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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 23 Jan 2011
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What now?
Hey guys,

Being a westerner and never in Africa before, I am very naive. I thought that my Mastercard would work everywhere. Well, not in Mauritania it doesnt. Anyone knows a way to send money to myself here online. I dont even have enough money to go back to Morocco now.

Cheers,
Zoltan
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  #2  
Old 23 Jan 2011
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Look for a bank with a Western Union sign in it, you can normally wire money to the bank and get it out that way. I've checked on the WU site and there are a bunch in Nouakchott but probably all over the place.
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  #3  
Old 23 Jan 2011
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There was a bank swhere downtown Nouakchott (green logo if I'm right, cannot remember which French bank...) and they just fixed the brand new ATM machines 3 years ago. They said they'd start operating soon... well, maybe in African terms.

Alternatively, wait a couple of days for the Budapest-Bamako crowd (2 more days I think), they usually stay at the campsite by the beach (Sabha) and around. I know the organizers so if you ask someone at home to send money to their HU account I can ask them to give you the same amount in Euros.

PM me if you think so.
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  #4  
Old 23 Jan 2011
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I have had luck with VISA in WA but not much with Master Card.
In Burkina some banks even had big MC signs but the stopped taking it years ago.
Western Union is too darn expensive but the best way if you're on empty.
Lots of internet cafés in Nkt now so you could have cash the same or next day.
PS - lots of faulty info in Lonely Planet guides about which cards are accepted, don't rely on it!
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  #5  
Old 23 Jan 2011
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Better not to count on ATM's from Layoone to Bamako on the Atlantic Route.
(Layoone I've paid with card in a hotel in 2007 - I remember so.)


g.
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  #6  
Old 24 Jan 2011
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banks in Mauritnaia
in Nouakchott, go to BNP Paribas, ask at any of the hotel/overland camps for this. in the centre, easy to get to etc - it's the green sign with white logo as described before.

our lastest west africa guide said we could get money here and was the only place in Mauritania

i was getting money from here every day to stock up with. And you card should work there

i did get money from also

there is one in Nouadhibou now, you can also try if you are there
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  #7  
Old 8 Feb 2011
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Best of luck for you, Zoltán
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  #8  
Old 8 Feb 2011
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Yeah, thanks. Selling a bike in Bamako is not for my nerves, they are really a shower of w&^kers there, nobody has cash. In the end I decided to ride the bike back to Europe... and maybe continue on to Asia on it if it holds up. I am just kicking back in Dakhla, Western Sahara and going to spend a few weeks in Spain before heading north.

For anyone who wants to sell a bike in Mali, ask them to show the actual cash before even talking to them. And don't trust anyone, especially not the ones trying to help you.
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  #9  
Old 11 Feb 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barothi View Post
Selling a bike in Bamako is not for my nerves, they are really a shower of w&^kers there, nobody has cash....
For anyone who wants to sell a bike in Mali, ask them to show the actual cash before even talking to them. And don't trust anyone, especially not the ones trying to help you.
Hahaaa! A very familiar story. Imagine me trying to sell a bendy bus in Bamako 3 years ago

Everyone's interested but in the end you realize they only wanted to chat. Everyone knows somebody interested (just wait for the 'boss') and that person never shows up. Ever.

That's why I recommended you selling your bike with the Bamako people as that's the biggest market around and you might have found a buyer even for a bike (and also to contact me for assistance as I have HU friends living their with lots of local contacts).

Safe ride!
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  #10  
Old 12 Feb 2011
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Oh yes, trying to sell something in Mali (or anywhere in Africa?) can drive you nuts.
Some people enjoy it, I don't. But now I let my Mauri friend handle most negotiations and he's fantastic. If anyone needs help of any kind in Nkt let me know and I will give you his mobile number.
If there is no stamp in the passport I would prefer selling in Nkt to Bko.
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  #11  
Old 20 Feb 2011
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Hey, priffle,

can you please PM me his contacts?
Never know when I might need him
Why do you prefer NKT? Prices or sg. else?


g.
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  #12  
Old 24 Feb 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gagarin View Post
Hahaaa! A very familiar story. Imagine me trying to sell a bendy bus in Bamako 3 years ago

Everyone's interested but in the end you realize they only wanted to chat. Everyone knows somebody interested (just wait for the 'boss') and that person never shows up. Ever.

That's why I recommended you selling your bike with the Bamako people as that's the biggest market around and you might have found a buyer even for a bike (and also to contact me for assistance as I have HU friends living their with lots of local contacts).

Safe ride!
I think that sometimes it can be a deliberate purchasing strategy: Foreigners trying to sell a vehicle will probably fly home, which means they have a flight to catch, which means maybe they can be strung along for 2 days and then desperately accept a much lower offer...

After the 2009 Budapest-Bamako I had this problem in Ouagadougou; it was very frustrating as a potential buyer would keep on saying "The boss is coming... let's talk about cash in another hour...". They were just playing games, hoping they could haggle a desperate seller down from €2500 to €1000.
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  #13  
Old 24 Feb 2011
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I wasn't that desperate to sell... I was just really happy that good prices were offered. Then I realised what's going on after a while. The people buying at the hotel parking lot after the B2B rally arrived were the same who offered to buy my bike.. I talked to them. It was an organised thing and the owner of the hostel I stayed in was the main player. They knew exactly when I was to leave...

Anyways, the ride back to Spain was amazing, and this way I can hang around here much longer... Andalucia is amazing this time of the year, and I have some catching up to do with the eating

Thanks for the tips, I will know who to talk to when I next make a trip to sell a car or bike...

One last thing, take a Yamaha and as big a bike as possible... with a really loud can... that's what they want.
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