Has anybody any experience or know if it's possible to cross the border at another place than Rosso or Diama ?

We're planning a trip and we would like to cross the border further south. Coming from Nema and entering at Bakel, Matam, Kaedi, Bogue or Podor ?

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bart & sophie

hi

When are you planing this trip?

We are planning (august) to enter Senegal, coming from Nema, but using Mali border.

We plan this route because the problems in Senegal border with cars with more them 5 years...

If we don’t use the Mali border, for any reason, information about any Senegal/Mauritania border closer to Nema would be useful…



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best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight

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bernardo feio (Portugal)
2.5 Land Rover Lightweight / BMW R80 G/S PD / Toyota HZJ 78

Our plans are roughly:

Entering Mauritania, by car, begin Novembre, explore some places and routes (Nhoadibou - Atar - Tidjikja - Tichit - Nema) depending on conditions (weather, terrain, car and drivers) and the possibilities to find some company on the more isolated routes (?).

Then we plan to go to Senegal > Gambia > Mali > Burkina > back to the north (nothing planned yet...).

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bart

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bart & sophie

In general there is no other option than Rosso or Diama, especially with a car. The Senegal river is just impossible to cross with a car.

If you want to avoid Rosso and Diama, basicaly only option you have is via Kayes and then crossing in Kidira; road from Nioro to Kayes is almost finished now (brand new tarmac), road from Kayes to Kidira is crap but also being redone.

If you want more info, we could give you some since we just returned from 7-month trip through West Africa.

jef and ruth

"In general there is no other option.....especially with a car....."

With "in general" do you mean: The other ferries (like those I mentioned, found on several maps) are no 'car-ferries', don't run anymore or they will sometimes let people thru ?

I've found one site, with only a little info and I don't know the date of publishing or if it's for cars too:
http://lexicorient.com/mauritania/z_arrivals.htm


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bart

[This message has been edited by Sophie&Bart (edited 20 April 2004).]

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bart & sophie

Hi, everybody,

I can definietly settle the issue of crossing the Senegal River by car between Mauri and Senegal.

We were coming back from Mali heading to Mauri via Senegal on January 2004.

We were also going to avoid Rosso pass. Unfortunately there was no other place along Senegal River with ferry boat carrying vehicles onboard, but passangers. There is, by the way, quite new bridge over the river, but up the river, in Kayes, Mali.

We were also asking for this possibility at the Border Police at Podor and were informed that the only border post for cars is available in Rosso. By the way, policeman was very interested in why we are so inquiring looking for the alternative, probably taking us for smugglers ...

Finally we have passed at Rosso. 5 minutes on Senegal side (customs - Carnet de Passage and pass check at Border Police post) than half an hour behind the barrier (most fraud do not pass it)waiting for a ferry. Small gift to one of the remaining opened the poll position for our car, as there are many waiting.

At the other river side we were directly asked by Mauri officer for all papers. After 15 minutes he came with a bill for all necessary fees and we were ready to leave the border post. Officer was not insisting too much for a provision, however we paid him 10% of the bill for his perfect service. He arranged also a change at the "official" rate at the nearby shop, let us avoid loosing money or bad exchange rate on the street.

Good luck to everybody at this border, we do not claim anything there!

Danek

Quote

"In general there is no other option.....especially with a car....."
With "in general" do you mean: The other ferries (like those I mentioned, found on several maps) are no 'car-ferries', don't run anymore or they will sometimes let people thru ?


Unquote

Meaning is very simple: no ferries or bridges for cars. Off course you can always go for the option of tieing 2 or 3 pirogues together and cross that way, I have seen it done before, pretty adventurous but effective (well, most of the time).

By the way, if you plan to go to Gambia, please let me know. I recently moved to The Gambia (don't know for how long for the moment), so would be nice to meet over here.

Good luck,

Jef

Thank you all for the replies.

Don't think we go for the really adventurous aproach (at the moment), so we have to decide between a shortcut thru Mali or a long detour to Rosso/Diama.
That leaves me with another question; Does anybody know how a short trip, from border (mauritanie) to border (senegal), effects our visas, we've planned a longer stay / travel in Mali a month later, so I reckon we've got to get new visas in Dakar ?

Jef, we're coming to Gambia in December, would be nice to meet...


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bart

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bart & sophie