Is the Diama Dam border accessible these days?
 

Hi

Can anyone tell me if the Diama Dam border is accessible on a streetbike. I have tried the Rosso border on the way down and what a hassle. I'm heading up to europe from Dakar and would prefer to try the Diama Dam instead. Where exactly is the road leading to the Diama Dam when approaching Rosso from south? I have the GPS coordinates of the Diama Dam. But didn't see any signs leading to it on the way down.

Can anybody help me to avoid the living hell at Rosso? ;oP

Thanks

mhoey

Hi,

Took part in the Banjul Challenge in January this year. Crossed from Mauritania into Senegal via Diama Dam, travelling south. We were in a bunch of clapped out 2 wheel drive cars and had no bother with the route. Can't give you any directions as can't remember any landmarks. The road from St. Louis to Diama is short and good, but from Diama to the N2 in Mauritania must be 60 miles over mud roads. These were quite rutted in places but dry so passable with care. I guess a road bike will have no trouble if you take care. The biggest problems will be finding the correct route through all the tracks.

Good luck.

Dunworkin

If you head out of St Louis on the N2 going east the turning is the first major road on your left. It's about 15km.

I assume you have a valid Mauri visa for your return. You can't get one at this border.

easy going Diama-Rosso
 

Hi,


Here are coordinates for the piste from Rosso to S. Louis, via Diama dam:

kmlat-deglat-minlong-deglong-mindescription01630.720-1548.790Exit of paved road; turn right11630.650-1549.060Exit of Rosso71630.980-1552.110Pumping station211630.380-1559.900Control gate361632.970-165.850Control gate511631.620-1613.120Control gate521631.760-1614.310Control gate571631.360-1616.310Control gate861618.560-1623.810Police checkpoint; turn left; piste very corrugated961613.380-1624.870Mauritanian border; piste remains corrugated114164.350-1623.340Entering paved road; head south for S.Louis

Cheers,
José

This time nicely formated:

km lat-deg lat-min long-deg long-min description
0 16 30.720 -15 48.790 Exit of paved road; turn right
1 16 30.650 -15 49.060 Exit of Rosso
7 16 30.980 -15 52.110 Pumping station
21 16 30.380 -15 59.900 Control gate
36 16 32.970 -16 5.850 Control gate
51 16 31.620 -16 13.120 Control gate
52 16 31.760 -16 14.310 Control gate
57 16 31.360 -16 16.310 Control gate
86 16 18.560 -16 23.810 Police checkpoint; turn left; piste very corrugated
96 16 13.380 -16 24.870 Mauritanian border; piste remains corrugated
114 16 4.350 -16 23.340 Entering paved road; head south for S.Louis

Cheers,
José

Dam was still closed about 3 weeks ago due to heavy rain.

The turn off is one of the few tar junctions on the way from St Louis to Rosso, even has a small concrete traffic island. Its new tar all the way to Diama so just drive down there and ask a few people if its open or not. Its an easy piste to find, turn right a couple of kms after the border and find your own way along the top, or along the bottom of the dam.