Algeria via Niger or Mali

[MotoEdde]

Originally Posted by 2cvfred

I emailed them on both the official adress and the address you supplied. And I tried to call them on both numbers stated on their website about 5 times during two days. Can't say we didn't try! ;-) We did not mention your name in our mails though...

Akar Akar doesn't normally deal with the overland crowd as they cater to a wealthier clientele that fly into Tam, ride around in cruisers for 1-3 weeks, and then fly back to Paris, etc.

Because of the nature of their clients, their contacts with the gov't is pretty tight. Which can come in handy...ask Josh!

Anyways...best of luck with the crossing...and take plenty of pictures...

[2cvfred]

We are a few days in Agadez by now. Very quiet here, no sign of any trouble whatsoever. Just a lot of shiny new army landcruiser driving around town. All people in tourism are very unhappy, a lot of hotels (some foreign-owned as well) and restaurants have closed for good.

Anyway, we got our Algerian visa. Just like quadsforafrica said: very very very easy.
Consulate is at: N16° 59.131 E7°59.905 (not far from governerate). Open monday to friday and saturday morning. Apply in the morning and pick up in the afternoon.
You need the letter of invitation/booking from the Algerian agency, two pictures and 24.000CFA
We only applied for a 7-day transit visa as we did not want to push our luck. But they said we could have applied for a 30day tourist visa as well (same price).

As for convoys: The convoy from Zinder to Agadez is a bit of a "phantom" convoy as we did not see any army vehicles at all during the trip. The actual convoy does not really start in Zinder, but about 50km north of Tanout. Convoy days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Buses leave Zinder between 5 and 6 in the morning to get to the convoy before 8.

Convoy between Agadez and Arlit is on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Leaves at 6 in the morning.

Convoy is compulsary for buses and tourist traffic. Private cars seem to be excempt and I guess you could easily travel on other days outside the convoy. Considering the situation in northern Niger I wouldn't recommend it though.

There is no convoy between Arlit and In Guezzam. We will try to join some local "bussines" people and form and ad-hoc convoy. We talked to some people in Arlit and there are about 5 Landcruisers a day that do the drive to the border.

[jeromedelay]

thx fred for all this info. particularly interested as we'll be doing the same route the other way late september...
do I assume then that the convoys run the other way every other day?, ie arlit agadez monday thursday saturday ?

cant wait to hear from you guys in the next few days!

best

jerome&benedicte
the south african frogs!

[2cvfred]

convoys in the other direction run the next day indeed.

[roro]

Again , thanks a lot fred for your infos about Niger .

RR.

[2cvfred]

We are in In Saleh now, the base of Tanezrouft Voyages whom I can recommend as guides for transitting.

The convoy between Agadez and Arlit was very serious bussines. Lots of heavily armed army. Mobile missile (ground-ground) platforms, snipers, etc... They don't joke around there. Took a very long time as the convoy goes as fast as the slowest vehicle. Left at 8 in the morning, arrived in Arlit at 4PM.

Registering in Arlit requires permission of the "prefect". Took another 3 hours or so, but no problem. We could continue to In Guezzam.

We followed local transporters (smugglers really) to the border, which is a pain to arrange as they leave irregularly, drive fast and take small pistes instead of the main route (which is easy to follow). Watch out as most smugglers (obviously) avoid the border post of Assamaka where you need to get stamped out.

We had no problems whatsoever. There is quite a lot of traffic between Arlit and the border. And as people put it there "you need a bit of luck". I guess it has always been like that, the odds might be not as good as usual though.

Once in Algeria: no problem. Our guide actually took us in the dunes for the night just a few kilometers from the border. So it can't be all that dangerous.

[Chris Scott]

Thanks for your useful info 2C, good to hear a first hand and very recent report.
What was the extent of the tarmac between In Guezzam and Tam - most of it or about half?

thanks

Ch

[2cvfred]

Road between In Guezzam and Tam: Smack in the middle is a part missing of a bit less then 100km. Most of it is fast-going gravel, only the northernmost part (about 20km) is very dusty sand. Work is still going on there. They seem to work from Tam down to In Guezzam.

All of the old asphalt is removed and replaced by shiny new smooth tar. Very easy going.
Depending on your foot you can do the 400km stretch in 4 to 6 hours.

The rest of the trans-sahara hway is in good condition. Tar all the way.

As for security in Niger: I would rule out Air mountains for sure. Tenere (bilma region) is not too sure. Local people say there is a lot of local traffic there without any problems. Police even recommended us to go via Bilma to Libya instead of going to Arlit. It is supposed to be safer. Although I can't really say that comes from a reliable source.

Zinder and Agadez are just fine. You'll have the city for yourself.

The southern road from Kiffa to Niamey is as safe as it has always been.

Check again before you leave!

[jeromedelay]

thx for the updates fred!

how bad is the 20k sand? bike friendly?
where are u heading now?

cheers
j

[2cvfred]

There are about a million pistes next to each other on the sandy stretch, it's just a matter of finding the good one :-) It's the kind of very fine dust that kicks up huge clouds. You'll eat some dust but you'll be just fine on a bike.


We are going home now. Two years on the road now, no more money, car is falling apart... Time to go home (and fix up the car and leave again!)

[Chris Scott]

Looks like quite a trip, even if it wasnt in a 2CV..

Ch

[jeromedelay]

fred: thx for all the info.. we're shipping the bikes to paris end of august.. bru is not that far... maybe we'll shoot up for a few gueuze lambics!

hape a safe rest of the way and keep us posted!

jerome

[2cvfred]

More then welcome! Drop us a line if you are close

[ajdickinson]

The info. on this thread is great, it is good to have such up to date information about Northern Niger. I am intending to drive South through Algeria and into Niger at the end of this month. I read on a US department of state website that a travel plan needs to be approved prior to driving (see below). I was wondering if this had been your experience or whether you just tagged onto a convoy. I don't want to find myself being turned back at the border. Thank you for any advice you may have.

Niger

Foreigners who elect to travel in northern Niger despite the current security situation must submit an approved travel plan through the office of the Governor of Agadez. Travelers should first contact the Syndicat de Tourisme in Agadez (telephone: 96 98 78 81) to enlist the services of a registered tour operator, who will formally coordinate with Nigerien government and security officials on tourist safety and security in the
North and who can facilitate the submission of the required itinerary and intended route.

[Chris Scott]

... Travelers should first contact the Syndicat de Tourisme in Agadez (telephone: 96 98 78 81) to enlist the services of a registered tour operator...

I suspect this advice is old news loosely adapted to refer to the current situation. It originally (and maybe still) relates specifically to travel in the Aïr and Tenere where a travel plan and recognised guides have been mandatory for 20 years or more. Of course to try and visit the Aïr and Tenere now is nigh on impossible or very risky and in Agadez I imagine the Syndicat de Tourisme is boarded up. Why not give them a ring.

The trans-Sahara route down from Assamaka to Arlit (piste) and Agadez (highway) was never subject to this itinerary/guide rule and all that has changed now is the mandatory convoy along the highway between Arlit and Agadez (3 times a week as 2CV explains below).

Sounds like you can do the 210-km piste section to Arlit on your own, although with what's been going on around Arlit lately, I'd try and team up with other reputable travellers for that stage - if there are any on the road at this time of year.

Let us know how you get on.

Ch