All information about the Visa’s in East Africa Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Zambia
We entered Zambia from the Kariba border and paid 50 USD for our visa (Netherlands and Turkey), valid for 30 days and single entry. Multiply entry costs 80 USD.
Better to do, buy the KAZA visa, see our blog for that.
If you only visit the Victoria falls from Zimbabwe the is a daily visa which costs 20 USD.
Prices are for all European passports as well.
We also paid for road and carbon tax. They are expensive for motorcycles.
Malawi
We got our visa’s in advance in Lusaka at the Malawi embassy, apply in the morning and collect in the afternoon.
You need 1 passport photo and a passport copy. Costs of the visa is 75 USD for all European, US, Australia and Turkish passport.
Tanzania
Visa on arrival for Tanzania, costs are 50 USD for all nationalities except US they pay 100 USD. The visa is valid for 90 days and single entree; a multiple entrée visa costs 100 USD for all nationalities including US.
Rwanda
Visa on arrival for Rwanda, costs are 30 USD for almost all nationalities.(Indonesia, Malaise are free we know) The visa is valid for 30 days and single entree; a multiple entrée visa costs 100 USD on the door.
If you visit their website multiple visa price is 60 USD to online apply. They have transit visa for 3 days but same price with single entree, 30 days.
Apply online and pay online, you print the papers and just go to the border. Costs are 50 USD for all nationalities. The visa is valid for 30 days and single entrée.
Visa on arrival for Kenya, costs are 50 USD for European and Turkish passport. The visa is valid for 30 days and single entrée. A multiple entrée visa costs 100 USD
We got our Ethiopian visa in Nairobi (Kenya), it is one of the hardest visa’s to get on our route but I think we got lucky and had a very quick. You need to have a letter of introduction from your embassy, this is because they want you to apply in your home country. But for a lot of people like us this is not possible as we are for a long time on the road.
This is what you need;
Letter of introduction
passport copy
Passport photo
When you apply you need to fill in a paper, they ask for a address in Ethiopia and all your personal details. Also they want to know all countries you visited in Africa and your next destinations.
Costs for the visa are;
1 month 40 USD
3 months 60 USD
6 months 90 USD
The amount you need to pay at the bank, you get the details when you apply in the embassy.
All visa’s are single entree, they didn’t want to give us a multiple entree ( we did ask for it).
We got our visa on the same day!
Note, the visa starts the day you apply!
Sudan
We got our Sudanese visa in Addis Ababa, it went really easy and we got it in 24 hours.
This is what you need for the visa;
Passport copy
2 passport photos
copy from your Ethiopian visa
hotel reservation and a contact at the hotel (not from the hotel itself).
The costs are 68 USD (only cash in USD) for a 1 month visa, the is a 14 days transit visa as well but that costs the same.
Note, the visa starts the day you apply!
We made a short video for our Africa journey, roads, life… We hope that you like to watch :
Western Africa, Southern Africa and now we are at the last part of Africa (East) in our trip. It is look like that this part will be more expensive than others.
– Zambia
We entered Zambia from Kariba
Passport – they just ask how long you want to stay and they prepare your visa (more details see visa story) .
Vehicle insurance – we didn’t buy any insurance at the border but bought it in the Capital Lusaka and took the Comesa insurance here to.
Road- and Carbon tax – We paid 20 usd per motorcycle road tax (paid in usd cash only) and 70 kwacha per motorcycle only payable in local currency (no cards excepted).
Bribery – no money or gifts asked, there is a money exchanger around who you need, his rate is not so bad. When you leave the border you have to pay 30 kwacha community tax per vehicle only local currency cash.
Vehicle insurance – We used our Comesa insurance (see our blog about that)
Road- and Carbon tax – We needed to pay 20 USD road tax for each motorcycle, only payable in USD. You fill in a form after that you pay and with that receipt you will receive a paper that you paid for the road tax. No carbon tax to be paid.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this). But, we stayed in Kenya more the 14 days so we needed to pay road tax for our motorcycles. We told the custom officer we don’t have any money left and we only stayed longer in Kenya as we got stuck because of riots at the border on Ethiopia side. Eventually we left without paying, lucky us!
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
– Ethiopia
We entered Ethiopia at the Moyale border.
Passport – We had a visa already and our passports got stamped easy, nothing asked for.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this). They do want to now your road in Ethiopia, all places you want to visit. Also they write down what valuables you have like a phone, tablet, camera and laptop (they check when you leave).
Vehicle insurance – our COMESA insurance is valid here.
Road tax and Carbon tax – No road or carbon tax to be paid.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this).
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
– Sudan
We entered Sudan at the Metema border.
Passport – We had a visa already and our passports got stamped easy. We needed to pay 606 Sudanese pounds each to register our visa. It turned out to be valid for 2 months instead of 1 month now. When having check points they are only interested in the register part not the visa.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this). We arrived on a Friday afternoon, this is the public holiday in Sudan and the general is not always available. They needed to go to his house to stamp our Carnet de Passage (CdP)
Vehicle insurance – our COMESA insurance is valid here.
Road tax and Carbon tax – No road or carbon tax to be paid.
After Western Africa, we started Southern part in Africa. You can find border crossing, vehicle pay and bribe details here to Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Namibia
We entered Namibia from Santa Clara border
Passport – this is like Angola a real border with electronic passport control all easy and straightforward.
Import vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about that)
Vehicle insurance – No insurance needed in Namibia
Road tax – We needed to pay 177 Namibia dollar each motorcycle (possible to pay with card)
Passport – all is electronic easy to get the entry stamp.
Import vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage
Vehicle insurance – No insurance needed in South Africa
Road tax – no road tax to be paid in South Africa
Bribery – No money or gifts asked for
Leaving South Africa
We left South Africa from Oshoek border
Passport – All electronic and easy to stamp out
Export vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about that) We had a hard time to have a stamp to our Carnet here. Because they said that we cant get stamp from this border we have to go Mozambique border. They already showed us a list which South African border you can have enter and exit stamp for the Carnet. She had last day of her carnet and it was coming sunset. Therefore we didn’t have time to go Mozambique border for it. After told a while they gave us exit stamp.
If You take Oshoek to enter or exit South Africa You must remember it for your carnet.
Bribery – No money or gifts asked for
Lesotho
We entered Lesotho from the Sani pass border
Passport – you need to fill in a paper with your details and how long you want to stay, after that easy stamp.
Import vehicle – no export/import in Lesotho
Vehicle insurance – No insurance needed in Lesotho
Road tax – We needed to pay 50 rand each motorcycle (cash)
Visa rules have been changing country to country. He is from The Nederland. He can stay 90 days without visa. I am from Turkey and I need to apply visa which is 150€.
I don’t know why I wrote my notes to Turkish passport doesn’t need visa for Namibia. I was lucky on the border that nobody asked about visa. We told them on the border; we want to stay 30 days and they gave us stamps.
South Africa
I suppose that most countries holder don’t need visa but They have some rules about how long want to stay. They gave stamp to Ferry for 90 days stay. They told me Turkish passport can take 30 days.
When we fly to Holland and came back He had again 90 days and I had 30 days. But when we were coming back to Madagascar He couldn’t get another 90 days. They said that He needs to fly from Holland to have new 90 days. But They gave me again another 30 days.
Lesotho
The Nederland passport doesn’t need visa for 30 days stay, Turkish passport has to apply visa which is 50 USD.
When we were on the border They didn’t ask about the visa to me and we took a stamp to stay 5 days in.
Swaziland
Finally Ferry and I have same rules. We don’t need visa. We didn’t know how long we can stay because they didn’t write any note on the stamp how many days we can be in.
Botswana
Botswana doesn’t want to visa from Turkey and Nederland (also all European passport) for 30 days. But we had to pay road tax. You can look detail here.
Zimbabwe
If you are going to Zambia as well Best way to have Kaza Visa. They run out the visa sticker there fore we got single entry and 30 days visa which was 30 USD. If you want to have multiple entry It is 45 USD.
They have also daily visa which is a little cheaper If you want to visit only Victoria falls. Daily visa is 25 USD. But I saw on the border They were giving 3 or 5 days for daily visa. Maybe you can ask to have it like that 😉
About bribe, road and carbon tax, vehicle insurance detail…
Mozambique
We must apply for visa. Good think that you can do it on the border. They have standard price to visa for everyone. Just currency was a little different. When we look to list was writing 75 USD or 895 R (around 68 usd) or 3.925 Mt (around 65 usd). If you have Mozambique money with you You can pay less. But the border exchange doesn’t good price.
Madagascar
I suppose everybody has to pat on the border. Means visa on arrival. We paid 25 € (also pay 28 USD) each for 30 days.
If you plan to stay more than 30 days You should say on the border.
Visa applications in West Africa countries to road trip;
Most important thing in West Africa that You need to know which countries visa where you can easily apply and get it? I will try to write up all our visa application around Africa. I will split them up in 3 parts, West Africa, South Africa and East Africa.
I will write our experiences, this is on a Dutch and a Turkish passport. I will write down as well if I have the information about other countries passports.
Our countries we visit in West Africa will be Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea (Conakry), Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic Congo, Democratic Republic Congo and Angola.
Morocco
Visa on arrival and it’s free for both of us. Also free for other European passports, also for Australian passport it’s free.
Western Sahara
The visa for Morocco is valid here as the Western Sahara is under control by Morocco you won’t even pass a real border.
Mauritania
Visa on arrival, the price is 55 euro. Make sure you have euro’s, they will give you a really bad rate if you pay in dollars or dirham. We only had dollars and ended up paying 70 dollar each. If you don’t have euro’s make sure you exchange them somewhere in the Western Sahara
Senegal
Visa on arrival, the visa is free for most of the passports. It is free for the Dutch, Turkish, English and Australia.
The Gambia
Visa on arrival, the visa is free for a lot of passports. It is free for Dutch, Turkish and English.
Guinea Bissau
Visa apply in Ziguinchor at the Guinea Bissau embassy, it takes about 5 minutes to get it. He’s just writing it in front of you. The price is 20.000 cfa (30 euro) for a Dutch, Turkish and English passport.
Guinea (Conakry)
We got our visa in Dakar, apply at the Guinea embassy. Costs 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for a single entrée valid for 30 days. If you want 2 entrees the price is 80.000 cfa (122 euro) the visa is valid for 60 days. It takes 1 working day. You need to bring in copy of your passport, 2 passport photo’s. All goes very easy. Better to do! Get it in Bissau, the costs there are 30.000 cfa (46 euro) you also need copy of your passport and 2 passport photo’s. This is all for a Dutch, Turkish and English passport. I don’t know about the multiple entrée in Bissau.
Mali
We got our Mali visa in Nouackott (Mauritania). This goes a little bit strange but easy to apply, you need to give your border crossing for us this was Kouremale as we will enter from Guinea. A single entrée visa valid for 1 month costs 6.500 um (17 euro), your entrée date needs to start within 1 month from the date you apply, otherwise you get a double entrée and visa that’s 2 months valid. The price will then be 10.000 um (26 euro). You need 2 passport photo’s and a copy of your passport. If you apply in the morning you can pick it up in the afternoon.
Burkina Faso
We got ours in Bamako (Mali). Easy to apply, costs 24.000 cfa (36 euro) for a single entrée visa that is valid for 90 days. You need 2 passport photo’s, copy passport and a copy of your vehicle papers. Apply in the morning pick up in the afternoon. This is for all passports Better to do! (see VTE Visa).
Togo
Visa on arrival, costs 10.000 cfa (15 euro). Valid for 7 days, easy to extend it in Lome for 2.000 cfa (3 euro). This is for all passports
We got our visa in Bamako (Mali). The lady there is not very friendly, you need 2 passport photo’s, copy from the first page of your passport, copy of your passpot, copy from vehicle papers and a copy of a reservation from a hotel in Benin. Costs of the visa is 12.200 cfa (18.5 euro), it takes 2 working days to get it. This is for all passports
We got ours in Bamako (Mali). Easy to apply, costs are various. Dutch, Australian and German passport 60.000 cfa (92 euro), Turkish passport 65.000 cfa (99 euro) and English passport 90.000 cfa (137 euro). You need 2 passport photo’s, copy of your passport and a copy from your vehicle papers. First you pay 20.000 cfa (included the price I write above) to their bank account at the bank next door. This is one of the only places to get the visa for Nigeria.
Cameroon
We got ours in Calabar (Nigeria). Easy to apply takes about 45 minutes to get it. The price is 51.000 cfa (78 euro).
Gabon
We got ours in Lome (Togo). They wanted a lot of paperwork, luckily we knew everything we needed to take with us. The costs are 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for all passports. You need 2 passport photo’s, copy of your passport, copy yellow fever, copy carnet de passage, hotel reservation, copy of a credit card, copy of motorcycle papers If you have them all ready it only takes 10 minutes. Pick-up is the next day after 3 pm.
Congo (Brazzaville)
We got ours in Lome (Togo). First of all this was just in a flat building, it looked nothing like a embassy, but other overlanders got it here as well and entered Congo, so it must be ok. The price is the highest one we paid so far 90.000 cfa (137 euro) each. You need copies of 3 other West African visas and 2 passport photo’s. Visa is done in 20 minutes.
Congo (Kinshasa, DRC)
We got ours in Cotonou (Benin). Nice embassy, nice and helpful people here. The price is 50.000 cfa (76 euro) for all passports. You need 2 passport photo’s and they make the copies from your passport. It takes about 1,5 hours to get your visa ready.
Angola
We got ours in Point Noire (Congo Brazzaville). This is one of the hardest visa’s to get in West Africa. You can apply for the visa on Tuesday and Thursday between 9 and 11 am. You need to put 2000 cfa on their bank account before applying the visa at the Bank of Congo. We had a invitation letter from a friend of us who lives in Angola, copy passport, copy Congo visa, copy DRC visa, 2 passport photo’s and a big smile on our face when we applied. The woman working there only wants to speak French, not even Portuguese what they speak in Angola and she’s not helpful at all. We got a paper to fill in what only is in Portuguese, luckily there is a guard around who do helps people with their application form so we filled it all in and went to the woman at the desk, handover all papers and she straight away gave the invitation letter back, she didn’t want to have it! Instead we needed a letter why we wanted a visa for Angola in Portuguese, off course she pointed us out to where we can get it, it just costs another 2000 cfa extra per person. We got the letter and handed over all papers again and it looked she was satisfied. Now we needed to wait for a phone call, next day we got one around 2 pm. They only speak French again and the only thing I understood is they wanted a reservation, this must be a hotel reservation we thought. We made a quick booking online and printed it at a shop and run to the embassy to hand it over, they accepted and told us to wait for a phone call again. The next day we received the phone call at 2:30 pm, we run to the bank to make the deposit of 75.000 cfa each took the receipt and run to the embassy, we arrived at 3:05 and got send away, tomorrow we open again. When walking away they shout at us to come back and did give us the visa. What a relief! We had a multiple entrée visa in 48 hours.
Passport – We arrived at the border 3 days before our visa started, a bit tricky of course but we where ready to enter, I don’t think anyone ever looked at our visas as they where signed extremely fast. She went to the office, gave the passports to a woman and she went in front of all the people waiting and stamped our passports.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this).
Passport – They asked a lot of questions, just to have a conversation but stamped the passports easy
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this).
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Burkina Faso
We left Burkina Faso from the Bitou border.
Passport – Got stamped out easy nothing asked for
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage. I needed to explain the guy what he needed to do for several times, he probably still doesn’t know but he stamped the Carnet the Passage so I was satisfied.
We entered Nigeria through a small border at Idi Iroko. The main border is down the coastline but this is pretty corrupt one so we decided to make a few extra kilometers and cross more easy.
Passport – This took a long, long time but eventually our passports got stamped easy and nothing was asked for. We spent around 3 hours at the border talking to everyone and showing our documents
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Nigeria
We left Nigeria through the border nearby Calabar called Ekok to Cameroon. This is a small border you pass over the river by bridge, it´s pretty crowded around and the bridge is not very wide. If you include the sidewalk 2 cars just fit.
Passport – This took a long time, she went in with both our passports. The guy asked a lot of questions where we have been what we have been doing. After half an hour he asked her to leave and wanted me to come in, same questions asked and he wanted a form from the border where we entered. I never received something there so I had no idea what he was talking about, he understood this and stamped my passport and send me out to send her back in again. He stamped her passport as well and we where passing through.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Cameroon
We entered Cameroon from the border in Ekok.
Passport – In this border you pass several checkpoints who all take long time they write down all your information by hand, the first checkpoint did this even twice. No passport stamped yet. Next checkpoint writing everything again and the passports got stamped. You will have 2 more checkpoints where they write down the same information.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Cameroon
We left Cameroon at the border Minkoko, everything is straightforward and there are not a lot of people around.
Passport – They like to write down everything 3 times or so we got used to this, it takes time but everything goes very friendly.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Gabon
We entered Gabon from the border in Mikoko. A border not used by a lot of people.
Passport – In this border you pass several checkpoints what all take a long time they write down all your information by hand. They love the paperwork, the first one called his boss told our story and write a letter that we needed to give to the immigration office in Bitam. Here they wanted copies from everything, our Passport, Gabon visa, Cameroon visa and exit stamp from Cameroon. Of course there was a copy shop at the other side of the street what asked a fortune for a copy 100 cfa each. If you walk 100 meters to the right they do copies for 25 cfa.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Gabon
We left Gabon from the border in N´dende, this is one of the few borders to the Republic Congo. It´s a 280 km long dirt road what is not recommended to ride after a lot of rain as it will be pretty muddy, we where lucky it was dry a few days before we got here.
Passport – You need to stamp your passport in the last city N´dende, the office opens at 8 in the morning. From here it´s approximately 50 km´s to the Congo border. You will stop before exiting Gabon again on the road to write down all your information and they will stamp your Carnet here as well.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage .
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Famous N’dende to Dolisie challenge road video :
Congo (Brazzaville)
We entered the Republic Congo from the border in N´dende – Dolisie. A long dirt road needs to be passed for this. The total distance is 280 km and it´s not recommended doing this after a lot of rain and especially not on a rainy day.
Passport – You come to a little place with 4 offices what is the border, again they all love to write down your information so it takes some time. They know what they are doing so it all goes pretty smooth, they ask your route through the country and stamp the passports.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage.
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Congo (Brazzaville)
We left the Republic Congo from the border to Cabinda, there is only 1 border here. It´s pretty crowded but all goes pretty fast.
Passport – Passport is stamped easily, just the writing information takes a bit of time.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Angola (Cabinda)
We entered the Cabinda from the border in 36 km down from Point Noire. It´s pretty crowded but all straight forward and they have real official offices and clothes.
Passport – You enter the first building and need to fill in a form for both about your personal details and where you will stay before they stamp your passport. All people are very helpful and will help you with the translation, all is in Portuguese. Also you need a photo copy from your passport and your Angola visa.
Import Vehicle – Since a long time we are not able to use our Carnet de Passage, Angola is not part of it and they know about this. They will stamp it if you want but still you need to buy temporary importation. The price for motorcycles is 3.166 Kwanza. You can exchange at the border but in Cabinda you will get a better rate, at the moment the black market rates are 2,5 times as much as what the bank will give you for your dollars or euro´s. My advice will be to exchange 20 or 30 dollars at the border and then in Cabinda for a better rate. The importation of the vehicle is 30 days valid.
Vehicle insurance – This is the first country the ECOWAS insurance is not valid anymore. The vehicle importation is directly an insurance as well so you we didn´t buy a new one.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Angola (Cabinda)
We left the Cabinda the border south at Tchinganga.
Passport – Passport is stamped easily, takes a bit of time as you go to multiple offices.
Export Vehicle – They took a look at our importation papers and it was all ok.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Congo (Kinshasa) DRC
We entered the Democratic Republic Congo from Cabinda to Moanda. The road in DRC are not as bad as you expect, a lot of people told us we needed to go from the Luwozi border crossing. For that border you need to ride a long trail what is all mud. Instead taking this border (you need a multiple entrée visa for Angola to take this border). The road from the border to Moanda is a bit sandy but not too bad to ride, distance is about 30 km. From Moanda you head towards Boma this is a good dirt road with a distance about 100 km. After Boma you will find a good tar road!
Passport – It´s a little bit chaotic but all works fine, it´s easy if you have a copy from your passport and visa makes it a little bit more fast. They will take a photo from you as well and ask where you going to.
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this).
Vehicle insurance – We didn´t buy any insurance for DRC.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for at the border. About 10 km from the border is the first road tax barricade you will find. Just say you are not willing to pay and they will let you pass, at least they did for us as with a motorcycle this is easier. You can avoid this road tax point pretty easy as well like other people with a 4×4 did. Just go to the coast straight after the border to Moanda, it´s a small detour. You will find one more on the road where they let you pass easier.
Leaving Congo (Kinshasa) DRC
We left the DRC from the border at Songolo. This is a really crowded border but the people are very friendly and willing to help you, the officials wearing clothes to recognize them. First you need to pass a road tax office again, this might be a hard one especially for the 4×4´s. If you have a motorcycle just tell them motorcycles don´t pay and wait till a local motorcycle passes, he will open the gate with a smile.
Passport – Passport is stamped easily, they take you in a nice office with AC.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage (see our blog about this).
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for at the border itself.
Angola
We entered Angola from the border at Songolo, this is a big border crossing and very crowded but has all official offices so you know where you need to go.
Passport – You enter the first building and need to fill in a form for both about your personal details and where you will stay before they stamp your passport. Also you need a photocopy from your passport and your Angola visa.
Import Vehicle – See Angola (Cabinda) part for this. They want to see the paper again and will stamp it again so you have the 30 days again same is for your visa if you have multiple entrée.
Vehicle insurance – This is the first country the ECOWAS insurance is not valid anymore. The vehicle importation is directly an insurance as well so you we didn´t buy a new one.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for.
Leaving Angola
We left Angola to Namibia passing the border at Santa Clara, this is the main border between these countries. It’s not that crowded, there are a few guys hanging around who want to exchange money with you and give you advice where to go, all goes friendly we just said no to everything.
Passport – Passport is stamped after going through all your details and where you have been, and then they take a photo from you.
Export Vehicle – You need to show your importation papers, they keep one of them and off you go.
Bribery – No money or gifts where asked for at the border itself.
You pass a bridge from Mauritania what costs 4.000 cfa (6,50 euro), you need to pay this in cfa or he will charge you 10 euro each! After that he opens the gate for you.
Passport – You hand over your passport, they give you a visa (stamp) upon arrival, no money or gift asked here.
Import vehicle – You get a Pass Avant at the other side of the Street this costs 2.500 cfa (4 euro). You get 48 hours to extend this in Dakar (of you go on Fridays you get 96 hours).
Bribery – Here we only got asked 10 euro fort he Pass Avant by one of the guys, don’t pay him just pay the guy at the desk the 2.500 cfa and you have no problems. And just don’t buy the insurance!!
Leaving Senegal
We left Senegal to The Gambia, we used the border crossing nearby Barra, no bribes asked and we got our smoothly.
The Gambia
We entered The Gambia at the Barra border.
Passport – All pretty smooth we got our visas and passport at the border for free, no money or gifts where asked.
We left Guinea Bissau on a really small border not used a lot by overlanders from Contabane.
Passport – Our passport got stamped out easy
Export vehicle – We used our Carnet the Passage.
Bribery – They asked what I have for them when we got write out of the country I told him a handshake, shake his hand and we both smiled and we where free to go.
Guinea Conakry
We used a really small border to enter Guinea from Contabane to Dabbis.
Passport – This was a problem, when we arrived at the border they told us they will stamp it in the next (bigger) village. Unfortunately they didn’t. They told us to go to Boke, the next city at the end of the road. We didn’t push anything and trusted them, our mistake! Push more at the first border crossing they need to stamp you in the country. Eventually we got into Boke riding around trying to find customs, this took a while but here are the GPS coordinates 10.930486, -14.291541 if you end up here as well to get your stamp in your passport. The chief here needed to call the minister of tourism who needed to give him permission to stamp us in the country. This all took a long time, we stayed a couple of hours waiting and waiting. The chief then wanted 100.000 GNF (10 euro) when he had the permission to stamp our passports as always we refused to pay and eventually he didn’t ask about it anymore. When we got our passports stamped and went back to our motorcycles his right hand came to us and asked us for a little money because he needed to use his mobile phone all the time, this time I gave him a little money because it is true he put in a lot of afford for us and made some phone calls, I gave him 10.000 GNF (1 euro).
Import Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage.
Vehicle insurance – ECOWAS insurance valid here.
Bribery – The chief asked us in Boke 100.000 GNF we refused and got away with it, only paid 10.000 GNF for his phone costs and because he put a lot of afford into it.
Leaving Guinea
We left Guinea from the Kouremale border to Mali.
Passport – We got our passports stamped out easy nothing asked for.
Export Vehicle – We used our Carnet de Passage.
Bribery – They only asked a gift when exporting the vehicle, I offered him a handshake and he excepted it.
*** You can watch our Guinea motorcycle trip adventure.
”Travel Guinea Conakry is trouble in protests time also no safe. Is true? :”
I will try to write from every country how the border crossing (and bribe )went and where they where asking for money or gifts.
Morocco
We entered Morocco with the ferry from Barcelona at Tangier Med. We arrived around 7 pm, you need to get your passport stamped at the ferry (this is for all ferries also from Gibraltar). When you leave the boat they check your passports and let you go to customs, this is where it all starts. When you arrive there it’s pretty crazy and crowded, there are some fixers walking around well willing to help you, but you can do this easily on your own.
Import vehicle – The papers are all writing in French, if you don’t know what it says just asked some other people traveling or officials what you need to fill in. They will help you so you don’t need to pay the fixers! You import your vehicle with a form you need to fill in, they sign and stamp it you need to keep this paper with you till you leave the country.
Passport – Like I said before you get your passport stamped at the ferry during the trip from Spain. After the importation of your vehicle they send you to a small office to fill in your details in the computer , after that your free to go!
Vehicle insurance – You need a green card insurance, we both had that from Europe. Nobody ever asked about our insurance papers, hers where expired when we left the country for a few days . But never any problems.
Bribery – No Money or gifts where asked, if you use the fixers they will ask you around 5 euro. Like I said you can do this easy without.
Leaving Morocco
This goes really smooth, they help you where you need to go, no Money or gifts asked.
Mauritania
We entered Mauritania at the coast line near Nouadhibou (I think this is the only border crossing you can take) You ride about 2 km through no-mansland this is a very bad road fort he last kilometre to get to the Mauritania border. after all stories we got a bit scared and used a fixer here. There is 1 guy well known for motorcyclists called Cheick, unfortunately he wasn’t there when we arrived. There showed a small guy called …. up and he seemed trustable, we agreed to pay 10 dollar for him, 17 dollar for 20 days insurance and 10 dollar custom fee for the motorcycle. The visa price is 55 euro’s and he would help us as well to get that fast. Unfortunately there was a whole rally there as well, about 50 Mercedes from Germany, they needed visas as well..
Passport – First you need the visa, make sure you have Euro’s with you for this or they give you a extremely bad exchange rate. The price is 55 euro, you need to go to s small office they take a photo and print your visa, only thing is they need internet for this and they don’t have that all time. It took us about 6 hours to get it, we heard stories people stayed 3 nights at the border to get there visa. Just before the last rope blocking the road they will scan your visa and your free to go.
Import vehicle – Our fixer did this for us, but I’m sure you can do this easily yourself! You need to have your motorcycle papers fill in a form they sign and stamp it, you pay 10 euro and that’s it.
Vehicle insurance – This is basically why we got our fixer, this supposed to be very hard to get and they work with the fixers. The solution is to get it in Nouadhibou. It’s nearby the camping Chez Ali des Levriers, we paid 17 dollar for 20 days at the border but here it will be cheaper. Nobody ever asked about our insurance in Mauritania
Bribery – We had our deal with the fixer at least we thought we had, after finishing all but he took us to a little cafe and said we needed to pay 200 dollars instead of the 80 dollars we agreed on before. Of course we where not willing to pay, here we ended in a long long long discussion, he showed his temperament and everything, luckily we met Cheick (the motorcycle fixer) before and he gave us his phone number, so we called him as he told us don’t pay more then this price. He argued with our fixer as well and agreed on the phone with him but turning his face to us he was going back to the 200 dollars. Again a long ‘fight’ followed, we had a big crowd around us who eventually all agreed with us (this was nice to see)! When darkness fall down she finally convinced him that we where right and he was wrong, he got his 80 dollars and we finally left the border. Be aware about this guy and don’t trust him!! Also this border crossing is doable without a fixer!
Leaving Mauritania
We left Mauritania from the Diama border, this is a small border near the coastline and is not that corrupt yet.. Don’t go to Rosso! First of all the road to the Diama border is fine to ride, you leave the highway Keur Machene where the road even gets much better. After Keur Machene it becomes a dirt-road but this is a good one and especially in the dry-season easy to ride.
Export vehicle – We entered the office and know they would ask for 10 euro’s each to sign our papers, of course we refused to pay this and we have been talking for about 30 to 40 minutes before he signed our papers for free and let us go.
Passport – They would do the same and try to ask for 10 euro each as well to sign, maybe he seen already we are not willing to pay, he signed our passports and give them to us and then softly asked for 10 euro each, we laugh at him and said no and left the office.
Bribery – Like I just said they will ask for 10 euro everywhere, just refuse play the game with them, don’t leave the office and keep talking. He has 2 books, one with all people who passed and 1 with all people who paid.. Ask to see the book and show him not everyone is paying this helps you as well. If you do pay because you have Money enough or you are in a rush please think about other travelers who don’t have the money to pay this bribes because their life get’s more hard like this. – The only thing what seems to be legit is the community fee of 500 um you need to pay at the border, the guy gives you a receipt.
