Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
Piste Update R2 - Nouadhibou to Atar Piste Update R2 - Nouadhibou to Atar
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 Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Trans Sahara Routes.

Like Tree4Likes

Reply
Page 1 of 3 1 23
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 7 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 542
Piste Update R2 - Nouadhibou to Atar
The first part of this piste is now sealed and follows the tarmac road from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott. The best place to join the piste appears to be at the town of Bou Lanouar about 90kms from Ndh, which is where the tarmac road begins to turn south. Navigation by the railway remains straightforward and the tracks are quite clear.

Although there is a promising looking fuel station about 1km past the town of Bou Lanouar on the Ndh - Nkt road, no petrol was available when we were there. Petrol was available in jerrycans from Choum for 300 Ouguiya a litre.

cheers
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12 Jan 2007
Haakonbj's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oslo
Posts: 129
Hello!
Hi, and thanks for the update. Planing this route in march with a motorcycle. Can you pleasel tell me litle bit more about the the condition of the pist?


Cheers
Haakon
__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 456
Hi, it's a year since I last drove this, but I doubt it's changed much.
Navigation is easy - just stay South of the railway, then follow the piste South West from Choum. The going is frequently rough at either end - with particularly nasty corrugations between Choum and Atar. Some soft sand in the middle section, but if things got difficult you could possibly ride between the tracks. I'd allow 2 days in a 4x4, so maybe 3 on a bike?

There are some dramatic rock outcrops West of Choum which are fun to climb for a sunset/sunrise. Enjoy!
__________________
Pictures, Mauritania 2011
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 542
Agree with the previous post, however I don't think the sand was ever deep enough to warrant riding on the tracks. There are two relatively easy dune sections and a couple of sections with deepish sand ruts, including near the first village as you join the piste from the Ndb - Nkt road and in the middle of the piste. Most of the rest of the piste is relatively fast tracks across open desert.

I think two days on this piste on a bike is sufficient (and indeed would expect a bike to do this piste much quicker than most 4WDs).
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
we did it in 21/2 days with very heavilly loaded 4x4s (carrying schoolbooks) so a fair bit of digging!. I wouldn't reccomend riding on the tracks
a. it would be mind bogglingly uncomfortable
b. I have heard there are a lot of nails about, close to, and presumably on, the railway, stay a good 50 metres away
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Haakonbj's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oslo
Posts: 129
Thank
you all for your update on the pist. Would yourecomend a place to stay in Nouadhibou, where there is chance to meet others going toward Choum and Atar?

Cheers
Haakon
__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 456
Haakon, sorry don't know a place in NDB, but the border bottleneck is often a good chance to hook up with others. Otherwise, further North in the WS, the campsite outside Dakhla is a longtime haunt for overlanders.

Matt - be interested in hearing more about your recent trip, sent you a pm.
__________________
Pictures, Mauritania 2011
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
When I was there a couple of years ago Camping Bai du Levrier in the middle of Nouhadibou was the overlanders hangout. The road may have changed this as there's less need to go to at Nhb now - particularly if you're going to Choum and don't need supplies
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 14 Jan 2007
Haakonbj's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oslo
Posts: 129
hi!
I see. Guess I need a couple of days rest and store up my fuel in NDB, so the tip is very much appriciated.

Richard, I believe Matt is entering Marocco one of this days.

Matt, like they say in Central America, "feliz biache"


Cheers
Haakon
__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 21 Jan 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 6
We (3 BMW 1150 GSs and a Yamaha 600 Tenere) tried this route about 10 days ago, from Nouadhibou to Choum/Atar. We got 54 miles from the sealed road and decided it was too difficult (but not impossible) to continue, we camped for the night and rode out the next day. Fortunately we made the right decision, as we were leaving the piste a sandstorm started that lasted all the next day. We rode in it for 8 hours/300 miles all the way to Nouakchott, totally blinding and so fierce that it stripped the anodising off the fork legs and wheel rims, ruined the screen, headlights and 2 visors. It also took the nickel plating off my ratchet strap! We would have been in serious trouble if we had stayed in the desert, it would have been impossible to ride and the locals said the storms can last for up to 6 days. We were very heavily loaded though, with full luggage, camping gear, 50 litres of fuel and 20 litres of water each. Running on TKC tyres but the soft sand was a nightmare. The railway track is litterted with huge steel shards from the lines, I wouldn't recommend riding on the track although I did a few hundred yards. We saw the Desert Train, absolutely awesome!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 21 Jan 2007
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,913
I did it a couple of months ago in a car and if I was riding a bike (especially a tanked up 1150) I would ride steadily between the rails around the dune cordons which come later. I can't say I noticed any stakes any more than general metal junk (like old sleepers, etc) lying around. You just keep your eye out. There are no sleepers on the rails, or they are covered with coarse gravel/stones - at least on the sections we saw. It would be much more predictable on the gravel than riding sandy dune ruts which is the worst sort of terrain for a bike IME. You'd want to keep and eye on your mirrors though...

Cutting the corner to avoid Choum was not so obvious on the ground (got some wpts somewhere) but we worked it out on a bearing and picked up the main track down to Atar. With the interesting sites around Atar/the Adrar plateau I think it's well worth trying to go this way rather than down the highway to NKT. One could even take a direct route from Bou Lanouar or the highway to the first escarpment pass (KM494) before Azogui. It cant be any harder, just trackless. fyi Maison de Bien Etre in Ching (in the book) is still a cool spot to park up and there is hand pumped fuel in Oudane now - also well worth a visit.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 7 Feb 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 258
Hi,

A few fuel stations have opened in the Nouadhibou – Nouakchott road:
N20 48.692 E-16 7.236
N21 16.597 E-16 31.695
N20 3.09 E-15 55.274 (under construction)

Cheers,
José
__________________
Desert Crocodiles of Mauritania: http://cibio.up.pt/crocodilos/en
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 9 Feb 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by José Brito
Hi,

A few fuel stations have opened in the Nouadhibou – Nouakchott road:
N20 48.692 E-16 7.236
N21 16.597 E-16 31.695
N20 3.09 E-15 55.274 (under construction)

Cheers,
José
Last month they only had diesel, no petrol. To be on the safe side you need 320 miles worth of fuel, plus reserve, to get from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10 Feb 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: holland
Posts: 129
distance?
hee
What is approximately the distance between nouhabidhou and atar. And is it possible to complete the way with a 4x4 subaru forester? Maybe we want to drive this road in begin August. And then from Atar go south to Nouakchott. That's a better way, isn't it?

ps. sorry for my bad English.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11 Feb 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Riga, Latvia
Posts: 53
the distance is 540 kms, acc to my memory. It is possible with forester, why not.
road better to what? If you need to get to Nuakschott, the 'best' is new tarmac of course... and the most boring...
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 3 1 23

« 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

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Piste Update M13 - Assa to Smara Matt Roach North Africa 0 7 Jan 2007 01:21
desert piste or coast piste to Atar fons North Africa 7 1 Apr 2005 20:17
Piste from Nouadhibou to Choum Ian North Africa 18 23 Aug 2004 22:56
Piste route from Nouadhibou to Noakchott greenbug North Africa 7 25 Dec 2002 03:53
road conditions Ndjamena-Abeche and in Sudan john-l North Africa 14 2 Apr 2002 18:42

 
 

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

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 20:53.

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