Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Like Tree47Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #46  
Old 8 Nov 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
Oh nice! Looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 9 Nov 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by karsensimone View Post
Does anyone know if you can drive into and through Mauritania safely yourself (coming from Morocco). Hearing and reading lots of stories about obligated convoi you have to join at the border for quite a lot of money.
Anyone experience??

Thanks!
Bonjour!
Friends driving their converted bus just got into Mauritania and drove to the Capital city without trouble!
HOWEVER:
1) they had to do the border formalities trough a "forwarding agent" a local guy, not official nor qualified of course, who charges 50 Euros...without any receipt or ...
Guess where the money ends up?
2) the price for one month visa jumped from 50E to ....120 E
Again no receipt

Now they are confortably resting on the wonderful beach 20k north of Nouackshot
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 13 Nov 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey, UK
Posts: 29
Hi,
Currently in Nouakchott having crossed over from Morocco a few days ago.

Got visa in Rabat 10,000dhm. Stayed in vehicle overnight outside embassy to be first in queue. Chap wanted 10dhm for parking, same again when collecting visa the same day. Negotiate, but many people tip him more in Euros.

Arrived at border late afternoon and waited till it closed before joining queue and again slept in vehicle.

Get immigration form from police just inside gate in the morning rather than paying 10dhm for somebody to fill it out for you. Again parking person will want some money for you staying there (2dhm, asked for 10).

As soon as gates open get non drivers to walk through to first customs shed and put passports outside window.

Driver will get ushered through, join passport with others already in queue.
Ensure you have the green piece of paper from TIP with you.

Various police checks , customs stamps etc before being allowed out but all fairly clear.

Enjoy the drive through no-mans land.....

At Mauritania side drive through gates ignoring touts. Border guards very friendly and attempted to help out by directing to wrong building.

All a little confusing after that. Don't let go off passport etc unless necessary.
Essentially, one building to get visa.
One building for immigration and stamps in passport.
One building to get vehicle paperwork
One building for customs to deal with vehicle paperwork more passport stamps.
One building right at the exit for gendarmes to check again.
Free to walk around area and get money changed etc whilst waiting.

The vehicle paperwork was hardest. A couple of other vehicles there also having issues. Customs refused to deal with vehicle paperwork directly and insisted used an official helper. 40Euros to get piece of paper typed up, this then taken back to customs and entered in book, passport stamped etc.

On leaving carpark, receipt given for 500oug to drop chain and allow out of customs parking, then just a final gendarme check.

Have plenty of fiche ready, used 3 just being down the road to Nouadibhou.

Finally, ensure no alcohol etc in vehicle. A dog was used in vehicle search on Morocco side. Pretty thorough check x2 on Mauritania side, boxes out, bags opened. Bottle of fruit squash queried as being alcohol etc.

Good luck!
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 13 Nov 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey, UK
Posts: 29
Got insurance in Nouadhibou, 6,988 oug for 10 days.
Only one campsite open in Nouadhibou. Camping Baie Du Levrier. 5,000oug for 2 people and vehicle.
Camping Abba being demolished.
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 13 Nov 2015
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
Thanks for border update, Richard. I think you meant 1000 dh for the Rabat visa?
I guess no insurance kiosk at the Mori border anymore?
What was the oog x rate at the border?
Did you try exchange in No Man's Land or NDB?
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old 13 Nov 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 95
Thanks for the update! Do you have the coords for the campsite? Couldn't find it on google or Osm. Will be there tomorrow afternoon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 14 Nov 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
At the border, a tout makes it easier, sometimes necessary if the lines are long etc.
My fav tout is Hamida +222 47403323
he has a sense of humour and is very efficient
three years ago I had the family in the car and there was a hundred Senegambian car dealers before us, things were getting nasty. But he took us through in 30 minutes. So money well spent!
going rate used to be 20 euros but I think they may be getting greedy at the border now, which may spell trouble if it goes on unchecked
Hamida even helped me hide the whiskey inside the back door in nomansland after I had broken my arm last year.
Don't exchange more then you need at the border, you can get a much better rate in Nouakchott, esp at the grand marché.
When in Nouakchott why not visit Ahmed Fall's famed record store, le Saphire d'Or Saphire D'Or - sahelsounds
From afrobeat to zouk: the Mauritanian home of rare African sounds | World news | The Guardian
Ahmed Fall was the first rock musician in Maure, long time ago, still a great poet and singer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5c468ibHAg
In Mauretanie there is the division between maures and blacks that goes back a looooooong time, but in later years there is a growing sense of being of one nation. The one thing that unites all Mauretanians is the voice of Dimi (r.i.p.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19aTW5lIygc
Mauretania used to be a godforsaken place that you passed (with difficulty) going to "Africa". It is becoming more and more interesting as its own destination, esp with the troubles now in the rest of the Sahara.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 16 Nov 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 95
Four of us crossed into Mauritania yesterday (on motorbikes). Two of us used a fixer named Cheik who charged 10 euros a piece. The other two crossed on their own, following our example. We paid 120 euros for visa, 10 for 1 week temp import permit, 15 for one week of insurance. There was no hassle with having someone prepare our TIPs- we filled in the document ourselves and handed it over. The official rate on the mauri side was very close to the xe.com exchange which id checked the night before (for euros). 30 ougs for dirhams (some guy on the street outside offered 34). If alone, I'd recommend using Cheik or another friendly fixer for ten euros, but you could do it yourself too.

Someone came up asking us to pay for parking which we refused to pay on principle since the fixer hadn't mentioned that cost at the outset. It may have been a "real" cost though as the other two were forced to pay and our fixer told us he paid for us (1 Eur).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old 17 Nov 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 273
Just returned from Mauritania. I can confirm Cheikh is useful, reasonably priced and speaks good(ish) english. Used him on the way in then had a blazing row about how much the temp import cost, then found out if you want more than 2 weeks it goes up a lot! All smoothed over and I suggested he tell clients all the costs beforehand and he seemed to agree this was a good idea. His number is 00222 36189569. He has a shifty eyed buddy who hangs around at the Morocco side but they are legit. I'm not a great fan of using fixers, but there's not a single helpful official on the Mauri side of this border and no signs on any of the offices so they certainly make things simpler.
Chris: Insurance is still available at the border.
Ride/drive safe,
Simon.
(Green Land Rover 110 you may have seen heading north a couple of days ago!)
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old 17 Nov 2015
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
Sounds like as Rosso on the south side has got better, now the disease has spread up to Mori/Mk border. What a shame. They really are not encouraging tourism. Maybe that's the idea, like Algeria.

Last edited by Chris Scott; 24 Nov 2015 at 08:37.
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old 19 Nov 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 65
I use a fixer too, fot the last 4 years or so. Sometimes it's 10 euros, sometimes it's just a present for him or his family. The rest of expenses (as of 3 weeks ago): 120 eu visa, 50 eu in total customs carpapers filled in by another fixer, police no expenses, insurance 25 eu for a mid sized truck (can be much more, depending on your negotiating capabilities), 2.5 eu for parking ))))))))). Exchange rate for dirham 34-36. 1 euro 380 ougiyas. You can much better insurance deals in Nouadhibou or Bou Lanouar, but then you have to sneak past a police chekpoint set up especially for smart guys that. Security is very good. My travelling companion got a stone thrown at him driving at night. Luckily he was not hurt. We decided to report the incident anyway. The gendarmes chief called us twice to apologise for the incident in the name of his country, wow, and they actualy caught the four young perpetrators. After many years detesting the country I slowly start to like Mauritania. I aways sleeps in the brousse, never had any probs.
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old 21 Nov 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 5
We applied for ours in Rabat on the 10/11/2015. Very easy except were not pleased to see prices have risen from 340 dirham to 1000Dirham for single entry
2x passport sizes photos
1x copy of passport
make sure to have address and contact number for place you will be staying in Maurintania.
Very easy process. Arrived early at 8am and collected same day at 2pm
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old 21 Nov 2015
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
A recent description

Around the World Ed-Venn-ture, the next 800 days | Page 258 | Adventure Rider
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old 22 Nov 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Thanks for thir report☺
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old 24 Nov 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
We crossed the border into Mauritania 4 days ago ( 20 nov.). We already had a visa but there were many people buying theirs at the border. No problem at all. To be paid in euro's and costs € 120 though.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
border, diama, mauritania, passavant, senegal


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 4 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 4 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride saralou Ride Tales 3565 4 Weeks Ago 18:23
Complete Central America/Mexico/Colombia Border Crossing Information sellheim Central America and Mexico 30 7 Mar 2023 00:33
An interesting border crossing between Laos and Thailand Outhere Ride Tales 3 7 Dec 2014 15:06
Venezuela border crossing info johnbrooks Route Planning 0 9 Jun 2014 21:24
Caucasus and Central Asia - visa and border crossing info crash Northern and Central Asia 19 4 Mar 2013 17:22

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:59.