Morocco - Mali w.o. camping gear?
 

I just started to prepare my gear for a ride from Morocco to Mali and it turned out the amount of camping gear I will carry is just massive...

Sure it all depends on where one goes, but do you think it is possible to stay in hostels all along the way from Tangier to Bamako?

Cheers,
Wauschi

You might struggle in parts of Western Sahara - and keep your fingers crossed you don't get held up overnight at some of the border posts.

No need for camping gear though I normally take a silk sleeping bag liner in case I'm somewhere with just blankets. All obviously bigger places generally have accommodation.

You probably going to need to camp somewhere on the way so take a tent and a tiny stove. I would take some cocoa, soup or noodles if I were you. Don't take the kitchen sink with you though.

Regards:mchappy:

As Tim says, it is possible without camping. However it may be wise to take a sleeping bag that packs as small as possible and a waterproof bivi bag (why waterproof? Packs no bigger than a non waterproof one and even if rain is rare it does happen). They will only be needed if you have problems in the middle of nowhere and it won't be the most comfortable night, but having them with you takes away a bit of worry.
Personally, whilst I do enjoy wild camping, I'd rather stay in a town/village in a grotty flee pit if nothing else is available. It means you get to meet the locals and sample some surprisingly good food for not a lot of money. All part of the joy of traveling for me.

Having slept beside the bike in freezing January conditions with nothing other than a orange plastic survival sack, I now normally travel with a tiny emergency bivi just in case. Also a Jetboil stove with a cup, a spoon, and some Broccoli and Cauliflower cup a'soup. When you are being hassled at a border just relax and set up the stove to show you have all the time in the world.

And in winter time a hot water bottle takes up little space and the stove can be used to heat the water.

I just returned from a ride across South America where I tried to camp as much as possible. What an outstanding experience.
I've learned how important it is to travel lightweight. Every day I spent an hour to set up the camping site and another hour to get packed the next day.

Two things are different now:
- I am limited in time. (I only got three weeks)
- and I need to further reduce the weight.

Thank you for your valuable feedback.
I will try to find space for at least the very basic camping equipment.

Cheers,
Wauschi

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to bring camping gear. It's so easy and there are lots of lightweight options around. You only "need' a mat, sleeping bag and tent and you can do all this for under 3kg. Look online for "ultra lightweight tent". Put it to google image and pick your price. You'll probably come across brands you've never heard before. But it's a small, young but seemingly growing market.

Last summer (2015) I made the trip from Segou (Mali) to Bilbao (Spain). I took camping equipment (just in case) and I did not get to use it.

I stayed in:

Segou - Mali (Hotel Djoliva)
Kita - Mali (Hotel Chat Rouge)
Tambacounda - Senegal (Hotel Oasis Oriental Club)
ST Louis - Senegal (Zebrabar)
Nouakchott - Mauritania (Hotel Halima)
Bir Gandouz - Morocco (Hotel Barbas)
Casablanca - Morocco (Casablanca Ibis)

It takes me about 10 days.

If you go through Spain (Bilbao - Basque Country) please send me message and I am happy to show you city, you have garage to do if necessary maintenance to bike and also I can show you good hotel nearby.
This link might be interested if you want extend your stay visiting Africa on motorcycle.
motorbike-recovery

Cheers,
Kenedy

I'd always take a thermorest matt, a small sleeping bag and cooker with some boil in the bag meals with tea making stuff. A small tarp to bungee over the bike for shelter doesn't take up much space either. You can't beat a decent meal and a mug of tea when the going gets tough!

Amen to that.:thumbup1:

Have to say we have camped at a few borders with no problems..Just relax..kick back and set up as has been said.
Even spent 24hrs at the Diama border...once they know your not a "Victim" money wise they relax too and everything is quite fun. Did this at the Maroc and Mauri border as well..

We really must start to plan our journey better!!!... Haha.