Crossing border from Lybia to Niger - said to be not possible
 

Hi,

I am in contact with a Libian guide who is supposed to arrange an invitation and visa for Lybia for me.

I told him my plan is to move on from Lybia to Niger. Now he tells me he spoke to authorities who told him that it is not possible to cross the border from Lybia to Niger dus to security-reasons. They say I can just go out through Rasjdier the border with Tunisia or Amssaed the one to Egypt.

This does not suit my plan at all.
Now I have two questions:

1. how serious should I take his message?
2. Is Tunisia-Algeria-Niger a feasable option?

Thanks, Jos

1. how serious should I take his message?

Unless something has changed for the worst recently (and its hasn't as far as I know), I would not take it too seriously. I recall other people being told by their 'guides' it can't be done, but it is regularly done; they are even extending the road to Tumu. Perhaps they lose some pay days by you not coming back to the north or their is some official ruling, but for Tumy/Niger it is not so strict as for Chad, Sudan and Alg.
Leave them at El Gatrun and the bloke in the fort will sort you out.


2. Is Tunisia-Algeria-Niger a feasable option?
Of course and with more options too - more news about that in a few days.

Ch

Try to get more information via sahara.it:
http://www.sahara.it/cgi-perl/ubb/ul...&f=25&t=000010
Yves

Libya border's crossing.
 

The message from the guide has to be taken very seriously .

It report " shorly" the latest (02-07-2006) regulations adopted in border's crossing for tourism purpose ( expeditions included ) under the Khufra south Line. So not only Niger is concerned but Egypt ,Sudan, Tchad.

Others: travelling Eweinat area not allowed .

Salam

Budrinna

border Libya - Niger closed
 

hi
I am afraid that this is true - an italian groupe did not get permission to leave Libya for Niger in these days
Ursula

Oh well, looks like I may have missed my chance to do the 'Marlboro Piste' for the moment - but one door closes and another opens.
I hear that new Algerian regs mean you can now come and go between Djanet and Chirfa (Route A15) officially, and even check out from Bordj El Haouas (old Fort Gardel) via the Oued Taffassasset to Chrifa (a very nice route which we vaguely paralleled off piste on Desert Riders in 2003). And least likely of all, via In Azaoua to Iferounane and the Aïr - the original colonial trans Sahara route pioneered by the Lamy Expedition (I think) and closed for as long as I've known about it.
Fuller details on my Sahara news page in a few days.

Ch
(as you can see I have just discovered E x t e n d e d Formatting ;-)

Bad News...
 

Oh no : My plan was to do this piste this winter .
Please , Chris , tell us if it's really possible to cross Algerian/Nigerian border near Djanet .
Have you the coordinates of a good agency to do that ?
Thanks

RR.

>>>... tell us if it's really possible to cross Algerian/Nigerian border near Djanet .

Well I have not done it myself but this is what I hear. Soon someone (maybe you) will come back with the positive news.


>>>... Have you the coordinates of a good agency to do that ?

On Route A15 you dont need a guide -there are balises every km at times - but of course a guide is obligatory in Alg. Do they turn back at the border balise - who knows?
For agencies see: http://www.sahara-overland.com/country/algeria.htm
(this page will be updated soon)

Ch

Thanks for the confirmation, Budrinna.

Please tell us what the security problem on this route is all about.
Has there been a problem on this route? If so, what happened and when?

Or is it that the authorities have just decided to change the rules (again).

Mr Richard it is not a question of routes or changes in rules but confirmation and strengthening of those in force after heavy damages occurred to the national Libyan heritage trough increasing cases of guide’s corruption and diverting carried by groups (four yet counted) of foreign professional looters scouring of late in El Awynat djebel and all along itineraries as Namus- Ribiana and Kufra - Tikru.

El Ewaynat area is actually under international bid for geological mapping and to be gradually extended up to Algeria’s border.

Salam
Budrinna

Thanks for the explanation Budrinna but surely if official Libyan guides are being 'corrupted and diverted' by looters in the areas mentioned (if I understand correctly) then what is to stop this practice happening elsewhere in Libya - in places like the Akakus where there might actually be something worth looting? By this rationale should not all Libyan tourism be suspended?
Libya is of course free to impose travel restrictions in remote border areas as it sees fit - many countries do so and perhaps the planned mineral exploration of the south is the real explanation. Me, I am still baffled by exactly what there is to loot between Namus and Kufra? Compared to the far more valuable Roman relics in the north, it would take a ton of the very best grinding stones and hand axes to cover the expense of such a trip - and all the cream was pilfered years ago right across the Sahara during the colonial era.
If these 'professional looters' we keep hearing about are such a threat why doesn't Libya publicly 'name and shame' them as the Algerians did in early 2005 near Djanet? That was probably a set up - a deserved reaction to the Rolling Rover business, but we all got the message loud and clear: respect the local regs.

Ch

Thank for your instructive argumetnations but please read or be informed about our local press. You will find an answer to most of your questions included latest Libyan grinding stones price’s on specific international markets. They are highly rated and priced !
Our Gov. latest assessment for tourism investment is about six billion dollars , inclusive of the quote for national heritage conservation. Why should we close now ?

Salamat

Budrinna

Looks like grinding stones are a lot more valuable than I thought (see: http://www.paleodirect.com/orcap-073.htm). It may explain why Gatrun to Tumu is now closed to tourists, as I believe this section was usually done without an escort.

Ch

Period of closure?
 

Hello Budrina,

Can you tell or estimate for how long the border will be closed? My application for a visa and my itinerary depends on it... I hope(d) to cross the Libyan border to Niger early october. Any chance it will be open by then?

Thanks, Jos

Difficult to give an answer on short time basis . Others talks scheduled in coming months ... but most lies on the immagration's hassles toward Med sea coast's.

Budrinna

Border Libya-Niger
 

It seams, I asked in Agades, that it is not true and it's always easy to pass the border

Yves

Not neccesary to say "it seems" . It is true, better would be to know how .

Cheers
Budrinna

.

How ?
 

So , please Budrinna , if you know it's true , tell us HOW it is possible ....

RR.

last escapee?
 

A friend got out Libya-Niger 10 days ago - took 2 days negotiations!

Sam.

This blog:
http://www.sahara.it/bm/saharaThree/...one-chad.shtml
reports a Libya-Chad crossing in the last few weeks. Permission was granted from Tripoli.

This is also the group that got nailed near Agadem....

Richard

Libya and Niger
 

Hi there.

May I introduce myself? My name is Rene, I'm dutch, 52 years old, I did lots of west africa trips. Now I'm looking for company for a Lybian trip. I am driving a Toyota LC 95.
Is there anybody out there? Planning to leave after ramadan, the end of oktober 2006, or early november.
Please mail me at renemex@hetnet.nl
Thanks a lot.

You will not have difficulty in finding local T.O. for travelling inside Libya, but surely You will for crossing to Niger unless the two italians missing saharan travellers question remains unsolved.

Cheers
Budrinna

Lybia
 

Hi Jos and other people

Can You Tell me if You got any further information about traveling through Lybia ? I want to go through the country in the last 2 weeks of December with a friend in a four wheel drive Camper. Starting on the border of Tunisia and leaving the country throug the Lybian- Niger border.Going to Mauritanie
What are the possibilities Guide ,costs etc ?

THANKS FOR YOUR ANSWER.

I would skip this trip for the moment. Two kidnapped Italians tourists are still being held in he northeast of Niger. I do not think they will kidnap new tourists, but you never know.

Hi Gerbert,

thank you for your advise. I've understood crearly what you mean. Maybe next year the sky is clear around Madama / north Niger.
Sincerely yours, René.

No problems in travelling inside Libya . Guide is always compulsive. Costs are approx € 120- 150 by day all inclusive .
In addition as the usual procedure and after the Italian’s travellers unsolved question a lot of hassles and high costs to cross correctly the Niger border are s requested to the local T.O..
Niger ‘s guides must be also a the border to receive travellers .
Budrinna

Lybia->Niger , again
 

So , Budrinna , you mean this border crossing is possible but at high cost : Is this cost etablished by the TO before we enter into Lybia or is it a "variable" cost like a big bribe , decided only when we'll arrived in Gatroun ?
You say Nigerian guide have to be at the border : The border is in Tumu but may be the Nigerian guide have to meet us in Madama or Gatroun ?
RR.

Mr. Ro Ro

Crossing Libya ‘s southern boundaries with Niger Sudan Tchad is not and ,since a long time , a matter of Roll On / Roll off , neither of bribes unless some travellers seems still to be acustomed to.

Be informed that the high costs nowadays requested , also in work-time, are our agency’s fees and expenses sustained to fulfil professionally the official procedure . " It seems " to You that our time in money , or not ?

Budrinna.

Libyan-Niger border
 

Hi Jos.
i checked myfelf with immagration office and have been told that the Libyan / Nigerian border is closed recently, and you can take this message as very serious.
you can leave the country to Egypt or Algeria then drive south to Niger as options.

all the best.

Hadi

Hi Hans D.
I suggest for you this itinerary :
Tunisia - Libya - Algeria - Niger -..... - Mauritania .
for more details and costs concerning the Libya part, just feel free to contact mw by : info@fessano-w-tours.com
i will let you know (and others) a bout new-update news concerning the Libyan/ Niger border.

Hadi

border Libya - Algeria open?
 

hello Hadi
Is the border between Libya and Algeria open again? Where? From Ghat to Djanet? Also for us? This would be really good news!
Thanks for your answer
yours
Ursula

Lybia-Niger : HOW?
 

Hi Ursula , Are you planning a trip to Niger soon ?
It seems very difficult to have (now) reliable infos about crossing this border ...
RR.

Very very closed
 

Libya to Niger is very, VERY, closed. Information as of now.

Sam.

Confirmation
 

Hi
Some groups (withh all authoriztions needed to do that) have tried these days to cross this border : they were stopped in Tumu by the army ....
More news ( in french ) :

http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/Explo4x4/message/36559

Too bad

RR.

Fast Forward to 2007
 

Hi All,
Any new news on this border crossing. Can we avoid a guide in Niger? We don´t want to go into Tripoli to get visa for Niger, can we get one in Tunis?
Many Thanks,
Cam Johnson.

Any new news on this border crossing.

Still closed and north Niger (Aïr) is in bad shape anyway.
See News: http://www.sahara-overland.com/news

Don't know about Tunis but assuming they are issuing them still in Tamanrasset (Alg), with that you can probably get through with an escort via In Guezzam past Agadez. Or try via Mali (also available in Tam), for once the less unsafe option.

Ch