Chenguetti to Taoudenni??

[RuneDK]

Does anyone have experience on going from Chenguetti in Mauritania to Taoudenni in Mali?
I know it’s a rough ride, but I’m not really sure of the conditions:
- Is it pure GPS navigation or are there some kinds of roads?
- Is it possible to get fuel between Chenguetti and Taoudenni?
- Is it possible at all to cross the border east of Taoudenni?

Best Regards

Rune

[Chris Scott]

I have not done it myself buy I know people who have in both directions.

- Is it pure GPS navigation or are there some kinds of roads?
No pistes, wells or anything - it is a very large remote uninhabited area. GPS wont be any good apart from pointing you to Taou) it is more a matter of driving with the terrain.

- Is it possible to get fuel between Chenguetti and Taoudenni?
Look at the Mich map... Only from Santa Claus

- Is it possible at all to cross the border east of Taoudenni?
If you mean into Algeria then sure, if you have a visa.

Note that besides the fact that the Alg hostage takers were last known in this area, it is a common transit of smugglers from Mori/Mali to Alg - and they may make some banditry on you too.

You could try Ouadane - Chegga then Alg (miss out Mali but still a serious proposition)

Ch

[hed]

Hey Rune,

I have not done that trip, but about 2 years ago I went from Timbuktu up to Taodenni. When I got there I saw q few tradesr from Mauritania in old Landrovers and also some Mauritanian Polisario people (according to the local Tuaregs). IN my view it will certainly be possible to drive ib this way. Thedriving is not too hard around Taodenni, no high dubns to cross and not too much sand, actually quite straight forward. When you come up from teh south it is quite important to find the passes through the east west trending hilly ranges, they call them "Foum", like Foum Alba and Foum Hallous. If you don't find these gateways no ways to cros. I bet there is absolutley no fuel anywhere between Mauri border and Taodenni and nothing in Taodenni either, so if you do this remember that the closest fuel inside Mali will be ither in Timbuktu or in Kidal. Also worth mentioning that there is still lots of banditry going on in these areas, as was seen recently and also as experienced by myself (through stories I heard from the locals etc) when I was there. Mail me directly if I can give you some more info.

hed

[sunjan]

Originally posted by Chris Scott:
Note that besides the fact that the Alg hostage takers were last known in this area, it is a common transit of smugglers from Mori/Mali to Alg - and they may make some banditry on you too.

You could try Ouadane - Chegga then Alg (miss out Mali but still a serious proposition)

Ch

I could also remind about the Klaus Därr robbery (Ouadane) and the three killed Dutch travellers (Tessalit), that all happened in this area, although a few years back (1999/2000). Read more at:

http://www.klaus.daerr.info/Raubueberfall.htm
(Scroll down for english, or run it through Babelfish.)

Jan

[RuneDK]

Thanks for your replies. It seems the trip is over our capacity, and that we’ll take another “safer” route.

Kind Regards

Rune