Travel costs overland
 

Hi,

Today I made a rough calculation of travel costs from The Netherlands to The Gambia overland by car. Any comment or additional info welcome:

140 euro's - 14 days insurance on export plates, valid until Mauritania.
20 euro's - International driver licence
130 euro's - Ferry Algeciras Tanger Med
30 euro's - Insurance car Mauritania.
60 euro's - Transitair, for temporary importation car Mauritania
120 euro's - Single entry visa Mauritanian border p/p
6 euro's - Nature reserve Mauritania
30 euro's - Exit Mauritania at Diama border (questionable and negociable)
6 euro's - Barrage de Diama
10 euro's - Senegalese police (this is free but lot of hassle)
40 euro's - Senegalese car insurance, valid 14 days including The Gambia
150 euro's - Passavant de circulation Senegal, if your vehicle is over eight yrs old
10 euros - Exit Senegal Karang (questionable and negociable)
10 euros - Entry The Gambia
10 euros - Ferry Barra
-------------
780 euro's

Grand total ex diesel and toll motorways in Europe and Morocco.

Two years ago I already thought costs were getting out of hand. Now Mauritania is the definite spoiler. This is if you leave your car behind in West-Africa, if not count x 2.
Booking a flight from Paris to Dakar for only 220 euro's now.

:(

A few comments from my point of view

- The above covers the 'tail end' of the cost. The biggest cost blocks will be fuel, followed by food/accomodation (depends if you camp), and 'specials' (e.g. a park visit/entry fees/unexpected opportunities/unexpected problems).
- You might be missing vaccinations and possibly equipment (e.g. stand-by medication).
- I don't believe it's possible (nor useful) to plan an overland trip on this level of detail. It will always work out differently, and the time spent planning it could probably be spent better somewhere else. I would recommend to work on rough monthly (or daily) figures. If in doubt, make sure you have some extra buffer (I work with 1k EUR for a big trip), to cover unforeseen opportunities or problems. Then spend the travel time with a focus on enjoying (knowing costs will be ok), than to count pennies all the way :-) I can't give advise on monthly budgets for a car, but I'm sure you'll find seasoned 4x4 in the relevant section of the HUBB. When you take someone else's figures, make sure to account for their vehicle (fuel consumption may be different) and the style of travel (e.g. rough camping vs paying accomodation, as well as the speed - faster is more expensive).

Having said that, enjoy the planning - the journey starts in the mind.