Mauri/Senegal Border Crossing
 

Hi saharans

A small group of four of us are planning to cross the Mauri/Senegal border at Diama in April next year on Kawasaki KLR650s. Morocco to Mauri was amazing, and can't wait to see more of this amazing continent.

I'm seeking any info re Nouakchott to Diama road condition at this time of year, and the best approach to Diama border officials (costs, process, etc).

There is other stuff on HUBB about this border but most of the info is a bit stale. It's amazing how quickly things change in this region.

Regards
Tony

Hi Tony,

The road to Diama is currently being upgraded, and the guys at Zebrabar say it is currently closed to large vehicles due to the upgrading (quite tricky terrain to work on for a section of it). Bikes are allowed through atm.

In April the road will be fine. I have driven it in April/May on a number of occasions and the road is dry as a bone, very different to the very greasy mud-bath that can ensue in August/September (in my experience).

No need to pay bribes or 'fees' as most people seem to do. You should only have pay a toll to cross the barge (as a guide we paid 2,500 CFA for a large truck, probably too much), and possibly a small 'commune' tax on the Mauri side (receipted). Every other fee is made up except the insurance you need to buy (if you don't already have it). You will also have to pay the National Park fee about 5-10km before the border as you do pass through the NP on the way to the border.

Dave The Hat

a friend of mine just crossed Rosso on his first africa trip ever. I told him it could be a nightmare but he says it was a piece of cake and he paid almost nothing..........some things might have changed?!?!?

'Rosso' and 'piece of cake' have not been seen together for a while ;-)
I wonder if they may have finally seen the light once they realised travellers were avoiding the hassle of Rosso - especially with a new track to Diama - or even Senegal altogether.

Could even be an official edict for the same reasons Senegal dropped visa regs for many nationalities - to reignite tourism after ebola.

DTH: Do I take it you mean the 'barrage' (dam) not 'barge' at Diama.
Barge/ferry is what most are wanting to avoid at down there.

That was me!

Road to Diame was horrible, I fell over twice and nearly died. Do not attempt solo, it requires a dirtbike or 4WD and a competent driver. Got a ride back to the main road from a Senegalese 4WD and went to Rosso instead. Ignore all the hustlers, get a ferry ticket, pay communal tax, and pay to export your vehicles then take the ferry.

On the Senegalese side, import vehicle (10 bucks or so for lassez passe), pay communal tax and go to the police office. Be on your merry way less than 30mins after leaving the ferry.

Yep, sorry typing late at night when tired! I meant the dam (barrage). In all the years I have crossed it there has only ever been one old boy manning the crossing, with his 'receipt' book - catch him on a good day and he has been known to let you cross for nothing.

Al and Jason just crossed with our Overlanding West Africa truck at Rosso about 2 weeks ago. They too said it was a relatively painless crossing. So maybe Rosso is finally cleaning up its act?! They even managed to get the Senegalese to stamp our CDP at the border (which used to never be a problem) saving the journey to Dakar to get it stamped there.

evening folks
I am leaving the UK next week and heading down to Banjul,
on the last two occasions we have crossed into Senegal via the Barrage
reading the above has the bloodbath that was Rosso changed or is it still a risk?

We just pass Diama border two weeks ago from Mauri to Sen there where no problems.
Last part of the road trough the NP is ripio, but no big deal. In the park you have to pay the park fee 4000 mauri money.
On the border you have to buy your car/motor insurance.

I did Rosso in November. It was a blood bath. Avoid.


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