wow, this was a close one! We already gave up on Algeria (too complicated, and not enough time... and then there is the pricetag!)
Only saw these last replies in Zinder, and decided to give it another go.

We called and mailed akar-akar: no response
Tanezrouft voyages did reply (fast) and we will probably go with them.

I will post all details when I know them.

Locals here in Zinder are pretty scared of the north of their country though. I hope security will be allright there. Very little in the news about niger lately...

Thanks for the responses!

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

By the way. We want to take a ferry to northern Italy (Genoa, La spezia?), I don't think it is possible from Algiers, so we will be going trough Tunis.

Should this be booked in advance? Or can I just show up and take the first one that leaves?
This would be around the 13th of june, holiday season hasn't started yet, right?

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

Just came back from Niger. Made a roundtrip Niamey-Zinder-Agadez-Niamey. The Air mountains near Agadez are a war zone right now, where the military is trying to defeat MNJ rebels. Is looking a bit like Darfur, I hear. The city itself seems safe. If you take photo's you might end up in prison for a night. Better ask permission at the governor's office first.

Many ferrys from Algiers, to Marseille and Alicante among others.

Just asked around a bit in Zinder. Police says traffic is possible upto Tarlit in military convoy. From Tarlit to the border is apparantly forbidden.

We are trying to get this confirmed, everything people say here seems to be "I think that... " but nobody wants to give official advice.

gvdaa, were you in your own vehicle? Did you take the convoys (they seem to be obligatory)?

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

I traveled by bus. I suppose once in Arlit you will finally get permission tot travel to Assamaka. But it could take some days of waiting.

The offence of the army: AFP: Niger: l'armée décidée Ã* mater la rébellion, mène des offensives d'envergure

Talked to the local 'smugglers', they say everything is just fine as long as you stick to the main routes.

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

Sorry to hear...
Did you email the address I posted above and mention that I pointed you there? That WILL get a response.
Unfortunately the contact form on their website is useless as they don't know what email address it goes to, nor can they figure out how to check their voice mail consistently. Algerian phone service is not reliable...



Another note, Algerian roads when paved are great. BUT when unpaved, are rough. The route between Tam and Insalah isn't paved for the most part...they're working on it...

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

I emailed them on both the official adress and the address you supplied. And I tried to call them on both numbers stated on their website about 5 times during two days. Can't say we didn't try! ;-) We did not mention your name in our mails though...

Anyway, too late now. We will be going with Tanezrouft. There are hubb people behind it as well.

We talked to just about everybody (from very official to very dodgy) and there is no consistent information to be had. We will go to Agadez tomorrow and try to make it to the border.

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

Akar Akar doesn't normally deal with the overland crowd as they cater to a wealthier clientele that fly into Tam, ride around in cruisers for 1-3 weeks, and then fly back to Paris, etc.

Because of the nature of their clients, their contacts with the gov't is pretty tight. Which can come in handy...ask Josh!

Anyways...best of luck with the crossing...and take plenty of pictures...

__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

We are a few days in Agadez by now. Very quiet here, no sign of any trouble whatsoever. Just a lot of shiny new army landcruiser driving around town. All people in tourism are very unhappy, a lot of hotels (some foreign-owned as well) and restaurants have closed for good.

Anyway, we got our Algerian visa. Just like quadsforafrica said: very very very easy.
Consulate is at: N16° 59.131 E7°59.905 (not far from governerate). Open monday to friday and saturday morning. Apply in the morning and pick up in the afternoon.
You need the letter of invitation/booking from the Algerian agency, two pictures and 24.000CFA
We only applied for a 7-day transit visa as we did not want to push our luck. But they said we could have applied for a 30day tourist visa as well (same price).

As for convoys: The convoy from Zinder to Agadez is a bit of a "phantom" convoy as we did not see any army vehicles at all during the trip. The actual convoy does not really start in Zinder, but about 50km north of Tanout. Convoy days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Buses leave Zinder between 5 and 6 in the morning to get to the convoy before 8.

Convoy between Agadez and Arlit is on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Leaves at 6 in the morning.

Convoy is compulsary for buses and tourist traffic. Private cars seem to be excempt and I guess you could easily travel on other days outside the convoy. Considering the situation in northern Niger I wouldn't recommend it though.

There is no convoy between Arlit and In Guezzam. We will try to join some local "bussines" people and form and ad-hoc convoy. We talked to some people in Arlit and there are about 5 Landcruisers a day that do the drive to the border.

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2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

thx fred for all this info. particularly interested as we'll be doing the same route the other way late september...
do I assume then that the convoys run the other way every other day?, ie arlit agadez monday thursday saturday ?

cant wait to hear from you guys in the next few days!

best

jerome&benedicte
the south african frogs!

convoys in the other direction run the next day indeed.

__________________
2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be