Interface reports a Saudi hunting party was attacked for their cars near Djelfa, 300 odd kms north of Ghardaia. These groups often travel in ostentations luxury convoys (tho I've seen them with local police guards).

North of Ghardaia has long been considered dodgy anyway, but it seems flash vehicles are a target as they have been in Niger for years.

http://www.algeria-interface.com/new...7.j2rj02uw.xml

CS

News from Alg:

"The agency mafia doesn't help to make life for individual tourists easier these days."

A 2nd hand quote from someone in Tam refering to piste-driving one presumes. It seems different agencies and authorities are interpreting or adhering to new/made up regulations in various ways.

Also, an oil refinary in has broken down which means that DZ needs to import diesel and petrol, so fuel shortages in the south (and elsewere) are on the cards.

C S

'Saudi hunting party' - what are they hunting??!!

Sam.

They were hunting 2 kinds of animals :
1 .I don't know the english word but in french his name is "outarde"
2. the second is 'gazelle'
This kind of hunting is forbidden in Algerian desert but saudis have a lot of money .....

Bad news .................
On
http://www.sahara.it/cgi-bin/ubb/ult...&f=11&t=000092
you can see that since few days you need a guide at the border post of Taleb Larbi to enter in Algeria from Tunisia ( same procedure than for Libya ) .
These infos comes from a Italian traveller who is in Tam these days .
Nice trip ?
RR .

Those news reported from the south are updated since concerning the official regulation issued for tourists willing to travel with owns cars. This regulation is out now, from more than two months and it concern all Algeria and not the south only.
What daily reported by the travellers are the confirmation of above and also that the time requested for their total knowledge and application is yet not ended.

The same situation happened in Libya when the almost same regulation was issued.

Visa conditions are often reciprocated. I wonder if this will lead to Algerians needing a guide in European countries?

Why not ? It will be a good solution for unemployement in France considering the number of algerian with tourist visa !

Should i make Ouargla-Ghardaia-Laghouat-Oran? Will it be safe? It´s always tar roads, so i presume i won´t need a guide.

The border is ok is it? (Nefta-El Oued).

Thanky you.

Joao.

Is anybody coming back from Algeria these days ?
I have seen on the Italian site that to go to Djanet is not very easy due to very strong police (and army) controls ; but I don't understand very well Italian and may be I'm wrong .
If somebody can give me some fresh info. about that ....
Thanks a lot !
RR.

Hello Joao,

>Will it be safe?
no special risks, for DZ

> Guide?
It is very, very likely that you will need a guide for the whole journey, expect 100€ and up per day (and be happy if less)

>The border is ok is it? (Nefta-El Oued).
Yes, OK.

Yves

"Is the 100 euro with their own car or do they sit in yours?" I asked Yves:

"Could be both, depends on negotiations. One In Salah-based agency asked
120e/day with a car to lead a group of 4 trucks on tarmac - and 200e to travel from
In Salah up to Teleb Larbi."

So it looks like it could get like Libya/Niger where getting in a group reduces transit/touring costs.

Would be interesting to know how it is coming up from the south into Alg.

Chris S

Anyone confirm that Algerian visa application would fail if passport had a Malawi stamp?

Also as I'm presently unemployed do I need to find an "employer" to provide a reference?

Also is applying for 3 months rather than 1 month likely to delay the visa being issued?

Sorry if these questions are in the wrong place - or if the answers are already elsewhere.

Peter

To Chris and Yves .

>Is the 100 euro with their own car or do they sit in yours?" I asked Yves:
"Could be both, depends on negotiations. One In Salah-based agency asked
120e/day with a car to lead a group of 4 trucks on tarmac - and 200e to travel from
In Salah up to Teleb Larbi."<

I think 100,120/day euros for a guide with his car is not so expensive .
But what is the price if the guide is in YOUR car ?
Not 100 euros/day : I have some price from an agency in Djanet who asks 25 euros/day for only the guide ( without car )

Another problem ( see Italian site ) : the guide must be OK for the Algerian army ( not only police ) : How can we know if my guide is OK for the army and what do you think about that ?

I look for some people who are interested to share one guide for the travel from Taleb Larbi to Djanet at the end of March .
Is anybody interested ?

Thanks for your replies .

RR.

>....Malawi stamp?
Dont know - What has Malawi done to Alg?

>.....need to find an "employer" to provide a reference?

Just fake a good-looking headed letter

Also is applying for 3 months rather than 1 month likely to delay the visa being issued?

I would not be surprised

Re 25 a day you may have to feed him, etc.
Army approved guides? Search me, stick with well known agencies I guess.

If Alg goes any further down the toilet we'll be needing scuba gear!

Ch