Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
Libya- Niger Libya- Niger
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26 Jan 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Haarlem
Posts: 7
Libya- Niger
I just returned from a Tunis-Libya-Niger (one-way) trip (2 old cars 4x4).
Al Katrun-Tumu-Dirkou-Bilma-Zoo Baba-Ngourti-Nguigmi and then west to Niamey.
Since, in preparing the trip, I took advantage of the postings on this site and of the helpfullness of other posters, it feels right to offer to share my experiences with everyone who plans anything similar.
Feel free to mail me with any questions you have.

Menno
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 26 Jan 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
Can you comment on the normal questions:
Did the Libyans let you go south to Niger with no hassle?
Was a guide compulsory for this part of the trip (Libya to Niger frontier)?
Was a guide compulsory thru Madama to Dirkou?
Was a guide compulsory from Dirkou to Agadez?
Were there people checking that you had guides at Dirkou or Agadez?
Any comments on security on the piste from southern Libya to Dirkou?
Did you get through to Dirkou and beyond without a laissez passer (spelling?) freedom to travel document?
Did you need to get insurance for the desert part of the piste?
How much traffic on the piste?
many thanks for replies...

cheers,
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 26 Jan 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Haarlem
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally posted by Richard Washington:
Can you comment on the normal questions:
Did the Libyans let you go south to Niger with no hassle?
No hassle at all.
Was a guide compulsory for this part of the trip (Libya to Niger frontier)?
We did not try to go without a guide. We got an invitation from 'Four Seasons', and dealt with mr. Farhat via mail, everything very easy and professional, A guide until Sebha who was more an escort because of the tarmac. A local guide for a two day detour to the Awbari Lakes and another local guide for the Sebha to Tumu part. No problems at all.
Was a guide compulsory thru Madama to Dirkou?
No, although many people (with commercial interests) told us it was. Only in SeguŽdine the local Gendarme tried to earn some extra money by telling us a guide was compulsary, but a patient three hour wait, a friendly attutide and not getting in to any negotiating resulted in us getting our passports back and continuing our trip.
Was a guide compulsory from Dirkou to Agadez?
We did not go to Agadez but even for the heavier and rarely travelled route south to Nguigmi nobody said we needed to take a guide, we only came across very friendly gendarmes and people from the prefecture, we did check in and out before and after croossing the Erg, but we had to explain why.
Were there people checking that you had guides at Dirkou or Agadez?
Again about Agadez I don't know but in Dirkou we didn't even report to the authorities even though we hung around town for two days(due to car problems) in a very friendly atmosphere. In Bilma only friendly authorities with graet tea.
Any comments on security on the piste from southern Libya to Dirkou?
Very Safe, at least that was our experience.
Did you get through to Dirkou and beyond without a laissez passer (spelling?) freedom to travel document?
Nothing of that kind, our passports with Visas were enough.
Did you need to get insurance for the desert part of the piste?
No, altough on the way from Nguigmi west to Niamey we were sometimes asked about it but we presented them the green thing from our European Insurance and nodded heavily if asked wheater it had local coverage.
How much traffic on the piste?
We came across one large French group (12 cars 11 bikes, a truck and a local guide) and two small groups of tourists who were driven by localsthrough an agency.

many thanks for replies...

cheers,
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27 Jan 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
Many thanks for all the helpful details Mennow, much appreciated.

It is interesting how different people's experience of that part of Niger can be.

For the record and in case I upset anyone from the Jamahiriya, I wasn't wishing to suggest that we should try to avoid guides in Libya....just whether one needed a guide for the last stretch from Gatrun south to the frontier :-)

Thanks again for the details...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27 Jan 2006
gregor's Avatar
Gold Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: rzeszow, poland
Posts: 38
helo.

do you have recorded gps track of your trip?
so, all niger you travel without a guide?
do you need special papers for 4wd cars?- what's obligatory for car: insurance, permit etc..?
costs of libya guide per day?
how many times take you to get libya's visa and all papers for travel?
do you have email?


------------------
best regards
Grzegorz Zajac
__________________
GZ
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 27 Jan 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Hi Richard
"and in case I upset anyone from the Jamahiriya"
Do you think to somebody particularly ?
( And a big thank you to Mennow for these infos . )

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28 Jan 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Haarlem
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally posted by gregor:
helo.

do you have recorded gps track of your trip?
From Al Katrun until Madama we used:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/typos/Niger.p601.pdf
For Bilma-Ngourti we had some coordinates but they weren't very usefull. The wells on the french IGN maps(1:200000) and some other recognisable points on the same map functioned as our waypoints, and through the dunes we just used common sense and a steep learning curve in driving skills when we had to decide where to cross the dunes. (We didn't come across any Nissan Patrols used by locals but we found our '87 and'88 LWB Patrols with good tyres very strong, stable and robust for dune crossing. We were able to go south in an increasingly straighter line.
so, all niger you travel without a guide?
Yes we did.
do you need special papers for 4wd cars?- what's obligatory for car: insurance, permit etc..?
In Niger nothing, just car papers. In Lybia all permits and insurance was taken care of at the border.
costs of libya guide per day? Û60 per day.
We payed Û1000,-- for two 4x4 cars, three persons and an 8 day stay in Libya. That is including insurance, plates, formalities and capable guides for off tarmac parts.
how many times take you to get libya's visa and all papers for travel?
One week for Visa in The Netherlands, and a week of e-mailing back and forth to Libya two weeks prior to departure.
do you have email? Yes
mennow_at_xs4all.nl (replace _at_ with appropriate symbol)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2 Feb 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 32
Hi,
Did similar route last summer. Our libyan guide left us at the fort at Al Gatrun (I refused to pay the fortune he asked for a taxi to go down with us to bring him back). We went down to Dirkou, Bilma, then East to Agadez. Didn't have a guide at all in Niger. We were questioned about a Lasser Passer at the first Niger police post, but just hung around till they let us carry on. They said we should have got one in Libya (which was were we got our Niger visas). At first our 'tourist agency' in Libya said it wasn't possible to go South to Niger, but when we eventually found the Niger embassy and got visas, they didn't have any probs.
In Niger, the first bit from Bilma to Fachi was interesting !!! Had to wear sunglasses to even attempt to see vehicle tracks in front of us. When we arrived in Fachi, the locals were amazed that we were travelling on our own. From Fachi it wasn't bad at all, lots of marker posts etc. Though did 'bump' into a military excercise (?) at the new well east of Fachi.
Agadez was a very welcome sight at the end of the desert - though we were ripped off by over zealous hoteliers with the CFA exchange rate.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2 Feb 2006
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,932
>>but when we eventually found the Niger embassy and got visas, they didn't have any probs.

Pete L, Is that the one in Sebha? I tracked it down years ago, is it still there, if yes got a waypoint? How long for a visa - a day?
thanks

Chris S
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 3 Feb 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 32
No, it was in Tripoli. - Sorry
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 21 Feb 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: El Escorial-Madrid- Spain
Posts: 6
Hello. We will carry out a very similar trip at the beginning of the year 2007. I would feel very aforturnado if he/she had the tracks and wpts. if you don't care I will go you carrying out questions about the trip. We want to enter and to leave Niger to trvés of Algeria. If we see that he/she crosses we will change to lybia
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

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)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

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 travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

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.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:05.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top