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For a significant border to have reopened after such a spat, only a few news agencies appear to be reporting on it. Even so, good news!
Gambia-Senegal Border Reopens - allAfrica.com |
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I just entered Gambia at Banjul from Senegal. Very straight forward to exit Senegal. Got TIP into Gambia for 7.50€ (5000cfa). Then came the corrupt immigration officers
they saw I had an Australian passport and asked each other if I needed a visa. I said I was pretty sure I don't. They took me to immigration and pulled out a list of countries that require a visa. It was all printed except for Australia that was hand written in black ink, the guy was sitting there with a black pen. I said no worries I'll just use my British passport. No no no, according to them because I exited Senegal with my Australian passport I had to enter Gambia with the same passport. At this point I fired up and they took me to see the boss. The boss was this fat oath looking guy who pulled out a sheet with countries that require a visa. Under "Western Europe" he pointed to Austria. For the next 30 minutes I spent schooling him on geographics and that Austria is not the same country as Australia, including pulling out my Google maps and scrolling across the world map to get it through his head. He knew full well. In the end I lost my temper and went ape at him, I told him he was a theif and he thinks I'm stupid and disrespecting me. An even higher boss got called in and by this time I was really mad, I went off at the bigger boss as well and then they had a discussion between the two of them trying to cover their tracks repeating "Vienna" and other Austrian town while agreeing with each other. Eventually the bigger boss said there was no problem and that the guy was confused. I said it's ironic that he knows so many Austrian towns now but 5 minutes ago couldn't tell the two countries apart, I told him if he doesn't know the difference between Austria and Australia then perhaps he shouldn't be working in immigration. It also didn't explain why the other guy had hand written Australia into his sheet. I also said to him that even if Australia does require a visa I am also a British citizen and have every right to use my British passport, he tried to say Gambia doesn't allow dual citizenship so I asked him how would it be possible for anyone to ever use two passports if each country require the passport to have npan exit stamp of the previous country, he sat there looking stupid which is when I took my passport and walked out. Then the police who had to stamp my TIP wanted that I pay again, I was so worked up I just glared at the guy until he stamped it. I don't know why they do it, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I won't be running home telling people to come to Gambia any time soon |
Educating African border officials is an exercise in futility. ;)
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Carnet for Senegal/Gambia
Hi all, travelling in Oct/Nov 2016 from Morocco through WS, Mauretania to Senegal and Gambia. 2 bikes approx. 8 years old and 1 defender 6 years old.
Would anybody know whether we need carnet? Been told the only country we need it is Senegal but according to the most recent update not needed for Senegal since about spring 2016. Many thanks |
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Overland Senegal Travel - WikiOverland Senegal is no problem without a carnet, does not matter how old your vehicle is. -Dan |
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Thanks, Regards. |
This comes up quite often but nothing has changed and the chances of you avoiding the "fee" if entering via Diama or Rosso in a vehicle more than 8 years without a carnet old is very close to zero.
This thread is pretty old so recommend finding more recent reports and/or reading on West Africa Travellers on Facebook. |
Came from Senegal last december, passing by Rosso.
Carnet de Passage: Only for >8 years old vehicles. Passavant: 30€ for 7days Insurance: Panafrican, 30€ Motorbike travelling. But remember, this is Africa. Things changes everyday and depends of the man in the desk... |
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