How much cash
 

I will be travelling thru Mauritania, Senegal and in to Gambia. What I would like to know is do you take cash only with you or is there enough ATM to reduce the amount of cash stashed in the car.


Lars Erik

A more general question about ATMs might be better rather than tell the world how much cash you have on you.

Ok. Is there a ATM "map" somewhere on the net for Mauritania, Senegal and Morocco.

loads in morocco, some in Senegal in the bigger towns, when I was last in Mauri, about 6 years ago, there wasn't a single ATM. there is a thread on this in the Northern asia forum with some fairly divided opinions. Even if there are ATMs you can't guarantee they are serviceable.
my view is to carry a decent stash of euros, a mastercard and a visa. Divide the money and cards up and maybe carry a third card stashed permanently hidden in case of dire emergencies like your wallet getting nicked. I also tend to carry a spare wallet with old cards in. If you order new cards before you leave you can keep the old ones, which are still in date but unuseable, in the 'mugging wallet' along with a bit of cash, say 50E, whatever is enough not to be disastrous but hopefully to keep the nice people happy.

At least in the capitals you will find many ATMs. Also in the bigger Cityies. In Marocco also the smaller towns.


We heard from Nouakchott that it has only one ATM - but we saw at least 10 arround the city, have used two of them during our stay there.

We also had a 2nd set of locked creditcards and small money - for the case of a raid, like moggy mentioned..

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Many ATMs in Nouakchott now, although not all will take your cards. VISA works well in West Africa, Mastercard not so much. No working ATMs in Mauretania outside Nouakchott.

Carry say 500 euros backup should do.

One of the most important todo task is:

Talk with your creditcard issuer or Bank! Because of abuse many countries are locked - where you can`t use your card.

Each Creditcard-Issuer has a different handling about in wich country the cards work - without enabling them manually, independend on Visa or Mastercard.

I had called my Bank before my trip and try to enable my Mastercard all over in Africa. "it is not neccessary, call us if it dont work".

Funny - anywhere where i put in the card, soon the message apperas: This area code #xxxx is locked from the card provider. Now calling the Bank for each country and waiting in the hotline for enabling it - crazy costs...

Therefore insist that you want a letter that your card will work where you want to travel to avoid costs.

My Visa card was enabled worldwide, worked without hassle. My Creditcard Issuer suggests, that i never pay with the card, because of abuse. Better just use ATMs and pay in cash!

My experiences in early 2011 were:
Morocco - ATMs everywhere
Mauritania - Plenty in Nouakchott, and I found one easily in Nouhadibou too. Unlikely in the rest of the country
Senegal - St Louis, Dakar, Saly no problem. Can't comment on the rest of the country.

Take several cards, it seems Visa tends to work better than Mastercard. Also contact your bank so they don't cancel your cards.

Carrying around a letter won't do you any good. The problem is trying to travel on a Mastercard. I carry one just in case (have actually needed it exactly once during the past 80 countries or so, and that was in a German hostel), but stick to VISA otherwise. Works like a charm, whether credit or debit--particularly true in Africa.

Mark

I dont mention to carry a letter during your travel. But when you look at my example, the hotline told me twice that it is not necessary to enable the card for different countries in africa. This was wrong, be had try to get money several times.

Maybe when i ask for a form and written answer - they check that issue double before they send the letter.

I still suggest to call your card issuer, and tell them your plans - and to ask if there are any restrictions for using the card on the countrys you plan to drive.
That dont hurt you - and may help to avoid some international phone calls during your trip. To ask for a written answer - may help to get an approved result.

In Africa happens a high rate of Creditcard abuse - therefore the Creditcard-Issuer are specially careful over there.

Surfy

Ok. But Mastercard still won't work many places, while VISA will. Your choice.

I dont tell something else beer

Just suggesting to take several cards, and to check that they are enabled for that country you want to visit.

Surfy

@priffe: I use ATM at Societe General bank office in Zouerat in 2011 (Visa). I heard also one ATM in Atar, but could not confirm that.

Yeah well bien I tried the one in Atar with no luck. And so we managed to run out of cash in Chinguetti. :D

My suggestion is - there may be an ATM in Atar, Zouerat, Nouadibou etc - but don't rely on getting any cash from it. :nono:
In Nouakchott there are so many ATMs that your VISA (but not Mastercard) will work if you try a few.

I had no problems in Zouerat (same road some 100m East from SNIM hotel) and also in one in row of three in Noukachott - close to Auberge Menata.

Last week I got phone call from Sahrawi guide (Baba) who is usualy located in Atar. He said that after AQIM raids in Mali over-all situation in Adrar region is very bad. If friend of mine, Guido from Italian Gorizia will decide to return back, than I should travel with him route: Nouadhibou - Atar - Oualata - Mali - Guinea Conacry and try to locate working ATM's.