4x4 entering Senegal/Gambia
 

I'm driving an old land rover (1998) down through to Gambia and back in Dec/Jan. Having read through various threads it looks like I can buy a passevant at the Sengal border fairly easyily but will I need a Carnet for Gambia or is there a way round this? If at all possible I want to avoid buying a car net as it looks like a pretty big expense. Thanks!

Gambia is not your problem. The problem is getting through Senegal.
In January I drove a discovery (1996) to The Gambia. You don't need a carnet, in fact you can sell your car in The Gambia and fly back. I have done this eight times now.
Your problem is at the border going into Senegal. Officially you can't take a car over eight years old into the country, but all things are negotiable at a price.
Currently they are asking 250 Euros for a passavant at Diamma ( I have never paid this) so this is where you would need a carnet.

Richard

Hi Richard, Thanks for the reply, I'm slightly confused though....am I right in thinking you didn't need actually need a carnet but you can €250 for a passavant? can you clarify please?

They will give you a passavant to transit to Gambia for 250 (negotiable). This is not official but goes in the pocket of the customs guy. If you negotiate you may get the passavant for three days which would give you a day in St Louis. The guy you need is called Idi 00221772775850. He seems to run the show and tells the customs guys what to do. Call him from the Mauri border.
As I said I have never paid them, but I have learned to use Photoshop.

When did this 250 euro scam start???? I have been through there and paid 50 euro under very difficult circumstances and that was a scam which i won't go into now...but 250!!!!...and my car was 25 years old.

If you did that trip regulary, why you dont get a german ADAC Membership and the Carnet there (195 Euro as Member (84 Euro a year))? This way you dont feed the scam machinery.

For shure you need too some money for the carnet deposit, but you get that back without any hassle.

Is it not possible to enter Senegal from the bottom, with less hassle anyway?

Surfy