from belgium to Togo in august: possible?
 

I am planning to drive from Belgium to Togo with a couple of friends but we all have our holiday in august.
I know that in most of the countries we have to cross there will be rainy season.
Does anybody know if it is possible to drive through in august? and do we need a 4x4 for that?
We are also in discussion if we go via Marocco our Algeria. Does anybody has suggestions for us? Thanks in advance
Nele Lombaerts

hi there, I have not done this at this time of year but am leaving about he same time as you are and all the research i have done, people I have spoken to say it will be a good time to leave, the only problem is a little hot out in the Sahara if you plan to venture out there.
Depends on the time you have available I would think Morocco would be the way to go over Algeria.
I will be on two wheels opposed to four, riding an Africa Twin, might see you on the road.

Cheers
Robbo

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www.hardwayhome.blogspot.com

I drove from the UK to Lagos through Togo in August 2004. Apart from being very hot in the Sahara and very muddy in Mali, there were really no problems - in a 4x4 anyway.

The trip is doable at this time of year - depending on your vehicle. Crossing from Mauritania (Ayoun el Atrous) to Mali (Nioro du Sahel) in a 2WD is fine because it's been tarmac'd all the way to the border. From Nioro du Sahel towards the capital is a different matter - It's very muddy and even the big trucks have problems, churning up the track for everybody else. On this route, 4x4 is the only option.

If you want any more info, please email me.

Ben

www.gateway2africa.org

[This message has been edited by BenW (edited 28 March 2006).]

I've done Libya-Algeria-Niger-Ghana once, and Tunisia-Algeria-Niger-Benin twice in previous summers.

It's hot but perfectly doable. I'm in Brussels if you want more info. Contact me directly...

Sam.

Sam Rutherford
Could you please tell us, if it is possible to drive from Tamanrasset to Agadez with a "normal" car (not a 4x4)? I have read that there is a bit of soft sand.
I have seen pictures from the Sahel and a bit further south in summer and it's very green and beautiful (at least, you don't see the mosquitoes on the photos http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif ).

"From Nioro du Sahel towards the capital is a different matter - It's very muddy and even the big trucks have problems, churning up the track for everybody else. On this route, 4x4 is the only option."
i'm sorry, but it's not the truth;
i've already done that part of road by small & old FORD FIESTA with 4 people inside - from Nioro du Sahel to Diema - 100 km - in 8 hours, and then to Didjeni - 200 km - 10 hours; from Didjeni there's a good tarmac road straight to Bamako;
road is very hard and difficult - that's true, but not impossible for 2wd!!

Hajle,
I'm sorry you don't believe it's the truth but I'm pretty sure that the water was high enough to go over the bonnet of a Range Rover and the bottom of the track was glutinous mud in many of the dips in the piste.

I'm talking about the piste leading out of Nioro towards the Ayoun tarmac and the piste is on the right. There were 6x6 Berliet trucks having to pull 4x4 trucks through the mud pits.

August 2004. Maybe they've improved the road - just giving my experience. Possibly you weren't there in the rains?

B

yes. you're right, it was after rains, but even ind dry season there was a lot of water (in potholes, ruts, and gaps); road is really hard, but it's still under modernization, and it's possible to cover all section by tarmac paving even in that year (in the mid of february - 20 km before Diema i saw fresh part of tarmac road!!!)

OK, thank you!
I might also be on this road in July (with a 4x4 Suzuki Jimmy), going north.
So I understand it's probably hard, but do-able, between Didjeni and Nioro.

Would Didjeni-Nara-Nema be a better alternative?

What about Nioro-Kayes? Does anybody know that route in the rainy season?

Mana

yes
 

Tam-Agadez perfectly possible with 2wd. Just careful driving and plenty of water.

Sam.