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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 15 Dec 2010
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Mauritania - trip report
Hi,

I have just return from a 45-day trip to Mauritania.
We did: NDB-NKT-Rosso-Kaedi-Mbout-Selibabi-Yould Enje-Kiffa-NKT-Akjoujt-Bennichab-PN Banc d'Arguin-Chami-Choum-Azeffal dunes-Chami-NDB (we went for working reasons, that why the route zig-zags a lot!).

No problems at all. Police was relatively friendly.
In two occasions we were forced to camp side of the police station.
At each checkpoint, they questioned our following destination and the next checkpoint knew already that we were to arrive.
It happened in one occasion that we got a delay, and they were already searching for us.

So, apparently security was tighted and they were able to monitor the movements of foreigners.

Appart from the "police control", all the rest was as usuall in Mauritania: relaxed and friendly!

Btw:
- visas are not available at the border; they can be collected in Rabat.
- diesel price was on average 270 oug /litre.
- the exchange rate at NKT was 1 euro = 370 oug.


Cheers,
José
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Old 15 Dec 2010
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Old 17 Dec 2010
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Good news, thank you!
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Old 19 Dec 2010
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Visas at Mauritania border?
Hi, Jose,
Can you, please, confirm that your remark about visas not being available at the border of Mauritania applies to the border with Morocco/Western Sahara? I am headed that way right now and the Mauritanian embassy at Rabat told me it was possible to get visas there. That was last week. But, well, may I be forbidden slight incredulity when it comes to dealings with the institutions of the Islamic Republic? And, anyway, I called them and the person at the other end wouldn't even tell me their name for the record.
Any help much appreciated,
Sikander
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  #5  
Old 19 Dec 2010
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NO Visas at the border
From experience the Mauritanians do not give out visas at the border. It is sometimes hard enough to get a visa at some of their embassys - eg. Mali, where we waited for them to receive "stamps" - it took 4 days.

I would be very surprised given the current security situation that the above situation were to change.
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Old 19 Dec 2010
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Thank you.
Sikander
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  #7  
Old 19 Dec 2010
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Olá José

Congratulations for your amazing trip!
Good news from Mauritania.

Cheers,
Rui.
Castro Verde
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  #8  
Old 20 Dec 2010
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Hi Sikander,


In late October (when we entered RIM from Morocco), VISAS were not available at the border. They must be colected in Rabat.

Things may have changed in the meantime. However, given the current security constraints, I would not bet in waiting to arrive at the border for colecting the VISA.

In Rabat its easy and quick. Go to the embassy before 11:00AM (they are strict with time!). Its better to apperar earlier because you have to fillout a form. Bring the passport and a coloured passaport photo (an original, btw; they don't accept copies!). You collect the VISA the same day at about 14-15:00h.

We did this and on that very same day we moved south to sleep already in Guelmim (the new highway between Marrakech and Agadir make the High Atlas crossing very fast!!).

Cheers,
JC
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  #9  
Old 23 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sikander View Post
Hi, Jose,
Can you, please, confirm that your remark about visas not being available at the border of Mauritania applies to the border with Morocco/Western Sahara? I am headed that way right now and the Mauritanian embassy at Rabat told me it was possible to get visas there. That was last week. But, well, may I be forbidden slight incredulity when it comes to dealings with the institutions of the Islamic Republic? And, anyway, I called them and the person at the other end wouldn't even tell me their name for the record.
Any help much appreciated,
Sikander

I am emailing you because there has been a change in Mauritanian border policy that might affect the readers of your blog. I have recently embarked on a journey through West Africa.
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  #10  
Old 28 Dec 2010
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Its not THAT easy to get the Mauri visa in Rabat. Today people have been standing and pushing each other in front of the door from 8am to 11:30 (some said they were sleeping the night in front of the doors); and those few who have been lucky to get in were told to pick up a visa NEXT day afternoon. Others; including us; have to try again tomorrow;
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  #11  
Old 29 Dec 2010
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Thank you !
Thanks for the info Mr Brito !

About Visas, I do send my passport by special currier to RIM embassy in Madrid,
it does take 3 to 4 days.

I'm glad you guys had a great trip. I miss Mauritania !

Cheers !
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  #12  
Old 30 Dec 2010
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I was thinking about using Madrid instead of Rabat, until I read this on their website ......

REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR VISA TO ENTER MAURITANIA
Two passport-size photographs
Original valid passport
-A copy of residence permit or a note verbale from the embassy (for those who have no Spanish passport)
-Fill Out a Form
-Send a letter requesting a visa stating: "Reason for visit
"Travel date
"Length of stay in the country
"No entry to the country
The amount of the visa varies according to the number of tickets requested:
-Up to 2 months, the amount is € 62.50
-From 3 months to 1 year, the amount is € 93.75
The hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 13:30
The time for obtaining a visa is 4 days


Quote:
Originally Posted by armadillo View Post
Thanks for the info Mr Brito !

About Visas, I do send my passport by special currier to RIM embassy in Madrid,
it does take 3 to 4 days.

I'm glad you guys had a great trip. I miss Mauritania !

Cheers !
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  #13  
Old 28 Jan 2011
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Just came back from a few weeks in West Africa.

some points worth noting:

YOU CANNOT GET A VISA AT THE BORDER!!!!!
as much as people try and persuade you otherwise it is not possible. Saw two Lithuanians turned back and categorically told to go back to Rabat.

It is interesting that someone else had the same experience as I had in 2009 when the Mauri embassy also had no stamps!!! I also waited for 4 days. I guess there is a pattern here. Rabat is definetely the easiest embassy by far - I tried also tried Abidjan and Banjul on previous trips and Rabat is still the best

A little advice regarding the embassy. Turn up the day before in the afternoon - ask the "guardian" if he can give you some forms as you want visas. . Fill them in attach the necessary photos get to the embassy early the next day, have everything ready and stand in the line. I pressume that each day is different. I arrived at 9am and the line was small. The next day in the afternoon the passport are ready for collection. By African standards getting a Mauritanian visa is a piece of cake. Try and get a Sierra Leone visa in Guinea Konakry!!!
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