This is a true once‑in‑a‑lifetime overland journey from the UK to the deep Sahara and West Africa. Running from 30th October to 30th November 2026 (UK to UK), the expedition takes you through Spain, Morocco, Southern Morocco/Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Senegal, with a full month on the road to make it a true expedition.
We’re running two groups of five vehicles—one led by Russ, one by Libby—travelling slightly apart during the day but camping together each evening. The trip is primarily camping-based, including wild camping in remote desert regions. All camping in Africa is included, and if you prefer to upgrade to a room or hotel when available, that’s entirely up to you.
Additional costs include the UK–Spain ferry, the Morocco ferry, fuel, food, insurance, and other everyday items.
Travelling overland by 4×4 from Morocco → Southern Morocco → Mauritania → Senegal requires a mix of personal documents, vehicle documents, and border‑specific paperwork. The requirements differ slightly by country, and some borders (especially Mauritania and Senegal) have unique procedures.
Core Personal Documentation
These items are required for every country on the route.
Passport
- Must have at least 6 months’ validity beyond your final exit date.
Visas
- Morocco: Visa‑free for UK citizens.
- Southern Morocco/Western Sahara: Administered by Morocco; no separate visa.
- Mauritania: Visa on arrival available at the border (approx. €55–€120 depending on season).
- Senegal: Visa‑free for UK citizens for stays under 90 days.
Insurance
- Travel insurance: To the best of our knowledge, only the NFU, LV, and Saga offer green cards for Morocco (this will be third-party insurance only). Insurance can be purchased at the ports of entry/border crossings (this will also be third-party only).
Vehicle Documentation
These are essential for all borders and police checkpoints.
- V5C (logbook): Must be the original, not a copy.
- Driving licence: UK licence accepted; an IDP (International Driving Permit) is recommended but not always required.
- Vehicle insurance: See above.
- Mauritania: Must buy local insurance at the border.
- Senegal: Part of the ECOWAS “Carte Brune” system; motor vehicle insurance is purchased at the border.
- The ECOWAS “Carte Brune” (Brown Card) system is a regional third‑party motor insurance scheme that allows motorists to travel across West Africa with a single insurance endorsement that remains valid in all participating ECOWAS states. It ensures that victims of road accidents caused by non‑resident motorists receive fair and accessible compensation, and it protects travellers from needing to buy new insurance at every border. Fourteen ECOWAS countries participate in the Carte Brune system:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone (currently suspended), and Togo.
- The ECOWAS “Carte Brune” (Brown Card) system is a regional third‑party motor insurance scheme that allows motorists to travel across West Africa with a single insurance endorsement that remains valid in all participating ECOWAS states. It ensures that victims of road accidents caused by non‑resident motorists receive fair and accessible compensation, and it protects travellers from needing to buy new insurance at every border. Fourteen ECOWAS countries participate in the Carte Brune system:
- Temporary Import Permits (TIP / Passavant)
- Morocco: Issued electronically on arrival.
- Mauritania: Issued at the border (typically valid for 30 days).
- Senegal: Requires a Passavant (temporary import permit), usually valid 48–72 hours unless extended.
Country‑by‑Country Requirements
Spain
- Due to the need to now provide fingerprints at the port of entry, long delays may occur. The time it takes will be significantly longer if you are a first-time entry.
- Plan for longer queues on your first post‑EES trip.
- Allow extra time for arrivals in Spain from late 2025 onwards.
- Expect kiosk learning curves—many travellers will be using them for the first time.
- After your first registration, future entries should be quicker.
Morocco
- Passport + entry stamp.
- Vehicle TIP (automatic).
- Green Card or border insurance.
- No carnet de passage required.
- Drones are banned.
Southern Morocco/Western Sahara
- Treated as part of Morocco for entry.
- Multiple police checkpoints — expect to provide:
- Passport
- Vehicle details
- Occupant details
- No additional visa or TIP.
- Drones are banned.
Mauritania
- Visa on arrival at the border.
- Vehicle insurance purchased at the border.
- Passavant (temporary import permit).
- Expect multiple police checkpoints; keep photocopies of your passport and vehicle documents in a fiche to expedite the process.
- Drones are not banned in Senegal, but they are tightly regulated, and you must obtain authorisation from ANACIM (the National Agency for Civil Aviation and Meteorology) before flying. This applies to tourists, residents, hobbyists, and commercial operators. It is best to follow the “drones are banned” advice to avoid problems/delays with local authorities.
Senegal
- Visa‑free for UK travellers.
- Passavant for the vehicle (short validity unless extended).
- Carte Brune insurance required (regional ECOWAS insurance).
- Border formalities can take time; patience is essential.
Additional Overland Essentials
These aren’t “documents” but are required or strongly recommended for this route.
- Spare fuel and water containers (mandatory for long Sahara crossings).
- Recovery gear — tow rope, shackles, compressor, tyre deflator. We carry recovery gear; you don’t have to.
- Basic spares — belts, fuses, bulbs, fluids.
- Satellite communicator/emergency beacon for remote desert regions.
- We carry the SPOT emergency system: A family of satellite‑based personal safety and tracking devices that let you send your GPS location, status messages, and emergency alerts from anywhere without mobile coverage. It works by combining GPS positioning with the Globalstar satellite network, allowing your coordinates and messages to reach contacts or emergency services even in remote regions.
- Printed copies of all documents for checkpoints. Prepare a fiche.
Non‑Obvious Requirements & Border Realities
- Police fiche: Overlanders prepare a printed “fiche” with passport, vehicle, and personal details to hand out at checkpoints in Southern Morocco and Mauritania.
- Cash: Many borders do not accept cards. Euros are preferred.
- Vehicle ownership: If the vehicle is not in your name, you need a notarised letter of authorisation.
- Carnet de Passage: Not required for any country on this route.
- Fuel availability: Mauritania has long stretches without fuel; carry reserves.
- Border opening times: Some Mauritanian and Senegalese borders close at night.
- Arrive no later than early afternoon (13:00–14:00) to avoid being turned away.
- Rosso has a midday closure due to the ferry break.
- Diama can close earlier than expected if staff leave or if traffic is light.
- Neither crossing is 24/7, and both are strictly daytime-only.
Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever certificate: Required for Senegal if arriving from a Yellow‑Fever‑risk country (Mauritania counts).
- Routine boosters: MMR + Diphtheria‑Tetanus‑Polio (DTP) — recommended for all travellers to Morocco.
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for Morocco and the wider region.
- Typhoid: Recommended for Morocco and essential for Mauritania/Senegal.
- Rabies: High‑risk region; advisable for long overland trips.
More information about travel vaccinations can be found on the NHS website and the .gov.uk website.