Carnet is now required for Senegal?
 

Just read in another post here that a carnet de passage might now be required in Senegal for vehicles older than 5 years. So I did some googling and found another post stating the same thing: that the carnet has not been required for a few years but that the rules were changed in July this year.

Anyone has more information? I intended to drive through Mauritania, Senegal and into Mali and leave my car there, but if this is true I might have to cancel my trip altogether.

Trying to be creative, I remember that the carnet used to only be required at the north border in Senegal. And the other post on this board mentioned being escorted from the north border to Gambia for 220 euro. If the carnet is still not required at the Gambia/Senegal border, would it work to be escorted to Gambia, then drive through Gambia, reenter Senegal on the other side, now without an escort, and drive to Mali?

Any advice VERY welcome!!

Just heard today from a mate who crossed Rosso an old car - Af born and not a rube by any means so what he paid would be as low as it will get.

Diama was closed due to rains so at Rosso they forced him to buy the pass avant even though he had a carnet. 70 euros for 24 hours no less; others were stiffed for 400 euro quote for escort to Gambia.

Even leaving Mori cost him 80 euros! Sounds like scams-R-them at Rosso, both sides.

Senegal is a nice country I recall, but paying all this would irk me.

If Mali is your final destination, go direct there from Mori via Nioro, leave the car, train it back to Senegal - an adventure - have a look around and fly out of Dakar.

Ch

i know some dutch who did not have a carnet and past 2 months ago at Diama, i know to other dutch who did not have a carnet and had 7 day hassel at Rosso of going to Dakar and back to get a exception...

If they had to go back to Dakar they must have already been in Senegal so they must have been going North and maybe didn't have a Mauri visa, and Rosso was a BIG mistake.
Every year there are tales of problems getting into Senegal and every year when I go people are getting through Diamma with old cars. It's just a case of having to grease the right palm to get your passavant. The guy to see is not in uniform but seems to run the show.
I got a ten day passavant for a 1993 Discovery in January for 25 Euro (into his back pocket)
The only big problem he told me was if you tried to get more than one car into the country within a six month period.

Richard

No, i wrote; "i know to (=two) other dutch who did not have a carnet and had 7 day hassel at Rosso of going to Dakar and back to get a exception..."

So they entered at Rosso from Mauritanie, did not have a carnet, left the cars at Rosso and got a taxi to Dakar, got a letter from some officer in Dakar, got on a Taxi BACK to Rosso and where allowed tru.

Our recent expereince
 

Hi folks

Just posted an update on the Senegal Carnet from our recent expereince in Oct 2010. We discussed this with martin at the Zebrabar who physically went to Dakar to discuss and verify the latest developments.

A link to my post is here

HTH

Nick