Saharan loop - Horizons Unlimited

**trotters** · #1 11 Jun 2004

I have a saharan "loop" trip in mind by 4x4. Does anyone know if the following route is possible;

Tunis to Tripoli
tripoli to Ghat and on to Djanet
Then to Tamanrasset and onto Agadez
From Agadez to Niamey and onto Gao
From Gao through to Dakar and up the Atlantic route to leave via Tangiers.

Any help appreciated

p.s. one vehcle

**Chris Scott** · #2 11 Jun 2004

Yes easily do-able on a first time trip. Only problem is if only one car then the guides in Libya and Alg will be relatively expensive...

You could miss out Senegal (possible car importation problems) and go direct to Mori via Nioro if you like.

Ch

**trotters** · #3 14 Jun 2004

excellent. thanks for that info.
Do you know roughly how long i should allow?

**petelewis** · #4 15 Jun 2004

Hi,

I was planning a similar route this year, but have had to postpone 'till 2005. Uk, France, Italy, Libya, Niger, Burkina, Mali, Maurit., Maroc, Spain, France, UK.

I was planning on 10 weeks, which would have meant hard travel some days, but time to relax in others.

Would be interested to hear if others think that was realistic ? etc.

Pete

**Chris Scott** · #5 15 Jun 2004

Never done it but IMO, 8-10 weeks should plenty.

Ch

**Budrinna** · #6 15 Jun 2004

No way to cross the border at Tim Alkoum without permit. The border is close in both sense for tourism purposes.

Regards
Budrinna

**trotters** · #7 15 Jun 2004

What is the deal with the political situation on a route like this? I see the foreign office advises against all travel to Tammenrasset and Djanet. Are people still travelling this route? It also warns about the border areas of Libya/Niger. I don't want a guided tour but I don't really fancy being kidnapped by islamic extremists either; that would put a bit of a downer on the trip!

**PeterM** · #8 17 Jun 2004

There are even limitations to guided tours in southern Algeria (sometimes you are stopped travelling from Tam to Djanet, sometimes it's ok) and there is a general threat by - let's call them regional bandits or mafia clans. With the actual escalation in Niger it might be a good idea to wait and see - the desert isn't running away.

Regards,
Peter