Difference between revisions of "Mali"

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(Driving at night)
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=Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike=
 
=Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike=
'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">(date last confirmed correct)</span>'''
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'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">July 2013</span>'''
  
 
==Required Paperwork==
 
==Required Paperwork==
''You need at least proof of ownership and a pasport, usually in the same name. Some border crossings will ask for proof of insurance, but its unusual. If you do not have a carnet-de-passage, you need minimum of 15.000 to buy a Lesė Pasé for 30 days''
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You need at least proof of ownership and a passport, usually in the same name. Some border crossings will ask for proof of insurance, but its unusual.<br />
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If you do not have a [[Carnet de Passage]], you need minimum of <price cost="15000" currency="XAF" / to buy a Lesė Pasé for 30 days
  
 
==Process at border==
 
==Process at border==
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==Cost of entry==
 
==Cost of entry==
''If you come with a vali carnet-de-passage entry should be free. If you have to buy a so called lesé pasé it wil cost you 15.000 CFA''
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''If you come with a valid [[Carnet de Passage]] entry should be free. If you have to buy a so called lesé pasé it will cost you <price cost="15000" currency="XAF" />''
  
 
==Permitted length of stay==
 
==Permitted length of stay==
''State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle''
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30 days.
  
 
==Extension of stay==
 
==Extension of stay==
''To extend a Lesé Pasé you wil need to visit the main custom office in Bamako BEFORE the document has expired. The office is a bit hard to find, it is in the grand marchee, i wil post Gps point shortly. There is no need to bring your vehicle. Bring the Lesé Pasé, your car papers and your pasport. Once you find the right guy, he should stamp it and you're done. There should be no charge. If you have entered on a carnet the passage and it is expiring, it might be easier to leave the country on the old carnet and re-enter on the new since the paperwork needed to get this done are complicated.''
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To extend a Lesé Pasé you will need to visit the main custom office in Bamako BEFORE the document has expired. The office is a bit hard to find, it is in the grand marchee, i will post Gps point shortly. There is no need to bring your vehicle. Bring the Lesé Pasé, your car papers and your passport. Once you find the right guy, he should stamp it and you're done. There should be no charge. If you have entered on a [[Carnet de Passage]]and it is expiring, it might be easier to leave the country on the old [[Carnet de Passage]] and re-enter on the new since the paperwork needed to get this done are complicated.
  
 
==Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country==
 
==Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country==
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==Bribery in {{PAGENAME}}==
 
==Bribery in {{PAGENAME}}==
''As in most African countries, bribery is present through all of society. Passing through you will undoubtly encounter som forms of this. Tourist are seen as a good target since most Maliens consider any foreigner as rich. As a tourist you will mostly encounter this with police checks and or with governent officials. Usually the bribes take the form of small payments to speed things up. The police, at road checks, will often ask for a 'cadeau'. A gift. Or they wil ask for money to buy a coke or some food. Its up to you to choose wether you will accomodate but take in mind that giving will lead them asking the next tourist as well.  Remember one thing, always remain cordial and friendly, even if the official might not be. A smile and a joke go way further then getting angry
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As in most African countries, bribery is present through all of society. Passing through you will undoubtedly encounter some forms of this. Tourist are seen as a good target since most Maliens consider any foreigner as rich. As a tourist you will mostly encounter this with police checks and or with government officials. Usually the bribes take the form of small payments to speed things up. The police, at road checks, will often ask for a 'cadeau'. A gift. Or they will ask for money to buy a coke or some food. Its up to you to choose whether you will accommodate but take in mind that giving will lead them asking the next tourist as well.  Remember one thing, always remain cordial and friendly, even if the official might not be. A smile and a joke go way further then getting angry
  
More problematic are the police men who are searching for something to take your money. They will ask for your papers and once they have them, might invent some bogus violation to take your money. They prey on your patience and wil asume you do not have the patience to play the waiting game. I avoid paying these bandits. Ofcourse if I do violate the law, its a different matter but if you are sure you  did not run the red light, refuse any cooperation and demand the name and identification of the officer. I have had instances where it took me some hours to get my papers back. Nowadays i carry good copies which i hand over first.
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More problematic are the police men who are searching for something to take your money. They will ask for your papers and once they have them, might invent some bogus violation to take your money. They prey on your patience and will assume you do not have the patience to play the waiting game. I avoid paying these bandits. Of course if I do violate the law, it's a different matter but if you are sure you  did not run the red light, refuse any cooperation and demand the name and identification of the officer. I have had instances where it took me some hours to get my papers back. Nowadays I carry good copies which I hand over first.
 
So in short, if you feel the demand for money is unfair, refuse cooperation and be patient.  
 
So in short, if you feel the demand for money is unfair, refuse cooperation and be patient.  
Those in a in hurry will pay!"
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Those in a in hurry will pay!
  
 
==Checkpoints==
 
==Checkpoints==
''Most major towns wil have a checkpoint on the main acces roads. So often you will be checked going in and going out. Mostly it takes form of a wave through or a cordial question or two. Where are you from, where are you going. Often the checkpoints wil be combined police/militairy/custom. Its their job to stop and check you, so remain friendly and cordial, even if you have been asked the same questions two minutes before. The process should bequick and painless. Between major towns their are not many checkpoints, .''
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Most major towns will have a checkpoint on the main access roads. So often you will be checked going in and going out. Mostly it takes form of a wave through or a cordial question or two. Where are you from, where are you going. Often the checkpoints will be combined police/military/custom. Its their job to stop and check you, so remain friendly and cordial, even if you have been asked the same questions two minutes before. The process should be quick and painless. Between major towns their are not many checkpoints.
  
 
==Traveling with pets==
 
==Traveling with pets==
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=Camping in {{PAGENAME}}=
 
=Camping in {{PAGENAME}}=
''As in most of west Africa, campsites are not very common but do exist. Most major cities have hotels with big parkings and in most you are allowed to camp for a nominal fee. Ofcourse the Hotel owner hope you wil eat and drink at their facilities.  There are a few campsites known. Some are no more then a fenced of piece of land, others will have some facilities but do not expect European or South African standards.  Some known campsites are Sleepy Camel in Bamako, Cool Camp in Manantali.''<br />
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As in most of west Africa, campsites are not very common but do exist. Most major cities have hotels with big parking lots and in most you are allowed to camp for a nominal fee. Of course the Hotel owner hopes you will eat and drink at their facilities.  There are a few campsites known. Some are no more then a fenced of piece of land, others will have some facilities but do not expect European or South African standards.  Some known campsites are Sleepy Camel in Bamako, Cool Camp in Manantali.''<br />
''You should be paying between CFA 2000 and 5000 per person per day..'' <br />
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You should be paying between <price cost="2000" currency="XAF" /> and <price cost="5000" currency="XAF" /> per person per day..'' <br />
''Wildcamping is a good option when there is no campsite near. Mali is a huge country with lots of uninhabited space and it should not be hard to find a quite place to park for the night. Wildcamping is safe, as long as you keep basic safety rules in the back of your mind. Currently, it might not be a good option to wildcamp east of the Segou-Sikasso line, due to the trouble in the far Notheast of Mali in the rest of the country there should be no trouble..''
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Wildcamping is a good option when there is no campsite near. Mali is a huge country with lots of uninhabited space and it should not be hard to find a quite place to park for the night. Wildcamping is safe, as long as you keep basic safety rules in the back of your mind. Currently, it might not be a good option to wildcamp east of the Segou-Sikasso line, due to the trouble in the far Northeast of Mali in the rest of the country there should be no trouble.
  
 
==Camping guide books==
 
==Camping guide books==

Revision as of 04:56, 11 July 2013


Currency to display:

Entering Mali with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: July 2013

Required Paperwork

You need at least proof of ownership and a passport, usually in the same name. Some border crossings will ask for proof of insurance, but its unusual.
If you do not have a Carnet de Passage, you need minimum of FCFA15,000.00 XAF