Sweltering Bus & Football Drama | My Mandatory Border Crossing to The Gambia For My New Visa S8Ep06
After three months in Senegal, the port police told me I had to leave the territory to renew my visa. The only option? A trip to The Gambia, the small country carved out of Senegal by colonial history.
In this video, I team up with my local friend As to navigate the chaotic overland route from Dakar to the border. What started as a cheap $15 bus ride turned into an endurance test: endless waits for the bus to fill, constant hawkers climbing aboard, and a broken AC system in the hottest town in Senegal.
We witness the reality of Senegal’s new toll infrastructure, endure a sweltering repair stop, and face the rigorous border control where biometrics and passport checks cost us another hour. To make matters more interesting, we miss our connection, haggle with private taxis, and risk missing the crucial Cabo Verde vs. Argentina football match.
From the frustration of transport changes to the relief of finally reaching the Senegambia tourist strip for 24-hour food and late-night vibes, this is the raw reality of West African border hopping.
In this video: The reality of “Garage” bus travel in Dakar. Breaking down in the heat of Kaolack. Crossing the colonial border: Senegal exit & Gambia entry. Chasing the Cabo Verde football game on the road. Arriving in Senegambia: Food, beers, and late nights
Has anyone else dealt with visa runs in West Africa? Let me know your border crossing stories in the comments!
00:00 Intro
00:52 The train
01:08 Finding a ride
02:12 The highway
03:17 The chill fixers
03:55 Never doubt Senegalese
04:16 Crossing borders
05:12 Immigration station
06:07 Game on
07:18 Starved & stoned
08:30 Next week
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After three months in Senegal, the port police told me I had to leave the territory to renew my visa. The only option? A trip to The Gambia, the small country carved out of Senegal by colonial history.
In this video, I team up with my local friend As to navigate the chaotic overland route from Dakar to the border. What started as a cheap $15 bus ride turned into an endurance test: endless waits for the bus to fill, constant hawkers climbing aboard, and a broken AC system in the hottest town in Senegal.
We witness the reality of Senegal’s new toll infrastructure, endure a sweltering repair stop, and face the rigorous border control where biometrics and passport checks cost us another hour. To make matters more interesting, we miss our connection, haggle with private taxis, and risk missing the crucial Cabo Verde vs. Argentina football match.
From the frustration of transport changes to the relief of finally reaching the Senegambia tourist strip for 24-hour food and late-night vibes, this is the raw reality of West African border hopping.
In this video: The reality of "Garage" bus travel in Dakar. Breaking down in the heat of Kaolack. Crossing the colonial border: Senegal exit & Gambia entry. Chasing the Cabo Verde football game on the road. Arriving in Senegambia: Food, beers, and late nights
Has anyone else dealt with visa runs in West Africa? Let me know your border crossing stories in the comments!
00:00 Intro
00:52 The train
01:08 Finding a ride
02:12 The highway
03:17 The chill fixers
03:55 Never doubt Senegalese
04:16 Crossing borders
05:12 Immigration station
06:07 Game on
07:18 Starved & stoned
08:30 Next week
Some say it’s The Best Sailing Channel on YouTube!
Agree or disagree, make your voice heard. Subscribe, like, dislike, or comment.
DISCLAIMER: This series is simply intended to offer and give an alternative to conventional TV... for FREE! And if anyone has the good will to reward this series purely on merit because it's somehow funny, mildly interesting, slightly stupid, or bizarrely entertaining, you can do so by giving it a tip on Patreon or Ko-fi:
https://www.patreon.com/SailorAlex?
ko-fi.com/sailoralex
Stay up to date with the following
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/windedvoyage/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/windedvoyage/
Winded Voyage Website:
http://www.windedvoyage.com/
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cuckooracha/
X:
https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissSailorAlex/
#windedvoyage #sailinglifestyle #africatravel #solosailor #Senegal #TheGambia #WestAfricaTravel #Dakar #TravelVlog #CaboVerde #BorderCrossing #windedvoyager
Winded Voyage Sailing
In 2026, Swiss sailor Alexandre Guidetti marks a decade of continuous blue water cruising aboard his 1981 Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40, Galopin. Operating out of Cercle de la Voile de Dakar in Senegal, he documents remote West African anchorages, mechanical overhauls, and offshore navigation with candid technical clarity. His self-produced series emphasizes self-reliance, local cultural immersion, and practical seamanship.
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Sweltering Bus & Football Drama | My Mandatory Border Crossing to The Gambia For My New Visa S8Ep06 Location
- Senegal (14.497401,-14.452362)
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