Hi!

I have been thinking about taking some time off next spring (earlier is not possible) and travel solo from Sweden to Senegal and back on my bike (BMW F650).

The idea is to leave Sweden in late February and return back home in the beginning of June. A month ago I thought that I’d just spend three months in Morocco, but I have already been there once (1 month, backpacking), so I am considering going further south this time.

I understand the weather further south gets hotter and hotter the further towards the summer it gets, so the plan is to put the bike on the train through Germany and France and try to enter Morocco 1 mars.

After entering Morocco I’ll try to travel in the interior and head south. In Mauritania the idea is to ride along the coast down to Senegal (since it looks like it will be too hot in the interior). Once in Senegal I’ll do the reverse trip although at least in Morocco try a different route.

I understand that I don’t need a carnet and that I can get multiple entry visas for Morocco and Mauritania on the way, so returning wont be to difficult, but I am mostly concerned about the weather. As far as I have knowledge of it will at least be dry, but is it going to be too hot? The plan is to be down in Dakar in early April and back in morocco again in late April/early May.

Any suggestions or advices, before I ask my boss for some time off…

Regards,
Spakur

Well,
since nobody has commented this topic, I guess I'll be fine :-)

Regards,
Spakur

Moved to the Sahara Forum, probably more useful for you Spakur!

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

All sounds fairly possible. Not sure if you can get the visa on the border for Mauritania or whether you will need to go to the consulate. Think I remember it moving to Casablanca, we went to it when it was in Rabat. Obviously will be faster if you can get it in advance or on the border. Trip down the Mauritania coast is good and pretty fast. The local Landcruisers go between Noudibiou and Nouachott in about 11 hours straight. However much more enjoy ablte to do it over say 2 - 3 days. Then one more day into Senegal. Not sure whether Senegal requires a carnet. There have been some reports of them cracking down on travellers vehicles recently. Worth checking out to make sure there isn't a problem. Try looking through some of the other links on the sahara forum for more info on that.

Hi

A loaded F650 will be working hard in mauritanian sands... practice in advance if possible.
About the weather your major problems will be cold and rain in europe, and wind in mauritania.
Enjoy!

Renato (Portugal)
ps- if passing in Portugal you will be welcome at my home.

Hej!
Jag kommer att åka från Nigeria till Europa med lokaltrafiken. Jag kommer bland annat att åka genom Senegal, Mauritanien och Marocko. Om du behöver info så kan du maila mig på jvikingsson@hotmail.com vid nyår. Jag börjar min resa den 22:e nov.

[This message has been edited by Sokoto (edited 15 November 2003).]

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Skånepåg

The weather is the least of your problem. Not to worry, you can even try the interior of Mauri at this time.

Your main concern is the Senegal import ban, if your bike or more than 5 years old. Watch this spot for updates, but you might need a carnet or transit convoy guide.

Morocco is normally visa free, should be for Icelanders too?!
Mauri visa is cheapest in Casa, read Chris Scotts Atlantic route pages for full info first, it will answer all your questions!

Och ring mig om du behöver mer tips, jag åkte till Dakar 1999! 08-604 87 60

Jan

hi Spakur
at the beginning of May'06 paid for Mauritanian visa on the border = 20 euro, and 10 euro for something like douane or so... Finally 30 euro without problems, even ate lunch with Mauritanian police oficers in his "office" for free !! Have a nice trip - Romek

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Hello Spartacus,

Don't think the heat will be to much for you, or your bike.
Get your mauri visa at the border, but remember you will want to come back up so either ask for multiple entry or get another visa in Dakar/Senegambia Gambia.
I got caught out at Diama on the way back. You can't buy mauri visa at Diama and had to go through F****ing Rosso in order to get Visa.
If you are not going on the new road from NDB to NKT then hook up with some 4 wheels and off load some of your bags for the sandy stuff.
Take a carnet if your bikes older than 5 years. You may need to use it ( for Senegal only).

have fun

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You can get a laissez passer at the Senegal border if you don't have a carnet. cost me 80E and a coat for two TLCs in april this year going south, and about 10E for one coming north! there was a guy who had tried the same and been sent back to the border. we think it was because his details were written freely in his passport instead of on the official stamp. It can be a bit hit and miss I've heard but we had no problems. If you do, go to the other border or try at a different time. this was all crossing at the barrage. I did Rosso 3 years ago and got through without a carnet but wouldn't want to do it again!! I was really worried about the border but it was one of the easiest and quickest we did, getting out of gibraltar into Spain was the worst!!

The biggest problem we had weather wise was that at about 15:00 the wind would whip a terrific sandstorm and we couldn't drive on the piste, roads were ok but not pleasant. It happened every day and really curtailed our distances.

don't forget if you really want to you can do this whole route on tarmac now. we cut east to follow the piste by the railway which was a great drive, but tough on the vehicles.

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I understand you can cross from Morrocco to senegal via mauritania all on Tarmac rather than sand. Which route would one use to achieve this? would I be able to do this in my sedan car?
Bernie

Yes, you would Bernie; it's all tarred bar a 5km piste between the Moroccan & Mauritanian borders but the Moroccan bus company CTM is meant to be seeing to this!

Kira

Heat.

It's Gonna be warm, but OK and enjoyable I reckon. Just keep hydrated. Gambia was 36 degrees C in December, which was pretty hot to ride around in, but nice enough.

Cooler further north. I Didn't need to take the lining out of my jacket until the border with Mauritania heading south. Noticed a step change upward in temp from there though. I managed to dehydrate on the NDB to NKC road the following day though! (Fool). This should not of hapenned, it wasn't that hot. I just got lazy with fluid intake. Just goes to show that you need to tailor personal requirements according to how well your body deals with heat/needs fluids etc.

Carnet or not.

The availability of the Lazzez Passer could boil down to who's on duty at the Senegal border that day. People do seem to get them it seems. I would always use the Carnet. Minimises hassle, time and the scope to be charged spurious 'fees'. It's a useful thing for saving time and avoiding 'fees' at other borders as well, but that's just me.

Heading north again in late December it was freezing in Morocco. You won't have this problem though.

Craig.

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Hello!
It looks that we are going the same way, about the same time. I also hope to leave Tanger around the 1. of march, but I would like to go back through mali to Niger and cross the Sahara and Algerie. I am now working on an invitation so I will get the visa for Algerie. Maybe we could look at the possibility to team up? At least for a while. I am driving a yamaha 660 Tenere.

Greetings

Haakon

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