Hi,

We're travelling down from the UK to Gambia as part of the Plymouth to Banjul Challenge, then want to head over to Mali for the music festival. We're obviously going to have to drive back into Senegal to do this - are we likely to have problems getting back into Senegal?

Also any advice on the best route into Mali from Senegal? Have heard there are alot of problems with bandits! We'd be interested in hooking up with anyone else travelling to the festival via this route as well.

Cheers
Erika

Also, does anyone know if you can pick up a Mali visa from the consulate in Gambia??

Hi, if you have a carnet then getting back into Senegal should be no probs, if your doing the Plymouth Dakar I presume your car is over 5 years old. I have read on this site that it may be possible to get into Senegal by bribing a border guard, this maybe possible but then you will have to bribe every policeman you meet and you will meet plenty, been stopped quite a few times now and the first thing the police ask for is the carnet. Getting visa for Mail in Dakar now, takes 2 days and costs 15,000CFA have been told that the consulate in Banjul doesnt issue visas but I can not confirm this. Heading for Banjul tomorrow if all goes well.
Chris

Well , I partly disagree..

If bribe your way into Senegal.. then you are issued (at the border) a PassaAvant which lets you travel freely as long as It says (1-2 weeks).

you only need to bribe once ,. to get that paper.

Policemen , in roadblocks/controls Ask for a carnet-de-Passage ... OR a valid Passavant .

Regarding the worry about getting into senegal from Gambia .. Other than in the North(Mauri) border , there's absolutely no problems at-all. I crossed lots of times at FaraFeni .. and -other than the tipical 4000 CFA- they don't even seem to be aware of that 5 year's old rule.

Of course same for entering Senegal from Kayes,Kidira. (Mali)

It seems that the 5-year-old-rule / bribe or Carnet or Convoy ... Its just a huge corruption scheme built by the Rosso's douane chief which is only exerted in the north (Mauri) Border. . They are probbably making millions with the bribes (100 eur)or the convoy (250 Eur) .

Most of that money was spent in bribes /corruption to keep working at the Northern Douannes ! It seems that a lot of people makes a good living out of this absurd law! .

Back to the gambia thing I wouldnt Worry at all . Indeed I am fliying there in a week , and I plan to drive -either to Mali or to Guinee- and both options include driving thought Senegal.

Javier

oops sorry I forgot about the Visa question.

Yep > You can get your visa Issued on the Spot at the Kira/Kidira border.

Greetings

Javier

I understood the object of the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge was to donate the vehicles to a charity auction when they arrive in Gambia???.

It most certainly is, persumably you are auctioning your vehicle and then buying it back to help raise the funds or are you making a direct donation?

I am also doing the run, but we are taking motorbikes on a trailer to continue onwards to Algeria. That way we can donate the vehicle as required by the rules.

Which group are you in and we can swap information on getting thru borders etc..