Nouakchott - Bamako Route?
 

I'll be riding from Morocco to Nouakchott (get Visa) and continue to Bamako in about two months from now.

One guy I am in contact with in Bamako told me to avoid the Mauritania - Kiffa - Gogui Route but to go through Senegal instead (for safety reasons).

What do you think?

Cheers,
Wauschi

P.S.: I think the Senegal route might be more scenic, that's possibly a plus.

If you have a CDP cross at Diama and they will give you 48 hrs to get to Dakar to have your CDP stamped. If you don't have a CDP, good luck, i just did it and have all the deals of how to get in and costs..its not cheap no matter which option you choose.

Crossing Senegal without CDP
 

Hey! Could you tell me more about crossing without CDP. Any good contacts? (fixers) who can help me?
I am going through mauretania, senegal, guinee and sierra leone (to work there).
Travel in around 3 weeks. So carnet would be 300 euro....so if the hussle all together will be around that price I am happy (don t have enough time to arrange the CDP).
And my car is more than 5 years old, 1996.

Cheers

I have just replied to another post about the same question..Please read that in this section for all the info.. Cheers.. Kevin.

Hello,

Unless you have very good intel and contact to have a daily update on the situation, the " direct northern route " from Nouakchott to Bamako is to be avoided. Red / no go area in many foreign offices maps.
The safer route is thought southern Sénégal ( Tambacounda, Kédougou and then Kita in Mali )
The entry in Sénégal is always a pain due to vehicule paperwork.
Enjoy your drive.

Luc

Best route in a 2-wheel drive, Senegal to Mali
 

Hey Senegal, so what is the best sealed road, if any, I remember Kedougou road was not so great in 2008, is there even a bridge?
What about the south of the Senegal river road to Kayes?
Or is better/safer Tambacounda to Kayes?
Thanks

Hello Wauschi,

all the area is not very safe.Maybe the piste Kedougu to Mali is the safest one.But it was off road some years ago.The landscape is realy nice.There is also a piste from Selibaba(Mauretania)to Kayes.

Regards

Mike

Thank you for your advice.

The only reason I considered the Mauritania route Ayoun - Gogui - Kolokani - Bamako is, it seems to be the fastest way to get to Bamako. I only got 3 weeks to get from Tangier, Morocco to Mali.
The reason why I want to get to Bamako is I found a chance to store my bike there for some months before continuing the trip.

Will it be possible to do the ~ 6.000km tour in 3 weeks when detouring through Senegal?
Or could anyone recommend a place to store the bike in Senegal or Guinea? This would make the trip way more relaxed.

When going through Senegal I see two route options:
1) Kedougou - Labe, Guinea and so on...
2) Kayes - Kolokani - Bamako
Which route would you recommend?

And there is one more problem I tried to avoid -> I will need a CDP for Senegal. But trying to avoid the CDP is worth a separate thread...

One more month until take off :-)
I can't wait to get to Africa.

Wauschi

The asfalt over Ayoun el Atrous "Route d'Espoir"is still the fastest route, Senegal takes days extra, and the border passage is costly and not funny.
If you stay in hostels and don't drive after dark you will be ok. Mauretania has been safe since 2011. Stay in Ayoun el Atrous and leave early in the morning, you'll be in Bamako by night, unless the Malian border guys slow you down.
Three weeks is plenty. It can be done in a week.

I found some more information on the Route d'Espoir, unfortunately not in English:
Route d'Espoir
Thank you for the information.

So far we do plan for two visa-stops:
- Visa Mauritania @ Rabat
- Visa Mali @ NKT
How many days should I consider for Visas?

My understanding is we will need a Laissez-Passer Touristique for Mali.
Where should we apply for the LPT?
What is the maximum duration the LPT can be extended in Bamako?

Our Route so far - 21 days, 5.000km, start April 2nd 2016:
West-Coast Route -> Morocco - Mali


Cheers,
Wauschi

Lasser Passer for Mali is at the border...cost 5000cfa. No problem, quick and easy.

I would do the Mauri into Mali route. I know of a few people who have done it recently with no problem.
I have driven from Kayes to Bamako and its quite beautiful..Senegal for me is flat and expense. Not my favourite place.
The Malians are great and the scenery great...so much so that i have just extended my visa and am staying for another month.

Hi,

I am going stage by stage, a few weeks at the time, to Cape Town with a car.
Left it last year in Bamako for few months. Will send you a copy of the Laissez-Passer in a few days.
I got my Mauritanian visa at the border, we were in a group and a fixer helped us but it can be done by yourself. It might save you some time in Rabat.
I would recommend you try to do your Mali visa at home if possible.
Tambacounda, Kedougou, Kéniéba, Kita is all tarmac and was good to very good last year. Bar a few potholes in the National Park in Sénégal.
Enjoy your trip. Luc

Conseils par pays - France-Diplomatie - Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement international

Hello,

Here is the document for Mali.

Did not drive to B.F. so can not tell you how the B.F. one looks.

Enjoy your trip.

Luc

Luc,

thank you so much for your support.
You might have figured out I am doing the same thing as you do (going to Cape Town a view weeks at a time).
And I am a couple of weeks behind. I will be on the ferry to Morocco on April 4th, in Bamako end of April.

Your document is very much appreciated.

I managed to arrange visa for Mauritania in Germany (although I do not hold a German passport). I also tried to arrange the visa for Mali upfront but the embassies wouldn't reply to my e-mails.

See you ...
Wauschi

Get the Mali visa in Nouakchott..15 euro. the embassy is 2klm from the Auberge Sahara which is just after the roundabout with the dolphins in the middle on the left as you drive into town. The visa was quick and easy. From the Auberge turn right at the roundabout a go for 2klm's..the Mali embassy is on the left.

Hope that helps.