Kiffa-->Kayes
 

Anyone got any recent experience of this route? i.e. is there a road? What's the surface (if there is one!)?

No roads.
Sandy piste for the most part, with some rocks. A number of oueds to pass, which will pose problems for your Merc 190 ;)
but doable in dry season

Thanks for the info ..... we will be going in the winter. Me in a Mondeo and my friend in a discovery (if I ask nicely he will probably pull me out of any soft sand!)

Is it an easy-to-find piste or do we need some waypoints? Is it do-able in a day?

You won't get far in a Mondeo. From memory its about 250km and a lot of deep sand. I pulled some sedan cars out of the sand about 200km from the end of the sealed road where they wisely turned back.

Don't bother, it would take days and destroy the Mondeo. My landy was working hard in the deep sand, no chance in a Mondeo....

Thanks for that - it sort of confirmed my suspicions! I've done some pretty rough trips in 2WDs but this sounds like a trip too far!! Got any thoughts on the Ayoun-->Nioro route????

TIA

Roger

Ayoun - Nioro - Bamako is very good.
The only bad part is between Kiffa and Tintane. But still doable for 2wd, even in rainy season.

(I did it this August.)

Thanks for that --- good to know --- just out of curiosity, any knowledge of Kayes--->Nioro???

Hi,
I haven't actually done the stretch between Nioro and Sandare, so i stand to be corrected, but based on what i have done in the area i would think it'd be fine.
Can definitely confirm Ayoun - Nioro - Bamako is no issue at all.

Happy travels
Sam