Western Sahara - Al Mahbes and Tichla
 

I am currently planning a trip in Western Sahara with 4x4. On this occasion, I do not plan to use my own vehicles, instead I am planning to use a local outfitter from Laayoune.

I am looking for any information about the two following routes:

1. Smara-Al Mahbes-Smara
Is this a safe piste to do, and is it possible as a roundtrip from Smara in the same day?

2. Tichla-Guerguerat
Again, my main question here is about the safety of the piste, is it possible to travel this route?

Additionally, if anyone has any advise about good guides in Laayoune with 4x4 etc, that would also be much appreciated.

Thank you.......

I came through Zag 2 days ago and we got a lot of questions about our route. I’d be surprised if you can get to Al Mahbes at all although it could be fun trying.

That whole corner is pretty sensitive and I know a French group got intercepted by the Military and turned back about 50km NW of Al Mahbes. Also a lot of military movements in the Assa Zag area at the moment. I’ve passed 2 armoured convoys in 2 days.

Can’t help with a guide or vehicle source in Laayoune I’m afraid but I expect anything will be pretty much standard in terms of off road equipment


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Thanks for your input. We are planning to approach Al Mahabes from Smara, not Zag. I guess we will just have to see once there if it's possible to get as far as Al Mahabes or not....

It is the piste from Tichla to Guerguerat I have more concerns about. I am curious if many have driven this route, if it's even allowed....

Western Sahara - Al Mahbes and Tichla
 

I appreciated the direction of approach in you query. I still think it will involve meeting the military.

The other route you mention covered in one of Jaques Gandinis guide books so in theory should be ok................


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Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated. We will see about Al Mahabes then....

Glad to know the Tichla to Guerguerat route should in theory be doable. I'll look into the relevant Jaques Gandinis guide for that....

About Al Mahbes and Zag as others said - you will probably got turned back by the military.
Locals use the Assa-Smara piste (doable with RWD furgon), I asked many times if it is worth trying the road towards Zag and Al Mahbes but always got the answer to avoid it. I never tried to see for myself, though, as I never spent lots of time in the North of WS.


The main piste Aws - Tichla - Guergerat - the same thing. You will be most likely turned around few km after Aws and in the same manner few km after Guergerat. But again - there is a multitude of pistes everywhere around, so you can just bypass the military ones. Remember only that when you will be caught near the berm it can cause some delay to your itinerary ... :oops2:


Don't know what vehicle you will be using but a lot can be driven even with 2WD (preferably RWD) with reasonable ground clearance (and some determination :-) ). Here's more impressions from this year's spring visit.


Usual precautions necessary - the landmine threat is very real on some places reachable with off-road driving but virtually nonexistent if you stick to the reasonably used pistes.

There are a couple of guides mentioned on the French birdwatchers sites for this region.they may be the same ones you are looking at in LayyouneMost of the secondary listed in this region tend to be little used and tyre and undercarriage bumps CA be expected.If you are one vehicle only be conservative with your route selection and be prepared to turn back if necessary.It is difficult to keep to a timetable there.Also,it can be very boring at times........or is this heresy:D