Refueling possibilities far South
 

Hello!
Some years ago I did off road ride from the Boujdour to Smarra through the desert.
In this year I like try ride from Smara to Lamhiris through Sahara. As I, understand village Bir Anzarane is the place with Cafe, Hotel Gendarmerie - civilization. It is about half of the way. My question is - how do you think is it possible to arrange fuel to Bir Anzarane? Who can help?
Keep your self!
Martins

Hello Martins

I responded to your thread on TA. You can normally get fuel in remote places from big drums, look for signs. I filled up three times in the last two days playing in the Merzouga to Oumjarane area, the general cost seems to be 15 dh/litre.

How did your friend recover from his fall last year?

Tim

Thank You Tim!
Part of Morocco - called Western Sahara or Rio dOro is a real middle of nowhere. Who knows better as You!
On the road more accurate would be to say in the direction from Boujdour to Smara (about 470 kilometers) we met only one camel convoys and saw only one border guard housing. Camel mother milk drink and bread were both, but essence no one ...
If you try to see Bir Anzarane in Google satellite - it is the small village with three-five-ten homes. One of them is an auberge as I understand and hope.
Refueling in the middle of nowhere (no man land) from cans...
But we will try. Smara - Bir Anzarane 490km. Esence for this and woter for three days will be on bike.
Worst situation - to arrange somebody local to go from Bir Anzarane to Ocean Road closest tank station (~ 200km) bought essence... Inch Allah

Broken frend is back on the wheels!


Keep your self!
Martins

Things are changing quickly these years in Western Sahara, and my observations (last been there in april 2014) are that Bir Anzarane is not much more than a large army post.
A paved road is currently being built from there to ??? (probably Oum Dreiga or Gueltat Zemmour).
Yes you can get petrol in Bir Anzarane, of course, if in need from army (they generaly act very friendly towards tourists). But this should be used only as a last resort. Counting on army to sponsor your tourist activities is a no-go. Bring your reserves with you.
Awsard has on the other hand a reliable public petrol station (both diesel and unleaded) since the autumn of 2013.

Glad you are interested in exploring the Western Sahara!

Thank you Vrecha!

I was in WS in 2013. We rode off road from Boujdour to Samara (470 km 450 km off/20 km on road) and then to Assa. (400 km 200km off/200 km on road).

In this year adventure will be little difficultes. Our plan is raid from Samara to Lamhiris. (900 km 850km off/50km on road. Smara - stright SW to Bir Anzarane - Imili - strigt S, 50km before Bir Gandouz W - Lamhiris. Our track do not cross Guelta Zemmur or Aoussard and Bir Gandouz of course).

I think that the public petrol station near Dakhla is more closer to Bir Anzarene like in Aoussard. But far anyway. Is it corect?

Of course we will take cans with fuel for 500km and cans with water 18l. But we will ride on bikes without 4x4 support. Motorbike for fortunately and unfortunately is not a camel or elefant it is not danky:).

Without refueling in Bir Anzarane we stay to live there forever:) Or till you come here for help:)

Was the Cafe-hotel in work condition in 2014? Is the woter in the well is suitable for drinking or cooking?

Keep your self!
Martins

Bir Anzarane - Dakhla = a road, should be completely sealed by now (was at least 75% in 2013)
Bir Anzarane - Awsard = an easy to follow piste.
Don't know the distances by heart but it should be a bit nearer to go to Dakhla direction.
Consult the Gandini guide on the area, an excellent resource for pistes, distances and POI.

Bir Anzarane is a reliable well with potable water. We drank it many times, it can taste a little salty if the season is dry, but always drinkable.

Cafe-hotel - haven't spotted such a thing, than again I was just passing the site a few times in spring 2014. Definitely no such thing in 2013 when I stayed in the base for a few days. Wouldn't count on it, have seen cafes and even small markets in other bases that were happily opened on one occasion but after two months when I passed by again there was no trace of them left.

But as I said, things are changing, sometimes rapidly, and it would be beneficial for all the overlanding community if you report on your findings and situation when you come back.