Security in Mauri/Mali/BF
 

Hello

I'm thinking about winter trip
What do you think about security in border area Kiffa, Kayes and Nioro Ayoun el Atrous?
I want to visit also Bamako and then go to Burkina Faso througt Sikasso.
What about Pendiari National Park on BF/Benin border?
Banin, Togo and Ghana are safe.


For me a visit in Djenne walks also on the head, but I don't know whether he will come off.
I am not a novice and I was already several times in Mauritania and Senegal, but Mali border areas aren't for me well-known.

I will be grateful for your remarks and hints.

Kiffa to Kayes is very safe and a nice piste over Kankossa where you check out from Mauretania. On the Malian side no post before Kayes afaik.
More amusing then the goudron over Ayoun-Nioro which is also a tiresome border crossing.
From Kayes to Bamako again avoid going north and east. Go south to the ferry at Bafoulabé and then there is a mostly paved road to Kita - Kayes. Take your time there are things to see, and alterntive pistes to explore. Stay with Casper at the Cool Camp at Manantali where you can swim and fish in the black Bafing river. Which is marvelous after all the dust.
Djenne is possible to visit depending on the actual security situation, you will find that out in Bamako. The Sleeping Camel is recommended for location, safety and information.

Hello Bartosz,

I drove Kiffa-Kayes in january this year. New and very good paved road from Kiffa to Kankoussa (there is the "douane", toll, costums). Check-out is a few ten km later in ? Check-in in Mali is also a few ten km souther in ?
No douane an malien side, this will be a problem, speak to the costumers in Kayes carefully. Nice route, nice villages, many Baobab on the malien side - with all fiches and blabla takes about one day.

Greetings
Ferdi

May take a bribe to the policeman on the bridge coming into Kayes depending on his mood ;)
One trip we stamped out of Maure and went through the brousse to Kayes, sneaking along the river beds trying to engage the Senegal river as far west as possible.
That was a very beautiful trip.
Coming to Kayes we were duly escorted by said policier to the gendarm hq.
After some harsh words for travelling in Mali without being stamped in we were advised to visit the douanes next morning. They were however closed for the weekend and in the end we traversed all of Mali without the laisser passer.
Did get the insurance tho.

Southern Mali (south of Mopti) is fairly safe. There have been a couple of terror attacks in Bamako in recent years, but always targeting well known hotels/restaurants where UN/NGO/corporate westerners hang out. Same for Burkina Faso. We have people out to both countries regularly with no problems.

Thanks friends

It's looks that all the way in Mali and BF can be safe. As Tembo said I have to be careful in big cities.
It is not a problem for me becouse mostly we make wild camp, use campsites or cheap hostels. It is not a target for criminalist.

What do you think about Tidijkia - Atar route?

I also dream of Nema - Tidijkia route througt Qualata and Tichit, but not this time i think??

Hello Bartosz,

I made Atar-Tidjikja also in January 2017 on 75% new paved road and the same 7 years ago on pathes - no problem.
Tidjikja-Kiffa direct via Passe de Nega can be difficult (because of one dune).
Also 7 years ago, I made Tidjikja-Nema via Tichit and Oualata, nice and lonesome, but "may be" thease days a bit dangerous near malien border (but I am not sure and I don't think so):

https://www.wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/f...11-t44819.html

Greetings
Ferdi

I was in Mopti, Dogon country and Djenné in August, no problem whatsoever. Don't miss those places, they are amazing and the people extremely friendly. It's much more dangerous in Paris or London.
Burkina Faso is also safe as.
Enjoy.

Hello Bartosz,

the immigrations between Kiffa and Kayes are in Hamoud (Mauritania) and Aourou (Mali).

Cheers
Ferdi

Thanks Ferdi
I see on the map it is about 150 km betwen this villiges

No Bartosz,

your map is wrong! Between Kiffa and Kayes are 250 km (one day including paper work and "beaucoup de blabla"). And between the villages with immigration posts are about 30-50 km (one hour drive).

Ferdi

P.S.: Old but still interessting:
Attachment 20145

Would advise against Djenne for the moment. There have been several incidents near the Djenne carrefour now and at least one in the town itself. Amadou Kouffa's Macina Liberation Front is definitely in the area, and I personally have no faith in the FAMAs (Malian military) or UN to prevent attacks or kidnapping. Unfortunately, things in the center and north of the country have gotten progressively worse for the past two years.

That is too bad, and it may continue to spread south and west if nothing is done.
One can not really say that even Bamako to Sikasso is safe anymore.

I'm gonna cross Mali from Senegal, from Kidira (I suppose ) with Bike; Do you think is more safe drive through the south ( Kayes Kita Bamako )? than north ( Kayes Dièma Bamako)?

Southern route is both safer and more interesting.