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See the trailer here!
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Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
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Hi Landygirl and Yves
At last , I've found my old Ign map (In salah) : Abezzou is indicated on it as a "not identifiable waterpoint".
It's not Tejmout but Tadjemout ( also on Michelin map ) on the old road beetween Arak and In Salah .
The spelling of African places isn't an "exact" science .
Same thing for Tehelgin :Tiguelguemin on these maps .
Yves : sorry but I doesn't think that erg tahoulahin and erg Mehedjibat are the same ; so where is Erg Tahoulahin ?
Same question about Tagala : I did'nt found it on my maps .
To Yves : I doesn't know very well the use of this kind of file but I've seen the coordinates of some points : OK with the map .
Sorry for my mistake : I know "taguela" , of course .....(same question of spelling) .
Thanks for the pictures of Tadjemout and Tiguelguemine and for the indication of erg Tahoulahine .
RR.
Let me know if you'd like more info on our route so far and our route southwards. It might help you with your planning.
Good luck
Bel
Hi Landygirl
Have enjoyed reading all your posts in the last few weeks as they have been so helpful. We are planning a similar trip in 6 or 7 months time perhaps along the same route.
I have replied to one of your posts on another thread too requesting any further info where we can follow your trip (website/blog?)
Otherwise you mentioned 6 months to Tunisia - seemed like a long time to me as you mentioned 17 days in Algeria... Besides the month in Tunisia with all the waits, where did you spend all the the other time?
Hi Rob
No blog or website, I'm afraid. Too much admin for an IT world escapee! I just write letters en masse to friends and bore them senseless.
Yes, 6 months to get as far as Tunisia is a long time. We started in Morocco (crossed from Algeciras to Cueta) and spent 2 1/2 months there. It was too long to spend, but a good starter to the trip as we didn't travel large distances, had snow and desert experiences and had a chance to get used to each other, the car and life on the road. No bad thing, really, but Morocco did suck up quite a bit of cash.
We took about 3 weeks through Western Sahara and Mauritania to rush to Dakar for me to catch a flight to Cape Town for my sister's wedding. A huge pity to miss out on Mauri inland, but you win some and lose some. About 3 weeks in Senegal and then into Mali, where we had about 6 weeks or so. Mad dash across Niger to get to Algeria and then a long wait in Tunisia for visas, etc. Another pity to have to spend so long in one of the more bland of North African countries, but again, it's win and lose. We're now in Egypt and are going to be delayed again as the ferry to Wadi Halfa, Sudan, only goes once a week, on a Monday. C'est la vie.
Let me know if you need more info. Are you driving or biking? How many of you are there?
Bel
We will be driving (red LR Defender 110) - just 2 of us in the vehicle but hopefully we can hook up with others at various points.......
You had previously mentioned (in another thread?) that you had to courier passports to London (?) to get Algerian visa and that it was expensive. Any other info on this topic? eg how long did it take and from where did you do it?
In hind sight was there anything you could have done to get visa's eg. Algerian and Libyan beforehand or to reduce waiting time for visas - without repeating any of the previous info on Libyan transit visa as I appreciate this can't really be done in advance (without going down the tourist visa/with guide route?) Also I believe not ALL your time in Tunis was due to waiting on visas..........?
Hope the trip is going well
Regards
Rob
ps. thanks for info re border x'ing Libya/Egypt too - keep 'em coming
Hi Landygirl,
Reading your unusually optimistic crossing across the Algerian sahal, I am for the first time, considering this Hogger route.
Please can you affirm that the route is open, Jan/Feb2009, and not unsafe (the best way i can think of saying it)
Avoiding Libya, we considered starting Tunis. following Chris Scott route.
Where can i get more information about this actual route?
From Marsailles crossing onwards?
Travelling in Toyota Landcruiser.
Thanks
Rachel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Landygirl
Hi Per
Your route is the exact opposite of the one I'm on at the moment. We've spent the last 5 months travelling through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Algeria. I'm in Tunisia at the moment and we're heading to Libya when we've got our visas and then on to Egypt, through the Sudan to Ethiopia and heading in a southerly direction, zigzagging our way down the East side of Africa. We're planning to be in Cape Town by Christmas. Wish the trip could be longer, but we're limited by money.
A note on the Libyan visa. I checked at the Libyan embassy in Tunis and it's possible to get a transit visa, which enables you to travel across the top of the country (along the coast). You don't need any invitation or guide commitments for a transit visa. You just need a letter in Arabic, explaining who you are and why you need a transit visa. You submit this to the embassy, along with a copy of your passport. They evaluate your request and if given the OK, issue a transit visa for the cost of 31 Tunisian Dinar. I'm in the process of writing the letter and have to find someone to translate it into Arabic. I'll let you know how I get on with this. Watch this post. It may be possible to do the same thing in Cairo.
Of course, this option means we have to miss out on the Libyan desert, which would be fantastic, but the costs are too high. Algeria worked out cheaper so we decided to spend our money there. We went with Tanezrouft Voyages and we had an amazing trip with him into the Hoggar and then travelling northwards through the desert via Assekrem to In Salah. From In Salah, it was a bit of a trek to the border (1200km in 3 days) and the drive through the Grand Ergs was incredible. We were escorted all the way from Ain Guezzam (Niger border) to Taleb Larbi (Tunisian border). Algeria is the most wonderful country - the scenery is spectacular and the people are very gentle and friendly (careful in El Gorlea though). Mohammed, our guide, read us very well (we were travelling with a guy on a motorbike that had endless battery and wheel problems) and changed our itinerary when he saw the state of the bike on arrival at Ain Guezzam. Our itinerary enabled us to have as much experience of the desert as possible, given our money, time and bike limitations. I've travelled with guides before and I can't recommend Tanezrouft highly enough. It was an awesome trip.
Let me know if you'd like more info on our route so far and our route southwards. It might help you with your planning.
Good luck
Bel
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
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...
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)
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 Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
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Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books availablefrom the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
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.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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