Algeria: access in the south - update

[landy les]

to update people about my friends coming down through Algeria (in 2 Landys) because of a delay in their original leaving date(the Algerian embassy lost their passports for 3 weeks and then a long breakdown in France) their visa for Niger had expired ,so on arrival at Tamanrasset they have been refused a visa to cross at in Guessam despite pleas and hanging around for 3 days to see if the situation would change they are now having to try to cross via Libya and come down the eastern route.Whether they would have got across the border if they had still their original visas and not had to stop in Tam I don't know as I'm receiving the info 2nd hand. will keep you all informed. LES

[Chris Scott]

So I take it the Niger consulate in Tam is not issuing visas at the moment? No great surprise there I suppose as things currently stand. What a drag having to go right across to the east!

I was visiting another Alg forum and this 'lost passport for 3 weeks' sounds familiar and might be interpreted as a ploy by the Alg consulate in London to discourage visits without actually saying no. I have had delays like this with them before - especially on irregular trips and certainly if you're trying to get in without an agency invite. Once they get to know you it seems OK and it's only a London thing, AFAIK. Of course visas are being issued for oil/gas workers every day, it's just tourists they're not always so keen on - these days more than ever.

Ch

[trans-african]

Thanks, I have visas for Algeria and Niger, as well as an agency guide for Algeria. I was just concerned about the border. As it stands, I am still not certain if my guide is leaving me at IGZ or is crossing to Arlit or not. I am a little annoyed, but hopefully it should become clear soon.

Thanks for the advice.
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Planned route:
UK-France-Switzerland-Italy-Egypt-Libya-Tunisia-Algeria-Niger-Chad-Cameroon-CAR-Sudan-Ethiopia-Kenya-Tanzania-Zambia or Cameroon-Congo-DR Congo-Zambia then onwards to Mozambique!

[Sam Rutherford]

Hi,

I've got involved with the three friends (now in Tunisia) and we're sorting out their crossing through Libya at the moment. If they had their Niger visas then we could have got them to Agadez, but with no visa at all it was going to be complicated. I'm going to Niger embassy in Brussels on Tuesday to get visas for the Assamakka crossing so we'll see a little more then...

Certainly, the Algerians are being boring with freedom of movement (although it is worth pushing for what you want as doors do open).

Safe travels, Sam.

[priffe]

If I was planning to go Algeria-Niger route I would not start the trip without having the visas ready before leaving Europe. Based on last year's xperience, and from talkng to the people we met in Tam, I would not rely on the Tam consulate for visas to Niger.
Then even with the Niger visa in hand, I would get a double-entry visa to Algeria in case there is trouble at Assamaka, so I could have the option of returning north.

As it were, we went through north Mali, which was exciting but nothing I would recommend. If someone gets in a situation where that route seems the only option, get in touch as I may have a few useful leads.

edit: moro, your email is bouncing!

[priffe]

Not clarifying much, but... - Salima Tlemcani writes for El Watan from Tamanrasset. Interview with Abderrahmane Dehadj, Director of Tourism. «If just one tourist is kidnapped we can forget about Saharian tourism» "This is only a temporary crisis that inevitably we will overcome."
Mohamed Rouan. President of the National Union of Associations of alternative tourism agencies, is upset with the new rules.«They are trying to kill in the egg the Saharian tourism»
"The provisions of this order is fatal for Saharan tourism. They do not correspond to the mode of operation, the ethics and mindset of the local culture. We act in a specific region, which differs completely from north."
Situation in Tam.Tamanrasset region under high pressure
In French, use google translate.

[Richard Washington]

Originally Posted by priffe

the National Union of Associations of alternative tourism agencies, is upset with the new rules.«They are trying to kill in the egg the Saharian tourism»

What new rules is the Union referring to? Unfortunately the links take me through to a subscription page......

[Chris Scott]

What new rules....

I believe it is in the pdf as mentioned by Yves earlier:
http://www.joradp.dz/JO2000/2010/044/FP5.pdf

I had a quick scan and can't say I saw or understood anything significant, but I hear many agencies are not able or willing to comply anyway, and are hoping to carry on and be left alone. It is possible that what is demanded and what is actually enforced may not be the same.

I think there is some fear that GSPC-types may infiltrate/buy-off agencies to pass on info - as I believe happened earlier this year but was intercepted.

Ch

[priffe]

Originally Posted by Richard Washington

What new rules is the Union referring to? Unfortunately the links take me through to a subscription page......

Yes, EL Watan sometimes wants you to register to view the pages.
Like Chris wrote, they are still wrangling with the new rules from earlier this year.

[klebe]

Hi guys
Since we plan to visit Algeria in coming April, do you have any info about the current security situation?
We contacted Tanezrouft and they say that the following places are open for tourists
- Timimoun
- désert de in salah
- Ahne
- in ziza
- assekrame
- djanet (tadrart -platoue - tassili N'aajir).
- ghardaia
Are they all worth visiting ? We have 2 weeks net for the desert.
Thank you very much
Kostas

[Sam Rutherford]

You'll be 'busy' to see all that in 2 weeks, it's all worth seeing.

Any word on the crossing Hirafok-Djanet?

Thanks, Sam.

[Sam Rutherford]

I'll be in Tam and Djanet in January - feel free to contact me in Feb for feedback (I'll forget to post on here otherwise!).

Safe travels, Sam.

[Chris Scott]

That looks like a near complete list of some of the best places in Alg and you will struggle to see all of it in 2 weeks. In the time available I would choose to stay either east of the TSH (Tassili) - better if you come from Tunisia; or west of TSH (Ahnet, etc), with Tam as your turn around point for either circuit.

April will be getting on the hot side but if you are from Greece I imagine you will be used to that.

Broadly speaking, security in south Alg is the same as it has been for the last couple of years and is detailed closely on this forum or in links from it. The threats are more over the border - mostly Mali.

Things can change, but where it is not considered safe they wont let you go.

Ch

[klebe]

Thank you very much Chris and Sam...I really appreciate

[gagarin]

"Any word on the crossing Hirafok-Djanet?"

Yes, any info on this one?
As far as I know the Djanet-Tam piste through Ideles/Hirhafok is still closed... for the past 6 months or so.
Someone wrote before that it can be done in case you inform the police in Djanet so they know you're there... but I'm not sure...

g.