Recent Experience of Rosso Border?
 

Has anyone used the Rosso crossing to get into Senegal recently. My only experience was 2 years ago and I did not enjoy it at all, with lots of hassle and coercion. Has the lack of a need for a visa helped or has there perhaps been a clear out of the "helpers"? It was my first time and I'd manage it better in future knowing the ropes. In fact coming back north was easier, even though there was still a lot of hassle.

So what's your recent experience?

Border
 

Why do Rossi when Diama is easy ???

Just did Diama where I lost 5h of Xmas Day due to 2002 van without carnet but Route de l'Espoir is off limits at the moment! Diama was sorted & about to leave Dakar for Bamako ... anyone around?

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Was put off going to Diama last time(in 2014) by the quality of the road as I'm a poor off-road rider. I also needed a visa then and was told Rosso was the only option. What is the road to Diana like now, and which one did you take, the one from Rosso or the one branching off from the main road between Nouakchott and Rosso?

We just did Diama in our overloaded Subaru two or three weeks ago, zero problems. The route takes you through an awesome national park in Mauritania, chock full of flamingoes, crocodiles, warthogs, and 100 bird species I'll never remember. It was cake. Compared to the roads in Guinea and western Cote, it's a supreme luxury cruise. :D

Note: Asking for an official receipt will get you out of all but 10EUR worth of border BS at Diama. The crafty immigration clown has some ancient receipt book that he will more than happily tear you out 10EUR worth of junk fee with. It's the guy who looks like Ali G. Use a different tack with him.

Can't speak to Rosso. The phrase "worst border crossing in africa" is in my notes somewhere, and I noped out of there.

$0.02

- Mike

Thanks Mike, that is encouraging that you found the road OK. The ride through the park sounds great. I'm still not sure which road you took. Was it the one from Rosso along the river or another one? Last time I started on the road to Diama from Rosso but found it hard work and as I was not confident then that I would be allowed to cross(the Ebola crisis was still a concern) I gave up and crossed at Rosso.

I would not disagree with the term "Worst border in Africa" but I've not crossed enough other borders to be confident of that title. It will take some beating though and I was wondering if things may have changed in 2 years. That Diama crossing seems a breeze.

Crossed from Mauritania to Senegal at Diama last month , road good , on overloaded Triumph Tiger 800 , no problem , border was fine , exactly as posted earlier by schmookeeg

Hiya Jim,

Not the road along the river, it's a bit of an early detour. We used the waypoint in iOverlander and found it spot-on:

iOverlander | Shortcut to Diama

If you want to see our precise route, check the DeLorme route in my sig (I'd map it for ya, but I'm in MOFN in Cote with dreadful net service right now :D -- PM if you need more precision and I'll get it for ya in a few days) -- the waypoints get more detailed as you zoom in, so zoom into southern mauri and you'll see it.

There is a gendarme in a full-face balaclava and a large-type machine gun in the bed of a hilux at the turn, but he didn't bat an eye at us. Was a bit unsettling.

You'll be asked for a fee for the park near the end of the shortcut road (something tiny, less than 2 bucks if I recall), and the man asking has no uniform, but DOES have an official receipt for ya from a book of em. It was legit.

Cheers -- hope it helps,

- Mike

Thanks guys, particularly Mike, as I know the difficulties of updating posts while travelling.

This all sounds encouraging. I believe I know the start of that track to Diama. I think it was shown on my T4A GPS maps. I looked at it but it seemed unclear and a bit tricky so I passed it by and continued on the good road to Rosso and the rest is history... Next time I'll take it. Thanks again and safe riding.

"Good Road"
 

Hi gjj,

When you say "good road" what are we talking about? The reason I'm asking is that I'm heading that way in a couple of days, but I'm on a sports bike.

beer

How was the road on a sports bike? I think its possible but uncomfortable!

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Entering Mauritania from Senegal
 

Hi,

I was wondering whether anybody could confirm if Mauritanian tourist visas are currently being issued on arrival at the Rosso border crossing with Senegal, and, if so, whether these visas cost the same as at the Nouadibhou crossing (currently 55eur, apparently)? Plenty of posts confirm that Mauritanian visas on arrival are available coming south from Western Sahara (and that the new price of 55eur is being used), but I can find very little info on entering Mauritania from the other direction. This shouldn't make any difference, but, for reference, we are not travelling with any vehicle. Any assistance would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

I heard that the mauritanian visa on the border coming from the south is no problem, 55 euro.
But does anyone know if you can enter via diama without a carnet de passage? I spoke to a german who was refused, and was only offered a passavant of 2 days for 300 euro.

300 euro one passavant???? it can't be true. The passavant can be obtained at the border and is not really expensive, I think this may be a mistake.