Difference between revisions of "Western Sahara"

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In the '''Western Sahara''' rides are plentiful and usually free on the main paved roads connecting Laayoune, Dakhla and Smara. The UN does not give rides without official permission apparently, which is a shame as it seems they're the only people who can give you any insight into the political situation here. Local Moroccans will tell you all sorts.
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{{infobox Country
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|in = Northern Africa
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|map= [[File:Westernsaharamap.png|300px]]
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|language = N/A (recognized regional languages are Arabic and Spanish)
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|capital = N/A (largest city is [[El Aaiún|Laâyoune]])
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|pop = 382,617
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|currency = Moroccan dirham (MAD)
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|hitch = <rating country='eh' />
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}}
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'''Western Sahara''' is a mostly Moroccan-controlled territory in [[Northern Africa]]. Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.  
  
Truck drivers may ask you to "sleep" in a discrete position to avoid the endless police passport checks (which can make you a bit of a burden to carry). This shouldn't be a problem if it's not too obvious, but you don't want to get on the wrong side of the police in Western Sahara (who can be rather paranoid).
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When traveling here, you are de-facto traveling on the territory of the kingdom of [[Morocco]], so all visa-issues, police control checkpoints etc. are mostly applying to [[Morocco]]. Speaking a little bit of French, Spanish or Arabic will bring you through without problems, though more and more people speak good English due to the presence of the UN. Parts of the east (behind the berm) are controlled by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario_Front Polisario Front].
  
Lifts with overland travellers to [[Mauritania]] can be found by asking around at Camping Moussaffir (just north of Dakhla).
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=== Hitchhiking ===
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Hitchhiking in Western Sahara is very easy along the coastal road N1, where traffic is plentiful as far down south as Dakhla but sometimes sparely as well. All over the territory, from big cities to the most sparsely location, people pop up to hitchhike as well, so the concept is well known and understood. It will be easy for you to catch rides all the way to [[Mauritania]]. Locals hitch rides with pointing the forefinger into the driving direction instead of using the thumb.
  
The lorry drivers are lately reluctant to give a lift as then they have to bribe at each police post. It is better to omit that situation, and hitch to the post after [[Al-Uyuun]] and ask the police to pass the info on by phone to the next stop. <!-- jurahasiok at wp.pl -->
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Hitchhiking the N14 to [[Smara]] shouldn't be a problem as well, but the other two main roads N3 and N5 can bring problems with them, due to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Wall_(Western_Sahara) berm] and partly Polisario-controlled areas. Traveling these roads should be taken with a lot of care and it's always best to collect information about the current situation. It can happen that Moroccan police will send you back and not let you through.
  
[[Category:Africa]]
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Also the whole territory is still covered partly with undiscovered landmines, so be extremely careful when leaving the main roads and walking into the desert.
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Finding long rides can be especially easy with Westerners heading southwards towards [[Nouakchott]] and [[Senegal]] or [[Mali]] and can be done at Camping Moussafir in Dakhla and also Hotel Barbosa about 60 km from the border, where a lot of Moroccans and Westerners stop so that they can reach the border nice and early the next day. If you have made it to that spot chances are good that you have already come there with a Westerner; from [[Tiznit]] on resp. Nouakchott in the South, chances are really good to get a lift from an European.
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Western Saharan border with [[Mauritania]] closes at 6 in the evening and is a good time for finding northbound rides. In the mornings, especially the cars lined up before 9, when the border opens, will have drivers out of the cars walking about, a good chance to ask for rides. Look for Senegalese people (Senegalese cars have blue license plates with two letters and some numbers and more letters) as they are usually familiar with Mauritania and know the fun places to visit, while at the same time you'll have a ride all the way to Senegal. (Nanga def? How are you? In [[Africa phrasebook#Wolof|Wolof]], great way to start off your request.)
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Another Option is to just walk out of the city you want to hitchhike from, until you reach the police checkpoint (usually 0,5-1,5km). There are checkpoints before and after every city in WS. Police is usually very friendly and open to hitchhiking just behind the checkpoint. Cars and trucks go very slow there, plus your passport has already been checked by the police, so also "careful" drivers will pick you up.
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=== Cities ===
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* [[Ad-Dakhla]] (Villa Cisneros)
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* [[Boujdour]] (Cape Bojador)
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* [[El Aaiún]] (Laâyoune), [[El Marsa]]
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* [[Lagouira]]
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* [[Smara]] (Semara)
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=== Border Crossing ===
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* [[Morocco]]: There actually is no border, just a handful of police checkpoints along the road.
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* [[Mauritania]]: Many land mines around the border area, take care! Visa are not issued anymore at the border, you have to get them beforehand at the Mauritanian [[embassy]] in [[Rabat]] (Morocco) or elsewhere they have one ([[Banjul]], [[Dakar]]...). (Edit. Lachance ; Visa can actually be issued at the border of Mauritania. Border open at 9 and visa office at 11h)
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* [[Algeria]]: The border to Algeria is closed, though it could be possible to get into via Polisario-controlled areas, though this is absolutely not advised if you want to travel safely.
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[[Category:Northern Africa]]
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[[de:Westsahara]]
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[[zh:西撒哈拉]]

Revision as of 13:33, 20 November 2019

Flag of Western Sahara Western Sahara
Information
Language: N/A (recognized regional languages are Arabic and Spanish)
Capital: N/A (largest city is Laâyoune)
Population: 382,617
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Hitchability: <rating country='eh' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
Westernsaharamap.png

Western Sahara is a mostly Moroccan-controlled territory in Northern Africa. Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.

When traveling here, you are de-facto traveling on the territory of the kingdom of Morocco, so all visa-issues, police control checkpoints etc. are mostly applying to Morocco. Speaking a little bit of French, Spanish or Arabic will bring you through without problems, though more and more people speak good English due to the presence of the UN. Parts of the east (behind the berm) are controlled by the Polisario Front.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Western Sahara is very easy along the coastal road N1, where traffic is plentiful as far down south as Dakhla but sometimes sparely as well. All over the territory, from big cities to the most sparsely location, people pop up to hitchhike as well, so the concept is well known and understood. It will be easy for you to catch rides all the way to Mauritania. Locals hitch rides with pointing the forefinger into the driving direction instead of using the thumb.

Hitchhiking the N14 to Smara shouldn't be a problem as well, but the other two main roads N3 and N5 can bring problems with them, due to the berm and partly Polisario-controlled areas. Traveling these roads should be taken with a lot of care and it's always best to collect information about the current situation. It can happen that Moroccan police will send you back and not let you through.

Also the whole territory is still covered partly with undiscovered landmines, so be extremely careful when leaving the main roads and walking into the desert.

Finding long rides can be especially easy with Westerners heading southwards towards Nouakchott and Senegal or Mali and can be done at Camping Moussafir in Dakhla and also Hotel Barbosa about 60 km from the border, where a lot of Moroccans and Westerners stop so that they can reach the border nice and early the next day. If you have made it to that spot chances are good that you have already come there with a Westerner; from Tiznit on resp. Nouakchott in the South, chances are really good to get a lift from an European.

Western Saharan border with Mauritania closes at 6 in the evening and is a good time for finding northbound rides. In the mornings, especially the cars lined up before 9, when the border opens, will have drivers out of the cars walking about, a good chance to ask for rides. Look for Senegalese people (Senegalese cars have blue license plates with two letters and some numbers and more letters) as they are usually familiar with Mauritania and know the fun places to visit, while at the same time you'll have a ride all the way to Senegal. (Nanga def? How are you? In Wolof, great way to start off your request.)

Another Option is to just walk out of the city you want to hitchhike from, until you reach the police checkpoint (usually 0,5-1,5km). There are checkpoints before and after every city in WS. Police is usually very friendly and open to hitchhiking just behind the checkpoint. Cars and trucks go very slow there, plus your passport has already been checked by the police, so also "careful" drivers will pick you up.

Cities

Border Crossing

  • Morocco: There actually is no border, just a handful of police checkpoints along the road.
  • Mauritania: Many land mines around the border area, take care! Visa are not issued anymore at the border, you have to get them beforehand at the Mauritanian embassy in Rabat (Morocco) or elsewhere they have one (Banjul, Dakar...). (Edit. Lachance ; Visa can actually be issued at the border of Mauritania. Border open at 9 and visa office at 11h)
  • Algeria: The border to Algeria is closed, though it could be possible to get into via Polisario-controlled areas, though this is absolutely not advised if you want to travel safely.