New border crossings to Niger?
 

I refer to a news post from http://www.sahara-overland.com/news/index.htm:

"August 2 - New border crossing points between Algeria and Niger
Good news about access between Algeria and Niger. Formerly the only official crossing was via In Guezzam to Assamaka (Tam - Agadez, Route A12), a restriction imposed by Algeria; Niger did not really mind which way you left. Now it's seems once can officially come and go between Djanet and Chirfa (the balised Route A15 in the book) and even places like Chirfa, up the Oued Taffassasset past In Affelellah to Bordj El Haouas west of Djanet which now has an immigration point. (We vaguely paralleled this corridor on Desert Riders in 2003 and most agreeable it was too.)
And apparently one can even come up from Iferouane out of the Aïr to In Azaoua and head for Tam (meeting and reversing Route A14 at KM000). This is an old colonial route that has been closed or barely used for as long as I've known about it.
I must say it sounds a bit too good to be true - especially the last In Azaoua (a military checkpoint).
The reasons for these new crossings are the elimination or assimilation of rebel Tubu and Tuareg groups in the Djado plateau and the northern Aïr in the last couple of years. Confirmation shortly. If the situation stays as it is I for one hope to make use of these on my car and bike tours in late 2007/8."


Can someone confirm this?

I want to go from Djanet or next border checkpoint directly into Tenere avoiding In Guezzam. I did this in 2002 and had no problems at all. But with the new restrictions in Algeria one seems to be bound on the official transit routes. I would love to get rid of the mandatory guide in Djanet and pull out south. Any experience with that?

Thanks for your answers!

Paul

Hi Paul,

friends will try this route in about 3 weeks, everything is arranged: guide through Algeria and a Niger agency to escort them in Niger.

Yves

Thanks Yves for this info , we'll be waiting almost one month to have a report about this trip ...
I've heard another info : it seems (see below ) that's it's again posssible to do the Ghat->Djanet piste .

RR.

http://www.sahariens.info/w-agora/vi...key=1159427077

Careful about leaving guide behind in Djanet. Someone tried to do this a year or so back and the Algerians went after them in the Tenere. They were eventually nailed for taking out archaeology, faced a time in jail and a huge fine. That's another story, but the point is the difficulties started when the guide was left behind in Djanet.

This is what Tanezrouft Voyages says:

"Actuellement on ne peut pas confirmer que le passage par Djanet au Niger
soit possible. On attend une confirmation vers le 21. Octobre d'un group.
On comprend bien que la sorti par Djanet offre des avantages par rapport a
Ain Guezzam, mais on ne peut pas garentir cette possibilité."

Djanet--> Niger
 

Hi

Somebody have news from groups who tried this routes in October or November (see below) ?

Which agencies (Algerian and/or Nigerian) are rliable for this trip ?
Since Lybian/Nigerian border is closed , I'm planning to travel from Djanet to Niger without crossing the border in In Guezzam .
Thanks for your replies .

RR.



"I want to go from Djanet or next border checkpoint directly into Tenere avoiding In Guezzam. I did this in 2002 and had no problems at all. But with the new restrictions in Algeria one seems to be bound on the official transit routes. I would love to get rid of the mandatory guide in Djanet and pull out south. Any experience with that?

Thanks for your answers!

Paul


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#2 30th September 2006
Yves
Veteran Traveller Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 169

Hi Paul,

friends will try this route in about 3 weeks, everything is arranged: guide through Algeria and a Niger agency to escort them in Niger.

Yves

recently?
 

Yves, how did the group get on?
Any recent news about more direct Djanet-Agadez (ie avoiding Tam)?

Sam.

To Niger
 

As far as I know , the only way NOW to go to Niger avoiding Tam is to go from Djanet directly to In Guezzam .
I'm planning this route in February though I hope entering Niger via In Azoua ( or with a lot of luck via Djanet->Chirfa but ....)
RR.

Hi Sam,
my friends were not allowed to exit at Djanet, despite very good connections.
They even were not allowed to drive from Djanet directely to Ain Guezzam, they had to drive via Tam.

All best, Yves

Thanks!
 

Yves,

Thanks for the update. Although disappointing, it's good to have first-hand (or almost) information.

Sam.