Sahara First Timer

[ivan2332]

A friend and I are planning a trip in Sahara the next year.

It is the first time in the desert. We have been reading the Sahara Overland and we think that a good route is MOROCCO: Tangler, Casablanca, Tan Tan, Layounne; MAURITANIA: Nouadhibou, Atar, Nouakchott; SENEGAL: Dakar; MALI: Bamako, Douentza, Timbuktu, Gao; ALGERIA: Bordj Moktar, Reggane; MOROCCO: Ceuta.

We are pretending to get there in November 2010 and finish in January 2011. Does it sound possible?

Ivan

Is a good option the Garmin GPS 76csx?

[Yves]

Hi,
> ALGERIA: Bordj Moktar, Reggane; MOROCCO: Ceuta

The border between Algeria and Morocc is closed. But you may take a ferry at Oran or Algiers or exit via Tunisia.

Actually Timbuktu-Gao-Bordj Moktar is very unsafe, that might look better in a year.

[ivan2332]

Thanks for the information.

The “close frontier” between Algeria and Morocco is an actual issue that could be resolve in the next year? Just a question.

[leanderle]

I don't think you'll see the border open between Morocco and Algeria anytme soon. It's been closed for the best part of two decades now. For it to open would mean a radical change in relations between Algeria and Morocco, and probably some kind of settlement with regards to Western Sahara.

[ivan2332]

ok... now is clear...

[ianc99]

Similar question. I've just found out theat I amy have more time on my hands than I realised!

Thinking of hopping the bike and heading south. Some questions if I may:

- What a realistic timeframe for getting to Dakar and back?
- Is there a striaghtforward option for going one way only?
- What would be suggested routes and what are the pros/cons/risks?
- About how long does it take to get paperwork & stuff organised for a trip like this?

Thanks

I

[brend]

hello
when you go to senegal/mali/mauritanie i would say 8 weeks should be okay.
we did senegal/gambia/mali this summer (return to holland also) with a car in 6 weeks but that is a little bit short.
when you only go senegal/mauritanie then 5-6 weeks will be fine.
you can go one way and ship back the bike. but i don't have information about that.
your route will depend on how many time you have.
paperwork (for a car, motorcycle i don't know) is not that difficult for these countries. You don't need a carnet or something in advance so that is not a problem. you will need your passport! the other things you can arrange at the borders. insurances, visas, laissez passer etc you can arrange at the borders. so when your bike is prepared you can go.

[ianc99]

Originally Posted by brend

hello
when you go to senegal/mali/mauritanie i would say 8 weeks should be okay.
we did senegal/gambia/mali this summer (return to holland also) with a car in 6 weeks but that is a little bit short.
when you only go senegal/mauritanie then 5-6 weeks will be fine.
you can go one way and ship back the bike. but i don't have information about that.
your route will depend on how many time you have.
paperwork (for a car, motorcycle i don't know) is not that difficult for these countries. You don't need a carnet or something in advance so that is not a problem. you will need your passport! the other things you can arrange at the borders. insurances, visas, laissez passer etc you can arrange at the borders. so when your bike is prepared you can go.

Brend - Thanks for the info. Sooo 6 weeks. I can do that....

[brend]

hee
yes it is possible in 6 weeks. from ireland to dakar and back with seeing mauritanie and senegal a bit i would say it is something like 14000 to 15000km.
good luck

[backofbeyond]

You ought to give some thought to going one way and shipping back. Both times I've done it (from Gambia) the shipping / flying costs haven't been that much different from the return trip costs and you get to spend an extra couple of weeks down there.

I'm assuming you're on a bike - different economics if you're shipping a TLC.

[Tim Cullis]

Senegal is a bit disappointing compared to Morocco and it's an awful long way to go to find this out. So my initial reaction would be to suggest you concentrate on Morocco and maybe Western Sahara as far down as Dahkla. There's enough there to keep you occupied for months!

Get the Morocco Overland book for up-to-date info.

Tim

PS: Senegal blog

[ivan2332]

I am going to start this trip in Spain and I want to back there too. I am contemplating three months in Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and Algeria. I am not pretending to do a serious Sahara overland, just two or three desert sections (Nauadhibou-Atar, Douentza-Timubktu and Timbuktu-Gao).

I think (or which is your opinion) that this trip could be done in three months (November to January).

[ivan2332]

For these five countries, is difficult to get de visas. Does somebody know if it is possible to do it in the borders?

[Yves]

Algerian visa: no at the border.
No in a country were you are not resident.
Somtimes transit visa in Agadez, Gao. Actually better not to rely on.
The to be on the safe side get it in your home country.

BTW, GAo - Bordj Mokhtar must be considered as a desert section too.
Unfortunately the area is still very unsafe, best to avoid, but in 12 months it might look much better.