Paris to Dakar by road | |
| Information | |
| Departure | Paris |
|---|---|
| Stage | Rabat |
| Arrival | Dakar |
| Regions | Europe Africa |
| Location | |
 35 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 1 ° 36 ′ 0 ″ W | |
It is now possible to rally the Senegal by car and by road from Paris and that without owning a 4X4 and without having to venture into the desert. The Paris-Dakar is finally accessible on asphalt. Breathtaking landscapes. Undoubtedly the most accessible and emotionally charged African car raid because the route runs along the entire Atlantic coast, passing through Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir and the park Mauritanian from Banc d'Arguin and finally the Senegal. It has been said too often that the best way to visit a country is to travel its roads and meet its inhabitants.
Understand
Preperation
It is advisable to leave with several vehicles or / and to inform someone of your route. Contact this person regularly (approx every 3-4 days).
- A general map of West Africa (Michelin) to have a global view of the route, a 1 / 2,000,000 mape or more precise for Western Sahara and Mauritania, as well as a 1 / 500,000 mape to 1 / 1,000,000e (IGN, TPC, Russian Military Cards, Moroccan National Cards ...) for Morocco and Senegal. In any case, the more precise the better.
- A valid passport with a VISA for Mauritania (it has not been possible for a few months to apply for a visa at the border. It must be done in Rabat. Visa issued under 48 h and not 24H. Attention, if the visa is deposited on Thursday, it will be necessary to plan to wait until Monday !!!!).
- A first aid kit is essential when you take into account the speed of relief in this region of the world, if there is help. Consider doing first aid training if possible.
- Your vaccination record (with yellow fever vaccine)
- Micropur tablets (or other) or a filter to purify the water
- The equivalent of three days of food and water
- A second spare tire as well as a tool kit is not a luxury.
- A tent to bivouac in the desert (magnificent nights)
- A sleeping bag with a mosquito net if you decide to sleep under the stars. Watch out for mosquitoes which transmit malaria (malaria) as well as all kinds of parasites.
- Depending on your tank and your vehicle, take a jerrycan
Before leaving don't forget to do:
- The yellow fever vaccine and follow an anti-malaria treatment (available in pharmacies)
- Vaccines against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis and Meningitis are strongly recommended.
- Health repatriation insurance is essential.
- Obtain an ATA carnet from the chamber of commerce and industry in your city if you are leaving with a car over 5 years old or take a customs permit.
- Possibly install a device allowing the fan to run continuously at its maximum power if you are leaving with an old vehicle and you do not want to stop every 2-3 h to cool the vehicle. In the desert, you will still have to stop every 3-4 h.
Steps
Spain
Go to Bayonne via the French motorway network and cross the Spanish border following the direction of San Sebastian.Once in Spain follow Bilbao, then Madrid as soon as possible, once on the Madrid motorway bypass take the A4 motorway towards Granada (Granada ). In Granada follow Malaga on the A95 then continue to follow Malaga. Once in Malaga take the A7 to Algeciras, in Algeciras take the Ferry to Tangier.
Paris - Bayonne: 769 km
Bayonne - Algeciras: 1 211 km
Morocco
You are therefore in Tangier. Take the direction of Rabat via Kenitra, then take the direction of Casablanca via Mohammedia. Once in Casablanca follow the direction of Marrakech and on the road that leads to Marrakech take on your right as soon as it is indicated the direction of Safi, continue to Safi. Once in Safi go to Essaouira by the only road that leads there. Then go to Agadir by crossing Taghazout.
- Step 3 - D 'Agadir To Nouadhibou
Go to Laayoune by crossing Tiznit, Mirflet, Sidi Ifini, Guelmime and Tan-Tan.Once in Layoune take the direction of Nouadhibou via Dakhla. The detour via Dakhla is optional, it is possible to take a road that directly joins the road to Nouadhibou on your left 40 km approximately before Dakhla. Continue on this road to the Moroccan border post.
No man's land
- Step 4 - From Nouadhibou To Rosso
Between the Moroccan border post and the Mauritanian border post there is a no man's land of 5 km approximately, inherited from the conflict between the two countries over Western Sahara. This is the only unpaved part of the course. The track is very passable and normally demarcated. From the Moroccan border post, if you are lost follow the many trucks, they almost all take the Nouadhibou-Nouakchott road. Be careful, the edges of the road can be mined.
Mauritania
Then take the road direction Nouakchott. The road is brand new. There is only one road. You can't go wrong even without a map! cross the Banc d'Arguin natural park. It is possible to leave the road to cross the park by the beach (with a 2 * 4 it is still better to stay on the wettest part of the beach, elsewhere there is a risk of silting up, annoying, but not good serious, we use our plates and we left), unforgettable! Without doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world! Then we continue to Nouakchott passing next to Nouamghar. Once in Nouakchott take the road towards Rosso. Once in Rosso take the ferry to reach Senegal.
Senegal
Once in Senegal take the N2 towards Saint-Louis we pass near the Djoudj natural park and we arrive at Saint-Louis, the former colonial capital, then continuing on the N2 we pass near the language park of Barbary. There we always follow the N2 to Dakar, passing near Kébémer, through Tivaouane, Thiès and Rufisque. Here you are at the end of your journey, you are in Dakar.
Attention for cars over 5 years old for Senegal.
Circulate
Remember that you are in Africa and that not all cities - even the biggest ones - are necessarily signposted like here and when they are it is not always very clear. Indeed, most of them are used by locals who know the roads by heart and who for the most part do not necessarily know how to read. If you ask for directions, know that you will often come across "guides" who are on the lookout for tourists in difficulty and who will want to hire you their services. Certain groups of guides or "false guides" do not hesitate to remove or move the panels to put you in difficulty in order to offer you their help in exchange for compensation. A GPS or, failing that, a compass can be useful. Night traffic is not to be recommended, except in an emergency and unless you have appropriate lighting. If you have to risk it, it is essential to greatly limit your speed, 60 km / h outside urban areas is a MAXIMUM. At night, many animals, both wild and domestic will cross in front of you suddenly, it is essential to be able to avoid them and juggle the ruts that you see later at night. It is not uncommon and even quite common to see a vehicle tumble down with all the lights off, you have to be able to see it early enough.
If you deviate from the route described below and you want to venture into the Atlas, the regs ..., it is advisable to put two sheet metal plates under the car if it is a 2X4, one by one. 'front to protect the engine crankcase and one at the rear to protect the tank.
Eat
Very important! The risks are real. Northern Morocco presents little serious risk, but nevertheless remain cautious and avoid anything that does not inspire you with confidence. For the south of Morocco, and especially for the south of Mauritania and Senegal. Never drink water that has not been opened in front of you (prefer sparkling water). In the villages, even if you are invited (it's sometimes difficult to refuse, but hold on!) Avoid eating with the villagers. If you can not help it, pretend the lack of time and offer your host to serve you tea (out of politeness so as not to crumple it) instead of the meal, the tea being less risky. Hygiene conditions are not the same as in Europe and our organizations are not used to it. Avoid consuming raw vegetables and seafood and grilled fish in the street, prefer restaurants. Completely refrain from consuming ice cream. BE CAREFUL, in Mauritania and Senegal, running water is unfit for consumption! These tips will not prevent you from being a tourist, but will reduce the risk of severe (but common) forms that require emergency hospitalization and repatriation. The danger concerning food is important, complications can lead to death. Do not consume anything that does not inspire confidence in you.
Respect
The Moroccans are very welcoming and will not hesitate to offer you tea. The Senegalese are also very welcoming, the teranga is aptly named! The Moors are more reserved but after a few exchanges, they all turn out to be just as welcoming. This way of being can be invasive, do not hesitate to say no but do not be too suspicious either at the risk of missing out on great encounters. However, be very suspicious around the borders. Overall the security issues are the same as in Europe.
