Malcolm

Diama is WEST of Rosso, not east, I don't have a Michelin 953 map but if I can remember properly it was never marked very well on it, its possibly marked as "barrage" or whatever, anyway it's a doddle to find.

Regarding the other crossings, I don't know if the other ferries are working or not, I think the one at Bakel was running a couple of years ago, but most of the traffic crosses the river at Kidira/Diboli on the bridge now.

I said earlier on that the biggest problem is crossing the river into Senegal and not being able to do the paperwork for the car. If you have no laissez-paisser or no stamp in your carnet de passage then the car will more than likely be impounded. I sell cars in Senegal occassionally and where you may have gotten away with no papers a year or two ago with a heafty backhander those days are well and truly over since Senegals new President clamped down on corruption.

If you want to enter Senegal I would only do it legally at either Diama, Rosso or Kidira.

If you want a trip to see scenery, then I really recommend Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry (which is even better if youre on a bike), and the Man area of Cote d'Ivoire. You can either pass through Senegal and Gambia which are a nice change after Mauritania or cut through West Mali, I could suggest you go Kayes, Diamou, Sellinkegni, Bafoulabe (ferry CFA5,000) and then either the difficult piste along the river to Kita or the good dirt road via Manantalis. The road from Kayes to Bafoulabe is one of the most beautiful in West Africa and one of the least travelled. You don't need 4WD either, a 2WD with a lot of ground clearance (Mercedes 207) will do it to.