 61Likes
 |
8 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 3
|
|
|
Mauritania
More clarification desired...and sorry for that...
So...the new price of visa at the border is now *55 eur* and not 40 as was annouced/rumoured? And what is the advice on paying 10 eur to the fixer...s it worth it or it is easy enough to just do it on your own? I am travelling by autostop/by public transport.
Thanx!!!
A
|
9 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 15
|
|
|
Hi
I have an easy question for you. I am planning my first trip to Senegal and reading this topic, a doubt come to me. Can you pay the visa in euros? Or you have to pay it in local currency?
Thanks!!
|
9 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 42
|
|
|
We paid in Euros. I don't think they'd even want local, but I suppose anything's possible.
For the fixer question, having now done it once already, I would use cheikh again.
For a first-timer, nothing is labelled, and finding the right place (particularly when the biometric guys show up 3 hours late) is near impossible. Nobody is helpful.
That's not why I'd buy the fixer, though.
Once the people show up to start doing biometric work, the fixers, on behalf of their clients, re-arrange the order of "presentation" for the border personnel. Constantly. like, fixer A puts his dude on top, then fixer B notices, puts his dude on top, repeat. The border people are diddling with their cell phones while this all goes on. Negotiations occasionally "break out" among the parties. The applicants just line the wall, shell-shocked, while the game plays out.
Cheikh is clearly the biggest A-hole of the group. You want to be the passports he's putting on top of the pile, and you want to be the one on whose behalf he yells at guards, visa processing people, and other fixers, because he seems to win the arguments.
Treat it like an amusing bit of African or Arab bureaucratic theater, and it all makes a bit more sense.
My $0.02
- Mike
|
12 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 54
|
|
|
I can confirm the visa fee is now €55 in euros with change given plus €10 for TIP. 6/1/17
I didn't use a fixer, and thanks to wanted's excellent description a few pages back navigated all the buildings with limited French. No coruption or 'cadeau' requested, just bureacracy. Took 3.5 hours from arriving at morocco side to finishing mauritania side. Most time was waiting for the visa guys in mauritania to finish lunch and then prayers (1.5 hours).
No fixer used, again thanks to wanted's descriptions. Those that are therequired generally aren't too bothersome. Cheikh is clearly top dog amongst them and seems pretty reasonable to deal with. All the fixers do is get you to the top of the pile, but it wasn't busy when I crossed so no issue.
I got tip for 20 days just by asking, so no need to extend in nouakchott.
One other thing, the Internet connection they have is unreliable and they can't do the visa without it. This meant the people an hour after me took 7 hours to cross. I also met an Italien guy in nouadhibou who had the same problem. It took him 13 hours including them escorting him and others to nouadhibou airport to do the visa and then taking them back to the border to finish off!
Hope that helps
|
13 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 3
|
|
Thanx for all the info, especially to jamesallen and wanted. Really appreciate it. 
Now to other things...I travel low-cost with my friend and we are now in Dakhla. We want to cross the border and get to Noadhibou. We don't have a vehicle and are travelling by hitch-hiking (preferably) and/or public transport.
As far as I understand the border closes at 18h and it is wise to be there as soon as possible in the morning. So...does anyone know about decent hotel options in Guergerat? Decent would mean that the price is ok (up to 100 dh for room for 2 persons) and hassle-free. What are options to get to the border crossing and then navigate the border from Morocco post...through no-mans-lan....to the end of Mauritania post...*without* own vehicle? Is it feasible to count on some european travellers that would be ready to take us with them?
After we successfully navigate the crossing, have visas in our passports and say goodby to the police...what about getting to Noadhibou...? I understand it is still 60-70 km to the town. Buses? Taxis? Hitch-hiking?
Sorry for asking so much...really thanx for all the answers!!
A
|
13 Jan 2017
|
 |
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,995
|
|
Not been there myself for years but the Barbas hotel is 85km form the border and a likely place to get a lift.
No formal lodgings at the Mk border post, afaik.
Most overland travellers have little space in their vehicles, but locals use taxis I'm sure.
|
13 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 42
|
|
Barbas will be your only lodging. It's basic, cheapish (I seem to recall 30 Eur for a double), and has a restaurant and fuel (which you won't need ) -- No A/C, Fan, or hot water. Wifi is janky and terrible but worked occasionally. Food was good.
...if you don't already have iOverlander, it is vital for discovering these sort of places that everyone uses.
You'll want to get there in early afternoon to start working your hustle to get a ride. I'm sure at some point a taxi or van roll through there, but we didn't see any.
Getting to the border at 9am sharp is possibly to your detriment, as the staff arrive late and there was a backlog for us, which caused delays. I imagine by noon the place is deserted and you can sail through.
$0.02 -- Good luck.
- Mike
|
14 Mar 2017
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Moossou, Grand Bassam, Cote d'Ivoire
Posts: 285
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
Not been there myself for years but the Barbas hotel is 85km form the border and a likely place to get a lift. |
When you enter Bir Gandouz (& as marked on the map) there is a hotel behind that first filling station on the right about 200m before Barbas Hotel. It was great, a very clean room with en suite, from memory it cost us about 200Dh or less for a twin room, there's a restaurant downstairs & good wifi.
As for driving down Hazel, I did the same to Cote d'Ivoire mostly alone as a female in December, it's absolutely fine - we all had to drive through the stand off between the Polisario & Moroccans, UN chopper flying overhead & a few UN vehicles on the little mound to the left after the tarmac
At the Mauri border, I kept the fixers at bay and did it myself, I was done in 20mins or so (internet obviously had a good day) ... insurance took minutes, again from memory (left all the details in Cote d'Ivoire) it cost me about 15euros for a Mercedes Sprinter on the shortest time they'd give me, spent a total of 3 days in Mauri.
|
19 Jan 2017
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,466
|
|
|
You pay in euros.
Mauretanieans say the northern border post is run by two of the president's sons, so it is a family enterprise (must be lucrative) and if they can't decide on the cost that is a family feud.
Would be interesting to know if they offer multiple entry visa at the border. And what they offer in Rabat.
|
26 Feb 2017
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,995
|
|
|
|
1 Mar 2017
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 52
|
|
|
|
14 Mar 2017
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1
|
|
|
getting visa/crossing moroccan and mauritania
Ive been reading all these threads and am driving a vehicle to ghana for an NGO in june.
Has anyone done the crossing morocco to mauri in the last week?
has anything changed due to recent events?
"Morocco says forces to withdraw in Western Sahara's Guerguerat standoff | Reuters"
can anybody tell me the cost of visa/insurance etc and whether they are still doing visa at the border?
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 2 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
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
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...
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)
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 Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.
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!
Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books
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.
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.
|
|
|
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
Hybrid Mode
