Denmark to The Gambia
 

Hi everybody I´m planning to bring a car fram Denmark to Gambia, Atlantic Route, start of February, an old Toyota Hiace bus. Anybody who wants to join?:welcome:
Anybody having good advices ´bout The Ferrycrossining. And I would appriciate all good advices from entering Marocco until I reach The Gambia.
I know I will need a Mauri-visa in Rabat.
Can I manage without a "carnet de passage"? Especially in Senegal? I havent got time 2 get 1. (for Danes it´s isued from ADAC in Munich, and it last at least 1 month, and it is costy aswell).:taz:

Jacob

if you search the forum you'll find extensive discussions about carnets for senegal and also the current terrorist activity in mauritania..

if you are going I would advise using the barrage route rather than going via Rosso, rumoured to be the worst in Africa. I've done both and the barrage was far better.
you will need to carry fuel for at least 500miles once you get into western sahara to be safe as fuel stations often run out. especially the last station in WS before mauri.
I did this route in 2004 and 2006 without carnets and with no major dramas, except the senegalese police who are total thieving cheating b.......!!
see the book here

Thx Moggy. Naturally I have read the discussions of carnets, but if there where any updates.......
I have planned 2 bring 2 Jerry cans (50 litres) extra fuel, and i refuel as often possible, hope that will last.
I understood Rosso was a problem, from other´s. If barrege is giveng less problems I will naturaly use that crossing, but when looking on a map, I can´t see where it is. Is it close to Saint-Louis?
Jacob

basically you go into rosso and take a right turn, tha last right before the entry to the dock, you will miss it but you can swing round and go back. It was at this point my passenger started shouting 'get me the f*** out of here' as hawkers tried to stop us! a sign of whats in store if you choose the Rosso crossing.

you drive through a load of rubbish and shanty town type area until you come out onto the track, this bit can be a little confusing, we got lost here, but just keep the river on your left and you'll pick up the trail. you continue along this trail until eventually (after about 80ks I think) you hit a wide dirt track. you head down this for several miles to the river and the border. this track is hideously corrugated with big washouts coming in from the side. one of ourcruisers hitone of these and bent it's wheel into a U shape. testament to the strength of the H60 that was the only damage, I thought the axle was coming off!!

all this is from 4 years ago but I wouldn't imagine it has changed much.
when you do it you could use your info to give us more up to date info!

Crossing Mauri-senegal border
 

Thx a lot Moggy
Any updates should be wellcomed.
Jacob:clap:

All I know is, some of the old cars traveling with the Budapest-Bamako Rally (a few days ago) were returned at Rosso due to no carnet. I just came through Senegal from Mali, I told the douane mine is a new bike and they believed it. The Rosso crossing is crazy stressful and expensive, I would avoid it if possible. Travelling south I would doubt you will have luck entering Senegal in an old van. Might be better and even faster going the Nouakchott-Kiffa-Kayes route. It's a corrugated piste, I've heard there is a road being built there, too. You will come across a lot of police checkpoints, about 20 from NKT to Kiffa.

we were suprised how easilly we got into senegal without carnets, this was the great unkown of our trip right till the moment we arrived at the border, it turned out to be our easiest border crossing. I asked for 2 laissez passer, paid a 100e 'fee' and had both cars registered in my passport.

I don't know if it makes a difference what car you are in. we were in 2 old landcruisers, but we met a guy who was stuck there after being sent back by the police in senegal (they are the worst I have come across anywhere) although he had been previously let through the border. he was in an older normal car, but my impression was it was down to a problem with his paperwork.

Our biggest problem was actually the Spanish customs letting us out of GIbraltar, but we just went back to the border the next day when different guys were on duty and had no problems. that was a valuable lesson, if at first you don't succeed, go back when someone else is on duty!!

I think the situation getting into Senegal is unpredictable. I've spoken to people in over 5 yr old vehicles who got through by paying a bit (100 euro), and also heard stories of people getting turned back or only getting a 3 day transit document (which is fine if you are just heading to The Gambia, a pain if you want to see some of Senegal).

And we had absolutely no trouble with terrorists (or police actually) in Mauritania. We rode along the Western Sahara border out to Atar and Chingetti then into Nouakchott without any issue. Just our experience.

And while we did encounter a petrol station out of juice in Western Sahara we made it through on bikes with a 400km range.

But in general the route isn't too tough, you should be fine.

Ben

thx Henn
 

thx henn. 2 me it look´s your a Dane, could I possible get in touch with U, and hear of your expeirences?
Jacob:helpsmilie:

Jacob,

I´m Alberto again. I've read your thread, and I have some advices about the first part of your travel.

I think it´s better you take the ferry from Tarifa to Tanger (it´s shorter, cheaper and easier than Algeciras-Ceuta or Algeciras-Tanger). Douane it´s nicer in the harbour of Tanger City (the others go to Tanger-Med, one hour east to the city, or to Ceuta, also distressing).

I´ve travelled may be fifteen times to Morocco. West coast is nice. Especially Ashila, Larache (a bit dirty but curious), Rabat is not bad, El jadida strange, Safi smoky. I recomend you stay some days at Esaouira, quite an oasis of beaty, everything easy. The highway between Rabat and Casablanca it´s often at work and with big traffic jams (in january we needed two hours for sixty kilometres).

If you pass by Málaga we can have a coffee. Bye.

Coffee in Mallaga
 

Thx Alberto
I would be greatefull 2 meet U and hear of your expeirences.bier
Jacob