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 | | The true African Rally experience
Just like the Olympics, the famed Paris to Dakar rally has in recent
years become a venue for well-financed professional racers, shutting the
door on the regular guy who wants to experience the thrills and adventure
of a Europe-to-Africa rally. The Budapest-Bamako has been created with
these "regular" adventurers in mind. Feel the Dakar experience for a
fraction of the cost.
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| | Destination Bamako 2009
The touring category is already full for 2009. Join the event along the more interesting racing route. Compete for points or just come for the ride and enjoy the scenery. The race will start in Budapest, but you may join us anywhere in Europe or North Africa. If you have no money at all, but want to come enter the Bamako Spirit category free of charge.
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| | The legend continues
From its humble roots the Budapest-Bamako has grown into a major international sporting and cultural event. Hundreds of drivers and adventurers set out each winter for Africa bringing direct aid to the world's poorest communities.In 2005 only 45 teams lined up at the start line. In 2008 over 400 people made the journey. As the event constantly evolves the spirit remains the same: Anyone, By anything, By any means.
Daily coverage of the 2007 run
Daily coverage of the 2008 run
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As you may or may not know the Budapest - Bamako is not a simple
Sunday drive in the country. Parts of the road are completed daily by
individuals, but as a whole the entire journey is full of risks and
dangers. Please take a moment to read some of the potential dangers
and evaluate whether you want to take the risk. We don't want to
scare you but the following are potential problems or hazards that
you may have to face. Most of them could be avoided, but they
probably would never happened if you stayed at home.
- Car accident on a European highway at high speeds
- Imprisonment in Africa for hitting a pedestrian or livestock
- Imprisonment if Africa for other reasons
- Dehydration in the desert
- Irreparable damage to your vehicle far from human populations
- Car accident or injury in the desert or on the savannah far from
major populations
- Highway robbery, theft in Europe or Africa
- Food poisoning
- Sun stroke
- Corrupt officials who won't let you travel until receiving bribes
- Lazy officials who will perform their jobs slowly and thus delaying
you
- Corrupt policemen who will want to take money from you because you
look rich to them
- Dangerously driving Africans
- Dangerously driving Europeans
- Village idiots who like to jump in front of your vehicle
- Sand storms
- Landslides
- Poor medical treatment in Africa
Although most of these events took place one way or another during
the 2005 and 2007 rallies, no one ever died or suffered permanent
damage. Property was stolen in Europe. Cars got crashed. People had
been detained by Moroccan and Mauritanian police for brief periods.
Accidents took place in Africa. Some bones got broken but everyone
always got home safe.
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