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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 17 Oct 2008
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Caravan Mauritania and Morocco
Hi all,

I am planning on exploring Morocco and Mauritania for three months, June, July and August next year. The roads were not that bad last time (2 years ago) when we camped. So for extra comfort I am planning on taking the caravan. I will be towing with a Land Rover Discovery (Auto) . With my wife and four children

So a few questions:

Is this doable for most of Morroco - right down to Dakhla? Is it feasible to explore Mauritania as well? I shall be staying on paved roads. Only bit that worries me is the border as it was a rough road last time.

Is there a serious risk of overheating? Although, the caravan is only 1000kgs which is 50% of the Discovery, so a very good weight ratio. It is single axle.

We can take our time as we can leave on the 5th June from the UK and I do not need to be back in the country until the 20th August. So no vast distances each day.

Are the campsites geared up for caravans in Morocco?

Andy
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Sounds like great fun but anywhere inland will be baking so I hope the car has aircon and good cooling. Mori has only 3 paved roads as you know: NDB to NKT and Senegal, and NKT up to Atar and over to Nema. The border crossing is only a few kms and easy with 2WDs - all you have to do it take it slowly.
Mile for mile, I would have thought the great desert and mtn roads in Morocco would be much more fun and less of a gamble - but maybe not in summer (the coast is cooler.)
Never seen a caravan in Mk but of course campervans etc are all over the place.

Ch
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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We saw a couple of caravans touring Morocco last time we were down there including 1 older one being towed behind a FJ40 Landcruiser and travelling with 2 cats. As to practicality, will work fine if you mainly stay on paved roads but if you want to start travelling on some of the more interesting tracks then I'm guessing the Caravan will start suffering quite quickly. Can't see it being a problem on the border crossing. Have fun
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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No problem if you stay on the tar in Mauri, but as Chris says, the heat could be a problem - especially with children along.

If you break the caravan in no man's land you could always sell it to the officials. On my last crossing there were two old British caravans there housing an insurance agent and a bureau d'exchange. Adds a touch of suburban surrealism to the entry procedures!
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Yep go for it
last year we met a German couple in N Senegal who were towing a bog-standard single axle caravan with their LR Defender who'd done exactly what you planned and had even done the piste from Rosso to Diama. Will be hot mind...Some of the Maroc sites had hook ups eg Bou Jerif near Plage Blanche as well as one in Marakesh; the name of which escapes me I'm afraid.
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Camping Relais de Marrakesh, off the Casablanca road on the opposite side to the new stadium.
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Thank you
Okay, we will go for it. We have aircon and I have a very well maintained cooling system. We shall try Mauritania as well. We can always find a site, park the caravan and then explore just with the car.

I shall put new tyres on the caravan and new bearings. Should make it a bit better. Certainly I am going to go up the Atlas mountains.

Only thing that has surprised me is the cost of the caravan on Algecerias to Ceuta crossing, they want £400. We only paid £120 two years ago.

We have a total budget of £6300 for 5 days so I hope that will be okay.

Andy
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Old 19 Oct 2008
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Hi,
in Maroc there should be no problem anywhere at all,however, in the more interesting parts, there really are some tough roads with steep descents and tricky corners, but if the local overloaded/overaged lorrys can cope with, your decent vehicle will surely do it as well.
The price of the ferry seems prohibitive to me. Have you ever considered the ferries from Sete (France)? They are surely more expensive, but you save a lot on fuel, road tax, accomodation and food and fatigue first of all, compared to crossing Spain.
Don't worry about children, if they are used to travelling, they will support and even enjoy it, in my experience, they are much smarter than their parents
Year after year, we are doing Hungary->southern Senegal without any major issues, the first time my daughter was only 3 months young!
The border crossing from Maroc to Mori is easy even in a 2WD, but take it slowly and as already said thousands of times, never ever deviate from the track! If you are not sure, better pay the 10Eur for a local to show you the track.
Peter
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