Agadez-Tamanrasset

[julien]

Hello,

I'm planning a long trip to Sahara, beginning in December... for my honeymoon. The Agadez-Tamanrasset seems the hardest part. The question is: for two backpackers, what do you think is currently the best solution (pretty safe and not too costly) to get from Agadez to Assamaka and then from In Guezzam to Tamanrasset? Thanks a lot,

julien

[Chris Scott]

Its in the othert direction but check out this link:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/routes/Tamsouth.htm

It wont be cheap or necessarily safe or easy - but that's the Sahara for you.

Ch

[imalouli]

to cross from Niger to Algeria take your algerian visa in advance from your home country, in Niamey they refused me one for 10 days and i had to insist like a madman using various strategies.
First of all by all means avoid the so-called "représentant du syndicat des transports" in Arlit. Rather than hiring a "seat" on a truck to Tam straight(it takes weeks), i'd recommand doing it bit by bit, first go to Assamaka town by 4wd car (lots of smugglers go at night), do the paperwork, hitch to the Alg borderpost, then hitch again to In Guezzam, from where a bush taxi operates to Tam.

[julien]

Thank you for your help. Imalouli, are you sure we can take a bush taxi from In Guezzam to Tam?... I've read that one currently needs a certificate (from an Algerian tourist company) to cross the border in Assamaka/In Guezzam but maybe it's only for people with their own cars. If possible, we'd like to go by ourselves (ie without a guide).

[imalouli]

Well these are not exactly fresh news, 4 year old now, so I don't know about a certificate, contact a local agency from Tam would be an option. The bush taxi in question is a landcruiser and used to leave early every morning.