Mali, Mauri, Burkina Infomation

[Matt-A24]

Hello hello,

Back in 2006/2007 I overlanded around West Africa a bit in an old 2cv, and had a jolly nice time of it.

Later on this year I'm likely to find myself in Morocco with friends and a car nobody wants to take back to the UK. My immediate thought was that I could run down to Mali or Burkina and sell it off.

A little bit of research on here has shown, however, that today's West Africa is somewhat different to the one I remember of 6 or 7 years ago.

The forum archives appear to show that the Road of Hope in Mauri is now considered dangerous and best avoided, and that people heading towards Mali take the south road via Kadei instead.

The archives also appear to indicate that Mali itself is a hassle by any route as much of that top left corner of the country is considered unsafe, that one ends up paying to have a solider in the car, and so on.

Have a summarised correctly?

I've also found a few posts from a few years ago saying that Mali imposed all sorts of crazy customs rules on cars (bonds paid at one border and released at that other) that were driving everyone nuts. Later posts appear to show these have been abandoned, but I can't actually find notice that this is the case. Any word?

Anyway, although I would have loved to have toured the area and revisited some happy memories of old, the principle aim is to get rid of this car. I'm not intending to make a profit, I just don't want it any more, and it would be nice to cover some of the costs of getting it to wherever it gets to. The car is a Pug 306 Diesel LHD.

With this in mind, may I ask what you would do? Try to sell in:
1. Nouadhibou/No-mans-land? I guessing this will fetch the worst price, but that's fine because I won't have had to drive very far. If it earns a few hundred quid that pays for the diesel down and the boat to Morocco, so happy days.
2. Nouakchott? People certainly tried to by my car last time I was there. Does that still happen? Do all the new checkpoints I've read about make that tricky?
3. Go for Bamako? Is the faff of personal guards and potential jihad worth it?
4. Burkina? If one has to pay for escorts right the way across Mali (as some posts seem to suggest) is it worth it to get down to Ouaga and sell there vs selling in Mauri?

I must stress that I'm not trying to turn a profit, I just fancy as much of a road-trip as I can justify on the value of the car at it's destination

Many, many thanks for taking the time to read this post, and for dispensing whatever wisdom you may be about to dispense. If any of my questions have already been answered of late on here, please do feel free to curtly push me in that direction.

Cheers,
Matt

[Surfy]

The Mali situation is not that bad that it sounds like, as far you stay outside of the nord-east.

I try to maintain a list of all travellers on a transafrica over the west route, who write a blog or have a website:

Trans-Africa over the west: A list of blogging travellers from 2011 upwards...

There you will find recent travel experiences about mali.

About selling your vehicle - I cant help.

Surfy

[Overland Tonka]

Selling a car in Mauri will be a problem as they stamp your passport with the cars details. When you go to leave they will get you. I had mine sold there for charity and the local Round Table gave me a letter all stamped up to ensure i wouldn't have a problem. The customs guys had a good look at this.

[Titbird]

Mali has a computerised system now that will register your laisser passer. Going the road of hope will cost your 60 euro for an escort to Bamako and be sure to keep your receipt that your get from the embassy when you pay for your visa, it's the latest scam, and they will ask for it at the border. That being said, last time I still saw some car (and bus) sellers driving down, so it's still possible (if you know how).

[burden]

There are several border crossings between Mauri & Mali, where the computerised system doesn't exist and where they charge you only 5.000 or 10.000 fcfa (depending which one you choose) for a "laissez-passer" to enter Mali.

[priffe]

But those border crossings would be offroad. Which could add to the adventure.

Which are the passable border crossings Mauri-Mali?
Selibaby-Melgue
Kankossa-? (I went straight to Kayes)
Ayoun el Atrous - Nioro
haven't tried further east - is there a goudron to Nara?

You can sell at the Mauri border, or in Nouakchott if you are willing to pay a little bribe to mr customs man.

[Matt-A24]

Hello hello,

Thanks everyone for taking the time time reply with your thoughts. I'm setting off to Dover and beyond this Monday!

Regarding selling in Mauri, I had my car stamped into my passport last time down (2006) but there were plenty of sellers and buyers around.

Originally Posted by burden

There are several border crossings between Mauri & Mali, where the computerised system doesn't exist and where they charge you only 5.000 or 10.000 fcfa (depending which one you choose) for a "laissez-passer" to enter Mali.

Hello Burden, this is very interesting indeed. Do you know if the Selibaby-Melgue crossing still of the old-fashioned un-computerised sort? Does anyone have any opinions on the safety of this little corner of Mali lately?

Always looking for an excuse for a bit of off-road!

Much obliged once again,
Matt

[travale]

Hi guys,
wishing to drive from Nouad. to Senegal very beginning 2015. anybody can help with recent news about safety in driving a car straight from north to south on the coast? got some info but very difficult to understand how it really is.
many thanks to anyone that may help!

[Jim Lad]

Just back from a run down to Senegal/Gambia along the coast road in my own on a bike. No security issues, lots of police checks, used about 60 -70 fiches. The garage in Mauri, between the 2 cities, had petrol on the way down, had none on the way back.*

The borders on the way down were the major issue, mainly Rosso, but at the Western Sahara/Mauri border you have to be careful the Mauri Customs do not sadle you with a guide if they find out you are just going directly to Rosso.*


If you want more details have a read of:-


Basingstoke to Dakar * * * * * * *

[Jim Lad]

Just back from a run down to Senegal/Gambia along the coast road in my own on a bike. No security issues, lots of police checks, used about 60 -70 fiches. The garage in Mauri, between the 2 cities, had petrol on the way down, had none on the way back.*

The borders on the way down were the major issue, mainly Rosso, but at the Western Sahara/Mauri border you have to be careful the Mauri Customs do not sadle you with a guide if they find out you are just going directly to Rosso.*


If you want more details have a read of:-


Basingstoke to Dakar * * * * * * *

[travale]

Originally Posted by Jim Lad

Just back from a run down to Senegal/Gambia along the coast road in my own on a bike. No security issues, lots of police checks, used about 60 -70 fiches. The garage in Mauri, between the 2 cities, had petrol on the way down, had none on the way back.*

The borders on the way down were the major issue, mainly Rosso, but at the Western Sahara/Mauri border you have to be careful the Mauri Customs do not sadle you with a guide if they find out you are just going directly to Rosso.*


If you want more details have a read of:-


Basingstoke to Dakar * * * * * * *

thank you very much Jim Lad, how courageous were you riding all by bike..! thanks also for the suggestion of the site, very useful info! :-)

[Degvr56]

Update Mali - Mau border: no escort from Bamako to Gogui Be sure to unsubscribe your vehicle/ laissez passez in Nioro at Customs- office; on the border they don't have a PC connected to the National system!
On the Mau- side: Ebola-check. Digital Fever check.

Marocco: once they found out that you have a Mali- visa inyour passport there is a severe Ebola-procedure. Took us more than 3 hours. Maroccan officials are obsessed by the Ebola-risk

[gplhl]

Mali and Burkina Faso are fine, stick to the main routes, they are both great countries...



Gary
www.longbikeride.co.uk

[Whiskey]

Before the new year eve, I spoke and wished all the best with friend of mine, Baba from Atar. Maybe someone knows him from Atar or from auberge Menata in Nouakchott. He mentioned to me that the general situation in Mauritania and the Western Sahel is catastrophic. There are no tourists and consequently no earnings. People survives with the help of one to another and occasionally government financial help. The area around the Chinguetti and Ouadana is safe, but the influence of neighboring Mali, AQIM is taking its toll.

I wish to all travelers as many memorable and safe kilometers in 2015. Thomas

Picture of Baba: