Hombori --> Gao --> Niamey
 

We are a family wtih 2 children (12 and 14y) and we travel by car (Opel Vectra) during July to Mali.
Who has some exprerience in the region Hombori --> Goa --> Niamey.
Is this a safty region now ?
Is that true that in Gao are White Fathers where we can stay? (who has a contactadress)
How is the state of the road between Gao and Ayorou ?
Is this possible to do by car ?
Have you any idea in how many time you can do this road (Gao - Niamey)? How is the bordercheck (friendly, difficult, visum, ...)

Many questions, we hope many answers ...

Thanks a lot !!
Koen

Hombori --> Djibo --> Ouagadougou
 

We are a family wtih 2 children (12 and 14y) and we travel by car (Opel Vectra) during July to Mali.
Who has some exprerience in the region Hombori --> Djibo --> Ouagadougou ?
Is this a seafty region now ?
How is the state of the road between Hombori (Boni) and Djibo to go to Ouagadougou ?
Is this possible to do by car ?
Have you any idea in how many time you can do this road (Hombori --> Ouagadougou)?
Or an alternative is to go to Douentza, then down to Dioungani, Bani, Ban, Koumbri to Ouahigouya to go to Ouagadougou. The same questions (time, state routes, ...)
How is the bordercheck with Burkina (friendly, difficult, visum, ...)

Many questions, we hope many answers ...

Thanks a lot !!
Koen

Please dont do the off-the-road dust roads in the Sahel by 2x2 with kids in the rainy season! Rain can change the Sahel in a sea within minutes... Hombori - Djibo is not a normal and acceptable road....

You do need a visa and a laissez passez for your car at the border. When you are friendly and polite mostly the border officers are as well....

Detnol is right
It is the monsoon season in Mali :stormy:and even compacted earth tracks get washed out in some hefty deluges-
A 2x2 (unless it is a French 2cv!) is a very bad idea and certainly very high risk especially with children aboard. The soil is poor and has little structure to it and gets washed away in some massive downpours- the like don't exist in the E.U. with high humidity and heat which increases fatigue a lot.

A better option for you to consider rather than Douentza, is to drive to Mopti (tarmac and bad tarmac) all the way then maybe organise a Dogon trip by 4x4 with a guide driver
p.m. me if you need details

Thanks Bertrand for details.
I couldn't send you an answer because you must have minumum 6 posts.
Thanks for information.
Yes we will visit the Dogon. Also Djenné, Mopti, Douentza and Hombori
We are leaving Belgium on monday 6 july by car. We hope to be at Bamako around the 20th of july. There we have contact about a social work (a Don Bosco school). After this we will be free, so we can visit things during 14 days.
Thanks,
email koenvercauteren 'at' scarlet 'dot' be
msn: koenindecar 'at' hotmail 'dot' com

hee koen
I send you email messages the last days. did you receive them or not?

thanks
brend

also a question for the other people. I think the piste between bamako-kita-kayes is not possible for a subaru forester at the end of july? or is it possible to give it a try.
thanks

You are going at monsoon time ... great for crop growth, not so good for bikes or even for 4x4's at times!
It all depends on your 4x4 driving skills, whether you are carrying rescue gear etc etc.
When it comes down hard, it can turn to a sea of sand and mud in minutes.
That looks shallow..but it was 1.3 meters deep-
The 4x4 was sinking fast
tracks go under water and become a soggy mess- good idea to have a very strong (7ton) tow strap! and some Teva's and towels!
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...metersdeep.jpg
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...inkingfast.jpg

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...333/track1.jpg

Hello Bertrand,

Unbelievable !! I know that there is falling a lot of water, but this is extremely, isn't it.

Did you know something about the traject Gao - Niamey ?

thanks for the pictures.
I know enough. We will keep the tarmac this year.

and koen can you send us your telefonnumber. you got ours but we prefer to have yours too.

brend

Ik stuurde je net een mail, Brend
Zet dit eens op msn: koenindecar 'at' hotmail 'dot' com dan kunnen we handiger communiceren
koen

Hi Koen,

last year, I needed 8 hours driving from Niamey to Gao (including friendly border time).
80% is paved, but you need a visa in advance coming from Mali.

Ferdi

P.S.: In Gao you don't need "White Fathers", there are also "Black Mamas" with a lot of hospitality (e.g. "Chez Haoua" - ask for!).

Tarmac sections can collapse and be swept away leaving a 'pond' to cross- see first picture above.
It is not 'extreme' but there are passages at times that turn to 'water and mud holes' and it is easy to get stuck in there- I was advised to stop and walk through first to get the feel of what is underfoot- a good tip if wet and muddy so kitchen roll paper to clean up (and burn later) is a good idea! and it is a lot easier to get a wee fellow like me and my 79 Kilos out than a bogged down 2 ton vehicle!
A distance short cut may not always be a time-saving one!!

Between Gao and Niamey it's tarmac - see picture
Be sure to stop and have a look at eh Hand of Fatima - can't miss it - it is a huge rock formation in the shape of a hand- remember that it has huge religious meaning for the local population

HAND OF FATIMA
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...t3333/hand.jpg

ROAD SURFACE
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...3333/hand2.jpg

Hello Bertrand,

Thanks for all this informations.
So the route from Douentza to Gao is all asfalt. Do you know something about the route from Gao to Niamey. I looked to the map and it says that there is asfalt to, but also a difficult part. Is that right ? Can we do this in july with our car ?
Many Belgium greetings !!
Koen

Hello Ferdi,

Thanks for your intresting informations.

Did you travel in rainy season or in dry season ?
You did 8 hours to go from Niamey to Gao. This is very well, becaus it is around 443 km. I saw it on the michelin 741. It is marked with green = very nice. Is this right ?
Can we do it with our car (Opel Vectra Break) ? We are coming from Mail to go to Niger. I think that we can buy a visum in Gao ? Is that right ?


Many Belguim greetings,
Koen

the road you see above IS the road from Douentza to Niamey via Gao.
I do not know your driving abilities - An Opel Vectra certainly does not strike me as the best machine to take into Africa especially if it's a petrol engine... but after all, it's a car! and as long as you stay on tarmac, you should be OK-
It would be sensible to have your car properly serviced in Belgium and fit new tyres before you left-
Air conditioning will be a blessing- have that checked too if your car has it- you'll be glad of it!
It will be very hot, humid, subject to large thunderstorms that come violently and then go leaving you wondering where they went to.
It is tarmac 99.5 percent from Tangiers in Maroc to Niamey is you stay on the tarmac.
Don't expect to find spares - so take basic minimum - fan belt, spare wheel etc.

Just a thought... Why not team up with Brend's father? two cars always better than one - if one develops problems-