Carnet for North West Africa
 

Hi guys,
I read in Chris Scott's AMH/Sahara Overland that carnets are no longer required in North Western Africa. If this is indeed the case, it would be a load off my mind and, more importantly, bank balance.
The countries I am hoping to visit are:
Nigeria
Benin
Togo
Ghana
Cote d'Ivoire
Mali
Senegal
Mauritania
Western Sahara
Morocco

I have contacted AA Ireland and Britain, but they did not give a definitive answer.ADAC in Germany say that Benin through Mauritania (in the above list) officially require carnets, but that in practice you "could" enter without one. I'd rather find out for definite, instead of having long discussions with customs officials half way across Africa :-)

Can anyone definitively say which of these countries demand a carnet (and what the source of their information is)?
Thanks for the advice.
Ken.

Ken

Chris Scott moderates the Sahara Travel Forum on this bulletin board. Suggest you also post this query there to get the most up to date response.

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Good luck and safe travels!

Susan Johnson
Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

ken,
try contacting the RAC , i found them a lot more helpful and cheaper. i do think you will have a few problems trying to get into some of those countries you have listed without carnet. what is the value of your vehicle? as the countries mentioned shouldn't be more than 200% of the value. contact RAC motoring services on
01454 208000 (uk)
Paul Gowan or Sue Collins.

Ken, several of those countries will want a carnet. For american's it's very hard to get a carnet, and most african officials have never seen a us registered vehicle, so we were able to bluff our way into all but ghana with a US insurance card or other paperwork saying it was an american carnet, and pretending not to understand their french.
It won't be so easy for you as they will be familiar with uk paperwork.
Ghana requires a carnet- even if your local embassy says they don't Otherwise you'l have to post a bond at the border. (about $300 for a land rover)
-Ed

Hi
I just return from a motorbike trip from SA to Kenya. I travelled thru 8 countries -none of the ones you plan to go- in south and southeast Africa, and I have to tell: no carnet is required. And in places where it may be required, just do some talking, be nice and all that stuff and you are thru. I was very worried about the carnet stuff but now I have to say it is no big deal. Just make sure they are confident that you will not sell the bike in their country. Other travellers we met on the way felt the same about the issue.
Juan Pablo