Hi folks- new to this forum. We are planning an overland trip via Landcruiser 100, starting from UK in Nov. 2014.

Our desired destination is Timbuktu, then on to Burkina Faso, then back through Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and up Senegal.

Current plan is to take road east once into Mauritania through Atar, Tichit, Qualata. From research it seems that there is a route from Nema to Timbuktu. Given the recent unrest, is this possible? I have come across previous posts (2007) giving GPS coords for the route. Has anyone taken this recently?

thanks, Rick.

Hi Rick, the route from Tidjikja to Nema (via Tichit) is long and remote, but maybe you know that already.
If you drop in on Nema from Oualata they may be surprised to see you; it's possible that coming along the road that far eastern corner of RIM would be still closed to tourists.

As for the direct route on to Tim from Nema, never done that myself but it was always dodgy for tourists even in the good years and I think would still be a risk despite the successes of Operation Serval over the last year. I doubt anyone's been that way since those posts your read.

Unless you hear otherwise and things improve, or know what you're taking on, better to get your desert driving done by the time you get to Tidjikja. Or maybe this recent Aouker post may interest you.

Ch

Hi,

In October 2013, during our trip between Chinguetti and Tidjika, I've asked to our guide if it was possible for tourists to travel towards Tichit and/or Nema and I said it was not a good thing due to security problems.

RR

Thanks Chris- appreciate your response! We have Sahara Overland and Overlanders Handbook and they are great resources, as is this forum. Thanks for the Aouker post - great info. Sounds like this could scratch our itch for desert exploration. We can then take the established road route to Timbuktu. I just hope that the requirement for an escort in Mali is lifted by then. Any further info in this point is appreciated.

Any additional info on travel in/around Aouker basin would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Rick & Justine.

"I've asked to our guide if it was possible for tourists to travel towards Tichit and/or Nema and I said it was not a good thing due to security problems."

Sorry, I would say "HE said that it was...."

But I don't know more that this opinion

An other point: Between Kiffa and Aleg, a big lot of checkpoints (almost 20 if I remeber well), a lot more than between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou for less kilometers. I think that between Kiffa and Nema, there are a lot more!

RR.

RR.

Haven't been to RIM/Mali/Tim since 2003/4, but as Chris mentions the route east of Tidjikja to Nema is pretty remote. As effective as Op Serval has been, history has taught us that any remnants of AQIM are very probably splintered just out of reach of the Mali forces. The fact that the French asked for and got US drone assets last year for reconnaissance means that AQIM were pushed a long way out from Gao/ Tessalit/ Kidal/ Ifoghas. How much of a problem they are and if you would bump into them East of Nema and across into West Mali is anyone's guess, but running into these guys will cost you your vehicle or worse, they are always looking for new vehicles.
I think Chris's suggestion of Atar - Tidjikja, given the quite recent insurgent activity in Mali is realistic, this was one of the best parts of our trip. The other thing to do is to get to Tidjikja and get a feeling for the situation while you are there on the ground. As Chris says, don't underestimate that route, when you get 600+ kms away from the nearest village where the only transport is an old donkey you start to feel quite small!
Endless checkpoints are the norm in RIM, if you haven't been there before get used to it. Make sure you visit Ben Amera and Guelb er Richat en route.

Do you have a Blog or website for this trip ?

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Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Thanks Grif. It seems like Mauritania may hold much of what we are seeking. Will keep researching and will be starting a website/blog soon.

Rick

I did a trip in 2007/8 through the Oued Taskast through Lekhcheb, Tichit to Oualata and from there East pointing to Timbuktu. East of Oualata the track in the IGN map turned out to be a camel track through gras hump terrain. Due to slow driving in this terrain we turned south to Léré, instead of continuing to Timbuktu. Even in this time, we did not feel safe there. Once a one propeller plane dived down on us, otherwise only near Nbeiket el Ahouach there was a visible car track.