kayes- daker road conditions
 

going to travel on this road next week anybody that can give an update on condition I know its ok from Bamako to kayes also what is senegal border like Gratful for urgent info

A few days ago, a taximan in Dakar told me the road between Kayes and Kidara (border) is perfect.

hello
the road is okay. last summer they were still working on it. sometimes they have a detour. but it is not bad at all. the border is not a problem at all but it takes some time. you also have to go into the village at the senegal site to go to the policestation for a stamp. they will tell you about it at the border. further you only have to pay for a passavant at the border. 2500 cfa.
i hope the bridge in kayes is in bussines again because last summer we had to take the ferry. this took 3hours of waiting in the evening. the next day we were going to senegal.
for us it was not possible to go from kayes to dakar in one day. but when you leave really early it is maybe possible. we slept in kaffrine.

did it 2008
kayes kidira, is straight forward. senegal boarder very easy. from kidira to tambacounda road was very good in feb 2008 from tambacounda to kaolack it was very bad but they did work on it. the last 40 to 50km to dakar are a nightmare because of traffic. one day should be possible but start early.

From memory in 2008:

Dakar to Kaolack good (bar crazy traffic in Dakar).
Kaolack to Kidira starts getting potholed but generally good speed.
Kidira to Tambacounda is a real mess, more potholes than tar, though they were working on it.Took 6 hours in a truck.
Manager of Simenti Lodge in Niokolo Koba nat park told me that everything is so expensive there because nobody wants to drive from Dakar to Tamba beause of that poor section of road. It may well have improved by now, but it was pretty poor between Kidira and Tambacounda in march 2008.

From the Senegal Mali border to Bamako is perfect. Road finished, in really good shape. Stop at the Fort de Medine about 10km from kayes, a lovely spot by the river and some waterfalls.