Morocco....that's sooo 2007 Dahling....how about Senegal?

[Fanum]

Well this is interesting. Just got back from a 4000 mile round trip to Marbella (not somewhere I'd normally think of going, but I have friends there) ... Spain was an awesome ride and Morocco has been in my thoughts for a while.

But ... having got to within a couple of hours of N Africa on my trip I began to think that having made the effort to go all that way, why not keep going south?

Anyhow ... the possibility of a trip to Dakar shadowing the rally then began to suggest itself, shipping the bike back to the UK from there. Though beyond looking at maps of N Africa I haven't looked into it in detail ...

But I'm not up for this until December 2008/January 2009 (all motorcycled out for this year and buying a Beemer in April - got a V-Strom at the mo). Also, have to do the off-road courses and get much fitter ... even 4k on surfaced roads proved to be v demanding.

As I'm self-employed (I'm making no bids for subsidy though ) historically I haven't much work on between December and March ... so so 6-7 weeks is definitely a possibility for me. Just not this year.

V61

It's been put back anyway- though it will be happening.

We've got 6 trips to Morocco in for next year and as yet, we don't have the resources to run those as well as a fully supported trip to Mali- the plan is to get this in place for 2009 though and I'll relaunch it in plenty of time

 

[Voyager61]

Cool!

Some questions though:

What kind of bike will be best suited to the trip?
(I'm seriously considering an R1200GS adv for April.)

How fit are we going to need to be?
(My 4000 mile round trip to Marbella showed I could do with better upper body strength, so I'm working on that. Legs/lower body are in pretty good shape from many years of on- and off-road cycling.)

Do we need to bring our own blood?

Cheers
V61

 

[Voyager61]

What are the views on attempting this trip in the light of the Dakar cancellation?

Actually, I'd be interested in informed views about the North African travel scenario generally, since the Casablanca al-Qa'ida cell activities ...

 

[mystic]

What are the views on attempting this trip in the light of the Dakar cancellation?

Actually, I'd be interested in informed views about the North African travel scenario generally, since the Casablanca al-Qa'ida cell activities ...

Hi V61

Rumours & counter-rumours .........on the border situation Morocco/Mauri.
Have a read through recent posts on the HUBB following the cancellation of the Dakar.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sahara-travel-forum/

I'm all set to ride down to the Gambia at the back end of February/early March - not about to scrub all my plans on the basis of some wishy-washy scare-mongering!

 

[Captain GSA]

...Go for it peeps. I did it in December '06. England-The Gambia-England. 7,800 miles 7 weeks. Senegal and Zebrabar was heaven after the 'long way down'...no pun intended.
Watching Africa unfold as you travel South is amazing and not to be missed.
Check my photos on the link below...

 

[sparkplug]

Hi V61

Rumours & counter-rumours .........on the border situation Morocco/Mauri.
Have a read through recent posts on the HUBB following the cancellation of the Dakar.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sahara-travel-forum/

I'm all set to ride down to the Gambia at the back end of February/early March - not about to scrub all my plans on the basis of some wishy-washy scare-mongering!

Just got back from Mali and can say that security has been stepped up in Mauritania (this just means you get constantly stopped and travel is slower). We decided to go through Mauri as quickly and cleanly as possible and, aside from a strange incident in Kiffa where our passports were taken to three different buildings dotted around the town with us in hot pursuit, everything went smoothly. The risks are undoubtedly there but shouldn't be exaggerated - eyes and ears open and no silly risks seems to be all you need at the moment.

 

[mystic]

Since posting above, have had the chance to read both Bert's post on the HUBB / Sahara forum, and yesterday Tim Cullis' blog recounting his experiences going through Mauri on his way south.

If even with their fluent French (assumption!), they still encountered the difficulties described .... dealing with endless time-wasting, hastle and corrupt 'officialdom' haggling for "les cadeaux", I'm left wondering how I'll fare as a solo traveler with half forgotten O level French in the same situation!

Safety in numbers maybe ...... a case of tying up with others when nearing border crossings?

M.

 

[Number 6]

I'm left wondering how I'll fare as a solo traveler with half forgotten O level French in the same situation!

.

Stick to English in such situations! They do get fed up fairly quickly if you 'don't understand' Just tell them that giving money to police/officials is a serious crime in the UK and that people go to prison for it

 

[mystic]

Stick to English in such situations! They do get fed up fairly quickly if you 'don't understand' Just tell them that giving money to police/officials is a serious crime in the UK and that people go to prison for it

Think I might get your last sentence ("giving money to police/officials is a serious crime in the UK and that people go to prison for it") translated into French & make copies printed in 18pt. caps, ready to hand out to the b*gg*rs!

 

[sparkplug]

Think I might get your last sentence ("giving money to police/officials is a serious crime in the UK and that people go to prison for it") translated into French & make copies printed in 18pt. caps, ready to hand out to the b*gg*rs!

you should be fine with just a few words

you will be asked:
"fiche?" or "passport" - even if asked for your passport offer them a 'fiche' first (that's the photocopy as this usually satisfies them. If they want the original they will ask (the french is "original" - so you see it isn't too difficult )

"profession?" (learn an answer in French, doesn't matter what you tell them but be consistent)

you will be asked where you are coming from and going to, but they'll usually offer you the answer in the question e.g. Q="vous allez a Nouakchott?" - A="oui"

It may be useful to team up with a French speaker for visa application forms as some of the questions are only obvious to someone who has an understanding of French bureaucracy. Sadly we don't have any copies of the forms or I could have done a sample for you. An example is that you will be asked for your "flight number" ("numero de vol" for morocco) This is the number they stamp in your passport when you enter the country and has nothing to do with flying...

Don't be put off - there's always a way round the language barrier!

 

[mystic]

Thanks for the advice Fil ......... much appreciated

 

[Voyager61]

2009 Dakar goes to South America:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11022008/4/dakar-rally-set-south-america.html

 

[Voyager61]

2009 Dakar goes to South America

http://www.dakar.com/indexus.html

Who wants to go?