Mali
I have reached Bamako (14388km of my travel) on the 15 January 2015 - border was pretty much easy - Malian they didn't bother about custom's documents - Police on the Guinean side were slightly dodgy (like criminals) for all non tourist and they tried get some money out of them.
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| Border Mali - Guinea - Malian side |
I moved happily to Bamako as it was just few hours ride - I made city, stopped for some snacks and water, and than I lost in the big city (Dakar traffic was much worse). I tried find Sleeping Camel Camping as it was recommended from Lithuanian couple I meet before. As you only navigate by sun and compass and some scans of maps on your laptop sometimes is a difficult. Finally I have made place for this night. I meet big overlanding truck - commercial tour operator the one I meet in Guinea.
Next day I went for parts search in Yamaha Dealer in Bamako. Delivery time was minimum 1 month waiting. Me and Daniel - malian yamaha dealer went on motorbike market with all second hand motorbikes there My main concern was to get new clutch disk. I got 5 new and 3 old for the 60 euro! I fit those parts same day. After day or two I rode south east to the Ivory coast border - I slept in the bush and next afternoon I crossed border.
Ivory coast
First impression was not too bad. I was heading towards Yamoussoukro Where I was planing to see famous Basilic - copy of the Vatican. Road was good not new but good with minor holes - few Gendarmerie Stops, much more less crashes than in Guinea
I reached Yamoussoukro after 2 days stop in Ferkesedougu. Starter Relay was causing problems - sticky coil would turn starter forever. I changed relay and problem disappear. In Capital Yamoussoukro - I slept in nice and clean "Hotel du Centr" good price around 10e. I had great big dinner for around 4.5e too. Same evening I visit Yamaha shop and asked for prices for my break cylinder. Next morning I got delivery time - 2 mouths, I would not want so long so decided go rear break less till I find better solution. I visit Basil and with small price total of few euro I got English Speaking guide. He was very good and funny, we spend around an Hour, He also explain political back ground of Ivory Coast.
Abidjan 15783 km of my travel
I reached Gulf of Guinea (Grand Bassam and Abidjan) and this was one of the greatest moment of my Round the World Tour. This was more than I originally like to discover - originally I was planing get to Dakar and than transport motorbike overseas. Maybe thanks to my accident and than come back for that travel. Going that direction I was able to see much of beautiful nature of the west Africa. Climate and Forest changed radically around 300km before Abidjan - was much more humid and hot and forest changed from subtropical to tropical rain forest. Wow! I was wet of humid first time in my life. I was happy. I spend couple of days there just to have little celebration of all of this.
I visit Ghana and Burkina Faso - They were only kin to get Transit Visa If I would have another country visa in passport, they were ways to obtaining such as thing but I was quite content to finish my West African Voyage here. I made decision same day that I would come back by Road to Europe and continue East bound. Next day I moved back north to Mali. please see my next move in my blog.
First impression was not too bad. I was heading towards Yamoussoukro Where I was planing to see famous Basilic - copy of the Vatican. Road was good not new but good with minor holes - few Gendarmerie Stops, much more less crashes than in Guinea
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| Burn Petrol Tank Cistern - Ivory - Coast |
Abidjan 15783 km of my travel
I reached Gulf of Guinea (Grand Bassam and Abidjan) and this was one of the greatest moment of my Round the World Tour. This was more than I originally like to discover - originally I was planing get to Dakar and than transport motorbike overseas. Maybe thanks to my accident and than come back for that travel. Going that direction I was able to see much of beautiful nature of the west Africa. Climate and Forest changed radically around 300km before Abidjan - was much more humid and hot and forest changed from subtropical to tropical rain forest. Wow! I was wet of humid first time in my life. I was happy. I spend couple of days there just to have little celebration of all of this.
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| Grand Bassam Beach - the feeling of great achievement - and few days of "Holidays" |
I visit Ghana and Burkina Faso - They were only kin to get Transit Visa If I would have another country visa in passport, they were ways to obtaining such as thing but I was quite content to finish my West African Voyage here. I made decision same day that I would come back by Road to Europe and continue East bound. Next day I moved back north to Mali. please see my next move in my blog.
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| Restaurant in Capital - chief cook |
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| maybe 50 years old still operate in Ivory Coast - same one's are used in Mauritania and Senegal |
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| Grand Bassam old Colonial era Houses |
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| He was Ghanian worikng in Abidjan - I bought piece of mattress material just to make my sleeping mat |
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| Abidjan |
