hallo together

can someone give first hand experience for the trip from dakhla to nouakchott. i have no car so i thought of hitching from dakhla or renting a guided car.
there is noone departing in the next weeks who could give me a lift.
if positive contact jakob_hoeber@yahoomail.co.uk

thanks

jakob

There are taxi's going back and forth from Dahkla to the Maroccan-border, and on the other side you'll always find some transport to Nouadibhou. The nomansland inbetween is another story, a bit to long to walk and I don't know if you are allowed to cross it on foot, probably you have to find a ride here (local or tourist). There are busses going from Laayoune and Dahkla to Nouadibhou and even Nouackchott but I don't know how regular, timetables, fees or busstations.
From Nouadibhou to Nouackchott and Nouakchott to Dakar, no problem, taxis and minibusses.
But I would suggest after you arrived in Nouadhibou try to find transport thru the park and along the beach highway; the 'old' route between NDB and NKC (there is a new tarmac road ready since 2005), very scenic and a must if you're into birds (the migrating ones with feathers, that fly) or desert-landscapes.
If you feel very adventureous (or are into trains) you can also hop on the train from NDB to Zouerat; the longest ore-train (up to 2km) in the world. Get off at Choum, take a taxibrousse to Atar, maybe visit the Adrar-region, and take a taxi along the tarmac road to NKC.
In both cases you will see/feel more of the country (take feel litterally) than just a transit to Senegal.

regards

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bart & sophie

hi jakob,
i will be in maroc f. the next 3 to 4 weeks with an old merc. van, leaving from germany tomorrow.
i will go to dakhla camping before i leave to mauri.
so, if you, or anybody else, are there around the same time i can give you a lift, at least to nouakchott.

greetz,
todo
theroadrunner(at)web.de

hi, where is the camp site in dakhla please, i will be there in 3 weeks . thanks martin

Thanks for the information will leave to-morrow if i can figure out any news i will post them here

jakob

Camping Moussafir, 5 km of town before the 1. Checkpoint, N23º45.833, W15º54.407.

It is the best place to get a lift.

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Have a safe trip
Edith
Morocco

the last time I was there i remember the convoy leaving Dakhla on TUE and FRI, therefor u need to get to Dakhla at least a day or better 2 days before the convoy leaves. Once there you see cars coming in and waiting for the convoy to leave, absolutely no problem to get a hike. I was on my BMW and found a couple taking my Fuel etc with them so the ride was much easier, we even gave a hike to a guy on his bycicle... so just get to Dakhla and start asking around the campsite. ciao

mgelso
It must be a while back since you've been there, the convoy doesn't exist anymore since 2002. At that time it was also difficult/not possible to cross the border back North (from NDB to Dahkla), nowadays no problem. But the campsite is a good spot (the best) to find a hike.

Also the last gasstation (with hotel and restaurant) before the border is probably a good spot. Very strategic situated, about 80 kilometer before the border (or before NDB not sure about that at the moment), everybody stops there to have a break and topup their reservoirs with fuel (cheaper than in Mauri).

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bart & sophie

As people have pointed out, no reason to look for a convoy. Also, the Musafir camp is rather impractical place to be without own wheels. Around the corner from to the long distance bus stop in Dakhla (in down town, on the corniche) there are a few hotels. I was there a year ago but the names excape me, perhaps the one I stayed at was as simple as "Sahara". Yes, I thnk that's it and there is another, further away, but that is a posh place. Once in one of these little hotels and once you let it be known that you are heading to Mauritania, a fixer materializes with all the details how to get to the meeting place of the vans/trucks/minibusses heading that way the following morning. It' s really simple, daily and cheap, too. These crummy wheels typically leave early and go to Nouadibou i.e. no overnighting or figuring out of new transportation at the border. Pay a bit extra to get a seat in the cabin, otherwise you'll have a rather claustrophobic ride inside a typically windowless cargo compartment. Dusty it'll be no matter where you are - get the turban in time!

Once in Nouadibou the onward traffic to the capital is straightforward & plenty.