Is 2WD possible from Tam to Arlit?

[dz5591]

Has anyone recently (mid 2005 onward)travelled the piste (road?) from Tam to Arlit? I want to take a robust road car to Benin but not on coastal route if possible. Read Chris Scott's great story Merc in Maroc, but I won't modify my car that much. Ideas? Experience? Also, do I REALLY have to take a 'guide' in the car 100% of the time in Algeria?

David

[Chris Scott]

People have been doing this piste in 2WDs since cars got to the Sahara and it's easier than ever now. Its pretty sandy so bashplate or heavy springs are not so important as in Maroc. Good tyres, a tow rope and a spade will do you. It's a great drive.

>Also, do I REALLY have to take a 'guide' in the car 100% of the time in Algeria?<

Afriad so, Alg is stricter than Libya - at least for the moment.

Ch

[dz5591]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris Scott:
[B]People have been doing this piste in 2WDs since cars got to the Sahara and ... Good tyres, a tow rope and a spade will do you. It's a great drive.
>>
Chris, I did not expect a reply from you! Does this route feature in your book? Oops, you guessed, I haven't got a copy yet.

I was thinking of: Italy - Tunis - Nefta - el-Oued - Ghardaia - in Salah - Tam - in Guezzam/Assamaka - Arlit - Agadez - Dosso (instead of going as far as Niamey) Malanville/Gaya – Parakou.

Still OK in your experience?

regards, David

[Chris Scott]

Hi David, the piste from Tam is in the book - A10 to Niger.

The route looks fine tho I dont know the places after Agadez. Sure beats the Atlantic route.

I was just talking with Yves from Switz (who is the agent for Tanezrouft Voyages) and they were discussing offering a fixed price/duration for the trans Alg run (El Oued-Assamaka) for a fixed (max) number of cars as the interest is there.
Sounded like a very good deal to me...

Ch

[Yves]

Hi David,
if you don't find a way to enter Algeria without asking for the services of a travel agency, then you will have to look for a guide from border to border (via Algiers is my favorite).
If you need the services of an agency, calculate about 650 EUR for a transit from Taleb Larbi to Ain Guezzam taking normaly 8 days. Tanezrouft Voyages offers this kind of service.
Bye, Yves

[roro]

Hi , Yves
This proposition seems interesting .
Do Tanezrouft Voyages organize sort of convoys to travel across Algeria ( to share the price of 650 euros beetween several vehicles ) ?
In both direction ?
Thanks for your reply .

RR .

[Sam Rutherford]

We're taking 30 2CVs this route in November, they're essentially unmodified and we're not expecting any disasters (2 days TAM-Arlit).

Sam.

[dz5591]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chris Scott:
[B]Hi David, the piste from Tam is in the book - A10 to Niger.

Chris - I ordered the book yesterday, and look forward to reading it. I will exchange mail with Yves off line, and pass on anything you may not know already. Thanks! David

[dz5591]

Originally posted by Sam Rutherford:
We're taking 30 2CVs this route (2 days TAM-Arlit) Sam.

Sam, thanks for the confidence boost! Especially the news that you expect to take 2 days Tam-Arlit, that's useful. regards, David

[dz5591]

Yves,
my email to you at your address on this system has failed (twice). Please email me so I can exchange mail with you.
Thanks, David

[Chris Scott]

For Yves try
infoATtanezrouft.com

Ch

[This message has been edited by Chris Scott (edited 14 September 2005).]

[Yves]

Hello,
@dz5591
email should work now, the address is updated.

@RR
Yes Tanezrouft Voyages organizes transfer services border 2 border in both directions; demand is unregular, thus there is no fixed schedule.

Yves

[roro]

Thanks Yves .
I think I'll try this next year : I'm planning a travel from Libya to Niger and it seems OK to go back to Europe across Algeria without spending a lot of money .
RR .