Mid May
 

Going into morocco with no real destination or plans in a 4x4 jeep by boat from Spain. No experience in driving on sand. Will probably be camping in the wild.
Any hints or tips very much appreciated as this kind of adventure is a first for me.

Without sounding like Debby Downer:


Carry plenty of water.


In soft sand, deflate your tyres to whatever is the recommended for your vehicle. Use rim locks if required. Carry an electric compressor to reflate, a trenching spade and maybe sand ladders.


If you go offroad into the real dunes, it takes some experience and skill not to get bogged down up to your axles and you won't get out on your own. Always better to hook up with somebody who has some experience of sand, and hopefully a winch or tow straps.

It is an art to read dunes, and when the sun is overhead around midday there are no shadows and you can run straight off a drop or straight into a step without seeing it.


Keep your speed up. Always stop facing downslope or on hard pack. And remember that you can loose any idea of where the steering is in soft sand (the vehicle will plough ahead even with the sterring on full lock in some circumstances.


Theres plenty more and I'm sure others with more experience will chime in.

Thanks for that, I will be by myself so will probably try and keep out of the big dunes, unless like you say, someone else is about with experience.
Do you meet many people in the middle of knowhere?

I doubt it that why it called the "MIDDLE OFF NOWHERE"

You could be lucky and find the odd McDonald outlet.


http://i1360.photobucket.com/albums/...psxhbg1lky.jpg


But not this one still waiting for it to open:oops2:

On a serious note leave a planned route with someone locally before you leave.

A big MUST .........bier




Good luck with the trip.

I used to ride and drive in the Saudi desert and set up a Rally in KSA back in 2008. It isn't something for novices to do on their own. Aside from the above, sand is pretty tough on vehicles. You can overheat, burn out your clutch, and go through gas like you wouldn't believe.


What kind of 4x4 do you have?

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...dh%20300/1.jpg


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...dh%20300/4.jpg

Its area of 9,200,000 square kilometres (3,600,000 sq mi) is comparable to the area of the United States.

So I am sure you should find many of these Rally in KSA?
should be every few 2 km away.

Enjoy your trip.

Thanks for all the help.
It's an automatic Cherokee jeep sport the old 3.7 litre model.

To be honest I'm more of a bike fine. Done quite a bit of racing over the years, mainly circuits and roads, very little off road or motorcross so if I was to come across a race or gathering it would be a right result. Love anything on two wheels and an engine!
:scooter:

Engine should be powerful enough.


Read this and follow their advice:


https://www.y-oman.com/2013/04/the-d...urvival-guide/

Morocco doesn't have many large expanses of desert, the popular dune areas of Erg Chebbi and Erg Cheggaga are popular with tourists and have desert camps dotted around them and lots of 4x4's passing through. Both areas have good cell phone coverage if you needed to call for assistance.

I try to avoid going into the big dunes solo but some routes through up small dunes at times.

Campsites are probably your best bet for meting other travellers, look on iOverlander for suggestions from other travellers.

I'll be out myself in May towards the end of my next trip, so if you see a black UK landcruiser give us a wave :D

We have done Morocco a few times recently. Here would be my tips:

-Carry a water filter. I use a Lifesaver Jerry can. You can get water in almost every petrol station or village. Sometimes from wells, but you will want to filter it. I don't buy bottled water because is gets a bit sickening seeing all the plastic dumped outside of Moroccan towns.

-There are a few 'remote' areas up on the Rekkam plateau and along the Algerian border but there are always locals not far away and they will often turn up in what appears to be the most uninhabited areas. In Erg Chebbi, avoiding other overlanders and local touts is more a challenge than finding peace and quiet, so you won't have to worry about getting stuck and not finding help. Lake Iriki and Erg Chegaga is a lot less crowded and you could spend a day or two on your own if you get well out into the dunes.

-A shovel and some sand tracks of one type of another will get you out of most sand problems.

-You may run into the military in border areas but they are always friendly and may ask you to move on from certain areas. You can drive through most places in the day time but they sometimes discourage wild camping too close to the border depending on tensions with Algeria and the Polisario. There is no threat to tourists from the Polisario but the military prefers not to be surprised at night by groups if they can't be sure of their identity.

-Relax and enjoy!

Thanks for all the help and support guys. It's very much appreciated, your all being a great help.
Pleading ignorance... are there shops/markets along the way where I can buy shovels, jerry cans, etc along the way. I plan to come in from Spain, Ceuta with my first stop being Chefchaueun

Shovel and cans should be able to be bought in Morocco although I don't recall seeing Jerries for sale anywhere. 4x4 place in Marrakech may be able to help otherwise try and buy before you go or in Spain.

Depending on where you are heading in Morocco theres very few routes you'll need Jerry Cans though. Fill up at the start of the day and starting thinking about fuel when you get down to half a tank and you'll be fine :)

I'd really recommend meeting up with other vehicles. One you have a provisional route, it will be easier to ask around and find fellow travelers or at least good places to stay and meet people.