Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Danielle Murdoch, riding to Uganda - Kenya border

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Danielle Murdoch,
riding to Uganda - Kenya border



Trans Sahara Routes.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Jun 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Crossing the sahara east to west???

Hi!
I am planning to drive (in my 4wd) from South Africa up to Egypt along the east coast.My dream would be then to cross to Mauretania and then up to spain through Marocco.

After I have been reading a lot the route seems to be very complicated, expensive and risky. I was hoping to drive along the coast cross from Tunisia, algeria down to Mali and then to drive to mauretania.

Can anyone shed some light if this is too hard and stupid? I have not travelled in Africa before but have travelled in asia and Australia on longer trips before.Any suggestions would be great.

I am leaving for South Africa in a week and are planning to cross Ethiopia to Sudan in end of January.

PER

Last edited by persedel; 11 Jun 2006 at 08:35.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11 Jun 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 332
Hi Per,

the route is possible but extra costs of something about 1000 EUR arise for the compulsory guide in Libya and Algeria but cheap fuel compensates partially. I do not consider the route more risky than the rest of your trip. There are quite a lot of overlanders driving through Mau., Mali, Niger and less in Algeria. Actually crossing of northern Mali could be difficult because of the recent Toureg crisis but that could be sorted out until you arrive there; or travel through Niger instead of Mali.

Yves
__________________
Yves
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Jun 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Spain
Posts: 128
You should bear in mind that algerian visas are only issued to nationals and residents living in the country in which you are applying. The same can be also said for syrian visas.
I have read about people who overlandad all the way from South Africa to Egypt and got stuck in Egypt, as they couldn't get a syrian nor a lybian visa.
BTW, you NEED a Carnet de Passage for Egypt!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Jun 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: zĆ¼rich
Posts: 287
Egypt - Libya

you can get the libyan visa at the border if you show the invitation-letter of your libyan agency. their guide must also wait at the border in Amsaad for you.
Ursula

Last edited by ursula; 11 Jun 2006 at 16:46.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12 Jun 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Thanks for that guys!

I have not checked but I cannot apply for that visa anyway as I am too late leaving in 6 days and I am from Sweden living in Australia.

I am not sure if I can sort that so far in advance either. I will get there in Feb or so.

I might be able to sort something out on swedish ground when I work in Ethiopia for 3 months at the end of the year.

Thanks again.

If anyone has any experince in getting into Algeria without preapplying for visa would be helpful.

/PER
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southern Africa
Posts: 47
Hi Per
Your route is the exact opposite of the one I'm on at the moment. We've spent the last 5 months travelling through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Algeria. I'm in Tunisia at the moment and we're heading to Libya when we've got our visas and then on to Egypt, through the Sudan to Ethiopia and heading in a southerly direction, zigzagging our way down the East side of Africa. We're planning to be in Cape Town by Christmas. Wish the trip could be longer, but we're limited by money.
A note on the Libyan visa. I checked at the Libyan embassy in Tunis and it's possible to get a transit visa, which enables you to travel across the top of the country (along the coast). You don't need any invitation or guide commitments for a transit visa. You just need a letter in Arabic, explaining who you are and why you need a transit visa. You submit this to the embassy, along with a copy of your passport. They evaluate your request and if given the OK, issue a transit visa for the cost of 31 Tunisian Dinar. I'm in the process of writing the letter and have to find someone to translate it into Arabic. I'll let you know how I get on with this. Watch this post. It may be possible to do the same thing in Cairo.

Of course, this option means we have to miss out on the Libyan desert, which would be fantastic, but the costs are too high. Algeria worked out cheaper so we decided to spend our money there. We went with Tanezrouft Voyages and we had an amazing trip with him into the Hoggar and then travelling northwards through the desert via Assekrem to In Salah. From In Salah, it was a bit of a trek to the border (1200km in 3 days) and the drive through the Grand Ergs was incredible. We were escorted all the way from Ain Guezzam (Niger border) to Taleb Larbi (Tunisian border). Algeria is the most wonderful country - the scenery is spectacular and the people are very gentle and friendly (careful in El Gorlea though). Mohammed, our guide, read us very well (we were travelling with a guy on a motorbike that had endless battery and wheel problems) and changed our itinerary when he saw the state of the bike on arrival at Ain Guezzam. Our itinerary enabled us to have as much experience of the desert as possible, given our money, time and bike limitations. I've travelled with guides before and I can't recommend Tanezrouft highly enough. It was an awesome trip.
Let me know if you'd like more info on our route so far and our route southwards. It might help you with your planning.
Good luck
Bel
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 13 Jun 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Algeria + Lybia

Hi Landygirl

Thanks for your report , it's a very interesting experience .
I've some questions about your trip in algeria : can you give me more infos about your route through this country ( offroad ? bivouacs ? timing ? ) .
How do you organize your rendez-vous with Tanezrouft voyages in In-Guezzam ? And about the price you've paid .
About Lybia , do you know if transit visa is available to cross Lybia to Niger border ?

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 13 Jun 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Thanks for the info Landygirl. That was very good. I will probably ask you a bit later on more stuff when I have a better view on what we are doing and when.

THen I still have a question on Algeria.
Does anyone know how I could possibly get a visa to ALgeria for Feb 07 when I am not in my own country???
Can I send the passport with my embassy and have frriends at home to sort it out? :confused1:

Landygirl it sounds like we are passing eachother on the east coast possibly then. It would be great to have a short stop somewhere and exchange experiences.

/PER
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 14 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southern Africa
Posts: 47
Hi there
Per, we had to courier our passports to the UK for the visa processing there. It was a bit of a pain and very expensive, but the only way to do it, it seems. So yes, you will probably need to send your passport back home and have your friends sort it out. I know in the UK there are visa processing agencies, so perhaps in Sweden there are as well. It'd be a pleasure to meet up on the East Coast somewhere. Let me know your route and timings and perhaps your email address (send me a private message if you'd prefer) and we'll keep in touch.
Roro, we contacted Tanezrouft from their website and took it from there. Rendevous-ing at Ain Guezzam was easy enough, once we'd established a date. However, because of the problems we had with the bike, we were delayed by a further 2 days and then another half day. We were able to make contact with Tanezrouft to let them know, but unfortunately, Mohammed had already left In Salah to meet us and therefore had to sit around in Ain Guezzam waiting for us. When we got to the Algerian border, they seemed to be expecting us and phone Mohammed who arrived about 2 hours later. It all went pretty smoothly, actually, indicative of the professionalism of the agency and our guide!
We had about 17 days in Algeria. Not nearly enough, as I said, but we had some time restrictions (a flight to meet in Tunis, for one). I have to run right now, but will post details on our route perhaps tomorrow. Pretty much all of it was piste driving, with some dunes and some nasty rocky bits too. I can't remember the exact price we paid, but it was pretty much in line with the prices quoted on Tanezrouft's website, so have a look there.
About the Libya/Niger border - I'm not sure if this route is open, but I don't have all the facts. If it is, it's still unlikely that the transit visa will be issued because that route will necessitate a desert crossing. You're not allowed to traverse the Libyan desert without the company of an official guide, as far as I know.
'Til tomorrow
Bel
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 15 Jun 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
'Til tomorrow

thanks a lot for your reply .... I'll wait for more details

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 16 Jun 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Thanks for the excellent information. I will send you a personal message about meeting up somewhere on the way.

Til later!

/PER
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 1 Jul 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southern Africa
Posts: 47
Hi Per and RR
Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you with our Algerian route, but here it is. We did a 3 day loop through the Hoggar and again, I'm sorry but I've left the route details behind so can't put them in here!
After that, we travelled from Tam to In Salah via:
* Assekrem - stunning scenery en route and there - it's worth walking across the other side of the hill after the sun rise as the view round that side is spectacular for it's lack of any signs of humanity). Staying at the government rest house was great - a very chilled out place with comfy beds and great staff
* Mertoutek - through the Parc Nationale d'Hoggar, which has beautiful scenery and fabulous rock formations. We stayed at the park headquarters, which was simple, but comfortable and again, the staff were so friendly and welcoming. We did a tour of the gardens there, which was really interesting and saw some amazing rock paintings nearby
* Abbezou - fabulous dune amongst remarkable flatness. Walk up the steep boulders and feel the rock on the soles of your bare feet. Fantastic.
* Tejmout via Arak - Arak nothing to write home about, but after that, we picked up the old French road built in 1911 and stopped at the oasis of Tejmout, spending the night with some Tuaregs nearby. Tagala is a must, as well as fresh and soured camel milk! The oasis is a great place to do a bit of laundry and have a decent wash in lovely sweet water.
* Erg Tahoulahin - Enormous and beautiful. Spectacular sunrise from the top - best enjoyed ALL alone while your travel companions sleep on (not being morning people)! Nearby, we saw some more rock paintings, Taureg etchings and surprised a snack there!
* Guelta Tehelguin - You can't believe the depth and coolness of the water tehre. Watch the flies though - they bite hard and deep and the itch is excrutiating.
And then to In Salah and a rush north to the border at Taleb Larbi. What I've outlined doesn't begin to describe the raw beauty of it all. I would love to go again and will, once again, put myself completely in Mohammed's hands to decide on the best itinerary. He's excellent at reading his clients and working out what they'd need and appreciate.
We're waiting for our Libyan transit visa to be OK'ed. I'll update when we hear more about that in about a week's time.
Per, we're likely to be in Ethiopia sometime in August at the current rate. Hopefully early August. Hopefully we can meet up somewhere, but I'll wait to hear from you.
Bel
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 1 Jul 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Thanks !!

THanks a lot Landygirl for your infos ; I'll try to find the places you've described on a map ( those I don't already know :Abbezou,Tejmout,Erg Tahoulahine,Tehelguin ) .
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2 Jul 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 332
I attached a kml file for google earth showing the places.
Remove the suffix .txt to use the file as .kml for google earth.

Yves
Attached Files
File Type: txt places_may-2006.kml.txt (2.6 KB, 576 views)
__________________
Yves
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 8 Jul 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 32
Any news on transit visa

Landygirl -
How have you got on with the transit visa ? Does anyone else have experience of this ?
I have a friend who is thinking of traversing Libya from Tunisia to get through to Egypt. The transit visa would seem ideal if this means more independent travelling etc.
Pete
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Canada East to West (and US West to East?) Zappa Route Planning 18 13 Mar 2006 01:12
Crossing west to east Africa Cam Johnson sub-Saharan Africa 0 19 Oct 2005 21:01
Sahara - East West Crossing coolkarim North Africa 6 1 Aug 2005 16:58
West to East crossing (border Chad - Sudan) noel di pietro North Africa 1 7 Jun 2005 03:06
Security in Niger roro North Africa 2 11 Jun 2004 22:47

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insuranceā„¢ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:41.