Guide in Algeria
 

I am currently working in Algeria and was planning to cross the Sahara with a Landcruiser that will be purchased in Algeria. I have a Business Visa for Algiers and will be getting my two friends that will be accompanying me Tourist Visas. We plan to travel south to Tam, do the Hoggar Mountain circle, and then on to Arlit and Agadez in Niger. Does anyone know if a Guide is still required for this trip? I have a local Driver License and local paperwork and the car is registered in Algiers. Are there checkpoints that look for guides, or is it just a requirement to get the Visa?

I suspect you will still need a permit - as locals do - to get into the south - and they may not give that to you if you are a foreigner. So you will need a guide but in the car it won't cost much.

From; http://www.algerianconsulate.org.uk
Notice:
If you are planning to visit southern Algeria, please provide itinerary details including approximate dates and cities to be visited, as well as an invitation from an Algerian Travel Agency.

Ch

hi
if you start in Algiers you need the guide only from El Menia to In Guezzam. To get the tourist visa for your friends you have to show the invitation from the travel agency.
Have a save trip
Ursula

Chris & ursula, thanks for the fast replies. I will venture into a local travel agency and get more details. The landcruiser will most likely be donated to CARE in Niger after the trip is done. Everyone will be heading there seperate ways in Agadez or in Niamey. Do you guys think that there will be any difficulties in donating this vehicle? Should the car be bought in CARE's name and then we drive it down? What are the logistics of leaving a vehicle in Niger and flying out?

Chris. BTW. I have your Sahara Overland book and I cannot believe how much depth you went into. I am quite impressed at all the information that you have made available. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

>a local travel agency

I presume you know U did not mean a place that sells holidays and airline tickets, but a desert tour operator. Most are based in the southern tourist towns like Tam, In Salah and Djanet. Although perhaps local travel agents have contact with these.
See http://www.sahara-overland.com/country/algeria.htm

Ch