Nouakchott - Bamako Route?
 

I'll be riding from Morocco to Nouakchott (get Visa) and continue to Bamako in about two months from now.

One guy I am in contact with in Bamako told me to avoid the Mauritania - Kiffa - Gogui Route but to go through Senegal instead (for safety reasons).

What do you think?

Cheers,
Wauschi

P.S.: I think the Senegal route might be more scenic, that's possibly a plus.

If you have a CDP cross at Diama and they will give you 48 hrs to get to Dakar to have your CDP stamped. If you don't have a CDP, good luck, i just did it and have all the deals of how to get in and costs..its not cheap no matter which option you choose.

Crossing Senegal without CDP
 

Hey! Could you tell me more about crossing without CDP. Any good contacts? (fixers) who can help me?
I am going through mauretania, senegal, guinee and sierra leone (to work there).
Travel in around 3 weeks. So carnet would be 300 euro....so if the hussle all together will be around that price I am happy (don t have enough time to arrange the CDP).
And my car is more than 5 years old, 1996.

Cheers

I have just replied to another post about the same question..Please read that in this section for all the info.. Cheers.. Kevin.

Hello,

Unless you have very good intel and contact to have a daily update on the situation, the " direct northern route " from Nouakchott to Bamako is to be avoided. Red / no go area in many foreign offices maps.
The safer route is thought southern Sénégal ( Tambacounda, Kédougou and then Kita in Mali )
The entry in Sénégal is always a pain due to vehicule paperwork.
Enjoy your drive.

Luc

Best route in a 2-wheel drive, Senegal to Mali
 

Hey Senegal, so what is the best sealed road, if any, I remember Kedougou road was not so great in 2008, is there even a bridge?
What about the south of the Senegal river road to Kayes?
Or is better/safer Tambacounda to Kayes?
Thanks

Hello Wauschi,

all the area is not very safe.Maybe the piste Kedougu to Mali is the safest one.But it was off road some years ago.The landscape is realy nice.There is also a piste from Selibaba(Mauretania)to Kayes.

Regards

Mike

Thank you for your advice.

The only reason I considered the Mauritania route Ayoun - Gogui - Kolokani - Bamako is, it seems to be the fastest way to get to Bamako. I only got 3 weeks to get from Tangier, Morocco to Mali.
The reason why I want to get to Bamako is I found a chance to store my bike there for some months before continuing the trip.

Will it be possible to do the ~ 6.000km tour in 3 weeks when detouring through Senegal?
Or could anyone recommend a place to store the bike in Senegal or Guinea? This would make the trip way more relaxed.

When going through Senegal I see two route options:
1) Kedougou - Labe, Guinea and so on...
2) Kayes - Kolokani - Bamako
Which route would you recommend?

And there is one more problem I tried to avoid -> I will need a CDP for Senegal. But trying to avoid the CDP is worth a separate thread...

One more month until take off :-)
I can't wait to get to Africa.

Wauschi

The asfalt over Ayoun el Atrous "Route d'Espoir"is still the fastest route, Senegal takes days extra, and the border passage is costly and not funny.
If you stay in hostels and don't drive after dark you will be ok. Mauretania has been safe since 2011. Stay in Ayoun el Atrous and leave early in the morning, you'll be in Bamako by night, unless the Malian border guys slow you down.
Three weeks is plenty. It can be done in a week.

I found some more information on the Route d'Espoir, unfortunately not in English:
Route d'Espoir
Thank you for the information.

So far we do plan for two visa-stops:
- Visa Mauritania @ Rabat
- Visa Mali @ NKT
How many days should I consider for Visas?

My understanding is we will need a Laissez-Passer Touristique for Mali.
Where should we apply for the LPT?
What is the maximum duration the LPT can be extended in Bamako?

Our Route so far - 21 days, 5.000km, start April 2nd 2016:
West-Coast Route -> Morocco - Mali


Cheers,
Wauschi

Lasser Passer for Mali is at the border...cost 5000cfa. No problem, quick and easy.

I would do the Mauri into Mali route. I know of a few people who have done it recently with no problem.
I have driven from Kayes to Bamako and its quite beautiful..Senegal for me is flat and expense. Not my favourite place.
The Malians are great and the scenery great...so much so that i have just extended my visa and am staying for another month.

Hi,

I am going stage by stage, a few weeks at the time, to Cape Town with a car.
Left it last year in Bamako for few months. Will send you a copy of the Laissez-Passer in a few days.
I got my Mauritanian visa at the border, we were in a group and a fixer helped us but it can be done by yourself. It might save you some time in Rabat.
I would recommend you try to do your Mali visa at home if possible.
Tambacounda, Kedougou, Kéniéba, Kita is all tarmac and was good to very good last year. Bar a few potholes in the National Park in Sénégal.
Enjoy your trip. Luc

Conseils par pays - France-Diplomatie - Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement international

Hello,

Here is the document for Mali.

Did not drive to B.F. so can not tell you how the B.F. one looks.

Enjoy your trip.

Luc

Luc,

thank you so much for your support.
You might have figured out I am doing the same thing as you do (going to Cape Town a view weeks at a time).
And I am a couple of weeks behind. I will be on the ferry to Morocco on April 4th, in Bamako end of April.

Your document is very much appreciated.

I managed to arrange visa for Mauritania in Germany (although I do not hold a German passport). I also tried to arrange the visa for Mali upfront but the embassies wouldn't reply to my e-mails.

See you ...
Wauschi

Get the Mali visa in Nouakchott..15 euro. the embassy is 2klm from the Auberge Sahara which is just after the roundabout with the dolphins in the middle on the left as you drive into town. The visa was quick and easy. From the Auberge turn right at the roundabout a go for 2klm's..the Mali embassy is on the left.

Hope that helps.

Tonka, sure your advise helps!

I've tried to get the visa upfront but no matter which embassy I try to contact they wouldn't reply or pick up the phone.

I will do as you told -> Get the Mali visa in Nouakchott.

Cheers,
Wauschi

Hej wauschi! Did you ever do the noukchott - Bamako drive? Any thaughts or recommendations?

fvaleur, there was one mistake in my calculation.
I underestimated Morocco!
Following the lonely off-road backcountry tracks of Morocco was so enjoyable, too enjoyable. I spent all time and budget in covering 1/3 of this very country only.
I will (I am forced to) return to Morocco in three weeks from now, properly prepared with a much lighter vehicle, less gear but with Scotts book in my pocket.

I've travelled most of this nice globe, I really know what I am talking about. My advice is not to rush through Morocco.

However, I still have not made it to Mauretania or Mali. That's still on the list. (quality over quantity)

Wauschi

Hi Luc
How are you getting on heading south
I am also thinking of heading to South Africa in stages
Please let us know where you found safe to park up and how you managed with customs when you fly out of the country with no car
Do you have a Carnet
Thanks
Maurice

Hi all,

I've met two different vehicles of Overlanders this week who came down to Mali straight from Mauritania (Ayoun el Atrous to Diema, crossing at Gogui)


One in a VW Polo, the other in a 10 ton box truck (small tires, no 4x4)
Both said road was fine (a little gravel), both said absolutely no problem with security, both said some bribery attempted at the border, but were able to not pay.


So all in all no worries to go that way right now.


-Dan

Hey I am thinking of driving Nouakchott to Bamako via Kiffa & Gogui (Nioro) we will stick to day light driving as we have an old Peugeot 205! Is there any advice you can give us? What to bring where to get visas how to get past police checks points etc?

Also do we need this Laissez Passer Touristique document?

Cheers

Chris

Hey I am thinking of driving Nouakchott to Bamako via Kiffa & Gogui (Nioro) we will stick to day light driving as we have an old Peugeot 205! Is there any advice you can give us? What to bring where to get visas how to get past police checks points etc?

Also do we need this Laissez Passer Touristique document?

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris

I'll be doing that route in a few weeks as well. My first.

Roughly which week or so do you plan to pick up your Mali visa from Nouakchot and do "route de 'espoire"? You can message me in private. I'd like to pair up with some other cars (I speak french).

Cheers

Jerome

Hi guys, also potentially interested. We are in Morocco at the moment and will be are heading south soon. Would also like to connect. Any thoughts? When are you in Nouakchott?
Cheers
David

I should be in NKT on Christmas Day or thereabouts ... too late for you two I presume?

Anyone else heading that way? I'll be in a van

I speak French, know the region well, hoping to cross at Diama with some official help in NKT if I can get it organised otherwise it'll be Route de l'Espoir

Will be in Noukchott around the 3rd or 4th of January if all goes well, how does that fit with your plans CREER?

Hoping to be back in Cote d'Ivoire by 3rd, 5th at the latest ... fingers crossed! Sorry!

I think I'll be in NKT around the 20th December... Flexible plans here. Let me know anyone who would like to discuss details, by PM.

My way is down.

Mali - Burkina
OR
Mali-Senegal-Guine(Bissau)
OR
Diama-Guine(Bissau) - this depending on not paying cash to the douanes friends at Diama.

My van will be up for sale at the end (plus the wee sweet cute trailer).

J

I did Nouakchott to Gugui a few weeks ago - motorbike. you must get your Mali Visa in Nouakchott as they will not do it t the border (they sent me back). You will also need to carry spare petrol. there are diesel stations but very little petrol. accomadation is difficult but my advise is to go to the police station in any town u get to and they will let you sleep outside. its 1000km. not very interesting but its really the only viable route if your intending to avoid the coastal route or cant get Visa for ghana

Hi Brian,

Irish couple looking to take this route in about 10-14 days in a TLC. Some great advice about the police station and fuel.

Could you shed a little more light on your comment please. Once at the embassy was it straight forward to get the visa via Gugui?

Any security concerns? Did you do it on your own and are there many taking this route? Preferably we would like to do it with another vehicle.

How long did it take to get through the Mauri-Mali border? Was there much hassle? Cheers David

yeh the embassy was straight forward enough. I made the mistake of taking advise from a French overlander that I could get the Visa at the border in Gogui. rode 1000km and the Mali border said No and turned us back to Nouakchott to get the Visa at the embassy - so 3000km to get a bloody Visa but frankly it was my stupid mistake taking bad advise.
Its not the most attractive route in my view and has some challenges. next time Ill do the Senegal route. its a pretty barren route with decent enough road for the most part and uneventful towns. my main comments are;
- if its petrol you will need to carry as much as possible. my bike capacity is 23 ltrs and I carried an other 6. not enough. The French guy was in a car and carried a 20 gallon tank for me. he was diesel and was able to get a few fills
- you wont find accom and frankly I wouldn't have felt comfortable camping. the police stations are really the best options. they were very helpful and I think were happy that we were safe with them. they'll put a mat down for you outside, where they sleep too. its warm so you don't need tent or bag
- you will need about 25 fiche each for that route (you'll need 40/50 for Mauratania); lots of checkpoints and youll be stopped at everyone but fortunately no requests for bribes.
- you wont meet another overlander......
- do not drive at night. there is bandit activity. I think the threat of terrorism is grossly exaggerated.
you still in Ireland? call me if you need any more advise 0868554647

Hi Brian, thanks a mil. We might give you a call over the next few days..... What was the ride like from the border to Bamako, where did you stay? How long did it take? Road conditions? Etc.... Thanks in advance, David