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Around Africa in a 4x4 without a Carnet - mid 2016 to mid 2018 Around Africa in a 4x4 without a Carnet - mid 2016 to mid 2018
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
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  #1  
Old 28 Jul 2016
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Around Africa in a 4x4 without a Carnet - mid 2016 to mid 2018
Hi All,

I'm driving around the perimeter of Africa in my Jeep Wrangler, and I'm going without a Carnet.

I've read a lot of conflicting reports and have struggled to get the real details about which countries a Carnet is 100% mandatory for.

I will update this thread with the details of each country as I pass through, hopefully others will find the information useful.

Morocco - no problem, temp import for 3 months, completely free.
More details here - Overland Morocco Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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  #2  
Old 7 Sep 2016
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Hi all,

Driving into Mauritania without a Carnet is no problem at all.

10 Euro for the Temporary Import Permit, which can be valid for one week, 10 days or one month depending on what you say to the guy who writes it out.

All the details, including insurance, price, gas prices, etc. for Overlanding in Mauritania are here: Overland Mauritania Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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  #3  
Old 22 Sep 2016
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Hi all,

Driving your own vehicle into Senegal without a Carnet is no problem at all.
In all my research I though Senegal would be one of the only countries in Africa where a Carnet is 100% mandatory. Not so at all.
I crossed at Diama. Also note vehicles older than 5 or 8 years CAN be driven through Senegal no problem. That rule only applies to vehicles being permanently imported into Senegal.

2,500CFA for the temp import, which is only valid for 48 hours, then go an renew it in Dakar for free, for two weeks then another 2 weeks if you wish.

(Note: Even if you have a Carnet the same thing must be done after 48 hours)

All the details, including insurance, price, gas prices, etc. for Overlanding in Senegal are here: Overland Senegal Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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Last edited by Grecy; 30 Sep 2016 at 12:04.
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  #4  
Old 22 Sep 2016
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Thumbs up Africa without carnet
Hi Dan,

thank you so much for posting your travels around Africa without a carnet.

Just one little details I would suggest, please mention the border crossings you did ... because even its into or out of the same country it could also be different on another border crossing.

Enjoy your trip
mika
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  #5  
Old 30 Sep 2016
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Hey Everyone,

Driving into Gambia without a Carnet is no problem at all.

I believe the Temporary Import Permit is supposed to be free (a friend recently paid nothing) - though after a many hour stand-off I wound up paying 10,000CFA, which I'm pretty sure was not official (no receipt given). Oh well.

I was given 30 days (same as my personal Visa) and I crossed at Farafenni

All the details, including insurance, price, gas prices, etc. for Overlanding in Gambia are here: Overland Gambia Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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  #6  
Old 1 Nov 2016
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great stuff , keep up the good work ,I am going next year
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  #7  
Old 13 Nov 2016
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Hi All,

Driving into Guinea-Bissau without a Carnet is no problem at all.

The Temp Import for the vehicle cost 2,500CFA for two weeks, it can be extended in the capital of Bissau.

I crossed at Mpak, directly south of Zigunchor in Senegal (where I got the Guinea-Bissau visa)

All the details, including insurance, price, gas prices, etc. for Overlanding in Guinea-Bissau are here:Overland Guinea-Bissau Travel - WikiOverland
One country where gas is cheaper than diesel!

-Dan
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  #8  
Old 30 Nov 2016
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Visa for Ghana
Hi Grecy,

Great and informative tread! We are a few weeks behind you (crossing into Mauretania Sunday). We have no visas yet, but a plan for most of the countries:

Mauretania: At border
Senegal: At border
Gambia: At border
Guinea Bissau: In Ziguinchor, Senegal
Guinea: In Bissau
Ivory coast: In Dakar
Ghana: ????
Togo: In Accra
Benin: In Accra
Nigeria: In Bissau
Cameroon: In Calabar, Nigeria
Gabon: In Lome, Togo
Congo Brazaville: In Lome, Togo
Congo Kingshasa: In Cotonou, Benin
Angola: In Accra, Ghana

As you can see we have no plan for Ghana yet. Do you have a visa for Ghana? Where did you get it (or where are you planning to get it)?

/Jörgen
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  #9  
Old 13 Dec 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Familjenmarken View Post
As you can see we have no plan for Ghana yet. Do you have a visa for Ghana? Where did you get it (or where are you planning to get it)?

/Jörgen
Ghana is very hard to get. Friends just got it in Burkina Faso - took 3 days and some pleading. Write a letter why you need one, and you must have an invite letter OR 2 hotel reservations. Copies of your carnet, insurance, etc. etc. can't hurt either.

-Dan

EDIT: forgot to mention you can get the Ghana visa at the border. Many people have told me this, and friends just confirmed it in November 2016. No prior planning, easy as pie. 140 euro. Must be at the "bigger borders". Little borders know about it and just tell you to go to a bigger one.
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Last edited by Grecy; 14 Dec 2016 at 10:33.
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  #10  
Old 14 Dec 2016
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Hi all,

Driving into Guinea without a Carnet is no problem at all.
It's actually the first border I have been asked for a Carnet.
The guys at the little border were not sure what to do with me, so they sent me to the nearby regional capital (Koundara) where the boss wrote out a Passavant for me no problems.

I paid 50,000 GNF for it (which is around $3USD when using the street exchange rate). It clearly went in the guys pocket, but he was having none of my arguing.

I crossed at Kandika in the extreme North West of the country, coming in from Guinea-Bissau.

All the details, including insurance, price, gas prices, etc. for Overlanding in Guinea are here: Overland Guinea Travel - WikiOverland
Gas and diesel are pegged at the same price, and nice and cheap!!!

-Dan
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  #11  
Old 21 Jan 2017
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Thanxalot!

The thread, I was looking for.

Keep us updated and have a nice trip!
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  #12  
Old 25 Jan 2017
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Hi all,

Mali without a Carnet is straightforward and easy.

A Lesser Passe (Temp Import Permit) costs 5,000CFA, and takes about 10 minutes for them to type up for you.
It's valid for one month, and you can extend it for one month free of change in Bamako.

I crossed at the main border from Guinea into Mali - I forget the name right now.

All the details, including insurance, price, gas and diesel prices, etc. for Overlanding in Mali are here: Overland Mali Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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  #13  
Old 7 Mar 2017
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Hi all,

Ivory Coast without a Carnet was easy at the border, then got expensive.

A Lesser Passe (Temp Import Permit) was free at a small border (Manankoro) , and takes about 10 minutes for them to write out.
It's valid for one month.

Unfortunately I then was told to go to the main Customs office (in Man) to get a computer version, and wound up paying a bribe there to the official I thought would impound the Jeep of around $50USD.
Then he gave me the computer version of the temp import.

My advice would be don't go to Man to get the computer version - just keep moving with the typed version. Nobody cares or knows the difference anyway..

All the details, including insurance, price, gas and diesel prices, etc. for Overlanding in Ivory Coast are here: Overland Ivory Coast Travel - WikiOverland

-Dan
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  #14  
Old 20 Mar 2017
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Hi Grecy,

Thank you very much for all the info you share!! We start our trip from Spain to South Africa next month in a Land Rover Defender and we were wondering about getting the CDP or not. But now, we are sure that we will travel without it.

Regards!
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  #15  
Old 20 Mar 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VerOíryViajar View Post
Hi Grecy,

Thank you very much for all the info you share!! We start our trip from Spain to South Africa next month in a Land Rover Defender and we were wondering about getting the CDP or not. But now, we are sure that we will travel without it.

Regards!
Brilliant!!! Glad you've finally decided!!!

GRECY: The Vignette Touristique is FREE - read on: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ithout-89519-2
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