hoggar headaches

[Dominic1]

Going to Africa this summer!!

is their lots of traffic making the Nefta - El Oued road? I was thinking maybe if it not possible to cross without my own vehicle on this border I could catch a lift with anyone doing a similar route with a landrover etc. anyone going around end of July? (crazy temperatures I know) if not, where would be the best place to hang meet someone who might be willing?

thanks

P.S. is it definately possible obtain a visa for niger in Tamanrasshett? or is it more advisable to get the niger visa before I leave?

[sunjan]

I went this way with local transport back in july -93.
If things are the same, there are always shared taxis and buses going, so you don't have to rely on hitching.
There was a separate minibus shuttling between the two border stations, so you don't have to walk.

If you're set in finding other westerners, perhaps the border post in Nefta would be the safest bet. The Algerian side is desolate and dull, at the Moroccan side at least there were some nice cafés.

[Jon]

I came this way about 10 days ago, going by local transport. There is no public transport for the no man's land between borders, but the officials on the Tunisian side got someone to give me a lift through. Not much traffic coming into Algeria, but there is a share taxi from the border to El Oued.

[Dominic1]

you went down there ten days ago? Are you planning on going onto Niger?
how easy has the journey down to Tam been (I take it you will be going there)

Originally posted by Jon:
I came this way about 10 days ago, going by local transport. There is no public transport for the no man's land between borders, but the officials on the Tunisian side got someone to give me a lift through. Not much traffic coming into Algeria, but there is a share taxi from the border to El Oued.

[Jon]

Yes, am now in Tam, having come via El Golea, Timimoun, In Salah. The only difficulty has been with the police at the checkpoints in El Golea and In Salah who insisted that I travel in the convoys for foreigners (aparently on Sundays and Wednesdays). With a bit of toing and froing with the respective police commissariats, I was allowed to go whenever I wanted. The checkpoints demand written authorization, which the commissariats are reluctant to issue. Insist politely on something in writing or you may get turned back again at the checkpoint - also, the taxis and buses may refuse to take you if you don't have written authorization. None of this was a problem north of El Golea or from Timimoun to In Salah.

I got the visa for Niger today in Tam. Cost 50 euros, one month validity, issued same day.

[Dominic1]

thought I'd give you a few days to make it to niger! are you there now?

Any problems with red tape or anything else?

I'd be really interested to know how easy it was for you to find transport - I've heard that doing this trip may involve sitting/standing on the outside of a truck - I'm going in july, so this could be a problem with the sun.

how long did it take?

[Dominic1]

Hi posted this topic originally: just to get this at the top of the board again to see if Jon might get it after (maybe) being off the internet for ages while crossing into Niger!:

see above message

thanks

[Jon]

Am now in Niamey. Perhaps I got lucky, but I had no problems getting transport Tam-Assamaka. Tam-Arlit took 2 days (one night in In Guezzam). Tam-In Guezzam is straightforward, 4x4 share taxi (AD 1200). I don't have info about trucks, although the customs terminal is on the road south, near the share taxis.

For a solo traveller without vehicle, the most difficult bit might be the short distance from In Guezzam to the Algerian border post, which is now located a few inconvenient km south of town. In case your ride to In Guezzam is not going on to Niger, I suggest waiting for a ride to the border post at the petrol station on the road south out of In Guezzam.

The Algerian border police were very friendly and helped me get a ride on to Assamaka and Arlit in a local vehicle. Note that on the first of each month, the border police in Assamaka rotate back to Arlit and you may be able to get a ride with them.

No red tape or hassles at either border post. I was told to check in with the police in Arlit, which I did not do and which has not caused me any problems.

Personally, I would not want to make the trip in the back of a truck in July. An enclosed vehicle would be bad enough. You would have to carry a lot of water and sufficient food to last in case the trip doesn't go so smoothly. According to the Algerian border police, July and August is also a time of very bad sandstorms, which can paralyze traffic along the route for days. Good luck.