Brussels - Bamako
 

After reading "My Mercedes is not for sale" from Jeroen van Bergeijk earlier this year, I am leaving for the same kind of adventure on December 23th.

I will be driving a '96 Mercedes c220 station wagon, elegance model; a diesel with 260.000 km. Actually a good looking car that drives great.

The classic route: Algeciras - Tangier - Casa - Tan-Tan - El Ayoun - Dakhla - Nouadhibou - Nouakchott - Ayoun el-Atrouss - Bamako - Ségou - Koutienso (dropping of a load of aid for a Belgian project) - Bamako (where the car will be used as a "micro loan" for a cab driver and then I go by bus to Dakar, where I visit an old friend who now runs ViaVia)

I got my Mauritanian visa yesterday. Bot now my question... How about Malian visa? Should I apply for it here in Brussels? Or can I show up at the border and get a "laisser passer" there? That's not really clear to me...

Problem for me is that the Malian Embassy is only open at times I work and it costs more...

Any other advice?

Or do I get a Malian visa in Nouakchott?

Easy to get in Nouakchott, same day service.
Sir Florence says you can just as well get the laisser passer at the border, I haven't tried that yet.

Hi, do you have a link for the Koutienso project, I will be in the neighbourhood too.
And yes, you can get the mali visa easy in Nouakchott.

I called the Embassy of Mali in Brussels today. They could/would not confirm me if it's possible to get a laisser passer or not at the border.

And I don't want to take the risk to show up at the border and than being refused to enter... So I'll probably get the visa in Nouakchott.

There's not 1 really good website, but you could google 'Suzy Spaenhoven'. Than you'll find several websites with some bits of information.

I got to know them through the small Belgian ngo Kanaga.

When are you in Mali? Several Belgians there, in Bamako, Ségou and Koutienso.

Its possible to get a visa on the border, coming from Senegal ! It was cheaper than getting it at the embassy in Dakar.

greetings from Calabar,

Chris

random
 

have fun on the trip. i am a new yorker currently holed up in dakar and leaving on an adventure of my own end of january. as it turns out, i am living about 30 seconds from via via and go there for a meal and a beer occasionally. if you want to grab a beer when you pass through or land let me know.

Updated info here:
Sahara Overland ~ Mali travel information

BR,
Luis Cabrita

laissezfare at mali border
 

got mine both ways in 2010 no prob at border mali border offical are great