Beetle through Algeria - Niger

[streherne]

Firstly, thanks for all the useful posts on the Artlit - Agadez Its been very useful.

So in the middle of December me and two friends are taking part in the "Rally Africa" and driving from London to Cameroon in an old beetle. Route is Algeria - Niger - Nigeria - Cameroon. All the visas are being done at the moment. We've got two problems that i would really appreciate some thoughts on.

1.) The safety of doing the Arlit - Agadez route without another group of cars (I think we're the only ones from the rally doing this route!!).

2.) We're very tight on space so was hoping to team up with some others cars towards Tam and share the cost of a guide. Is this common or do we have to have our own?

Ideally, there are some other people on here thinking of doing the same route that would like to join up.

Cheers guys,

Stephen

[Sam Rutherford]

Arlit-Agadez is not really a problem. If considered dangerous they'll put you in a convoy - but most likely you'll just drive it in a few uneventful hours.

You need one guide per group, so getting several cars together will save money.

Have a good trip, we're doing the same at very, very end of December.

[streherne]

Thanks,
Shame you're not going a week earlier. We expect to land in Tunisia around the 16/17th December.

What are the chances of finding people (with guides) that are travelling down towards Tam/Arlit etc from the Algerian border when we arrive?

Cheers

Stephen

[Sam Rutherford]

If you're prepared to wait a couple of days at the border then very good.

But, you'll already need your visas, which means you'll already have had to pay for a guide - so I don't really see any advantage.

Best plan is to keep active on this forum, but also try to get on the French/Swiss/German and Italian equivalents to see if you can find others there.

Have a great trip.

Sam.

[streherne]

Thanks Sam
I didn't realise having a guide was a prerequisite of getting our visas, as they are currently being processed in the London embassy at the moment.

Cheers

Stephen

[Sam Rutherford]

Hi Stephen,

Sorry, you're right. It's just that normally people do all at the same time (invitiation and guide).

So, hang on in Tozeur and see what happens. Be advised that most people can be a little stressed before entering 'ALGERIA' - and so might be less open to your sharing plans than you might think. You'll also have to negotiate rates with their guide (who will have planned a rate without yourselves).

My advice, get it sorted in advance; or bite the bullet and give Yves a call!

Safe travels, Sam.

[cota0]

22/10/09 A group try to cross Algeria to Niger. Not permited, returned to Tamamraset.

Border open, but only for locals.

May be Yves could inform you.

Luky,

George.

[desmo666]

Just spent the day in the Algerian embassy at el kef tunisia, trying to get overland to morocco, very friendly and accommodating but even though the guy tried head office veto`d my visa on safety grounds due to the unrest with morocco, the borders are closed they said on the western side of Algeria.I was hoping to take a very northerly route, and even take a ferry from Oran to Almeria Spain, but said they couldn't guarentee safety so NO.
got to get the ferry to Genoa and then from Genoa to tangier unless someone has a better idea ?

All the best with your trek, and i hope the beetle behaves itself.

stu

[Chris Scott]

due to the unrest with morocco...

I think what he meant was AQIM unrest within NE Alg - nothing much to do with Mk, but either way he was doing you a favour.

unless someone has a better idea..

not really. the only other option is to fly to Mk or go down through the desert via Mori, but if you can't get into Alg....

Just as long as the air filter does not fall off, an airhead Beetle makes a great desert car. In 88 or so we saw one on the south side of Gara Khanfoussa dunes (Tabelbalet well?) which we had struggled thru on a moto and a Troopie. He had some sort of Pinzgauer reduction box, Jaguar tyres and not much else.

Ch

[gvdaa]

I suppose you maybe have more chance to get Algerian visa in El Kef if you have an invitation from an agency and take a more southern route (doing Taleb Larbi, El Oued, Timimoun, Bechar, Oran for example.) Did you try?

[streherne]

Change of plan - Due to the lack of people wanting to go on this central route, combined with not having enough room in the beetle for our own guide we have decided to go around the outside...... so its Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. I'm hoping to "cut in" as early as possible and find some interesting routes!

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

due to the unrest with morocco...

Just as long as the air filter does not fall off, an airhead Beetle makes a great desert car. In 88 or so we saw one on the south side of Gara Khanfoussa dunes (Tabelbalet well?) which we had struggled thru on a moto and a Troopie. He had some sort of Pinzgauer reduction box, Jaguar tyres and not much else.

Ch

As for Lennon the beetle, he's lost his weedy 1200 engine which is being replaced with a meaty 2.0 litre type four engine, has been suitably lifted a few inches and now stands on some nice big tyres. I have no idea about where i could find a reduction box.... so we'll just have to rely on momentum!

Either way, I'm hoping he'll last a little longer than a Merc 190....

Many thanks,

Stephen

[priffe]

Originally Posted by streherne

Change of plan - Due to the lack of people wanting to go on this central route, combined with not having enough room in the beetle for our own guide we have decided to go around the outside...... so its Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. I'm hoping to "cut in" as early as possible and find some interesting routes!

Stephen

There, now you made the right decision I think.

Niger border could be open or closed without notice.
If it is closed there are three options, none of them very good
1 - hang around in Tam waiting for border to open
2 - turn around and head back north
3 - go through northern Mali, exciting but not recommended for safety reasons

Now you can relax and have a good journey.

[Yves]

Actually (mid November 09) the border to Niger at Assamaka is open.
Safety has improved in northern Niger but is not good, criminality is highy, car theft frequent. In Air risk of landmines remains, not all had been removed and worse the floods might have moved remaining ones.
Anyway, Point-Afrique is said to resume flights to Agades end of December with a reduced program.

[priffe]

Originally Posted by Yves

Actually (mid November 09) the border to Niger at Assamaka is open.
Safety has improved in northern Niger but is not good, criminality is highy, car theft frequent. In Air risk of landmines remains, not all had been removed and worse the floods might have moved remaining ones.
Anyway, Point-Afrique is said to resume flights to Agades end of December with a reduced program.

At least it is open. But with the situation in Niger still fragile, things could change rapidly and then Algeria yet again become a giant cul-de-sac, with only the three above options left.
Let's hope it continues to stabilize.

[marko]

do you have any pictures of you bug? i,m planning to do something simular in a 74 baja bug. built a 2.5ltr type 4 and built 091 bus tranny. i plan on going from amsterdam to cape town.unfortinetly this year has been hard due to economy, like most. but would like to know more about your trip and car. marko whereismarkonow@hotmail.com