WEST AFRICA

[berrypde]

Hi folks

We are planning a boat delivery from UK to Brazil and I am thinking in use the opportunity to make some tourism to west Africa before we head to Cape Verde islands.

Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal are on our way and i would like to collect more first hand information from other cruisers.

I have been researching the web, like CIA factbook, Jimmy Cornell old book on google books, lonely planet online and some other few sources, but nothing really serious dedicated to cruisers like us...

any help out there?

Regards

Alex

[LeaseOnLife]

noonsite is a place to get some first hints:

Morocco — Noonsite
Mauritania — Noonsite
Senegal — Noonsite
Gambia — Noonsite


Cruiserswiki has a bit for
Senegal - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki
The Gambia - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki

Dirk

[berrypde]

thanks Dirk,

I am a long distance cruiser and of course I've been looking at noonsite as a first option, but there is not too much valuable info there other that the common warnings about NO GO .... I am not tempting my (good) fortune , but in my experience there are some wonderful and not explored countries by cruisers that i want to visit. as an example, i decided last minute NOT to visit western Venezuela this year, but the Orinoco Delta is a safe place to visit despite the warnings...

First hand information is always useful.

alex

[berrypde]

i found this
http://www.sy-duende.com/various/west_africa_pilot.pdf

[barnakiel]

Marroco and Senegal are pretty much visited by boats. Mauritania I am not sure I heard of. Either few ports or unfriendly administration.

b.

[Temptress]

hi

We are in Morocco NOW heading to Brazil via Canaries and Cape Verdi. Morocco is a great place, we avoid NooSITE as it is more aptly described as 'DoomSite'.

Tangier , Safi and Casablanca are best avoided by yachts. The Marina in Rabat/Sale is first class and with the new dredging in the harbour you can enter on any tide but you have to watch the swells on the BAR - 2M or more don't come in! MOhamedia offfers a warm welcome and you can anchor in Essouria (s
?). The Marina in Agadir is reportedly good also.

Mauritania is a closed country and visitors are very unwelcome. We have spoken to other cruisers that have been in Senegal and have good reports.

Kevin
Wanderings

[Temptress]

Originally Posted by LeaseOnLife

noonsite is a place to get some first hints:

Morocco — Noonsite
Mauritania — Noonsite
Senegal — Noonsite
Gambia — Noonsite


Cruiserswiki has a bit for
Senegal - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki
The Gambia - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki

Dirk

If you believe Noonsite you would not go anywhere!

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Temptress

If you believe Noonsite you would not go anywhere!

Fair.

Now please name a better alternative source.

I, for one, find noonsite informative and correct most of the time. Sometimes they are a bit outdated BUT this is up to the cruisers to provide noonsite with relevant updates.

b.

[berrypde]

I have been researching not only cruisers web, but Hitchhiking web and couchsurf.org where i am a member as well,who have valuable insider reliable information... As i could see there are some level of tourism from Europeans there and they describe the country as awesome and not spoiled by tourism.

Maybe Mauritanian authorities are not welcoming cruisers , or maybe cruisers dont go because all the bad press the country has... ( ranks nr 1 in slavery) and the country has bad relationships with Senegal as well.

i am writing to several marinas from the area to have more information ( if ever) to find cruisers that went to those countries in the near past... maybe they have email addresses or even a direct information.
The good thing is that i have some 6 months to plan everything and decide whats best.

will keep updated news about this topic and i will appreciate any hints that gives me a thread to a first hand information.

cheers, alex

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by berrypde

i will appreciate any hints

Hint 1: search fracophone forums, West Africa is visited mostly by French sailors.

b.

[berrypde]

didnt thought about that, good point . thanks

[Temptress]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Fair.

Now please name a better alternative source.

I, for one, find noonsite informative and correct most of the time. Sometimes they are a bit outdated BUT this is up to the cruisers to provide noonsite with relevant updates.

b.

True and I do look at Noonsite sometimes. However i more often use the YBW or these Forums to get information. If you can deal with french (as said elsewhere) there is some useful info to be had too.

Mostly I gather up lots of usually conflicting information and make my own mind up.