Thanks Chris for the prompt response. The information that I am comparing and more recent is that, in Diama, it is possible to get the visa to North, but it would be great to know someone of the last hour. I am also considering the possibility of going down through Diama and then entering Mauritania through Kobeini, in Mali, and it seems that Mauri's visa can be obtained in this border.
Regards, and thank you very much. I hope the information is expanded.

Looks like a response to the new Alg-RIM border from Tindouf.

Another crossing more for trade than tourists, I suspect.

https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/de...tre-maroc.html

In October 2018 I visited Mauritania embassies in Dakar or Bamako. Both time they said they don't give visas, and I should get it only at a border. So I obtain my visa while entering from Mali by bus on the border crossing point Gogui-Kubanni. It cost 55 euro. They had a change. Also they said it's possible to pay in ouguiyas.

November 2018 only single entry visas issued in Rabat and at the border.
€55 border 690 Dh Rabat
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dC...w=w613-h827-no
Hamida still the fastest tout on the border

Mauritania map: Garmin Topo North Africa Light
 

I thought they'd dropped it but the Garmin Topo North Africa Light is back in v4 and still just 20 quid.
A sat-mapping bargain for Mauritania, imo. My review of v3 here.

Recent passage 03/01/2020

Just to say more of the same but to reconfirm the fastness in my case of using a fixer called Sheickh +22236189569.

a reliable fixer in my 2 way experience, fast , no car inspection ( he controlled it as well - got some alcohol through well hidden no stress, i beleive it is overrated and you should take your chance.), knows well the procedures (in our way back to Morocco we finished the procedures in 30 min) - 20 euros for his effort and less stress for me :)

We paid directly visa/insurance + traded Euro to Ouigya and our way back Ouigya to Dirham with Sheickh.

Stayed in Barbas on our way down which had mosquito flies (better get RAID spray to use in the room) - Do not use the other hotel on the other side behind the Diesel Station close to the cafe (some rooms had small cockroaches all over the rooom had to change twice) bad service you pay almost the same as Barbas without breakfast.


PS Hamida is another reliable fixer being used.

Due to the pandemic this border is closed by both Morocco and RIM, or you may have the option to leave MK and quarantine yourself in a RIM hotel room for 2 weeks.

One imagines borders will start closing all across sub-Saharan Africa as the virus takes hold there.

I read in a Le Point newsletter that RIM may begin accepting overseas flights from Europe in September, but visitors will be required to quaratine for a fortnight.
Unfortunately, following a camel caravan across the desert doesn't count so they've ditched the rest of the 2020 program.

Not that it applies to most of us at the moment, but the RIM border closed again a couple of weeks ago due to renewed tensions with the Polisario whose territory cover's the No Man's Land buffer zone south of Guergarat and who have been blocking access between RIM and WS.
There was a similar stand-off in 2017 and 18, but this time there is talk of war.

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/2...o-provocations

Border open again and tensions eased.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...-to-ceasefire/

Perhaps balance the propaganda with a view from the other side
El-Guerguerat : des attaques intenses par l'APLS sur des sites des soldats marocains

Sorry, yes I should have remembered that MWN would not be impartial reporting.
Stick with France 24 etc.

AS ever finding a reliable source of news on the issues between the pro Moroccan and pro Polisario press is a challenge.

Reports have stated Morocco have constructed a new defensive wall to protect the border crossing route.

At the time of the operation to clear the blockade the Polisario launched an attacked on Moroccan positions near Mahbes. Other exchanges of fire have been reported over the last few days, along with news of further mobilisation of FAR on the Moroccan side. Apparently the Polisario declared war on the 14th according to some sites

A lot of fake news if popping up since the event

Useful article examining the legal situation with the buffer zone
https://www.medias24.com/MAROC/NATIO...xyaSapOixEQPF8

It will be interesting to see how things develop and what it mean for the region over the coming weeks.

Al Jazeera is pretty good reporting on Arab matters
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/...ra-border-zone
a little more on what is going on in WS.
https://www.menas.co.uk/blog/the-uae...estern-sahara/
Interesting that since pres Tebboune and others of the old guard are dying from covid-19 they have released Toufik and Bouteflika Jr from jail. Some leadership they have.

Stuck in Dakhla
 

We have been stuck in Dakhla and the authorities don’t help. We are trying to get to Senegal with our car and doesn’t matter what, they don’t want to let us drive through Mauritania. Does anyone have an idea? We are more than desperate. Thanks a lot in advance

Being patient works well in Africa. It could be a long wait.

Are they providing any reason for why you can't pass? Or just a lot of "no" with no explanation?

The reason is almost certainly that Morocco closed this border to Mauritania in March 2020 when Covid broke, and this rule has yet to be relaxed.
Now the border is only open to Moroccans, Mauritanians and Senegalese.
Fyi, even before Covid a lot of African borders – usually obscure crossings – had this 'locals only' [no tourists] rule.
Post-Covid it's probably much more common in Africa right now.

See also this thread by the OP: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...-please-102271

The news (yet to be confirmed) is that the border between Mauritania and Western Sahara opened for tourists Tuesday morning.

There were pics posted on other forums of overlanders crossing. Seems legit.

As per my other posts. The border opened on Tuesday night for a small group who were given exceptional permission to cross

Then yesterday Morocco announced the border in no open for travel in both directions

Any updates for Mauritania border crossing
 

Goodday,

Are there any updates for border crossings from Morroco, Mauritania and Senegal?

Cheers

Julian

Regarding border crossings: This from the Morocco section:

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...read-100729-43

Is it possible to have a multiple (double, actually) entry visa on the northern border (W. Sahara)?

I would need to cross going south and then back north in a period of ca. 2-3 weeks. As long as it is cheaper than 2 single entry visas (no restrictions of time between visas/entries, I presume, right?)

Last I heard (long before Covid) you could only get double/multiple entry in Rabat not on the border. Takes a day.

Details here: https://sahara-overland.com/mauritania/

I just chatted with an Italian guy here (in Mk) whose mate has carried on to Dakar and is coming back.
He said he chose to get it at the border and will get another coming back, if he can't get a double entry.

Others might know more up to date info with multiple entries for RIM.

Another idea might be to try/ask in your home country, if it has an RIM consulate

I´ve entered in Mauritania on PK55 on my motorcycle earlier on this month as part of Sahara Desert Challenge, which started in Portugal and finished in Dakar.

The 4x4 drivers returned by road to Europe and had to apply for a second 1-entry visa when entering Mauritania again on the way back North.


Side topic:
As a motorcycle rider one issue was to source petrol between the last southbound stations close to the Moroccan border and Nouakchott (solved with 5l bidon at the Total station halfway through) and then between Nouakchott and Atar (5l bidon again in Akjoujt).

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

Road from Terjit to Tidjikja Information
 

Hey all,

I am preparing my routes for my trip to Mauritania and I was wondering if anyone has some experience/information about the roads from Aleg to Tidjikja and from Tidjikja to Terjit. On Google Maps the route from Tidjikja to Terjit isnt even mapped but on Bing Maps you can clearly see a "new" sealed road. (with a few dunes intersecting the road here and there)

However I was wondering about the fuel stations past/south of Nouakchott.

I use OSM for navigation and the last fuel station I can find is in Idini (on the N3 just past Wadi an-Naqa).

Even tho I can spot some "fuel station like" structures via the satelite images on Bing Maps further south/east towards Aleg I am not sure If those supply only Diesel or even any fuel at all.

I am pretty sure there are no fuel stations between the Terjit and Tidjikja road but as its "only" 350km I could manage that part.

Maybe someone has done this route in recent years.

Any information would help me a lot, so thanks in advance!

I think this road is better known as Atar - Tidjikja (Terjit being an oasis dead end off this road near Atar).
You will have seen the roundabout at 19.53348, -12.10291, and Gaia GPS shows a road linking the two towns via this place, though on sat maps the middle section is missing, as it was in 2018 when I last looked at it after coming across it on a camel trek.

Where there are fuel stations evident on sat there will be fuel, with the usual back country caveats. Idini is on the main N3 road to Nema so fuel at the usual range is to be expected. I have a feeling the turn off to Tidjikja is sealed, but I could be wrong.

Ask Justus who has an auberge in Atar and produces a paper map for the area. Bab-Sahara-Atar-Mauritanie - services diverse

Another place to check (and contribute to) is iOverlander app.

As you say, parts of Atar - Tidjikja are already smothered in dunes; sounds like a great drive!

Hey Chris,

thank you for your useful insight. I contacted Bab Sahara.
Ioverlander app seems useful too, found some nice spots for wild camping!

It looks like taking the road from Tidjikja up to Atar seems possible due to 3 fuel station in Tidjikja.
I can increase my fuel range to 650km (plus an extra 50km for backup).

Through the satelite images I found petrol stations Boutilimit, Aleg, Sandgrave and Nbeika. I do hope they sell normal fuel and not just diesel.

Does anyone know about military checkpoints?
Dont want to be turned back after 500kms or so...

I just found some information about them between the Bon Lanuar - Nouakchott road.

Thanks again!:palm:

Checkpoints are common in all of North Africa.
They primarily exist to keep tabs on locals and are usually police or gendarmerie rather than military. Unless you are speeding or have robbed a bank they wave tourists through or stop you out of boredom for a chat.
No reason to be sent back off any main road or piste. They are not roadblocks.

Fuel stations in RIM are the same as anywhere, they will sell UNL, diesel and all the rest. But sometimes remote places run out.

No SIMs in RIM
 

No SIMs being sold to foreigners, I am told.
Something to do with a jihadist jailbreak?
Duds are for sale.

New laws requiring sim cards to be registered, and to do that you need a residency card. A work around is to get a local to register it for you

Mauritania - New eVisa introduced
 

Mauritania has introduced a new eVisa system.

Info
https://anrpts.gov.mr/en/service-de-...QVI1mb3NPvzm6Q

Application Page
https://anrpts.gov.mr/en/visa/reques...Bso_8M5LbI0LgA

30, 60 or 90 day duration options along with multiple entry visas.

The online system takes about 5 minutes. There is no request for payment via the website, I don't know if means visas are now free or payment is requested later.

The WhatsApp help number responds quickly to messages but then said visas are not their department and to speak with a local embassy. Early days I guess.

Should be interesting to hear what happens when someone shows up with one of these eVisas.

Hi guys,
i have tody applied for an E-Visa by using the official webpage. Will let you know about the progress.
If anyone has any expierence so far i would be glad to hear about.

Cheers
Ralf

Another one applying for Mauritanian e-visa
 

Hi,
I´ve applied for the e-visa on january 15th and I´m still watting for any answer (february 2nd). I think I maked a mistake because I applied for a 90 days multiple entries as I´ll be riding to Senegal and 7-10 days later back to Morocco, but I think I should applied for a 30days single entrie ( no other possibilities) twice , one going south and other one going back north 7-10 days later. What do you think?
The problem is that if you need two entries , you have to apply for a 90 days e-visa
Does anyone know if there is a problem if I make my application for a certain date but I arrived border later?
ASAP I get any answer from Mauritania embassy I´ll post here
thank you

Have you contacted the whatsapp number for visa support listed in the website?

No, I don't . Thank you , tomorrow I'll try WhatsApp. In case I get a solution , I'll post it here

Mauritania Whatsapp answer
 

Hi ,
This morning I text a Whatsapp to the number Whatsapp of Mauritania embassy about the sort of e-visa and how long does it take to be deliverd and the answer was....Tachaaannn....
"Chers citoyens, nous sommes heureux de vous servir pendant les horaires de travail officiels : du lundi au jeudi de 8h00 à 17h00, et le vendredi de 8h00 à 12h00. Merci pour votre compréhension"

What is :
"Dear citizens, we are happy to serve you during official working hours: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 17:00, and Friday from 8:00 to 12:00. Thank you for your understanding."

Of course I text them in right time
:clap::clap::clap::clap:
Keep waiting the next
Thank you

e-Visa type
 

Hi,
Finally Mauritanian embassy has answer my e-mail. They were very polite and very fast by e-mail.
They´ve told me that in my case (traveling from Morocco to Senegal and back) , I need a 90 days e-visa with multiple entries , not two entries.
The e-mail for any quetion is : "contact@anrpts.gov.mr"
They also told me that they will take into account my travel dates for my e-visa processing
I´ll keep posting next news
Cheers

I was told by someone who passed through last month the border people didn't know about new e-visa.
But that is normal with new regs at African borders.

Worth noting that according to UK FCDO (only advice and not the best source of it, I know: below) a VoA is no longer an option: you must have an e-visa in advance (or a consulate visa?).

https://saharaoverland.wordpress.com...2/fcdomori.jpg

You now really need printed out E-visa at landborders. If not customs refuse entry and send you back