Sahara West to East?

[butchdiamond]

Hi all,

I'm trying to plan a route across the top of Africa from Morocco to Algeria, Tunisia, Lybia, Egypt then into the Middle East. I have heard that this route is often thought of but then soon binned because of border, guide and banditry hassles.
I also know that the border between Morocco and Algeria is closed , so I considered going south to Mauritania and crossing up into Algeria from there. I have looked at some of Chris Scott's Sahara routes and I can't find an easy West to East route. I will be on my own on a motorbike and I don't have the budget for expensive guides. Is it realisticly possible to cross the top of Africa this way? If so can anyone recommend possible routes and which borders to cross?

I'm hoping to be on the road before the end of the year.

Thanks,
Butch

[butchdiamond]

Is there anyone out there who can help? I've continued my research but seem to be hitting a brick wall. Is this route plan a bad idea? Any input would be appreciated.

Butch

[Richard Washington]

Butch,
I think the issue is as follows:
1) things are tough in the Sahara at the moment - you'll pick up the details on this from the other postings
2) grand crossing from west to east is a challenge at the best of times
3) doing so on a small budget, alone and without paying for escourts is going to be near impossible.

There are a few things you could do:
a) try something less difficult
b) wait till things improve a little in the Sahara
c) travel with others and share some costs.

Of course great things are always achieved if you can get round the impossible - so good luck. But objectively this is how things stand.

[Chris Scott]

Is this route plan a bad idea?

IMO in the true desert sense yes. From the Atlantic as far as east Algeria is easily done any way you like/dare.
From there bending border regs is less easy - you can only go up via Tunisia to the Libyan entry point on the Med and leave Libya again at the Med border with Egypt (current Libyan restrictions notwithstanding).

For political/security reasons a true Saharan West to East (assuming that is what you are talking about) has not been possible for 30 years or more and never will be as long as southern Libya remains closed to tourists coming from Algeria / to the Gilf and north Chad remains business-as-usual.

Ch

See: Sahara West to East

[butchdiamond]

It's looking increasingly difficult to do this route, although I'm not going to give up just yet. I'll keep working on possible options, maybe going south first to Mauri and Mali then up to Tunisia.

Thanks again.

Butch

[ctc]

I did a West East crossing in 2002. Route was Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya Egypt. As Chris mentions ,you have to come up to the coast to cross into Libya and Egypt so we headed south again in both those countries having crossed the border to see the Sahara proper in those countries. Most traffic crosses the desert North South so teaming up with people is difficult.

As Richard mentions you'd be advised to take a guide for some parts (Mali (Gao)- Algeria (Tam.)) and I gather from neccesity in Algeria and Egypt now. Guides are not cheap but certainly give you peace of mind and can be great.

For my money I'd make my object Timboctou - plenty of desert on the way down and a fitting objective.

[butchdiamond]

The route you took seems just what I'm after. Which border post did you cross through from Mali to Algeria?

Could you give me a rough budget for your total trip in terms of fuel, living costs and guides etc.

Thanks again.

Butch