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What now?
Hey guys,
Being a westerner and never in Africa before, I am very naive. I thought that my Mastercard would work everywhere. Well, not in Mauritania it doesnt. Anyone knows a way to send money to myself here online. I dont even have enough money to go back to Morocco now. Cheers, Zoltan |
Look for a bank with a Western Union sign in it, you can normally wire money to the bank and get it out that way. I've checked on the WU site and there are a bunch in Nouakchott but probably all over the place.
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There was a bank swhere downtown Nouakchott (green logo if I'm right, cannot remember which French bank...) and they just fixed the brand new ATM machines 3 years ago. They said they'd start operating soon... well, maybe in African terms.
Alternatively, wait a couple of days for the Budapest-Bamako crowd (2 more days I think), they usually stay at the campsite by the beach (Sabha) and around. I know the organizers so if you ask someone at home to send money to their HU account I can ask them to give you the same amount in Euros. PM me if you think so. |
I have had luck with VISA in WA but not much with Master Card.
In Burkina some banks even had big MC signs but the stopped taking it years ago. Western Union is too darn expensive but the best way if you're on empty. Lots of internet cafés in Nkt now so you could have cash the same or next day. PS - lots of faulty info in Lonely Planet guides about which cards are accepted, don't rely on it! |
Better not to count on ATM's from Layoone to Bamako on the Atlantic Route.
(Layoone I've paid with card in a hotel in 2007 - I remember so.) g. |
banks in Mauritnaia
in Nouakchott, go to BNP Paribas, ask at any of the hotel/overland camps for this. in the centre, easy to get to etc - it's the green sign with white logo as described before.
our lastest west africa guide said we could get money here and was the only place in Mauritania i was getting money from here every day to stock up with. And you card should work there i did get money from also there is one in Nouadhibou now, you can also try if you are there |
Thanks for the replies. I tried all the banks in NKT, they only work with Visa... on the upside there seems to be a lot of Visa atms around for anyone interested. I asked in all the banks and heard the same answer, Mastercard or Maestro is not accepted in the whole of Mauritania.
I couldnt wire money to myself online to Western Union, probably because they wanted USD instead of euros as a payment. In the end my father managed to change some money to USD and send it to me... cost an arm and leg but thats for being stupid and coming here without cash. I am waiting for the Budapest-Bamako crowd alright, curious to see if they will have any problem on the Morocco-Mauri border. Should be a great craic when they get here beer:thumbup1: Also, I will try to mix in with them and get into Senegal without a carnet, we shall see if it works. Thanks again. Zoltan |
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but trying to cross a border without the correct paperwork by sneaking in with people that do have the correct paperwork may get the legitimate people in a lot of trouble............?c?
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"curious to see if they will have any problem on the Morocco-Mauri border"
Don't think so. They're at the beach in Banc d'Arguin national park I guess arriving to Nouakchott tomorrow quite early. Usually no problems at the border - especially when everything's greased beforehand... Being in Africa it's always easier to cross a border with a bigger crowd (~ 400 people). Ask for hints around the caravan (office) - probably in Sabha. Good luck! |
Hihi nice story...dont forget they hardly sell petrol in mauretanie most of the stations onely have diesel...just in case you dont know...Border Marocco/Mauretania to Nouakchott ist a big distance ;) LG, Tobi Riding the rough west coast through Africa part 3
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Yeah, I knew about the petrol situation and I have a 10l jerrican with me. I avoided Senegal, came through Aioun in the end. The road was very bad in places, especially between Kiffa and Aioun but doable... even on a Suzuki Gs500. Now I am trying to sell the bike and my laptop or anything else that I can sell. Mastercard doesn't work in Mali either of course, and the prices here are crazy. Anyways, it's still a nice country... I just have to get money fast to enjoy it.
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Hi,
Well be carefull...dont sell the bike if its on carned or written in your passport, otherwise you cant leave the country again without it. Have fun, Tobi |
I have a laissez passer, not a carnet. I know that in theory I can't sell the bike, not sure what the consequences would be if I did. It's not written in my passport but it was recorded by the douane that I imported it. I might get caught out and have to pay a customs fee in the end who knows... there is only one way to find out I guess. Or is it easier and better to sell in Burkina?
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"dont sell the bike if its on carned or written in your passport, otherwise you cant leave the country again without it."
Hm... I sold a car in Bamako 4 years ago and had some problems at the airport when leaving as they stamped the car details into my passport when entering. They stopped me at the very last checkpoint right before boarding. I had to talk a bit and the plane was half an hour late for this but managed to leave when I made the guy understand that I'm not willing to pay him a penny (he was clearly after money) :) I know 2 guys who sold their bikes in Ghana. I can ask them for the price if you're interested. I might also help you with making the stamp "disappear" from your passport, you need to pay a fee though. I have 2 friends living in Bamako and they have the right contacts I suppose... Safe ride! |
On my first trip to the region we decided to sell my old Peugeot in Nouakchott. Buyer was the chief of police, name 'Baba'.
NO PROBLEM!!!! he reassured us when I pointed out the little tag in my passport. What could possibly go wrong? :innocent: So I gave him my passport, and then I didn't see it for three days (Soon!!! Baba said when I called him). Couldn't go out on the town, as the police were giving me a hard time without passport. Finally I got it back and there were some new stamps and a lot of handwriting in it. NO PROBLEM! Baba repeated as we continued with the Landcruiser towards Mali. But at the border exit, customs guy jumped on me shouting when he checked the passport. Took 10000 CFA to calm him down iirc. No you cannot sell it legally, but you can - if you're prepared to pay your way out of it. Much easier in Mali or Burkina where the laissez-passer is not written into the passport. What do people do when they have an accident and the car is trash? Pay a fine? Jailtime? ps - I suggest sell the laptop |
There is nothing in my passport about the bike. I will have to get rid of the helmet, too as that would give customs a hint. Not easy in a country where no one wears a helmet.
Anyways, I asked 3000 euro for my 1997 Suzuki GS500, just to give them an unrealistic starting price, hoping that it won't be haggled down to 500. It's not worth much in Ireland, so I would be happy if it covered my flight back and some of my expenses on the way here. The only thing I am not sure about is if I am ready to go back to -10C in Europe :(:biggrin3: |
Hi Zoltan,
there are "only" 0-5+ degrees in Ireland! When I came back (two weeks ago) the departure temperature in Bamako was the same as the landing temp. in Strasbourg, +12°C. In Mali it is no problem to sell a vehicule, but the prices are down (a new moto "PowerZ" costs about 100 Euro). Burkina is not better. Maybe you can ask the "major" at the route of Koulikoro, what he will give you (he's the gendarme, who buys the cars from the "Budapest-Bamako-Rally") Nice stay Ferdi |
Yes, if you want to make business you should definitely try to sell the bike or anything else when the Budapest-Bamako crowd arives. The Kempinski parking lot becomes a second hand market for cars and everything else. All the dealers know about the day and wait there to make a deal.
Not just cars, anything can be sold. "a new moto "PowerZ" costs about 100 Euro' No kidding? 100 Euros a NEW one? Next time I get on to ride around the country :)) g. |
I bought a PowerK in Bamako last year for my friend from Nkt.
Price was 320000 CFA which would be around €500, no? For another 100000 CFA I could have had a much sturdier looking 250. |
I am selling it for €1500 now, got a lot of interest and 3 or 4 guys offered 1k outright. I have all the time in the world, moved to a very cheap auberge and I am not rushing back to frozen Europe right now... if someone offers 1300 or so I will jump on it.
The Bamako crowd is all over the place, I met a few fellow Hungarians already, they are taking my bike gear back to Hungary and I just have to find a buyer for the bike now... life is looking good. Even found an ATM with a Mastercard logo clearly on it, I will try that tomorrow and let you know if it works. |
Best of luck for you, Zoltán ;)
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Yeah, thanks. Selling a bike in Bamako is not for my nerves, they are really a shower of w&^kers there, nobody has cash. In the end I decided to ride the bike back to Europe... and maybe continue on to Asia on it if it holds up. I am just kicking back in Dakhla, Western Sahara and going to spend a few weeks in Spain before heading north.
For anyone who wants to sell a bike in Mali, ask them to show the actual cash before even talking to them. And don't trust anyone, especially not the ones trying to help you. |
We also discovered with some alarm that we couldn't cash our traveller cheques and although we could use our cards at some African supermarkets, we were never able to use the ATMs. Never found out why. We had cash -and had to find ways of getting more US dollars out to us. Even then, we needed so much more ....
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Yeah, Western Union gets expensive (I told my partner to bring plenty €€€, instead he took a small stack of $$$, that cost us dearly in the end)doh
Barothi, did you hear the big explosion the other night? http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s-in-nkt-55286 |
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Everyone's interested but in the end you realize they only wanted to chat. Everyone knows somebody interested (just wait for the 'boss') and that person never shows up. Ever. That's why I recommended you selling your bike with the Bamako people as that's the biggest market around and you might have found a buyer even for a bike (and also to contact me for assistance as I have HU friends living their with lots of local contacts). Safe ride! |
Oh yes, trying to sell something in Mali (or anywhere in Africa?) can drive you nuts.
Some people enjoy it, I don't. But now I let my Mauri friend handle most negotiations and he's fantastic. If anyone needs help of any kind in Nkt let me know and I will give you his mobile number. If there is no stamp in the passport I would prefer selling in Nkt to Bko. |
Hey, priffle,
can you please PM me his contacts? Never know when I might need him :) Why do you prefer NKT? Prices or sg. else? g. |
gagarin check your p.m.
Well in the central market area in Bamako you can barely breathe these days. Nkt is more relaxed and you can find the same or perhaps even a better price there. |
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After the 2009 Budapest-Bamako I had this problem in Ouagadougou; it was very frustrating as a potential buyer would keep on saying "The boss is coming... let's talk about cash in another hour...". They were just playing games, hoping they could haggle a desperate seller down from €2500 to €1000. |
I wasn't that desperate to sell... I was just really happy that good prices were offered. Then I realised what's going on after a while. The people buying at the hotel parking lot after the B2B rally arrived were the same who offered to buy my bike.. I talked to them. It was an organised thing and the owner of the hostel I stayed in was the main player. They knew exactly when I was to leave...
Anyways, the ride back to Spain was amazing, and this way I can hang around here much longer... Andalucia is amazing this time of the year, and I have some catching up to do with the eating :) Thanks for the tips, I will know who to talk to when I next make a trip to sell a car or bike... One last thing, take a Yamaha and as big a bike as possible... with a really loud can... that's what they want. |
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