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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 18 Mar 2008
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Not so much sand dunes but a bit greener
Right, I’ll try and ask this question as politically correct as I can. I’m trying to figure out part one, of my two part trip. Part one is Africa, part two is Mongolia.

If I start from the UK then down to Morocco and venture into the Western Sahara, how far south or east or wherever, do I have to ride for an experience of proper “Black Africa” the kind of places you see on the TV. Not so much sand dunes but a bit greener? i do want dunes but, i also want green. and, will i need a carnet for the green bit?

Shaun
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Old 18 Mar 2008
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South of Nouakchot
A bit south of Nouakchot, depends a bit where you want to go. Nara/Nioro in Mali are pretty much what you're looking for I guess. I don't know Senegal, but pretty muvh the samr I think.

Rob
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Old 18 Mar 2008
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The Senegal River is the start of green Africa--it gets progressively greener in the last 20-30 miles of Mauritania as you approach the border. It's a 1400-mile round trip from Dahkla to the Senegal River, 2300 miles if you measure it from Tan Tan.
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Old 18 Mar 2008
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thanks
Hi Robbert and Tim

Thanks for the email the other day tim. So, after deciding to give Dakar a miss looks like if I want green, I’m not going to be that far from it. Thing is, I keep reading about that horrendous border crossing Mauritania > Senegal

Is a carnet needed for the green stuff ?
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Old 18 Mar 2008
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There's comments elsewhere on HUBB about needing a carnet for vehicles over five years old. I didn't need one for my 06-reg bike.
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Old 18 Mar 2008
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If you take the road from Nouakchott to Ayoun El Atrous, take the turn-off south at the city before A.E.A (I think it's Kiffa) and go south to Selibabi. It's nice and green there. Lovely pistes too. You can go a few hundred kilometers down in "green africa" before hitting a border again (you can chose: Mali or Senegal). The border involves a river crossing which is not feasible in rainy seaon.

Or just go Senegal/Mali ...
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Old 19 Mar 2008
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Mauri-Senegal crossing
The notorious Mauri Senegal crossing you're worried about
is called Rosso but you can avoid it by heading east along
a good piste to Diama Dam where there's a far nicer crossing.

"Green" Africa on the coast at least starts south of Gambia.
The Casamance area (occcasionally iffy) has plenty tropical
swamp and jungle scenery.

Dathai
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Old 2 Apr 2008
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sorry
sorry - not looked at this thread for a couple weeks

thanks for the replys

shaun
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