I crossed yesterday and considering the hell hole that Rosso is, I thought that it would be worth posting this.

There is absolutely no good reason to cross at the infamous Rosso border. Contrary to what I had read (possibly here somewhere) the piste to Diama is perfectly passable.

Contrary to what I had read (possibly here too), there is a logical alternative to getting to Diama without going to Rosso and following a very difficult piste (apparently) to Diama.

About 50 kms after Tiguent and 50 kms before Rosso there is a turn off at a town (the name I've forgotten) for Keur-Macene. It's the only turn on the Nouakchott Rosso road so you can't miss it.

There is 35 kms of perfect road before you come onto a 45 km track at Keur-Macane. It's seriously riveted in some patches but there's nowhere for more than half a km that can't be avoided on a bike.

I managed it fine on a bike with the front fairing already almost detached from the front of the bike (I crashed into a baby camel the night before, seriously ).

It takes you through Diawling National Park which is a nice touch where you'll surely see warthogs. Just be careful not to stop if you get between a mother and it's young which is easy to do as they get startled from their watering holes as you pass.

You'll pay 6 euro (in ougiya) as you leave the national park, 6 euro for the toll bridge (in CFA) and another 35/40 euro total for each of police and Douan on each side (I'm not sure if that's official but I tried and failed to get out of it).

It's refreshingly straight forward and entirely without hustlers except for one reasonable guy on the Senegal side who'll sell you insurance if the famous lady isn't there.