Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > sub-Saharan Africa
New rules for Mali? New rules for Mali?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
New rules for Mali?
I hear travellers bringing their own car to Mali now have to leave a huge amount of money (hundreds of euro's) at the border, which only is given back when leaving the country. Somebody can confirm this? And what about Mali visa? Is it possible to get one at the border coming from Senegal?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29 Jul 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 27
This is the first I have heard of this mentioned. Do you have the source for this information you could share?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
I read it in a posting on Lonely Planet thorn tree. It seems to have started this month.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29 Jul 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 27
Found it:

Warning to those transiting Mali w/ own vehicle - Lonely Planet travel forum

Thanks! Looks like a big change of plans for me...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dreaming of travelling and riding bikes in general..
Posts: 445
confirmation?
Seems some confusion:

"Actually they don't give the Carnet de Passage anymore here, AT ALL" - sorry?

No laissez-passer is very significant, not accepting the Carnet would be a real shame too. The cost and simplicity was a real advantage.
__________________
Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29 Jul 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 27
The Lonely Planet post seems to make the current situation pretty clear:

Quote:
This is to any people wishing to transit or visit Mali with an outside vehicle. I've lived here for 7 months (American) and recently bought a car in Togo to bring here to use. In April there was a new "law" passed regarding Douane border fees. It is now not possible to get a "less de passe" (the spelling is no good, sorry). Instead, they now think that all cars coming into the country are coming to be sold (big business here). Unfortunatley for us "tourists" this means we get caught in the shuffle. The Douanes on the border now estimate some bogus cost that they find in a catalogue they use for reference (don't know what book or where they got it). I bought a 1999 Honda CRV and the fee I was required to pay was 645000 CFA, thats about $1200 US. I did not have any sort of money like this and it was pretty devastating, but they refused to let me in to the country with the car. Their options were to have a realative wire money to me or to leave the car at the border and get it later. Supposedly if you pay this fee and leave the country via any other border crossing you will get the money back. So if you have the money, it could work if you plan to leave. But if you plan to come and stay you won't see the money again as it will go towards registering the car in Mali.

I debated whether or not to post this for the last few months. But now I am working again in my hotel (Sahel Vert) and we have people frequently coming in who have this problem. Some of them have to wait for 8-10 days on the border before they can come up with the cash. A Spanish guy came yesterday and he had 3 cars he was transiting to Cote D'Ivoire, he had to pay over 2 million CFA (around $4000 US) and waited 9 days at the border of Senegal/Mali. He was pretty pissed off. I was only able to get the "less de passe" because my husband's friend is the head Douane in Bamako and he called through and talked to the border Douanes. This is not common at all. I tried crying, saying I was a tourist, all of it - nothing worked except the call my husband arranged.

Not sure how many of you this will affect (if any) but I thought I would mention it just in case. I'm not joking about any of this, so it's not a scare tactic, just advice from one traveller to another.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 4 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
I do not think the normal tourist will have problems. Maybe people who live in Mali are obliged to pay the importation fee, like is the case in Morocco. Or people that want a "laisser passer" for three cars. As long as you are really transiting the car I suppose there will not be a problem. (Although a confirmation of somebody that recently entered Mali in his or her own car would be nice)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 4 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 141
Last year we used our Carnet de passage, but they were not that happy about it. Is it not possible even with a carnet anymore?
We will be transiting Mali with three cars in december and januari.
I really hope this doesn't affect tourists, "only" the malian citizens!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 6 Aug 2010
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: manila philipphines,
Posts: 46
money bond mali borders
Does this apply to motorcycles also
Planning to go thru and back in nov this year
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 6 Aug 2010
Banned
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 971
Hi,

We will see...i want to travel trough Mali with my own bike in november as well coming from Southafrica...

LG
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 12
Hi guys, I'm in Burkina now, fresh out of Mali, and had no trouble whatsoever clearing to bike for Mali. The carnet is not valid there (neither in Burkina), and a laisser passer can be obtained at the first police station (learned this from fellow travellers, was not necessary for the bike). I crossed inyo Mali north of Nioro (the road from Ayoun in Mauritania).

Mike
__________________
Worries go down better with soup than without.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
My impression in February was that the coming changes were aimed only at Malians and foreign residents in Mali, not affecting tourists. Sounds like this may be true then-
Rising visa costs and then perhaps also vehicle costs will make travelling more difficult. Let's hope Ecowas will work something out to facilitate tourism.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Just my 2 cents: we just crossed Mali, coming in from Senegal (Kidira border post), at the end of July with a 2006 Land-Rover Defender. Apart from finding the boss (who was away at the mosque) and obtain his approval, establishment of a "laisser-passer" was no trouble at all. The carnet was used to copy the owner and vehicle data, but not stamped.

We subsequently used the carnet in Burkina, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon at no cost and without any sort of trouble (except for sometimes explaining how to fill it in without suggesting the official was unknowledgeable or stupid, a good exercise in diplomacy).

Hope this helps - safe travels

Georges
SnailTrails - Posts
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 16 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
Hi gternes,

Did you get your Mali visa at the border?

Thanks
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rules... marker South America 14 29 Aug 2009 22:09
Azerbaijan Entry Rules danielsprague Northern and Central Asia 1 25 Apr 2009 13:19
Rules of War xfiltrate The HUBB PUB 4 4 Jan 2009 01:27
rules of taiwan codyblake West and South Asia 1 17 Feb 2006 06:23
New GPS rules Morocco pbekkerh North Africa 7 18 Apr 2005 00:17

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:12.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top