Driving to to Timbuktu in Sept 2005

[Steven Rose]

My wife and I leave the UK on 17.09 and return on 22.10.

We are attempting to drive a well-prepared 20 year old Range Rover via Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Mali to Timbuktu.

We have been to Morocco 6 times in the last two years and driven in the Moroccan Sahara but no futher south.

We would be interested in any tips, advice, info. etc particularly on the best route between Mauritania and Timbuktu
stevenrose@runbox.com

Thanks

Steven

[sebch]

Man, the only time I've driven the atlantic route I was in a 2CV, OK, but I still reached Mopti more than a month later, so what your message tells me is that you're gonna be in a hell of a rush! If you don't mind it's OK, but I usually like to take it easier... Do you actully plan to go to and come back from Timbuktu in 36 days??

As for tips and stuff like that, I'm afraid my experience is now totally out of date! Keep us posted anyway! Cheers, Séb

------------------
Normal cars go to paradise, 2CV's go everywhere!

[john c]

dear steve
just returned from timbuctu last saturday and must say 36 days is not long enough for a return trip from the U K but anyway i have loads of info and g p s waypoints for campsites routes etc if you want them you can telephone me on 0033 (0)549293765 (France)with your adress and i will mail all the info i have regards john

[roro]

So the question is : how many days to reach Timbuktu from Tanger for exemple ( without any loop and without drivin' as it is a race ) ?
RR .

[john c]

roro
In my humble opinion from tangiers to t.b.t.
may take 15 -18 days if you dont have to wait for your visa for mauri , for to long (ie the weekend) and if you take the tarmac to bamako and then if you take the tarmac road to douentza but its not as interesting as the northern piste thru sokolo tonka etc
regards john

[BenW]

Hi,

I drove my 23-year-old Range Rover from London down to Lagos in August last year. I took the route down through Morocco, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott and along the route d'espoir to Ayoun El Atrous before heading south and for Nioro du Sahel and Bamako.

I left London on August 2nd and got to Ayoun El Atrous on the 19th and arrived in Bamako on the 21st. Apart from having to wait for a new steering box (to replace the already new one...) in Spain for 3 days, it was basically a straight drive apart from a 2 day detour in Morocco. I think you'll be pushing it and you may not have the time to enjoy it if you take that route.

If you need any more info, let me know.

Ben

www.gateway2africa.org

[Steven Rose]

Thanks Seb
We knew our time table was tight
Steven

Originally posted by sebch:
Man, the only time I've driven the atlantic route I was in a 2CV, OK, but I still reached Mopti more than a month later, so what your message tells me is that you're gonna be in a hell of a rush! If you don't mind it's OK, but I usually like to take it easier... Do you actully plan to go to and come back from Timbuktu in 36 days??

As for tips and stuff like that, I'm afraid my experience is now totally out of date! Keep us posted anyway! Cheers, Séb

[Steven Rose]

Thanks John
Again you have confirmed that our schedule is tight.
May have to re-think
Steven

Originally posted by john c:
roro
In my humble opinion from tangiers to t.b.t.
may take 15 -18 days if you dont have to wait for your visa for mauri , for to long (ie the weekend) and if you take the tarmac to bamako and then if you take the tarmac road to douentza but its not as interesting as the northern piste thru sokolo tonka etc
regards john

[Steven Rose]

Ben
Thanks for this and the Website.
Steven

Originally posted by BenW:
Hi,

I drove my 23-year-old Range Rover from London down to Lagos in August last year. I took the route down through Morocco, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott and along the route d'espoir to Ayoun El Atrous before heading south and for Nioro du Sahel and Bamako.

I left London on August 2nd and got to Ayoun El Atrous on the 19th and arrived in Bamako on the 21st. Apart from having to wait for a new steering box (to replace the already new one...) in Spain for 3 days, it was basically a straight drive apart from a 2 day detour in Morocco. I think you'll be pushing it and you may not have the time to enjoy it if you take that route.

If you need any more info, let me know.

Ben

www.gateway2africa.org