mauritania and Morocco?

If I do, how long before I go should I have it?

Thanks again - and sorry to hear about your friend - I take it he's ok now?
Rachel.

[Terry Davies]

Oops, meant to say Mali and Mauritania.

You don't need Yellow Fever for Morocco or Senegal.

The vaccination lasts for ten years, but the certificate does not become effective until 10 days after it is issued . Your GP will probably not be able to do it as the vaccine has to be bought in batches of ten and it's a live vaccine, so it doesn't last long in the fridge. You will need to go to a specialist travel clinic - found in most major towns and international airports. For more info go to www.masta.org, they have a very comprehensive run down on all the anti malaria tablets, etc.

My friend is OK now.



[This message has been edited by Terry Davies (edited 02 August 2001).]

[GWJ]

hi I have had yellow fever vacinations in London at sta travel center - nomad travellers store - in Russel Square also diptheria etc they are extremely helpful and can tell you what you need what you can get at the doctors etc there is more availability here as there are more people in London requiring yellow fever. But beware if driving it made me feel a little ill afterwards so I wouldnt recomend driving directly afterwards but my boyfriend was fine! Ok hope this helps
xxxxxxx