Hi folks

Can anyone share information about visas for the west coast of Africa, for South African passports?

My trip is from the UK, through France and Spain into Morocco and down the west coast to South Africa. (We leave 4th October - and will take about 7 to 8 months to get down... Anyone want to join!? - more details here: OverAfrica)

I've found there are a lot of inconsistencies between websites, guide books etc - so am looking to first hand recent experience from the HUBB - can't beat it!

Once I collate all the responses (of which I hope there will be lots! ) I'll post a summary back on the HUBB for other people to use.

I'm looking for:

1. Do South African passport holders need a visa to enter?
2. Can I get the visa at the border?
3. If I can't get it at the border, where is the closest place to London, UK where I can get it?
4. If a pre-departure visa will expire before I even get to the country, where is the best place en-route to get it?
5. How long is the visa valid for prior to entry?
6. How long is the visa valid for once I'm in the country?
7. What does it cost (single entry / multi entry)?

I'm travelling through the following countries:

Morocco
Mauritania
Senegal
The Gambia
Guinea Bissau
Mali
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Togo
Benin
Nigeria
Cameroon
Equatorial Guniea
Gabon
Congo
DRC
Angola
Namibia
Botswana
South Africa

All help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Steve
OverAfrica

PS: For British passport holders - please see my other post here.

Did you find any information on this?

I'm thinking of travelling through Morocco, Mauri, and Mali in 2010 with my wife, who is an SA passport holder resident in the UK.

As far as I can tell (internet rumours only, so far) she needs to get a Moroccan visa in advance, but she can get that at the London consulate with a little paperwork & patience.

Possibly she can get the Mauritanian visa at a French consulate in the UK (I'm waiting for the French consulate to respond to an email).

Mali? I have no idea, but from reading travellers tales I presume it's possible for anybody to buy a visa at the border if necessary. I'd rather get a visa in advance though...

Howzit

You lucky sods. I am heading off in 2011 if all goes according to plan. West Coast too!

(South African citizen)

Ok, the information I have gathered thus far is added. Pricing I am not sure of, but there are a few countries that are free. I've noted them below . I only have information on where to apply for some countries cause I am not going through as many as you intend to.

Also, from the bits and pieces I have read from other people, it seems to me you are going to pay MUCH more if you apply for your visas in London. It will be better to get them en route. Others might be able to fill in better. I am just budgeting for £50 a pop. Some will be more some less surely. Take lots of passport pics with you.

Morocco - Visa needed, obtainable at border
Mauritania - Visa required. Apply at border
Senegal - Visa Required, fee payable
The Gambia - Visa Required, fee payable
Guinea Bissau - Visa Required, fee payable
Mali - Visa required. Get this at Nouakchott in Mauritania
Burkina Faso - Visa Required
Ghana - Visa Required, fee payable
Togo - Visa Required, fee payable
Benin - No visa required. Stay up to 30 days.
Nigeria - Visa required, NOT at border. Needed in advance. I would advise trying in each of the preceeding countries. Apparently if you apply in London you will need an Invitation letter from a Nigerian. But will not be required if you get this in Ghana for instance. This is what I've read from other people.

Cameroon - Visa required, get this in Nigeria.
Equatorial Guniea - Visa required, fee payable.
Gabon - No visa required
Congo - Visa required. But FREE of charge. Apply in Gabon (Libreville) or at border.
DRC - Visa required, but again Free of charge. Also try get this in Libreville
Angola - The hardest one to get apparently. Get this in DRC (Matadi). Likely only get a 5 day transit visa.
Namibia - no visa required
Botswana - no visa required
South Africa - no visa required!! obviously

Dont forget the vaccination requirements.

DISCLAIMER: I gleamed alot of information from our wonderful "International Relations and Cooperation Department" within the Department of Home Affairs. Now, as you are a saffa you should know that the SA goverment is prone to inaccuracies. But things are slowly getting better. Just slower. So lets hope their information is correct.

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"Congo - Visa required. But FREE of charge. Apply in Gabon (Libreville) or at border.
DRC - Visa required, but again Free of charge. Also try get this in Libreville"
Angola - The hardest one to get apparently. Get this in DRC (Matadi). Likely only get a 5 day transit visa.

Hi, double check on above info! I'm also South African and paid R700 for the Congo visa in Pretoria in Feb 2010 and a little more than that for the DRC visa. These two were the most expensive for the entire trip!

The Angolan 5-day double entry transit visa is now real easy in Abuja, Nigeria. USD30, submit Mon & collect Wed OR submit Wed & collect Fri. Copies of passport main (photo) page, Intl driver's license & 2 passport photos (white background!) required.

Safe travels!
Kobus (stuck in Cameroon, waiting for new head gasket from SA,,,)

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"The fates lead him who will; him who won't they drag." - Anon

Hi Kobus

thanks for that info!

Just shows, the info i got for that was from the "International Relations And Cooperation" department of the SA govt. (Guidelines to Industry Relating to the Process of the Authentication of Foreign End User Certificates (EUC's) for Goods Exported from South Africa to Foreign Countries)

So their info is out of date I see.

Much more valuable having someone who has been there recently advising.


(We depart Jan 2011 west coast London - Joburg)

PS: Are you using a carnet for your route?

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