Tiris Zemmour-Adrar-Tagant

[wywial]

Hi folks, I plan my next trip and this time will be RIM. I calculate, mostly off road, circle Choum > Zouerat > off track toward Agueraktem > turn south to connect with Oualata-Tichit route > Tidjikja > Atar. My QV gives me a ca. 1300 km off road distance between Zouerat and Tichit. Have anyone of you been there? I mean off road through Tiris Zemmour-Adrar-Tagant in one stretch? Think, it cannot be much different in terms of desert conditions from Algeria :confused1:. I drive a 4.5 liter FZJ80 petrol guzzler and wonder if I will be able to refuel in Fderik/Zouerat as I need some 300 liters. I expect to get low mpg but reading other threads, seems the essence there is only low octane. I guess petrol in Tichit/Tidjikja is available. Also, shall I expect any company there? Military or MUJAO? Thanks Jarek

[Chris Scott]

Hi jarek, have a look at this post from about a year ago.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...th-mauri-60924

I don't know where Agueraktem is but it looks a fairly ambitious run down to dhar tichit piste from zouerat.

Try and track down Mauritania au gps book in French. He did a lot out there in a 2cv in the good years.

The further east or far north the more mujao or similar, I imagine. They would like your fzj very much.

In my experience conditions can be worse than Algeria where there are tussocks
(south of Guelb latitude and east of Guelb for sure). That will really eat your fuel.
Picture below is actually northeastern Mali ~ 20°N. This stuff can go on for miles.

Ch

[wywial]

Thanks Chris, the post by Florence is awesome, particularly the part about crossing border back and fourth and north of Bir Mogrein and driving at night if I got it right. Sounds like Scout Ranger training, quite tempting . I came across voyages4x4 tracks, the guy there (Pascal?) seemed to make all possible variations of trips within Mori but unfortunately all is in beautiful language of Mr. Baudelaire. As to Agueraktem, that is the well on the Mali border, roughly same latitude as Zouerat. I think the only critical issue to pull it off is the petrol station in Fderik/Zouerat or perhaps I find someone to organize a 200l fuel drum waiting there. Rgds

[Chris Scott]

I am sure there is petrol in Zouerat - the whole place is a huge mine site, but I'm not sure I would want to get too close to the northwest Mali border these days. Any well out there is bound to be a focal point..

Ch

[Tomek]

Originally Posted by wywial

I guess petrol in Tichit/Tidjikja is available.

According to Pyndon and his Salt&Gold 2009 story:
ADVrider - View Single Post - Salt & Gold 2009 - The Heart of Africa!
there is no petrol in Tichit.

[cruiser guy]

Thinking of something similar in the spring of 2013 coming from the south entering from Nioro in Mali and going through Tidikja on the way to Western Sahara/Morocco.
Let us know how things are. The whole MUJAO has me a little concerned. Hard to know what they might be up to. I suspect my diesel powered Land Cruiser would also be of interest to these guys.

[greenbug]

Just did a bit of Adrar driving - Guelb Richad and then south to Tidjikja via Chinguetti in the sand.

Some observations.

1. It is not recommended to head too far north in Mauritania for several reasons the main one being - zone rouge. We were told that the military do not look kindly on this.
2. Remoteness - once you head north there is very little of anything especially nomads.
3. To go in one car is highly discouraged. We even had an auberge owner from Bab Sahara call the Gendarmerie to discourage us from going solo from Chinguetti to Tadjikja - it is dangerous. In our case we persevered as we used a local guide who knew the route well and we were seriously foolhardy.
4. Petrol is not always guaranteed and with extended tanks your risk grounding one - as we did on our way to Choum - it is then easy to check which way you came there is a nice and expensive fuel stain behind you.
5.The northern border is getting militarised in anticipation of an imminent intervention and I would not expect the situation to calm down anytime soon.

From the routes we covered the most spectacular so far has been Chinguetti to Tadjikja. Amazing varied scenery and terrain. Some shortish hardcore dunes and rocky stretches but at least part of the way you get to see villages and nomads.

If you are going to go solo then atleast take a guide and have some people with you. It is hard pushing a car with 2.

Lastly, make sure that you know and trust your car because recovery is astronomical if at all possible. If all goes wrong .............start drinking

[roro]

Originally Posted by greenbug

Just did a bit of Adrar driving - Guelb Richad and then south to Tidjikja via Chinguetti in the sand.

Some observations.

1. It is not recommended to head too far north in Mauritania for several reasons the main one being - zone rouge. We were told that the military do not look kindly on this.
2. Remoteness - once you head north there is very little of anything especially nomads.
3. To go in one car is highly discouraged. We even had an auberge owner from Bab Sahara call the Gendarmerie to discourage us from going solo from Chinguetti to Tadjikja - it is dangerous. In our case we persevered as we used a local guide who knew the route well and we were seriously foolhardy.
4. Petrol is not always guaranteed and with extended tanks your risk grounding one - as we did on our way to Choum - it is then easy to check which way you came there is a nice and expensive fuel stain behind you.
5.The northern border is getting militarised in anticipation of an imminent intervention and I would not expect the situation to calm down anytime soon.

From the routes we covered the most spectacular so far has been Chinguetti to Tadjikja. Amazing varied scenery and terrain. Some shortish hardcore dunes and rocky stretches but at least part of the way you get to see villages and nomads.

If you are going to go solo then atleast take a guide and have some people with you. It is hard pushing a car with 2.

Lastly, make sure that you know and trust your car because recovery is astronomical if at all possible. If all goes wrong .............start drinking

Dangerous because only one car or because of Aqmi?

RR.