mauri, mali, burkina maybe Ghana in October
 

Hi,

we head West Africa in early October, the only period we can provide 5-6-7 weeks for Sahel trip by 4x4. Most of us use to be average in all means, not routine travellers.

What about accesibility, rainy season drowns, temps and huminidity? Is it a good idea to choose this period for such a trip? What target around would be better, if we stay in Morocco until 5th October anyway?

For a budget estimation: would you please let me know diesel price in Mauri, Mali, Burkina, Senegal and maybe Togo, Benin and Ghana? Is the route to Accra passable this time of a year? And visa issues: the price and place for obtaining the successive visas. Where the Carnet de Passage is required?

Many questions, but any answer would be appreciated.

regards

Danek

Did this in a Defender 2006/7. just go for it. Relatively cool due to the harmattan at this time of year until Ghana where the south is humid.
We did Morocco, Mauratania, Senegal, Mali, BF & Ghana.
Visas at border in Mauratania, Senegal and BF. Senegal/Mali border we paid for the visa (15CFA)and got some kind of receipt. We had to go to the embassy in Bamako for the Visa in the passport, there was no extra cost for this..
Don,t forget if your vehicle is over 5 years old you need a carnet for Senegal but no problem entering. They charge you a few euro for this plus for a few other bits (don't know why!) You can get insurance in the cafe over the border which covers you for all the other West african countries.
Ghanain visa definately not on the border, easily got at the Ghanan consulate in Ougadougu, takes 2-3 days.
We found a carnet very helpful especially with all the police stops!
Roads are no problem with a 4X4, some of the main roads in Mali were severely corrugated, also in Ghana, but lots of resurfacing was going on.
Don't know present fuel prices but Mali was the most expensive at the time of our visit. Suggest topping up any jerry cans in Western Sahara as it is the cheapest(duty free) Cheers Mick & Sue

just back from Togo, Benin,
 

Lot's of questions, I add what I think has not been said
October is just after end of rainy season, Mauri, Mali, Bukina, can be very hot.

Senegal, think the latest info is NO MORE carnet required, they issue the Pass avant or Laissez Passez for 2500 FCFA.
Fuel prices in Mali around 500 FCFA,
drop to 450 in Togo and 390 in Benin (this is cheap)
Ghana cannot remember. Ghana YES you need a Carnet, and a Visa at the Ouga or Bamako embassy, NOT at the border.
We got the Entente Visa (30,000 FCFA) for Togo, Benin, Niger, Burkina at Togo Embassy in Accra for our journey back.

It is a very long drive all the way to Cotonou (and back)
And you would be missing a lot on the way. (I spent a full week last time just in Dogon country,
Photography and Journey: Mali, Dogon Country, Douentza, Hombori and beyond.
this how fascinating it was, must be even more beautiful when green in Oct after the rainy season).
On the other side starring out on the Atlantic sitting on Ghana or Benin beach has a very special felling.
http://www.thisfabtrek.com/journey/a...ch-ghana-1.jpg

West Africa is a wonderful place to travel. Enjoy.
Manfred, in Marrakech