Bike parking West Africa?
 

Hi guys
I’m in the process of planning a trip on my bike to West Africa. I want to do different segments at different times, so as not to have to give up my job. The rough idea is

• to ride my Africa Twin to southern Spain in October, park it near Malaga (parking already organised) and fly home

• then fly to Malaga on 19th December and ride bike south down the Atlantic Route, either parking it in Mali, Senegal or Gambia on about 30th December 2009 (11 days) and fly home.

• Then in early April 2010 fly back to the bike, ride to Timbuktu and either ride back to Europe or ship bike back from Dakar (2 weeks).

I’ve done a bit of reading here on the HUBB and elsewhere and the answer to the following question seems to be “Bamako in Mali”. What do you think?:

What is the easiest country out of Mali, Senegal and Gambia to get a bike in and park it for 3 months with least hassle from Customs? Is there anywhere where the vehicle is NOT written into your passport?

Also, can you help me with these questions?
I read about the “laissez passer”: Where is this document valid and for how long? It seems, from what I read, that each country just issue their own. Is this true? Is there a time limit of the vehicle remaining in any one country? I read that in Mali it’s only valid for 1 month. How strict is offiaicaldom when I come to ride out of Mali after the bike has been there for 3 months? Senegal seems to have a 10 day limit, with a possible 15 day extension.

Do you have any suggestions for safe bike parking in either Mali, Senegal or Gambia?

Any advice and leads most gratefully received.
Ride safely,
Chris

Chris

Laissez passer ... helps if you have govt. contacts will last for longer!

Might be able to help in Dakar or Bamako will have to ask friends but it's a French speaking crowd, bring it down to Cote d'Ivoire I'll have storage there!!!

Customs hassle is rife in Senegal, not nice, not easy & a pain in the a**

Kira

Hi Chriss!

I would think The Gambia could work. There are 2 Campsites in Banjul (one is Sukuta Camping the other one is not that famous...) BUT Joe from Sukuta Camping will ripp you off...he rents place for cars aswell.

Other idea...iff you can, try to get to Lome/Togo. There is the campsite from a Swiss Woman (Chez Alice). Friends of mine left their Toyo there for near 2 Years. Worked well!

Greetings from freezing OZ Werner +Claudia

Hi Chloe and Werner
Many thanks for your input so far.

Found this link via ► Wüstenschiff - Das Sahara-Forum ◄ for Sukuta Camping & Lodge
It says they charge euro10/20 outside/in a container per month for bike parking. Werner speaks of Joe at Sukuta ripping you off. euro10 or 20/month seems ok for parking. Does anyone else have an opinion on Sukuta Camping?

What are the vehicle entry requirements for Gambia? Anyone got a vehicle in without it getting stamped into a passport and without a Carnet de Passage? I really do intend on returning, just 3 months later.

cheers
Chris

hi chris,
gambia does not stamp the bike into your passport neither you need a carnet de passage.
at the border you will get a" temporary import permission " i.e.
" laissez passer ", valid anything between 1 week to 28 days .
legaly that one you can extend up to 3 months,
fees due are about 5,- euro/ months. longer extensions are available...:cool4:

if you need a place to park your bike in gambia, send pm.

greetz from gambia,
todo

Hi Chriss!

It will be possible to park the bike in Banjul. Yes...paperwork..legaly and Afrika...there is always a diffrent way.
We've visited that campsite in 2006. I don't know what he's charging now...but be aware you will pay for everything! (and not cheap!)
He even charges for reading books other travellers left there....
We found that shocking and would not recomend him!


Other guy's may have a diffrent experience!

Werner

Zebra Bar
 

Hi,

You might want to try the folks at Zebra Bar
zebrabar - the relaxing oasis - St Louis - Senegal - Africa
in Senegal.
They're used to travellers, fairly clued in
and fairly close to the Mauri border and not
awful far from Gambia either.

David French

Hi Chris,

we park our car there now the 2nd year / season and can fully recommend the place.

Even with laissez passer Joe will find a way for a one year parking. The car parking with 26 Euro is not really cheap but meanwhile 30 Euro are about standard in Africa and 10 / 20 Euro for the bike does sound relistic. Joe, Claudia and Wolfgang are absolutely reliable and this is by far not the rule there. Every single action (if it is yellow card insurance, service, maintenance of tire pressure while parking eg) agreed prior to the visit will be done. You even can use the pickup service at the airport and get your bike at the campsite freshly cleaned with fresh oil and insurance ready to go.

We experienced a solid price performance ratio and cannot follow a rip off at all.

regards
Bernd

Hi Chris,
How are your plans developing, is your bike out in west Africa... I ask as I plan on doing the same.
Sukuta camping keeps coming up on the internet so feed back is welcome. Must say they are very efficient in replying to my mails and the services offered.
Cheers
Matt

Hi Matt
I ended up pulling the trip with 10 days to go. See post #37 on

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9nov09-46871-3

for the full (boring) details. I ended up doing a little road trip round Moroc and parking the bike back in Spain, near Gibraltar.

Have a good one.
Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear about your trip... Our timing is only November '10 Malaga Spain December '10 heading south to Gambia..

We'll see how the situation changes - lets hope for the better.

Are you looking to try again now your bike is in Spain ?

Cheers
Matt

Hi Matt
No. Can't be ar$ed dealing with any more Saharan/West/Sahel African BS. The bike was only ever going one way.

Now I have a tentative plan to bimble through Spain in October and park it at my parents' in Germany. Let's see if it makes it to the Pacific coast of Russia in 2011 or 2012.

Hang loose
Chris