Hey, sorry if this is a stupid question...

...but I just read a comment to a post on this forum, that the atlantic route is pawed all the way from Morocco to Senegal (Except for a few kilometers round the checkpoint).

I did this route a few years and just loved the feeling of having to drive on sand, digging, digging, digging, and navigate down to Nouachott. Like on a boat.

Is it really true? It sounds amazing...Did they lay asfalt all the way in the desert? or did I just misunderstand? In that case you dont need to drive on the sand etc.? and I could in princip go with my VW transporter? No worries...

Hope its not true, since I plan to go to Senegal soon and I hope to have a little desert- and exploring-feeling while driving som kind of 4WD down.

If its true, I am shure its also a good thing for people living there! , so please forget about my little egoistic, romantic ideas.

Yours,
Knut

>>>In that case you dont need to drive on the sand etc.? and I could in princip go with my VW transporter?

Correctomundo, but the highway - inland from the beach route - is not compulsory.


Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

This is really useful info, but I just need reassurance that it's right.

We're planning to drive from here (UK) to Senegal on the Atlantic route in Oct/Nov, and have been going around in circles about the right vehicle to take.

The issue is a basic payload problem -- Cathy is moving to Senegal to get married and needs to take "stuff" with her. So we've having lots of fun looking at vehicles that would take the payload and at the same time get us over the "off road" sections.

We were under the impression that we'd have one section in Mauritania, after Nouadhibou where we'd have to go off-road. If that's been paved presumably that means that we can widen our vehicle choices.

It's that "how do you get three people and a piano across the Sahara?" question. (it's a metaphorical piano -- but movement of some furniture/chatels is involved)

We really don't want to go down the buying a truck route -- what I'd like to do is use a chunky pick-up or worst case scenario a Defender 110 County. I've looked at the Toyota Landcruisers and they are just too small -- ditto the Range Rover.

I am however very open to sugestions -- this is our first Sahara trip and although we're learning fast, it's only a month ago that we were looking at Mercedes Sprinter Ambulances for the trip. LOL!

I've even looked at 101 Forward's, but don't think you get a bomb proof vehicle for the price people are asking for some fairly old metal.

So, what is the position with the Atlantic route? Is it doable in a wider range of vehicles now? Or, do we need to keep looking and researching the usual suspects.

PS -- Finding the book invaluable!

>>>So, what is the position with the Atlantic route? Is it doable in a wider range of vehicles now?

Absolutely - I can't make it any clearer!!
(but of course there is an unpaved km or so right on the border - you can scrape through it with help or technique.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Thanks -- much appreciated.

Chris, is there soft sand?
Is it clear where to stay (marked track) in order not to get over a landmine?

Thank you in advance.