Bissau to Conakry Border - Buruntuma14/3/2019 I'm way behind on these so apologies. They take a while to do and I can only do it when we have a good connection. I also missed the photos on the Cassamance to Bissau so theres nothing to post. My DashCam through a wobbly, as we say in the UK. Easy border with some bad roads involved. First rule is to ignore iOverlander its WRONG ! We manged to sign and stamp out of Guinea Bissau twice because of this. The first points in Piche are not there (its not in Gabu either). There is nowhere to stamp out in Piche. We tried ! The a little farther along that road is another point where you can do it all. I presume Piche is the place if you want to do it via the river crossing??? Anyhow continue all the way to Buruntuma and do it all there. This is only Bissau Exit as the Conakry entry is past that on some super rubbish piste. Axle twisting bad piste.  Its a super easy crossing with the only problem was them not knowing what to do with the carnet and not understaning you didn't have a passevant/laissez passers. I think if you do have one of those they the cofusion would be less. Either way it was easy. No charges.  After youv'e done both and hopefully got only one exit stamp where we got two they lower the rope and you are across to the Guinea - Conakry side. The last bit of piste before the border is terrible and then the part after for some kilometers is also the same. Be prepared for this. Its not that long but takes time. If articulated trucks can do it so can you. The distance is not large but from Bissau to Koundara took us 10 hours including a small stop for lunch.  Arriving at Conakry these a rope across the "track" and the guys in the hut will ask you to drive past once you've stopped at it. Normal process. They do'nt need to see anything. Park infront of Customs or as directed and give him your Carnet. At this pioint I was told to go over, quite a way to the immigration place on the left. Its a walk or about 100 meters. The photos below show it was we drove past. Once we got stamped into Conakry I went back to the truck and was handed my Carnet by the waiting guy. He came out to give it me. All easy and no charges.    Gambia to Senegal Border - Seleti2/3/2019 This is a super easy border. Just don't arrive on the Senegal side at lunchtime. You know the lunches that are 3 hours long from 12 to 3pm. How a country runs with everyone doing this is beyond me. They start at 8am and finish at 5 but have 3 hours off in the middle. Anyhow, yet again we arrived in the middle. The Douanes on the Senegal side is closed for lunch. Other than that I presume they are NOT 24 hours here.  Gambia side is all in one building to the right of the road going south. There's 2 steps to perform and the first in in the little window to the right. This is simple process and Jelly stayed in the car. The second part is the office to the left and that's the carnet stamp. Julie never left the car as is normal. There was no hassle really apart from a guy wanting a lift to Senegal. No money spent.  You then drive through no mans and on perfect tar and to the Senegal side. This is two buildings quite far apart (drive it) and one hut. The first part is the Carnet Office on the left and thats shut for lunch for 3 hours. The second part is the little Hut where you show your passport also on the left. The Carnet and Hut were easy. The guy in the Hut wants to see your passport, that's all. No money spent.   Drive on to the passport control hut about 1km farther on. This has two windows and also had a large queue for the outbound window on the left so I presume also shut for lunch and clearing the backlog. You need the smaller window on the right. There was a helper here which I presume was official although not in uniform. He told us where to park and dragged me from the wrong queue and put me at the smaller window on the right. The guy in here was a big officious but all good. Wanted to see both people and needed occupation for his book. No money spent.   |
