Gao – Mali. They wanted us to buy the ticket to Niamey in advance: 12500 CFA /9000 for local people/. Depart: 2 pm. We started from Gao at 4 pm: on the old Renault lorry there were packs of corn, smuggled goods and 60 squeezed passengers. This is all- gravel and sand route. Desert, sun and dust… Many unexpected stops /for praying/, shortage of water, border check-points in the middle of nowhere…. Yes – they /Malians/ charge 1000 CFA just for the stamp in your passport but do not register that you cross the border… Be prepared for the worst….
It was one of my hardest experiences in Africa…
But at the end I reached Niamey – the capital of Niger.
Here I am – and again I have /slow!/ access to the internet!
