'52 Days by Camel...'

**Boris** · #1 26 Feb 2005

A dull Saturday afternoon in Birmingham...after a pub lunch.

Many of you will have seen the famous sign, but has anyone (or does anyone know of anyone who has) done the journey from Zagora to Timbuktu by camel.

Presumably the route links to Taoudenni via Tindouf ? Any references to documented accounts of this journey would be much apreciated.

Just a thought over a

....you know how these things start !!!

**Yves** · #2 26 Feb 2005

Hi Boris,
you might like to read:
Forbidden Sands, A Search in the Sahara
by Richard C. Trench

Yves

**Chris Scott** · #3 26 Feb 2005

I'm not sure Trench's book went all the way to Mk - only as far as Taoudenni (still camel-able these days - recent account in the book), but I could be wrong.
The last time it was caravaned ened to end was in the 1920s, I read somewhere but I do recall a French bloke camelling it all 10 or 20 years ago. The Mk-Alg border is the problem (apart from everything else!).

I believe the direct (medieval) route went straight sourth via Trhaza (NW of Taou). The Tindouf route was on the easier western, Mauri arc (Oudane, etc).

CS

**Boris** · #4 27 Feb 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Scott:
I'm not sure Trench's book went all the way to Mk - only as far as Taoudenni (still camel-able these days - recent account in the book), but I could be wrong.
The last time it was caravaned ened to end was in the 1920s, I read somewhere but I do recall a French bloke camelling it all 10 or 20 years ago. The Mk-Alg border is the problem (apart from everything else!).

I believe the direct (medieval) route went straight sourth via Trhaza (NW of Taou). The Tindouf route was on the easier western, Mauri arc (Oudane, etc).

CS

Thanks for the replys,

What is the main problem with the Morocco-Algeria border, administrative/customs immigration procedure, land mines, route finding ???

Cheers

boris

**roamingyak.org** · #5 27 Feb 2005

"What is the main problem with the Morocco-Algeria border"

They don't like each other so the entire border is closed, as well as the actual border line being disputed, mined in places apparently, a semi docile war being fought over the southen sections etc etc