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Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 15 Jan 2005
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Morocco to Gambia
Hi all,

In November of this year I am going to travel with a Land Rover Defender 110 from the UK to Gambia, (France, Spain, Morroco, Mauritania, Sengal and Gambia). I am doing some work in Gambia for two months and decided to drive it. I can be away for a total of 14 weeks so have enough time to get down and be back and spend 8 weeks in Gambia

Two questions:

Will it be safe - not too worried about diseases - more mugged by bandits. I will be with my four children and the other half?

Can we get through Senegal in a 10 year old Land Rover Defender 110? I will of course have insurnace and a Carnet.

Many thanks

Andrew

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I came, I saw. I ran for it.

[This message has been edited by AndySabb (edited 14 January 2005).]
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  #2  
Old 24 Jan 2005
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check out www.plymouth-dakar.com for how we did the same trip last year in a suzuki jeep for breast cancer research. A book is also available from the site which will give you a taster for what you will see. No probs with hawkers, just very persistent hawkers in the tourist areas.
I did the trip with my dad, which proved an ice breaker when people found out. My impression was that the locals are very familly orientated, which should work in your favour.

regards and have fun

andy


land rover 101 camper
daihatsu fourtrack
landrover 110

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  #3  
Old 25 Jan 2005
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Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
Hi,
I've just got back from a bike trip down to Dakar and I would say that it is pretty safe ... I never felt threatened or unwelcome at all really. Morocco and Mauritania were just great. In Mauritania the Police and the Army were even able to crack the ofddjoke about Bin Laden whilst serving us T in a shack and really were very helpful - they couldn't have been more friendly and not one asked for a "cadeaux" or any money at all ! (must have met 15 - 20 road checks in three weeks)

Senegl, on the other hand, was a beaurocratic rip off where every single official with a uniform wanted to inspect my papers and blackmail me for cash if they thought they could find something wrong. In one 3 km section of road leaving St Loius for Dakar I was stopped five times by 5 seperate road blocks by different police / military forces all of whom were just trying to find a dot in the wrong place on my papers so they could "fine" me ! But by then I had all my papers in absolutely immaculate order so they got nothing !

But apart from that, I thought it was all great and can't wait to get back there asap !

enjoy,

Simon
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  #4  
Old 28 Jan 2005
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I just came the other way on motorbike. no drama. no bribes. I´d suggest you cross from mauretania into senegal at the diama barage near st louis rather than the hassle hot-spot of rosso
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  #5  
Old 29 Jan 2005
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Hi mate,

I just completed the 2005 Plymouth - Banjul Challenge in a Rangie. Great route, no real hassles and top fun. Got stung 60 euro's at the Mori - Senegal border, however I suspect that this was because we were PDCers and this is the standard bung, you shouldn't have to pay this.

Atlantic route is possible without a guide with GPS, you may be able to tag along with other Overlanders at the campsite in Dahkla if you don't fancy doing it alone!!

Diama crossing is much preferred to Rosso by PDCers, less hassle, but still not that quick.

Cheers

Steve
www.teamgwr.co.uk
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