Nomadic Backpacker
  • HOME
  • About
    • ABOUT Me
    • About the Blog
  • Sitemap
  • ADVERTISE
  • BORDER CROSSINGS
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
  • Travel Advice
  • Top 3 Fav Countries
  • destinations
    • United Kingdom
    • Belize
    • Honduras
    • Panama
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
    • El Salvador
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
    • Africa
    • Turkey
    • The Balkans

​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli

September 11, 2022 | Tagged: Africa, Border Crossings

Crossing from Senegal to Mali at the Kidira/Diboli border crossing back in February 2020 before the pandemic shut things down.
​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli

buy me a coffee

My day started in Tambacounda and ended 281km later in Kayes. Here is the minivan that broke down a few hours after leaving Tambacounda:
​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli
The road from Tambacounda to the border at Kidira was in crap condition, as per usual in Senegal. The journey was hardcore. I arrived in Kidira after 184 km at 4 pm.

In hindsight, what I should have done was found a hotel and crossed the border the next day. But I didn't.

I headed immediately for the border.  

I got stamped out, walked across the bridge, over the Falémé River and into Mali.
​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli
I had secured my Mali visa in Dakar so I just breezed through the immigration as if it's an everyday occurrence that a backpacker comes through here.

The guys were friendly. No attempt was made to extract a bribe.

They told me I could sleep in the Hotel La Falémé which had a nightclub attached and take a bus to Kayes at 6 am. Umm, thanks but no thanks.
​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli
Above: my Mali visa. My proudest ever.

Below: Passport stamps for exiting Senegal and entering Mali:
​Border Crossing: Senegal to Mali at Kidira / Diboli
​Mali, my 94th country, my 88th UN-listed country.

I rode a 5-seater minivan for the final 97km and arrived in Kayes at 11 pm. It took a while to find a hotel. But after lots of unhelpful help, I ended up at the colonial-era Hotel du Rail, across from the station that no longer serves any trains.

It had been a very long day. The roads had been tough, I'd snatched food and water where I could and I privately suffered in the heat. But I had made it to Mali. Pretty neat eh?

​This post is the property of 
Nomadic Backpacker

​Support The Blog


Donate with PayPal

support me on kofi
Next Post:

​​Free Walking Tour in San José, Costa Rica

Previous Post:

​My 5 top sights in Cartago, Costa Rica

Related Post:

  • ​Border Crossing: Belize to Mexico at Santa Elena
  • Border Crossing: Guatemala to Belize at Melchor de Mencos
  • Border Crossing: Honduras to Guatemala at Corinto
  • Border Crossing: Nicaragua to Honduras at Las Manos​​​​
  • Border Crossing: Costa Rica to Nicaragua at Peñas Blancas
  • ​Border Crossing: Panama to Costa Rica at Paso Canoas
  • Border Crossing: Costa Rica to Panama at Sixaola / Guabito
  • Border Crossing: Nicaragua to Costa Rica at Las Tablillas​
  • Border Crossing: El Salvador to Nicaragua by boat
  • Border Crossing: Guatemala to Mexico at El Ceibo
  • Border Crossing: Mexico To Guatemala at Ciudad Hidalgo​
  • Border Crossing: Albania to North Macedonia
  • Border Crossing: Moldova to Transnistria at Bender
  • Border Crossing: Transnistria to Moldova at Bender
  • Border Crossing: Mali to Cote d'Ivoire at Zegoua/Pogo

Most Popular Posts:

  • ​Tepito, the most dangerous barrio in Mexico City
  • Visting the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City
  • How to travel from Panajachel to Antigua by chicken bus
  • How to travel from Xela to San Pedro by chicken bus
  • How to travel from Puerto Barrios to Livingston by boat
  • How to travel from Livingston to Rio Dulce by boat
  • How to travel from San Salvador to Santa Ana by chicken bus
  • How to travel from San Salvador to Suchitoto by public bus
  • The cheapest way to get to the Terminal Oriente in San Salvador​
  • Top 3 favourite countries of Jonny Blair

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • About
    • ABOUT Me
    • About the Blog
  • Sitemap
  • ADVERTISE
  • BORDER CROSSINGS
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
  • Travel Advice
  • Top 3 Fav Countries
  • destinations
    • United Kingdom
    • Belize
    • Honduras
    • Panama
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
    • El Salvador
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
    • Africa
    • Turkey
    • The Balkans
​