Novice biker in West Africa

[vdoo]

Hi,

I am a novice motorcyclist from Sweden on my first major bike trip. I am also new to the HUBB. I’m traveling on an Africa Twin at a leisurely pace on a counterclockwise African route. I am currently in Casamance, Senegal after passing through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia. My intention is to continue east via Mali, Burkina Faso, etc. I’m traveling without a carnet.
I’m collecting my border/documents-experiences on my website at:

Untitled Document

If they can be of any help to other travelers, then I’m happy. It is always good to have an idea what to expect at border crossings.

Best regards,

[rndef]

Hi Anders,

Welcome to the Hubb!
Been looking at your site! Great info on borders and visas!
Really nice and detailed.
I'm just leaving from Portugal heading to South Africa down the west coast and then up via the east coast, on a XT600E, also without carnet.
Will surely use your info to know what to expect.
Hope your enjoying your trip and keep in touch.

Safe travels,

[vdoo]

Hi Rui,

Nice to hear from you. I hope and certainly think that your trip will be as good as my own.
I had a look at your web site which looks great. I do speak some Spanish so I can understand the context of what you are writing but not all the details.
I’m currently in Burkina Faso after six months on the road. So far I’ve driven 17 500 km (of which 6 000 km were in Europe) using 900 liters of gasoline. Your estimate of a total of 40 000 km and 2000 liters seems a bit on the short side but as you say, it is only an estimate.

Thanks for the appreciative words on my info on border crossings. This is the whole idea why I put it out there, in case someone may find it useful. One thing that I can add to the information regards the insurance I bought at the Diama border (Mauretania-Senegal) from a woman just after exiting the border area on the Senegalese side. I was not sure whether it was a “real” insurance or only a fake document but so far it has been accepted by all customs people and police that have looked at it. (Although it is frequently said about any insurance, that they are no good for making any claim but you still need one to show the officials.)

The insurance company is called CGA (Compagnie Generale D’Assurances) and the insurance is valid in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Niger, Chad and Togo. My regret is that I only bought a three month insurance and it is currently running out so I will have to get a new one. If I would have bought a six month insurance right away for just a little bit more money, it would have taken me all the way to Congo and spared me the trouble of getting a new.

If you are planning a one year trip you will probably catch up with me at some point as I’m travelling at a slower speed. So keep in touch.

Regards,

[rndef]

Hi Anders,

thanks for the tip on the insurance. Particularly going for the 6 months one...
Will probably do the same if the price diference is not much.
Hopefully leaving by month end.
Been in Morocco a few times so probably will "rush" through.
I'm tired of the european cold and want to get somewhere warm asap!
Haven't had much time to update the website but yes it's a rough estimate.
Let's see...
Hope your trip is still runing smooth and let's keep in touch,
Cheers

[Quijote routes]

Hello and welcome from Spain!.,