Dakar to Cairo.

[Akentigernfox]

Im planning on travelling from Dakar to Cairo november 07
Solo Rider on a BMW F650 GS Dakar,

Has anyone taken a route north from Mail to Algeria or Niger -> Algeria. I was looking at the route proposed by the Total Dakar - Cairo rally and they ended up flying over in to Libya.

Anyone else thinking of gonig this way approximatly around this time.

[Chris Scott]

Mail to Algeria
Did it twice last year. Can get dodgy in north Mali (security wise) but fine once in Alg and a great run, esp if you take the long way to Libya via Djanet and Tunisia - at least 1800-2500km off highway.

...or Niger -> Algeria
Assuming you mean Agadez-Tam; it's dodgy right now in north Niger but should calm down by Nov. Much shorter off-road stage.

Either way, it will be a meaty and satisfying Sahara crossing.

Ch

[Akentigernfox]

Thanks, just what i wanted to hear. Hopefully following friends all the way down to dakar with plenty of time to sort the bike & kit out before the meaty bit.

from your experience would you run using the standard tank on the dakar with spare fuel in jerry cans or would you increase it to 39 litres, like a touratech modification.

I'm used to overland trucks with 1500 ltrs of deisel, so trying to re-calculate for the bike is busting my brain.

[Chris Scott]

Well a 20L jerry will give 37L total which is 650kms at 18kpl which is nearly enough. A Ttech tank + 10L would be better for the desert crossing

Ch

[Akentigernfox]

still wondering, trying to justify the £1200 for the touratech tank. any other ideas ?

is northern mali / sothern algeria easy to find locals with petrol ?