Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Like Tree171Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17 May 2011
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
Algerian Sahara

Merged with other threads Sept 2017.
See latest posts for useful info.



Gloomy report.

Google Translate


(NB: when they refer to 'Tassili' they mean Tassili Hoggar just SE of Tam, not Tassili N'Ajjer near Djanet)

Elsewhere, Algie commenters dont seem so keen on the border opening with Morocco.

Google Translate


Ch

Last edited by Chris Scott; 9 Sep 2017 at 11:08.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: from Portugal, living in Germany
Posts: 119
Interesting articles, specially the first one.

They blame it on authorities... but is the behaviour of the authorities the cause for lack of tourists or consequence of something else (AQIM)?

I would really like to ride in Southern Algeria and I've been planning it for some time but it is not one decision to take on lightly nowadays...

BR,
Luis Cabrita
---------------------------
Lisboa-Guine Bissau Fev2011
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > Lisboa Bissau Fev2011
__________________
Luis Cabrita, Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin '97 & Honda CBR 600 F4 '99
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148874658@N08/albums
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18 May 2011
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
It's not been detailed here much, but in the last few months the tourism ministry has tried to impose new procedures on agencies in an attempt (AFAIU) to make them all more accountable and responsible (and possibly taxable).
So you can see how the agencies feel they are getting it from both ends - AQIM activities and now new govt regs.

Having said that, the agencies do seem to have a bit of a blind spot for '2003' (mass kidnapping - border-to-border agency escorts imposed soon after). That finished off desert tourism as we knew it in Alg, but it must have been a bit of a bonanza for those agencies that could get the escort work which followed.

I think tourism is seen as one of the few ways of making money/getting work legitimately in the south, which is now seen as being disrupted by northerners (govt), closure of Tassili-Hoggar and the fact that the French 'FCO' recently put Alg on its black list which ended all fly-in tours.

Along with recent kidnapping, all a great shame as the place has so much potential - especially with Libya as it is and should the Mk border open to foreigners.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 23 Sep 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
The Hoggar opens up for tourism, 500 new campsites planned, according to the Director of Tourism in Tamanrasset.
"After two lean seasons, the managers of travel agencies in the wilaya of Tamanrasset welcomed the announcement of opening the doors of the Tassili of Ahaggar, officially banned domestic and foreign tourists since February 8, 2010."
Le Tassili de l’Ahaggar se prépare à accueillir à nouveau les touristes - 7 jours - El Watan
"...to be launched on the occasion of World Tourism Day September 27."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 23 Sep 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Aussie expat in Switzerland half way RTW
Posts: 611
All going to plan we should be one of the new tourists... just waiting for our tourist visas. We'll post our experiences on the HUBB to give you some flavour of the situation should be get in...
__________________
TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8 Oct 2011
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
news from djanet area

El Watan report

Libyan refugees in Djanet also.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 9 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 293
So Ghat still seems to be in Gaddafi's hands. What about Ubari?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 13 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 921
Just back from Libya.

Ubari is clear, Ghat and the Akakus definitely not. Overspill into Algeria in Djanet area is a certainty. Lots of angry, unhappy, armed men in the area...

'later, Sam.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 15 Oct 2011
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,934
Not all doom and gloom in the Tassili.
Tinariwen - Tenere Taqhim Tossam (Official Video) - YouTube
Some may recognise the way to Djanet.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 20 Oct 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 39
Some says the tassili n'ajjer is close, but tassili ahaggar region seems to be opened.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 20 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 332
Hi,

Tassili du Hoggar is said to reopen for tourism partially from November on. I was told and it was mentioned in the press.

Example: "...La décision prise par le conseil de sécurité à sa tête le wali de Tamanrasset pour la réouverture des circuits du Hoggar et Tassili dès cette saison a eu un impact très important à l'étranger. «Les agences ont déjà eu de petites réservations et plusieurs tours opérateurs sillonnent déjà cette région en vu de l'inscrire dans leurs guides de voyage», a-t-il indiqué...."
Nouria Bourihane - LE TEMPS D’ALGERIE - 18-10-2011

However I would expect that the southern parts of Tassili du Hoggar and the crossing to Djanet remain closed.

About GPS etc.: French travelers entering at Taleb Larbi reported that their cars had been searched and GPS and CB and VHF radio were not allowed to enter.

Good Luck.
Yves
__________________
Yves
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 21 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Thanks Yves for these infos.
I've asked this in another thread but I prefer to have different advices: Do you know if it is possible to go to Timmimoun and Beni Abbes from In Salah without leaving tarmac (no offroad) with only our guide in our car?
I've asked to Tanezrouft but they have told that I'll need an escort by gendarmes.
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 21 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 332
Hi RoRo,

I don't know the actual practice but in 2009 and 2010 the Adar Wilaya often imposed a Gendarmes escort.
Amendment: and the agencies had to declare the trip minimum 10 days in advance.

All best, Yves
__________________
Yves

Last edited by Yves; 21 Oct 2011 at 11:49.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 21 Oct 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Thanks Yves,

I hope that in 2012 I'll don't need no escort for these towns...

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 3 Nov 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 403
Just back from DZ

Just returned, we did an 8 day trek on the Tassili N'Ajjer, no issues or security hassles other than the endless filling of police forms when taking the domestic flights.

Djanet still the same sleepy backwater as I remembered it, no visible evidence of any refugees in larger numbers. The military seems to keep a close watch on the border, we saw a small patrol aircraft fly over the Tassili several times per day. I believe our itinerary was passed to the military authorities.

Hardly any tourists, we met noone on the plateau, our guide said there was a swiss group a week earlier, there were another 5-6 foreigners on the flight back to Algiers (operating now twice per week, combined with Tamanrasset)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ahaggar, sahara, tasilli


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 9 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 9 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Alaska Motorcycle Tourism nasapat Route Planning 0 21 Apr 2011 03:09
Mauritania tourism hurt by terrorism warnings priffe North Africa 13 20 Mar 2011 09:31
Angola Tourism Board timoto sub-Saharan Africa 0 15 Jun 2007 18:55
China(Yinchuan)International Motorcycle Tourism Festival 200 Michael Rauck West and South Asia 4 8 Jun 2006 13:46
Tibesti tourism development??? qwer1234 North Africa 2 2 Apr 2006 18:52

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:12.