hi

any news about entering in Senegal with more then 5 years old 4x4?

any one tried it in the last weeks?

3 weeks from now we are going to leave to guiné bissau. The original plan is to enter from the Mali side (kayes). I don't know if it's the best plan...

Beside this problem how is the pist from Nioro(coming from kiffa or Ayoun el'Atrous) to kayes?


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best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight

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bernardo feio (Portugal)
2.5 Land Rover Lightweight / BMW R80 G/S PD / Toyota HZJ 78

A: Regarding rosso , Apparently ,is possible , but must pay for a police scort all the way trought Senegal . Definitely sounds expensive.

HOWEVER , entering Senegal from Kidira (Kayes) appeared possible . Apparently , its only the North (Mauritanian ) border the problematic one.

I entered Senegal from Farafenny (from Gambia , but not the usual post ) ,200 Km to the east of Banjul , and had no problem at all with a 17-years old car. After , I was told that the 5 years only rule is only applicable at the north , so I guess you will be fine if entering Senegal from Kayes.

b: The road from Nioro to Kayes is 100 km corrugations.. and then , fully brand-new-tarmac all the way to Kayes.
FRom kayes to Kidira (Senegal border) its a nasty mix of corrugations , floods , potholes , etc.. Took 5 hours to make 100 kms !!

HAve fun . Take care.
Javier




[This message has been edited by MADRID_CAPETOWN (edited 14 July 2004).]

thanks again

when did you pass?

in the Senegal embassy in Portugal they told me that the law was valid in ALL Senegal borders. Beside that they told me that paying for a police escort is a scheme and not official! (of course!!)

bernardo feio


------------------
best regards from Portugal
bernardo feio lightweight

__________________
bernardo feio (Portugal)
2.5 Land Rover Lightweight / BMW R80 G/S PD / Toyota HZJ 78

Hi !!!
I -entered- Senegal from Gambia (Farafenni) around 20 March 2004 . I was issued as PassAvant (I kept it as I knew that's was going to get controversial !!! ) , and drove all the way to Kidira /Kifa(Kayes).
Actually I didnt had the vehicle details written in the passport neither !!!

I was stoppewd several times by the police , and no one seemed to worry about the 5 years old rule (I was asked to produce the Passavant , given at the border) .

When exiting Senegal , once I had the passport stamped ,etc.. , I inquired at the Kidira (senegalese ) border about that 5 year old cars , and they didnt had a clue -at all- what the hell I was talking . It seems is a northern border thing only .

So , as long as you enter Senegal by the west (and go to Gambia via alternative borders (such as mine ) , that would be ok.

-that is , if your car still exists after the Kayes/Kidira corrugations !!!!!!


Javier.

There still seems to remain a lot of confusion about the infamous 5-year-rule of Senegal.

The official Rule is that no cars are to be imported (and import means brought in with the intention of being sold) in Senegal when they are over 5 years old (10 years for trucks). Now how that is interpreted can indeed vary from border to border (as show the various stories from different borders).

Indeed the northern border causes the most problems, basically due to the fact that the guy in charge of that region (every region has it's own head of customs) is just a difficult guy, nothing more, nothing less. In the north in general you can only pass either with a Carnet de Passage, or with a Customs escort (which is pretty common practice in Africa anyway). This is indeed in line with the rule that says cars over 5 years should not be imported.

Equally true is that on other borderposts the rule will be interpreted in a different way (if the rule is known at all - especially at smaller posts they very often don't have a clue about these rules), so if you look like a genuine tourist (or you can convince them anyway that you are), you will face no problem. Once inside, you are inside, and should not worry too much, as long as you either have a passe-avant or Carnet de Passage.

Hope this clarifies things again a little bit.

Jef Imans
Banjul - The Gambia

Hi,

we entered Mali from Senegal in Satadougou village (south-est corner of Senegal - see Michelin 741) crossing the fort on Faleme river in January 2004. To our surprise there are no border posts at all, both sides of the river. Customs are inland in Kedougou (Senegal) and Kenieba (Mali)- the distance of 153 km and some 5 hours, when you are lucky. The opposite direction is same available. Fort on Faleme river was 70 cm deep that time (dry season), look out for ameba and other parasites. We did not intend to cross "green border" as we possesed Carnet de Passage for our 20-years old LR, however ... Anyone interested in GPS coordinates? Look for my note on this forum dated 26 March 2004

"fort" should be: ford, of course