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Self Drive 4x4 tours in the Sahara.... Self Drive 4x4 tours in the Sahara....
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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Exclamation Self Drive 4x4 tours in the Sahara....
Hello to everyone on HUBB,
I am in the process of setting up a tour company which guides people with their own 4x4 to destinations in the Sahara and other parts of Africa. We are working to be a sustainable company only taking 3-6 cars at a time to reduce the impact of our visits. I want to know what people on here have to think about this idea. It is the plan to vist more "off the beaten track" places like Waw En Namus- Kufra, Libya, the Gilf Kebir, The Tenere and Air in Niger and Chad along with places such as Eritrea, Congo, Mozambique.

I want to hear what you have to think:

a. What would you pay at tops for such a service, knowing that you are with a group and experienced people when venturing to unusual places like those previously mentioned?

b. What would you expect to be included in such a tour?

c. For how long would you want such a trip to last if you were on it?

d. Any more opinions would be great!!

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4x4SAHARA
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  #2  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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I think that this is a good idea, especially for people who don't have a great deal of desert experience to get to places such as Kufra and the Gilf Kebir.

A swiss friend of mine went on such a tour (with an Austrian company I believe) and paid around 3.900 EURO for a 3 week tour of East Libya. He did another tour with the same guys to the Gilf and paid (in the region of) 5.800 EURO for a 5 week tour. This included ferry to Tunis and back and the guide services. I think visas, entry fees and border fees were to be paid at the time out of your own pocket. He was very pleased with the service and would reccomend it.

Not sure if it's my cuppa tea though, good luck though!
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  #3  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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Thanks Trans-african.

I understand that many people prefer to do it alone, others, not so much so. We plan to include ferry costs, guide services, lead vehicle, any required guides/escorts and campsite costs (some tours will incl. a night in a hotel). As like the firm you described, the individual will pay border fees and visas.

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4x4SAHARA
Last edited by Chris Scott; 22 Apr 2010 at 07:43. Reason: market research OK ~ publishing program and prices not OK
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  #4  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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I used to work for the same company as the guys who have now set up AFRICA EXPEDITIONS SUPPORT.

They had a few teething problems, but seem to be doing quite well now.

They would be an invaluable source of information with regards setting up.

On a personal level, I couldnt stand the thought of somebody else driving one of my vehicles knowing that it could be written off anytime (sorry, very negative comment, but that's a personal thing!)

I'm sure there is a huge demand for this, esp if you goto the (relatively speaking) more "off the beaten track" destinations (as you seem to want to). The key would be to keep the groups quite small, I feel that the kind of people this will attract will prefer smaller groups and not to be part of a mini rally.

I say good luck with it. The die-hard independants might frown upon it (no offence intended) but I think it's a positive thing if you can get small groups of tourists into these areas, many of which will benefit from you using the Campements and restaurants. I remember being in Chinguetti and Terjit just after the French tourists were killed and the Israeli embassy attacked and the locals were really down on life, no travellers = lower income for many.
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  #5  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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When we went to Libya from the UK in four vehicles we priced up two options:

1) organising the whole trip/guide/ferries etc directly ourselves
2) letting a tour company organise the whole thing for us (we still specified the itinery).

In the end we went with the tour company. They got such a big discount off the ferry that it actually worked out cheaper and obviously a lot less hassle.
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  #6  
Old 22 Apr 2010
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UK market?
Does anyone think that there is much of a market in the UK/Eire for the tour travel I am proposing? Would it be more feasable to target say the German/Austrian/Swiss and possible Italian market instead??
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