Trans-Sahara trip (10 territories)

[trans-african]

I am sure that all of this has been covered over several threads in the past but here's the plan...

It is my intention to do a "trans-sahara" tour in my overland camper based on a 4x4 MAN chassis (18ton) with some friends based in a similar vehicle. Outlined below is the general gist of the stages of the planned trip.

1. Ferry to Tunis from Italy and cross Tunisia towards Libya.
2. Enter Libya and conduct a complete tour of the country:
a. Travel down to Ghademes and Ghat
b. Travel across to Waw en Namus (L6 in Sahara overland)
c. Drive to Tazerbu via L7 down to Kufra
d. From Kufra, visit the Libyan side of Jebel Uweinat
e. Drive north to the coastal road and enter Egypt.
3. Drive across to Cairo and visit the Sinai peninsular
4. Continue down to Dakhla and visit Jebel Uweinat via:
a. 8 Bells
b. Kilf Kebir
5. Return north through the Silica Glass field, past Big Cairn to Siwa (then on to Cairo)

I undertand guides/permits/escorts are needed to tour the Gilf with your own vehicle, does anyone know a good local travel agent to deal with all of this? I know it has been done before.

6. Follow a leisurely route down the Nile to Aswan then ship to Wadi Halfa
7. Drive from Wadi down to Khartoum and then across Sudan to Chad.
8. Enter Chad from the east border with Sudan and drive across to N’Djamena
9. Drive north to Faya (C2 in Sahara overland) then fork off and tour the Tibetsi (Zouar)
10. Return to Faya and drive across to Fada and visit the Ennedi
11. Return south to Bol and exit Chad via the Lake route (C1)
12. Enter Niger, Zinder and then north to Agadez.
13. Follow the Tenere circuit to Chirfa and then enter Algeria (Djanet) on A15 (SO)
15. Visit a selection of the routes in Algeria outlined in Sahara overland, progressing across to Tamanrasset.
16. Re-enter Niger via A10 down to Arlit and tour the Air, then return to Agadez
17. Enter Mali from Niger and across to Timbukto, then on to Nema in Mauritania.
18. North to Atar using R11 and R10, then across the railway route into Western Sahara (old Spanish rd)
19. North all the way to Ceuta then ferry across to Spain.

I understand fully that this is a very challenging route, visiting all of the Saharan territories, but any advice on any of the legs would be good. The security situations are always up and down so you can never be too sure. As I see it, the main issue really is Chad, but again, I know it has been done in the past.

Thanks.

[Yves]

Hi,

I can only give information on a small part of the tour:
>13. Follow the Tenere circuit to Chirfa and then enter Algeria (Djanet) on A15 (SO)
pretty dangerous area (but not worrse than Chad) and entry at Djanet from Niger not permitted. If you try, you might risk to be expulsed of the country. Some Italians might have tried this recently, may be some body else knows more about.

15. Visit a selection of the routes in Algeria outlined in Sahara overland, progressing across to Tamanrasset.
>Djanet - Tamanrasset actually not permitted, may be with Gendarms escort.

>16. Re-enter Niger via A10 down to Arlit and tour the Air, then return to Agadez
Touring the Air: pretty limited possibilities actually due to banditery and uncleared land mines.

Northern Mali: avoid due to bad security.

[trans-african]

Yves,
Thanks, I heard that Southern Algeria recently close up a bit to overlander. Is it just a case of getting a guide to escort (as I planned to so so anyway) or is it a complete no-no?

Entry to Algeria from Niger:
So is it the case that the only permitted border post is from Arlit to Tam?

Algeria to Niger:
But is it possible to do this in reverse (Djanet to Chirfa) accross the Tenere?

[Yves]

Hi,

>Southern Algeria recently close up a bit to overlander. Is it just a case of getting a guide to escort

The guide is compulsory anyway; Djanet-Tam is currently closed for tourism


>Entry to Algeria from Niger:
>So is it the case that the only permitted border post is from Arlit to Tam?
At Ain-Guezzam, you leave Niger at Assamaka

>Algeria to Niger:
>But is it possible to do this in reverse (Djanet to Chirfa) accross the >Tenere?
No-No

Best regards,

[trans-african]

Thanks Yves, I need to re-jig thr plan for Niger/Algeria then.

Anyone got anything on the rest of the route? The key concerns are:

1. Libyan side of Jebel Uweinat
2. Egyptian Gilk Kebir
3. Sudan to Chad
4. Tibetsi and Endenni in Chad

[priffe]

Originally Posted by Yves

Hi,

>Southern Algeria recently close up a bit to overlander. Is it just a case of getting a guide to escort

The guide is compulsory anyway; Djanet-Tam is currently closed for tourism


>Entry to Algeria from Niger:
>So is it the case that the only permitted border post is from Arlit to Tam?
At Ain-Guezzam, you leave Niger at Assamaka

>Algeria to Niger:
>But is it possible to do this in reverse (Djanet to Chirfa) accross the >Tenere?
No-No

Best regards,

So I would be deported if I showed up in Djanet (or even Tam) instead of In Guezzam? With Niger exit stamps in good order (but perhaps not from Assamaka)?
That's quite a trip, trans-african. Wish you success. Hope to do Chad and more of Niger in my lifetime, but right now the risk is not just being robbed (or worse), but also not being allowed entry.

[trans-african]

As far as I am aware, atm it is possible to travel Westwards from, Khartoum to N'Djamena as far as legalities are concerned. Naturally, security is the major concern, but atm, Chad seems to be in one of the many "troughs" it experiences from time to time.

As for Niger, I am not too sure and I'd like some more advice from people if they have it. I heard that there have been a few bandit attacks on western tourists around Zinder and in the Air recently.

Any news on either Chad or Niger would be appreciated.

[Chris Scott]

Re Chad I get the feeling it's thawing out a bit, so now might be the time (is this what you mean by trough?) - at least for a simple transit to Niger. Up north not so sure and never will be. Faya Ennedi may be OK (it never was that bad).

I think the era for such see-it-all trips in the Sahara may well be passed (and it did not exist for long) so I would be content with something less ambitious - say Libya and Gilf and Sinai over 2-3 months. You could achieve that without taking any great risks or visiting too dodgy areas and see a lot of amazing Sahara. A lot less stressful but still a big adventure and a great use of your truck.

Ch

[trans-african]

Thanks Chris, and yes "trough" did mean a thaw in Chad.

What's your take on the Tibetsi? I understand an Italian couple were kidnapped on the way into Niger from here?

Also, when were see-it-all trips the thing to do so to speak? I would like to do a big trip, though I can certainly see that several smaller ones would be logistically easier.

Also, any info on the Atar to Chegga post would be helpful too!

[Chris Scott]

The Italian couple I presume you mean 2006 - I think there is always a danger in such border areas, now more than ever. Commercial kidnapping in Chad runs back to the 70s at least.

see-it-all - well there was rarely a time when all 10 countries were accessible like they are now - the 70s and 80s I suppose, the era of the west-east crossings.

Atar to Chegga (RIM) you can manage - plenty of army up there now I am told. Chegga into Alg no one's done for 10-15 years and now more than ever it's a trafficing corridor. One of last groups (K Darrs tour coming from Alg) got turned over near Guelb and he spent a long time diligently tracking down the clients' robbed 4x4s (a cop in Mali ended up with one...).

Darr never got his lorry pinched and, if the old Dakar is anything to go by the good thing with a big lorry is they ransack and abandon it pretty soon - so you will get it back.

Enjoy Libya and Gilf, I would. Sudan and then across the Sahel in such a conspicuous truck is bound to attract attention.

Ch

[trans-african]

Thanks Chris, I believe K Daerr crossed Chad into Sudan and was unscathed, so it does seem do-able.

Regarding Chegga, security aside, is it legal to cross into Algeria even with a pre-arranged guide to meet you, also, where is immigration/customs done (RIM and Algeria) by using that port of entry?

As that short corridor (Chegga to Alg) is trafficing, would it not be that you would be largly left to your own devices, surely smugglers are not interested in a western tourist when they have bigger fish to fry. Surely an Army presence in the area is good?
Do you have a link for Daerrs travel group from Alg to Chegga etc..?

Cheers.

[Chris Scott]

crossed Chad into Sudan and was unscathed

Was that recently? I know on another tour long ago, coming into Chad from Libya they also got turned over. It's why he stopped doing radical tours.

I doubt it would be allowed to enter Algeria, that wilaya (district) is fairly strict on access.

... when they have bigger fish to fry
To certain groups tourists are the biggest battered halibut's going at present and most elements in Algeria do not want a repeat of 2003.

Do you have a link for Daerrs travel group from Alg to Chegga etc..?
It was in the 90s some time, a search on google.de may track it down.
Others also did it in that era.

Ch

[trans-african]

Cheers Chris, still looking for the Daerr journey, but uncovered this homepage with info on all sorts of weird and wonderful Sahara trips!

SAHARA TRAVELS

[Chris Scott]

That will be Reinhart M, one of the most experienced Saharans around, back in the day. You really have to tip your hat to these German-speaking Saharans, though many have given up on the place since 2003.

Ch

[trans-african]

Indeed, some of the trips the Germans do are totally amazing despite all the odds!
Question: Did Reinhart M run his trips as organized tours in the Sahara?