Coming up into Libya
 

Did I mention this before? I met some adventure rental tag along outfit at Billing who reckon (and are planning) to let their clients come up from Madama to Tumu/El Gatrun.
The magic item it seems is a stamp to bash out your own blank Arabic plates which they dont have down there - technically Tumu can get the number over the radio/phone, I guess.
Its also possible with connections in high places (as the guy who wrote SHADOWS ACROSS THE SAHARA, see .../books - did, tho with much satphoning. And he was cameling).

It does corroborate with stories I've heard that that Tin Alkoum (Ghat - from Djanet) would let you in but for the plates, but dont all rush them at once (and dont ask me where you get an Arabic metal stampinng kit - might painting a plate do?)

Ch

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

Hi Chris,
could you tell us where we might find an arabic metal stamping kit?

Very good question !
I hope a response quickly ...............

Like I said...

"(and dont ask me where you get an Arabic metal stampinng kit - might painting a plate do?)"

Ch

>...
The magic item it seems is a stamp to bash out your own blank Arabic plates which they dont have down there - .... (as the guy who wrote SHADOWS ACROSS THE SAHARA, see .../books - did, tho with much satphoning. And he was cameling)...<

They need plates for camels now? Is this Arab bureaucracy gone mad? http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Seriously, Ive seen a digitally-scanned number plate printed onto plastic in Cairo on a tourist truck.....

Hi,
I'm planning a trip down to West Africa next year. The idea was to go down the Atlantic and up through Algeria / Tunisia. However, with the (as far as I can make it) now totally unknown situation in Algeria was unsure how to plan. Is it not at all possible to come up into Libya ? The SO website gives two crossing points on the Niger / Libya border - are these only possible going from Libya into Niger - getting the aforementioned plates at the Northern border .... ?
Sorry if these are obvious questions. I met a group at LRO who seem to planning to go up on this route, but the posts in this thread seem to point at it being a no-go.
Thanks for your info.
Pete
(pete@lewistribe.co.uk)

If you are talking about the border map at the bottom of:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/maps/index.htm

then there is only 1 one-way crossing specified as out of Libya to Niger and has only ever been one (its a short border).

No plates (and other hassles) forbid coming in (tho its been done).

Your LRO group sounds like the Camel lot I met and I passed on their plate info which technically makes it possible.

Ch

I get the impression that this lot are not going this way anymore (or at all) so the stamp-your-own-plate deal remains unproven and unlikely.

Ch