AFTours - overland tours from North, West to South and East of Africa

Along the southern Moroccan Atlantic coast with its steep coast, but also secluded beaches, we will drive through the regions of the former Spanish Sahara all the way to Mauritania.
We then travel 400 kilometres on the new tarred road through the western part of the Sahara to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.
The onward journey towards the south takes us through a beautiful region of the Sahel, with dunes that reach all the way to the road. In the delta region of the Senegal River, we will drive through an extremely fertile area and thus reach Senegal.
In St. Louis, we experience the old French colonial capital, with its colonial flair, as a lively black African city and stronghold of African jazz.
Dakar, the destination of our trip, is the starting point for one last excursion to Gorée, the Island of Slaves.

Our itinerary and Highlights:

Morocco

Day 1

• Day of arrival. We will camp at a nice site with a swimming pool and restaurant. Here, one can also rent luxury tents (with shower/WC). You can reach the city centre with a 15-minute taxi ride.

Day 2

• Marrakesch is a myth from 1001 nights turned to stone, memorable evenings on the „Place Djamaa el-Fna“. This city offers something for everyone. History and culture, lively metropolitan city, busy markets with all imaginable oriental merchandise and goods and quiet gardens and parks.
• Sightseeing tour by bus in Marrakech
• In the evening, we have dinner on the „Place Djamaa el-Fna“. Hundreds of gas lamps gave a wonderful atmosphere.

Day 3

• We are leaving Marrakech for Essaouira, where we will arrive before noon.
• Essaouira. This Portuguese foundation is known as the most beautiful of Morocco’s coastal cities and is now an artists' colony. A true gem. Have a walk in the old city with its beautiful shops, craft ware and restaurants.
• Late in the afternoon we leave the town. Camp near the town.

Day 4

• There is a lot to see along the road to Agadir. One of the most beautiful coastlines awaits us.
• Agadir, famous bathing resort and tourist stronghold. It was fully rebuilt after the terrible earthquake in 1960. The coastal road is characterized by dense traffic, luxurious hotels and government buildings. It takes at least an hour to drive through the city towards the south.
• Camp at the camp site in Tiznit. Worth to see: The old Medina with its oriental live.
• Dinner in a restauran

Day 5

• We continue our way on a small coastal road to the little town of Sidi Ifni Here we will spend some time for sightseeing. Lunch we can have in one of the small, fancy Moroccan restaurants.
• This night we will camp at the thermal springs of Abeinou (40° C), wonderful swimming opportunity!

 

The next 3 days we will travel almost 1,200 kilometers along the wild, lonesome Atlantic coast towards the south. Sometimes we must hike on adventurous paths down the cliffs to reach the ocean, at other times the sandy beach can be reached with our vehicle. Windy – stormy or summery heat. The Atlantic shows itself from all sides. Cities developed here at great distances from one another. Small and sleepy, or evolved into large settlements over the years.

 

Day 6

• After Guelmin, the desert begins. Sometimes our road is directly near the Atlantic coast. From the rocky coast we have an fantastic view over the ocean.
• We do bush camping after Tarfaya in the desert.

Day 7

• In Tah we can visit the monument of the former demarcation line between Morocco and the Spanish Sahara. Here starts our way through the region of the “Polisario”.
• Laayoune –this formerly somewhat sleepy town grew into a modern metropolis within the last ten years.
• Boujdour, cultivated little town. We camp on the camp site near the Atlantic coast. In the late afternoon we will go to the busy little town with its colorful oriental street market.
• Common dinner in one of the nice restaurants.

Day 8

• Near Dakhla we will turn southwards through the former restricted area. For years you could drive this part of Morocco only in a convoy. Stretches of dunes or vast even sand surfaces pass us by.
• We leave the tarred road and drive down to a fantastic sandy beach where we will have our bush camp with a campfire. From very far we can see the lights of Dakhla.

Day 9

• Our last day in Morocco. Endless desert. 100 kilometers before we reach the border, there is a big rest stop. It’s time to spend the last Moroccan money. Time to have a last cup of the famous Moroccan tea or coffee.
• Shortly after we will find our camp on a beach near the Atlantic. Mostly it’s very windy here. But a nice campfire will warm us up.

Mauritania

Day 10

• Border crossing Mauritania / Morocco.
• Along the rails, where the longest train of the world is driving. Between 3 and 4 locomotives and up to 200 wagons! With a little luck we can see the train passing-by.
• We will have a wonderful night behind big sand dunes.

Day 11

• 400 km on the new tarred road through the Mauritanian Sahara to Nouakchott, the capital of the country. In the daytime, it is hectic and dusty. Donkey carts and all-terrain vehicles, trucks and taxis running haywire, all creating traffic mayhem.
  The city calms down when the sun goes down. The heat of the day dissipates.
• We will have dinner together in one of the many little street restaurants downtown and enjoy the pleasant evening atmosphere
• Camp in a small garden of a lovely kind of “backpacker”

Day 12

• Leaving Nouakchott behind us, we will drive through a very nice region of dunes
• After about 150 km, we will turn onto a new earth road, which takes us through the Diawling National Park. A natural bird paradise
• The journey continues through the fertile alluvial land of the Senegal River to the Senegalese border.
• Border crossing to Senegal.
• We will arrive late in the afternoon our camp site outside of St.Louis

Senegal

Day 13

• Our day off. The beautiful city still has a core in French colonial style. We will stay at a campsite right at the ocean. The former capital and stronghold of jazz today offers you pure Africa day and night!

Day 14

• This day is our spare day. On journeys in Africa, it is always possible that delays will occur. This can be due to the weather, poor roads, delays at border crossings, technical breakdowns etc. We have included this spare day so that we will be able to carry out our full travel program without pressure of time.

Day 15

• Onward journey to Dakar to the district of Ngor. We will camp on a hotel’s property, right at the ocean – wonderful sandy beach.

 

Day 16

 

• Daytime excursion to the Island of Gorée, the Island of Slaves off the coast from Dakar, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Millions of Africans were held here until they were shipped over to the New World. Since years Gorée became an artist colony. After a visit in the three museums you might have a walk through the small, shadowed streets. Have lunch in one of the nice local restaurants. Or just have a cold drink.

• In the evening / at night: Return flight to Europe. The airport is only 10 minutes away

Travel information

After booking, you will receive from us detailed travel information. Preparation, equipment, visa, health care and detailed information of the meeting point.

 

Info for the Mauritanian visa:

Travelers, who didn’t provide themselves with the Mauritanian visa in their home countries, can get the visa within 48 hours at the Mauritanian embassy in Rabat. If you depose your passport on Thursday or Friday, you get it back only on Monday. The visa fees are 30 Euros. Bring 2 passport photos and a photocopy of your passport. The embassy is open from Monday to Friday. You have to depose your passport before 12 o’clock. And you get it back 2 days later at 3.pm.

 

An “express visa” you can have the same day. This service costs you 120 Euros more.

 

There are daily trains which leave the train station at 3.45 pm to Marrakech. There they will arrive at 11.p.m. (12 Euros). Or take an overland bus from the “gare routiere” the Central bus station. There are all day long buses (10 Euros).

 

In the Medina you can get a hotel room with common shower up from 15 Euros.

 

We are already at the starting point two days before the trip starts. Thus, you can choose your arrival date individually.

 

Please inform us at an early stage of your time and date of arrival. We, or a serious taxi service, can pick up you from the airport.