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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
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Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 21 Apr 2009
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Algeria

Hi All,

We (my girlfriend and I) are planning to go to Algeria in October.

Limited off road experience, no (off road) bikes yet, all western governments advice against going, but still.. You guys do it

Plan is to ship (train, truck, trailer) the (future) bikes to Genoa, to Tunis, ride down to Tammanrasset, see a lot of stuff, learn a lot from the guides, camp under the stars, see the scenery, ride desert pistes, do some mild trail/dune riding and ride back safely.

Whole trip should be three weeks, so short, but hopefully not too short.
We have an approx. 3000 euro budget per bike, so that should get us something half decent. (i.e. with a magic button )

Any advice? Anyone going in the same direction at that time?
Any advice on how to work with the guides in a car while riding bikes? Anyone ever done mixed groups (i.e. cars/bikes)
Things we should not miss out on?
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  #2  
Old 22 Apr 2009
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one tip

Great idea!

we did it last year in 3 cars. I advice to take boat to Tunis at Civitavecchia (Grimaldi) is cheaper than from Genoa.

To Tam you can get with tarmac, then you should see Assekrem in Hoggar Mountains (sun set and dawn especially interesting). The roads to get there are very well described in Ch.Scott book.

There are some hearing that guides are not more indispensable in algerian sahara, but if you want to go any further, especially out of tarmac roads it is recomanded to have one.

Feel free to look trough my photo album.

Best regards,

Tytus
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  #3  
Old 22 Apr 2009
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Location: johannesburg - south africa
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Hi!

I'm also researching Algeria etc for a first-timer trip, but for mid-Nov 09. GREAT idea! Have spoken to some Algerian people personally and they're all very positive that the country is a lot safer now. Most dangerous area apparently just east of capitol city. Guides still recommended, most say required, for trips beyond balcktop/tarmac and a good idea because of fuel and water carrying capacity.

See Chris Scott's Sahara Overland (good book to own!) for good info and follow the threads in HU. There's a lot to learn also from past threads also.

I'm keeping my eyes on the security situation and will post if i get anything worthwhile especially ito previously closed routes opening up.

Good luck & please post any current info you come by!
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  #4  
Old 22 Apr 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AadmanZ View Post
Hi All,

We (my girlfriend and I) are planning to go to Algeria in October.

Limited off road experience, no (off road) bikes yet, all western governments advice against going, but still.. You guys do it

Plan is to ship (train, truck, trailer) the (future) bikes to Genoa, to Tunis, ride down to Tammanrasset, see a lot of stuff, learn a lot from the guides, camp under the stars, see the scenery, ride desert pistes, do some mild trail/dune riding and ride back safely.

Whole trip should be three weeks, so short, but hopefully not too short.
We have an approx. 3000 euro budget per bike, so that should get us something half decent. (i.e. with a magic button )

Any advice? Anyone going in the same direction at that time?
Any advice on how to work with the guides in a car while riding bikes? Anyone ever done mixed groups (i.e. cars/bikes)
Things we should not miss out on?
Hi, I did it in Nov, 2008 with bike. I went via Gardimao. No one asked me about the guide. I was stopped by police every day in Algeria, but it was not unsolvable problem (dont give bribes).

Alex
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  #5  
Old 22 Apr 2009
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Alex

“No one asked me about the guide.”

Until where did you went?
And how? Bike? Car? Foot?
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  #6  
Old 22 Apr 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tytus View Post
Great idea!

we did it last year in 3 cars. I advice to take boat to Tunis at Civitavecchia (Grimaldi) is cheaper than from Genoa.

To Tam you can get with tarmac, then you should see Assekrem in Hoggar Mountains (sun set and dawn especially interesting). The roads to get there are very well described in Ch.Scott book.

There are some hearing that guides are not more indispensable in algerian sahara, but if you want to go any further, especially out of tarmac roads it is recomanded to have one.

Feel free to look trough my photo album.

Best regards,

Tytus
NICE!!! pictures... Not so sure if we want to go all the way on Tarmac, but it's always good to know there is a main road to get somewhere if time becomes an issue.
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  #7  
Old 28 Apr 2009
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Damn, just been working the math and with guides, ferries and everything else sure adds up..

Anyone fancy splitting the cost of guides? Anyone planning going there end of this year that we could join?
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