Accra to Timbuktu?
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently living in Accra, Ghana and am planning to travel to Timbuktu between Christmas and new year. I have only a limited amount of time available. Could anyone advise what the best and quickest way is from Koro, Mali / Burkino border, to Timbuktu? Do I have to go through Mopti? What are the roads like and how long will this section take? I will be travelling with a R1150GS. Sorry for all the questions.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Cheers,

Camps.

Well this is what i have discovered. Seems like the easiest way is to go from Koro to Bankass to Mopti to Douentza to Kanioume to Babara-Maounde and from there to Timbuktu. All pretty good roads except for the last 100km or so from Bambara-Maounde to Timbuktu. I'm not 100% sure about any of this, I guess I'll post another reply after I've done it. I know the easiest way isnt always the best way, but unfortunately i dont have a lot of time.

How crazy am i to attempt doing about 350km per day for 12 days?

Any input welcome.

Camps.

Hi there,

If you do a search you will find this discussed last year but in short you can turn off the Koro-Bankass road at a place called Kaporokenite-na and go north-ish to Madougou then Diankabou and from there straight to Douentza. Just cuts off the corner. From Douentza the piste is good to the ferry but it will take about 4.5 hours. Don't attempt it at night.

I think you'd be struggling to keep up an average of 350km though.

Q

Akwaaba
 

Hey Camps,
I am in Accra for a couple of years and was thinking about the ride/drive to Timbuktu. It doesn't look like I can take time off yet since I got here last month, but I am interested in anything you learn about the route or the care and feeding of a BMW in Africa. Right now my bike is cruising around the Atlantic on some ship.
Dan

accra to timbuktu
 

Hi- I have made this trip many times, from both Accra and Bamako via Mopti in a 4x4. As was posted here the route between Duanza and Timbuktu is really rough and the condition of the road varies from month to month. There are presently some travel alerts in the area, so I am planning on seeing if I can find a pilot with a small plane to take me from Accra to Timbuktu in February.

Re gas- Try to avoid buying gas out of a barrel. It is often not pure.

Please let me know if you know a pilot with a plane in Accra who flies to Timbuktu.

Thanks,
Ituri