Visa for Mali, Cote Divoir, Burkina:
We got all three visa in Dakar without problems. Started Thursday 10:00 am and had them all until Friday 12:00. Two passports though.
In detail :

Mali : very friendly, nothing special needed. Single entry, one month, CFA 35.000, multiple entry, up to 30 days for 6 months, CFA 65.000. Pickup same day, no speedup fee.

CI: very friendly, guy invited us to watch football game together. It's always multiple entry, CFA 35.000. Pickup next morning, no speedup fee.
Ambassador confirmed border to Guinea is closed, no changes expected in near future.

Burkina: very funny guy helps you with application. Other administration guy asked for invitation letter or hotel reservation. We didn't have any. We have been told to wait for decision of ambassador. One hour later they gave us passport back with visa. Multiple entry 30 days for 3 months CFA 62.000. Single entry around 45.000, can't remember exactly.

We didn't succeed with Ghana. Not unfriendly but we didn't want to waste a lot of time there nor use serious bribery. Ambassador told us he had to send everything to Accra for clearance, last time took him three weeks. We should use visa on arrival instead. Gave us his business card to call or show in case of any problems. We found out, visa on arrival has to be done via immigration in Accra, USD 150 extra fee, can be sent via email to you for land border crossing. We will try in Bamako embassy instead.

We where extremely friendly to anybody in the embassy and I was wearing a non casual suit and clean shirt, which I think shows some respect for their work in the embassy.

Absolutely Nandor, I couldn't agree more.

I would always make sure everybody in our group dressed accordingly when applying for group visas at embassies in West Africa. Yet I'd see other travellers dressed in shorts and vests and flip flops as if they were on the beach in Thailand or somewhere!

Visa for Mali is around 10000 CFA in Nouakchott.
Visa for Burkina is 24000 CFA in Bamako.
Unless things have suddenly changed.

we got the visa for Ghana in Bamako quite easily. CFA 30.000, 3 months single entry, next day pickup. Invitation letter and own written letter explaining why were not applying at home was needed.

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The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world ― Alexander von Humboldt. Our trip: www.unsere-pfade.com