Expedition Portal
The Voice
The Budapest-Bamako Rally is now an official sponsor of the Expedition Portal and our online community. Join the world's largest amateur rally and overland challenge. Don't miss the 2015 Final Farewell edition of this epic adventure.
THE BIRTH OF AN EPIC ADVENTURE
The Budapest-Bamako started out as a group friends planning a drive from cold central Europe across the Sahara and into West Africa. After a year of planning and bragging nearly a 100 other people joined their overland adventure. The following year 200 people embarked on the grueling two week long drive. In 2008, three years after its launch the Budapest-Bamako has become the “world's largest amateur rally” with nearly 600 people at the start line in competition and touring category.
COMPETITION & TOURING
The competitive section of the Budapest-Bamako is a navigational and endurance point race. Teams have to complete geo challenges. They have to find old wells, prehistoric cemeteries, cave art or abandoned fishing villages following a daily race sheet. They have to be able to locate them and drive to them. They can also collect points for reaching the daily end stages on time. Driving 300-400 miles daily on hostile terrain looking for GPS points can take its toll on drivers and navigators. Only the most skilled and strongest teams finish the race with top scores. Usually half of the race teams give up and join the much easier touring category.
NAVIAGATION WITH OR WITHOUT GPS
Since 2012 there are some so called “analog days” where no GPS is needed. Here teams get a start, an end point and the name of 10-12 obscure, tiny villages. Most often these villages are not listed on paper maps either. Teams have to overcome language and communication barriers to get local intel from villagers on which way to go. These moments give teams a chance to stop, get out of the car and interact with locals and experience the real, untouched Africa.
ROUGH ROADS AND STUNNING SIGHTS
In two weeks the rally travels through Morocco's Rif and High Atlas mountains. Teams often encounter snowy patches. Several years ago they had to shovel thick snow. After crossing the moon like Jebel Sarhro participants arrive in the great desert, the Sahara. Sand dunes and ancient caravan routes take them further South. To avoid the minefields of Western Sahara the rally cuts west towards the Atlantic coast where breathtaking cliffs and spectacular ocean views await. In Mauritania participants have to negotiate more sand dunes, soft sandy patches and fast salt flats. The long drive, the difficult roads and the shifting sands begin to take their toll on the drivers. However, the rally's most amazing moment, a 120 mile drive along a virgin beach takes place here as well. After Mauritania the rally goes deep into savannas of Senegal or Mali. Back breaking roads, dust plumes, wild animals, fuel shortages and navigational difficulties await. The rally originally ended in the Malian capital of Bamako. With political uncertainty and increased security risks in Mali, organizers switched the finish line to Guinea-Bissau in 2012 and 2013. The 2014 rally is expected to finish in the capital of Gambia, Banjul.
CHARITY RALLY

The Budapest-Bamako is also a charity event. Each team is encouraged to bring school supplies, medicines, clothing and tools that'll improve the lives of the locals. Each year close to one million dollars worth of aid is delivered to Africa. Teams have built schools, dug wells, funded anti-malaria and anti female genital mutilation programs. Every year an 18 wheeler truck accompanies that rally full of gifts and donations to West Africa.
THE BIRTH OF AN EPIC ADVENTURE
The Budapest-Bamako started out as a group friends planning a drive from cold central Europe across the Sahara and into West Africa. After a year of planning and bragging nearly a 100 other people joined their overland adventure. The following year 200 people embarked on the grueling two week long drive. In 2008, three years after its launch the Budapest-Bamako has become the “world's largest amateur rally” with nearly 600 people at the start line in competition and touring category.
COMPETITION & TOURING
The competitive section of the Budapest-Bamako is a navigational and endurance point race. Teams have to complete geo challenges. They have to find old wells, prehistoric cemeteries, cave art or abandoned fishing villages following a daily race sheet. They have to be able to locate them and drive to them. They can also collect points for reaching the daily end stages on time. Driving 300-400 miles daily on hostile terrain looking for GPS points can take its toll on drivers and navigators. Only the most skilled and strongest teams finish the race with top scores. Usually half of the race teams give up and join the much easier touring category.
NAVIAGATION WITH OR WITHOUT GPS
Since 2012 there are some so called “analog days” where no GPS is needed. Here teams get a start, an end point and the name of 10-12 obscure, tiny villages. Most often these villages are not listed on paper maps either. Teams have to overcome language and communication barriers to get local intel from villagers on which way to go. These moments give teams a chance to stop, get out of the car and interact with locals and experience the real, untouched Africa.
ROUGH ROADS AND STUNNING SIGHTS
In two weeks the rally travels through Morocco's Rif and High Atlas mountains. Teams often encounter snowy patches. Several years ago they had to shovel thick snow. After crossing the moon like Jebel Sarhro participants arrive in the great desert, the Sahara. Sand dunes and ancient caravan routes take them further South. To avoid the minefields of Western Sahara the rally cuts west towards the Atlantic coast where breathtaking cliffs and spectacular ocean views await. In Mauritania participants have to negotiate more sand dunes, soft sandy patches and fast salt flats. The long drive, the difficult roads and the shifting sands begin to take their toll on the drivers. However, the rally's most amazing moment, a 120 mile drive along a virgin beach takes place here as well. After Mauritania the rally goes deep into savannas of Senegal or Mali. Back breaking roads, dust plumes, wild animals, fuel shortages and navigational difficulties await. The rally originally ended in the Malian capital of Bamako. With political uncertainty and increased security risks in Mali, organizers switched the finish line to Guinea-Bissau in 2012 and 2013. The 2014 rally is expected to finish in the capital of Gambia, Banjul.
CHARITY RALLY

The Budapest-Bamako is also a charity event. Each team is encouraged to bring school supplies, medicines, clothing and tools that'll improve the lives of the locals. Each year close to one million dollars worth of aid is delivered to Africa. Teams have built schools, dug wells, funded anti-malaria and anti female genital mutilation programs. Every year an 18 wheeler truck accompanies that rally full of gifts and donations to West Africa.
