MAURITANIA

[DRAIN MAN]

Riding down to Dakar in April, any advise would be helpfull, main problem at moment is how to get the visa for Mauritania, would like to organize them before we go if possible, any body done this before or can we only get them in Morocco or Western Sahara, any ideas of cost and were to obtain them.

We are riding a GS 1200 and GS 800 any advise on tyre choice would be welcome

Thanks John.

 

[MrIFan]

There is very little, if any, chance of getting a visa at the border at the moment.
Conflicting reports on availability in Paris, even calling the Embassy gets different answers! I believe some of the Callum's Road team got them in Paris but the Scoots in the Sahara team were told it was not possible? Go figure!
Only certain place at the moment is the Embassy in Rabat, but be prepared to wait a while and make sure you have all the documents/passport photos you need with you.

HTH

Ian

 

[Tim Cullis]

I believe the current situation is that you cannot get a visa at the Western Sahara/Mauri border as apparently the guys administering it were just pocketing the money and not passing it up the chain to their bosses (would also would have pocketed it). So you now have to go to the Mauri Embassy in Rabat and wait for a day.

Ambassade de la République Islamique de Mauritanie au Maroc
6, Rue Thami Lamdawar, B.P 207, Rabat-Souissi
Tel:00-212-37656679 / 00-212-7656678 / Fax: 00-212-37656680

GPS: N33 58.800 W6 49.600

Your best source of up-to-date travel info is the Sahara Forum on Horizons Unlimited. Check out the threads on security so you know what the situation is, though it doesn't seem to have stopped most adventure travellers.

As for tyres I always travel on TKC80s which means you can tackle most things if you so wish, but are still stable and fairly long lived on tarmac. Riding very gently I did 9000 miles UK to Senegal and back on one set.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Can confirm that you cannot get a visa at the border.
Get it from your nearest Mauritanian Embassy or in Rabbat on the way doon.

 

[Deleted acc oony]

What he said

 

[(RIP) petcul]

I believe the current situation is that you cannot get a visa at the Western Sahara/Mauri border as apparently the guys administering it were just pocketing the money and not passing it up the chain to their bosses (would also would have pocketed it). So you now have to go to the Mauri Embassy in Rabat and wait for a day.

Ambassade de la République Islamique de Mauritanie au Maroc
6, Rue Thami Lamdawar, B.P 207, Rabat-Souissi
Tel:00-212-37656679 / 00-212-7656678 / Fax: 00-212-37656680

GPS: N33 58.800 W6 49.600

Your best source of up-to-date travel info is the Sahara Forum on Horizons Unlimited. Check out the threads on security so you know what the situation is, though it doesn't seem to have stopped most adventure travellers.

As for tyres I always travel on TKC80s which means you can tackle most things if you so wish, but are still stable and fairly long lived on tarmac. Riding very gently I did 9000 miles UK to Senegal and back on one set.

+ 1

You can do tarmac all the way to Dakar unless you want to avoid Rosso - AND YOU SHOULD. As you enter Rosso turn tight and take the piste to Djama. I've done it on TKC 80s and Tourances. Always happier on TKCs and as Tim says it gives you more flexibility.

If you are returning the same way get 2 visas at Rabat it saves any further hassle.

 

[Tim Cullis]

If you're going to Dakar you might be interested in my blog There and Back Again

 

[AberdeenAngus]

+ 1

You can do tarmac all the way to Dakar unless you want to avoid Rosso - AND YOU SHOULD. As you enter Rosso turn tight and take the piste to Djama. I've done it on TKC 80s and Tourances. Always happier on TKCs and as Tim says it gives you more flexibility.

If you are returning the same way get 2 visas at Rabat it saves any further hassle.

Yup, saw a guy do it on an RT with road tyres (not the Djama piste).
He did admit to having a bit of fun in no man's land with the soft stuff - but he managed.

Would def. recommend knobblies for the Djama piste.
Some of the ruts are quite bad and its easier to run up the side of the track where its a bit smoother but softer.

Don't try and cut the corner to get onto the Djama piste unless you have a GPS plot.
There are hundreds of little tracks criss-crossing the desert. Most of them end up in soft sand.

 

[Sci]

.

I get visa for Mauri and Mali (Budapest Bamako relli) but they change route because terorism (stupid) and I make decision to go alone to Sahara. They take money for nothing and I think never make new relli because people are disapointment so much.
You CAN NOT take get visa on the Mauritania - Morroco border and must to go in Rabbat. Its easy and fast for take visa in Rabat, in one days if you be early there.

 

[bhud]

We got our Visa in Rabat.
Dropped off passport at 0900, visa was ready at 1500.
They will only accept Diram we were charged 440.

We will be posting the turning point for Diama shortly or contact Thunder.
The turn off for Diama is 43km from Rosso direct track.
From there it is 50 miles ish.

In the mine field keep to the edge or follow a truck if one is there.

PM me if you wish to discuss further - it is still fresh in my mind

 

[(RIP) Nakambale]

We got our Visa in Rabat.
Dropped off passport at 0900, visa was ready at 1500.
They will only accept Diram we were charged 440.

We will be posting the turning point for Diama shortly or contact Thunder.
The turn off for Diama is 43km from Rosso direct track.
From there it is 50 miles ish.

In the mine field keep to the edge or follow a truck if one is there.

PM me if you wish to discuss further - it is still fresh in my mind

Likewise,

I have the waypoints for the turn off. Haven't lifted them off the Zumo yet.

Also worth mentioning is that there is now accommodation available in tents just after the police post at the border. Khymer (tents) of various sizes right next to the money change/insurance place. Great if you're running late (like we were). Saves a round trip to Nouadhibou. They'll also provide some excellent food and mint tea, all at a reasonable price Another bonus is that the bikes are behind locked gates so safe as well.

Oh, and an afterthought on the visa in Rabat, bring a photocopy of your passport, although some of us managed to blag our way through that process without one.

 

[Thunder]

Ditto what those las to eejits said, although visa in Rabat is 340 dhiram, not 440. Scuse Bhud his memory is going

TKC's would be my choice, all of the bikes on the Calum's Road trip used them and no way would we have got there on our route without them.

As Gert sid take a photocopy of your passport to the embassy in Rabat and loads of fisches for the trip and check points on the way down.

Also take copies of passport sized photos to Mauri embassy and carry spares just in case.

Tented accommodation we used is behind the bureau de change between the Mauria police and customs posts, well worth using IMPO.

 

[Thunder]

I've attached the waypoint for the new road which is currently under construction down to Djama.

It's on your right some 45kms north of Rosso and we became aware of it after Aberdeen Angus made his trip down to Dakar a few weeks before us.

It's still under construction but in use and joins up with the "old" piste further down.

 

[jbmoto]

Thunder,
Thanks for the GPS track, will be very useful for upcoming trip.

JB

 

[Tim Cullis]

Thanks for the waypoint. Presumably the new track will come out near the Keur Massene Lodge?

 

[Thunder]

Thanks for the waypoint. Presumably the new track will come out near the Keur Massene Lodge?

Yes, drops you straight on to the original piste coming from Rosso and into the National Park.

If you PM me your email address Tim I'll send you the track of that day from my Garmin 60 CSX.

 

[Crapaud]

+ 1


If you are returning the same way get 2 visas at Rabat it saves any further hassle.

No need to get two. I've just come back through Mauri 2 weeks ago. When you apply for your visa in Rabat make it very clear you require a visa for TWO entries over a two month period. This costs 500 dirham compared to 340 for single entry. If you don't make it clear enough they will just issue single entry and you will have to come back next day to get it corrected...

Multi entry is available for 640 dirhams.