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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 1 Jul 2023
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Noted. What about east Mauritania, near Nema and the lot? And for the ieds? Where do they tend to be located?
The eastern border region is supposed to be unofficially off limits, due to concerns about people crossing the border and launching attacks from Mali. Granted its a long long drive that far east, and the "roads" become more of a suggestion than a reality out there.
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  #2  
Old 30 Jun 2023
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mauritania fuel price + availability + reference ?

What's the current/avg fuel price in Mauritania? How available is re-fuelling, i plan on going east (sticking to "roads" no off road tracks) towards Nema & also towards Chinguetti. Any tips on getting fuel there? What website would you recommend for me to stay up to date with fuel prices?
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  #3  
Old 1 Jul 2023
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Can't comment on prices, but fuel is readily available in most "real" towns. Definitely no issues getting it in Chinguetti, or any points west of there along the main road.
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  #4  
Old 1 Jul 2023
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I can't seem to find the fuel price. No website has it, and to the few who do, the prices are from 2016 or before...
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  #5  
Old 4 Jul 2023
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Please remember that Mauritania is a very under developed country, and many of the answers you seek are to be found on the road, not on the internet!
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  #6  
Old 4 Jul 2023
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I´ve travelled to Mauritania on my motorcycle last January as part of Sahara Desert Challenge, it started in Portugal and finished in Dakar.

I was riding my '97 Africa Twin which has a tank capacity of 18+5 litres and uses around 5 l/100km on the road, translating into an autonomy of over 400km.

Petrol availability is not guaranteed at regular fuel stations, I could find it only in Nouakchott and Atar. The price per litre was 57 MRU, around 1,50EUR.

Had to then buy petrol from 5l bidons to bridge the gaps at following locations:
Total station at N20° 03.090' W15° 55.274'
Generic shop in Akjoujt at N19° 44.738' W14° 23.089'
Price is subject to negotiation.

An excellent website, regularly updated, is Chris Scott Sahara Overland, see country info.

Piste to Chinguetti, probably my favourite place on this trip:

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  #7  
Old 6 Jul 2023
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I can't seem to find the fuel price. No website has it, and to the few who do, the prices are from 2016 or before...
The price of fuel is what it is. €1.50 per litre or whatever is about the same as the UK. If you want to get mad about anything, try having a go at the ferry costs of crossing the 13-km gap of the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco. Absolute daylight robbery.

But as far as Mauritania is concerned, it's a few years since I was there, but even in remote places people seem to have private stocks, just ask around Yes, you might pay 50% premium for filling from a bidon but that's something I'm quite happy to do.

Fill up at every opportunity and consider either buying an expensive fuel bladder or risking using a highly dangerous 1.5-litre plastic water bottle (tip the contents into the tank after 30-40km to lessen the risk).
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Old 6 Jul 2023
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thoughts on fuel bottles vs bladders?
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Old 11 Jul 2023
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Wells in north africa?

Morocco, Ws & Mauritania - how often will i come across wells? If i do, is it safe to drink the water if i put it through a filter? Any well known wells across these areas?
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  #10  
Old 22 Jul 2023
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Morocco, Ws & Mauritania - how often will i come across wells? If i do, is it safe to drink the water if i put it through a filter? Any well known wells across these areas?
There's no single answer. Most wells are on the outskirts of small villages/towns, but you may not know they exist unless you know where to look. Water quality/safety is going to be all over the place. Unless you have a filter that removes pathogens, its a high risk. Bottled water is not that hard to find in most "real" towns. I'd not want to rely on finding wells in a country where water sources are limited & difficult to locate, unless you speak the language.
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  #11  
Old 11 Jul 2023
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useful information through flash cards

I've already put together a bunch of mechanical flashcards for my motorbike with valuable information + the bikes manual; now i'm onto the more, if you will, 'survival' aspect of things - let me know any useful information you think is worth having in my rucksack
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  #12  
Old 19 Jul 2023
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Mauritania and IDP

My application for an IDP to the french gov is taking longer than expected. I sent through my application nearly four months ago and there's still some complications and delay time. I'm fine without it for maroc & ws, but what about mauritania?
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Old 19 Jul 2023
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Hi,

I am assuming you mean International Driving Permit?

In case you are in the Netherlands at some point: Here you can go to any ANWB shop with a passport photo and just get your IDP on the spot. You can do so with any European driving lisence.

I have no official information, but I have travelled to The Gambia recently (i.e. I went through the countries you are going to by motorcycle), and only in Senegal and The Gambia I was asked for drivers lisence. When I showed them the international one they laughed at me, they only wanted to see the national one (German in my case).
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Old 19 Jul 2023
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I have never used or been asked for an IDP in West Africa.
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  #15  
Old 28 Jul 2023
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Series of questions concerning mauritania

After re provisioning and resting a day or two in Nouakchott I plan on making my way to atar and its surrounding areas. I've got the fuel capacity to make it to atar without needing to re-fuel; if I have the opportunity to refuel before I most certainly will. How accessible is 95 in atar and its surrounding areas?

Once i've travelled through that side of mauri i'll make my way back down to Nouakchott where i'm contemplating travelling east to nema, north to Walatah (if possible) and then west, back to Nouakchott. Safety and fuel availability are my two concerns. I'm willing to accept a certain level of risk; i've read that east mauri isn't the "safest", relative to other places in the country? Quite frankly is this, near 1,000km route (nouakchott to nema) even worth it? Does fuel availability make this route do-able or not?

Thanks, leo.
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adv, advice, fuel availbility, idp, information, mauritainia, mauritania, north africa, richat, route planning, safety tips, wells, western sahara


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