We completed our cruise in West Africa and the
Atlantic crossing , resting now in
Martinique I try to put all the information
anchorages weather authorities provisions and people together.
I will put here the basics for now for people who may be interest of visiting this year .
Senegal :
AUTHORITIES :
Safety check by the army : kind people and easy going .
Check into the country : we did the mistake to check in ziquinchor both port police (asks for 100.000 CFA ) and passport officer in the airport asks for bribes and they don't hesitate to threat you , therefore is better to check in DAKAR (if you check in ziquinchor do not hesitate to call the police if they ask for bribe I used.my.embassy and after the police )
Provisions and Gas can be found but is better to get a refill in Dakar than exchange in ziquinchor ,water is plenty.
GUINEA BISSAU
AUTHORITIES
the price to check in the country totalled 150.000 CFA , they do charge you 100.000 for a cruising permit which is questionable since it effect only
motor boats (MAKE SURE TI FLY THE COUNTRYES COURTESY FLAG EVEN BEFORE CHECK IN )we received a visit from all authorities onboard everything went smoothly , they where kind and formal .
The port police treat me very well even when I said that I don't have enouph to pay (there is no Bank in bijagos so you need to have enouph CFA from.senegal.or euros ) and they helped me to travel to BISSAU so I can use a bank .
Provisions :
There is no gas in bijagos but you can refill in Bissau (Bissau port is not recommended)
There is basic
food in the islands but everything except sweet potatoes and cassava is expensive ( the cost of eating out is around 3 euros per person ).
Water can be obtained from wells in the village for free ( be careful and use only the wells with mechanical
pump and filter (located in the
school at bubaque island )if you ask the locals they are happy to help you .
PEOPLE: I haven't met more kind and nice folks from fisherman's to the port police .
Navigation: through navigation in Senegal is easy in the bijagos you will relay a lot on your
GPS , currents and shallows are predictable if you observe , always
anchor out of the 10 meters contour inner of that you maybe find rocks a d
reefs that was out at low tide .
I have test over 30
anchorages and visited most of the islands .
Conclusion:
SENEGAL: berry touristy expensive and not really worth the hasle (through if you get to know locals you may enjoy the place as we did )
Guinea Bissau :
This place is one of the most
remote and beautiful cruising ground you will visit , there are not enouph words in my vocabulary to describe the beauty of the place , is better than
Caribbean and it.might be better than Polynesia as well .
In Bissau make sure to interact with locals they are interesting and nice individuals .
Good restaurants if you fancy them can be found in
fishing camps I prefer the local bars since they are more fan .
IMPORTANT : GOOD DINGHY ANF
OUTBOARD is recommended for bijagos my
outboard died so I had to paddle no fun .
SOME PORTUGUES Or FRENCH will make your experience better with locals .
I am still available for information and I will post a detailed PDF.
I have had no safety issues in bijagos my dinghy was on the beach every day o recommend you lock your outboard like on every place (through I don't think locals will care about your 2.3 horse
power )