Hi!
As I understood - you are on a trip now in Tunisia or Algeria?
We plan to go there in February. Our plan is to come with ferry from Palermo to Tunisia, then Algeria (visas are now in process), then leave with a ferry to Spain.

My main question is - how it is with all bike Custom things? For bringing the bike in to Tunisia, then to Algeria? Was it hard or easy? Did you get some problems? Any suggestions?

Another question about some obligatory guidances in some areas? Are there places where we must have a local guide? Is it possible to enter Algeria without a guide at all?

Thanks,
Martins (from Latvia)

Hi I suggest you read this post: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...algeria-103794

Read the first post, and the later posts and things should be pretty clear.

I think you need guide if you go to the far south, but you should be fine if you go to the middle of the country.

Customs can take some time, but it's easy. As long as you have a valid visa for Algeria, everything will be fine. Tunisia you don't need a visa from EU.

Hi, a group of us from the UK are considering attending the FIM event in Tunisia in Oct 2023 but we cant find any sailings from France for October.

The various ferry company sites that sail from Italy are listing ferries in October so we are not sure if the French companies don't sail in October or if they have a winter timetable that comes out later in the year.
thanks

Apropos of places to "Don't Go", I would add Tunisia to the list of places to avoid at this time.

The country is in the midst of some pretty severe economic hardship and some pretty serious political problems.

If you are thinking of going to Tunisia this year, perhaps first read the post I made about my recent experience there, that post is here:

Leaving Tunisia in 2021

It is a sad story about the state the country is currently in, and a warning to others. Prior to 2000, Tunisia was a very pleasant place to visit on a moto.

Michael

Well I dont think anyone going to Tunisia now will have the problems you had during the pandemic and the irrational actions that were taken because of it.

So I see little reason to be gloomy. Africa is always in some kind of trouble.

But. Desertmasters is holding a Tunisia rally in November that sounds interesting even to me who normally stay away from those kind of events.
Since it is NON COMPETITIVE.
For fun!
Imagine that.
https://linktr.ee/desertmaster
https://www.instagram.com/desertmasterofficial/

And in March there was the more traditional Fenix rally
https://www.facebook.com/RallyFenix/

That's true. I know that from personal experience, because I spent a good part of my working life flying humanitarian flights for the Red Cross in the middle of various African wars: Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Libya, and DR Congo, as well as the conflict in Western Sahara in the late 80s / early 90s.

It's precisely because of that personal & professional experience that I know how difficult things can get and how quickly circumstances can change during periods of instability or outright conflict in an African country. Tunisia is unstable right now, and past history suggests that things are going to get worse (more unstable) before they get better.

Remember that Tunisia is unique (for overlanders) because there are only two ways out: the ferry, or crossing into Algeria. The ferry will shut down in a heartbeat if conflict or widespread civil disruption occurs. A sudden need to make a forced, unplanned exit into Algeria (if that is even possible at the time) will be like getting out of the frying pan into the fire.

It's all about risk management, and risk management means taking a prudent look at what could go wrong, and what one's options would be if things do go wrong.

Tunisia is a fascinating place with friendly people - it will still be there in the future to visit once things settle down.

Michael

I'll be heading to Tunis at the beginning of August on a long stopover en route to Egypt. Other than the economic issues which many countries around the world are experiencing over the past few years I haven't heard of any reason why it would be a bad time to visit Tunisia.

On the countrary, we should make more of an effort to visit countries that are experiencing economic plight; they could really use our tourist dollars.

I am leaving for Tunisia in a week and will post my experience afterwards. Having been to Morocco three times now I wanted to see a bit more of Northern Africa.

I have a return ferry ticket with GNV and have booked the first hotel in Tunis. Vehicle insurance is already arranged (green card from my local insurance office). I am planning to get a SIM-card from an official shop in Tunis center.

Total time in Tunisia is a bit over seven days, I will look for the rest of the accommodation when I get there. I am planning something in the lines of Tunis - El Kef - Tozeur - Douz - Tataouine - Djerba - Sousse - Tunis. I will avoid Kasserine and the surrounding mountains, sticking to main roads for that bit.

I would like to enter Parc Jebil but from what I have heard, that could be difficult. I will ride to Cafe La Port Du Desert first and see from there. According to OpenStreetMaps there is a Gendarmerie post just north of the cafe. Otherwise I will ride around it. No harm in trying.

Main goal is to see a couple of cities, ancient relics, maybe some movie sets, do a bit of desert riding (sticking to existing tracks).