Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
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
  #16  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Atar ---> Tidjikja and Tidjika--->Oualata

Can somebody tell me how many days is necessary for these two stretches ?
I know it depends of the driver and the car , but I want to know these durations , driving 5 or 6 hours a day and not at maximum speed .
Thanks for your replies .
To Grove : I'll recontact you when I'll be sure about my timing .
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 921
Wink Alternative

On the subject of cadeaux, you can always say that your friends are coming up later in another 4wd (be unspecific I suppose), and will pay them double!

Tee hee hee!

Sam.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
Wink

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford
On the subject of cadeaux, you can always say that your friends are coming up later in another 4wd (be unspecific I suppose), and will pay them double!

Tee hee hee!

Sam.
so that was you was it, git!!!!!!
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 21 May 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Denmark
Posts: 15
Atar-Tidjika: 4 days i relaxed tempo according to Chris Scott (the book)
Tidjika-Nema (passing Oualata): 8 days.
Grove
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 22 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 258
Hi,

The above mentioned time contemplates relaxed visits to Rachid, Tichitt, Oualata and several attractions along the pistes (guelbs, crater, rock engravings).
If you're in a worry, Atar-Tidj can be done in 3 days and Tidj-Nema can be done in 5 to 6 days. The Dakar guys do Tid-Nema in just one day ;-)

Outstanding pistes, especially the Tidj-Nema!

Cheers,
José
__________________
Desert Crocodiles of Mauritania: http://cibio.up.pt/crocodilos/en
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 22 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Alt Penedes, Barcelona
Posts: 130
gone with the wind

Hi !

1- RIM traveling alone shouldn't be a problem, however if you are off-piste or very remote places, if something goes really wrong it can become pretty delicate. In the other hand traveling in remote places 1 car solo gives you a much more intimate feeling with the place, you feel you are very very small and you can also feel you are very big.

2- We did Tidjikja - Chingetti in five easy beautiful days, buying goats on the way and and using the S2 land rover grille as a grill. We meet about 6 vehicles, mostly other tourist. Beware of the small misprinting regarding coordinates in that route in Sahara Overland, it can be very confusing and unexpected.
Why running if you don't really know where you going.
--thanks José B for your help--

-Tidjikja - Tichitt in 1 long day (we had to follow a TLC) and 2 days in the way back. Very few traffic. We wanted to to continue to Nema but after a while came back to Tichitt, since it was a bit too much for our overloaded old landrover. Too bad, since it was fascinating. Next time !

If I had a defender 110 td5 in order -and the basics for that route- I'd not doubt going single car until Nema. Nowadays we have synthetic guerbas and Thurayas !

Take it easy ! Good luck !
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 23 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Thanks to everybody for your infos ......

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 23 May 2006
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,932
>>>>Beware of the small misprinting regarding coordinates in that route in Sahara Overland, it can be very confusing and unexpected.

fyi these errors (along with other corrections) have been corrected in the first reprint sold since last December.

Updates page is here:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/typos/

Chris S
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 24 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
Mauritania

Hi,
I did more or less exactly the same route - two of us two KTM 640s. Actually for the frist month we didn;t meet a single other traveller on the pistes down through Morocco. The frist other travellers we met were in Nouadhibou. Then we cross to Choum, Atar, did a circuitu around the Crater (6 days), back to Atar, down to Tidjikia and then due south to the Senegal River (crossed in big canoes at Bogue to Senegal.

We didn't get ripped off or asked for gifts anywhere in Mauritania, had T with several groups of soldiers and police on the way and actually I felt safer there than anywhere I've been really... that was, until near the Senegal border where things got a bit mroe tricky and felt a bit more hostile. Getting across the Senegal River was a real challlenge and ended in a huge village row with various local boat owners, Mauritanian and Senegelses police arguing about who had the right to charge us or demand cadeaux.... quite funny in retrospect but not at the time.

I was suprised how remote a lot of the route felt. Atar to Tidjikia in particular was very quiet and I think in the six days this took us we saw maybe four other tourist vehicles and a few camels... that was it ! So although in theory this is not a really difficult route it was pretty remote and if we had had mechanical probs or run our fuel (fuel is a real problem on that route for unsupported bikes) we would have been up the creek ! Absoluetly spectacular though. Can't wait to go back !

Anyway, if it is any help I have all the routes I did in my GPS memory still so I could forward the track if anybody wants it.

enjoy !

Simon
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 29 May 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Question Mauritanian visa at border post

Hi,
If I'm coming from Mali , can I get the visa at any border post ?
At approximatevely same cost than coming from Morocco ?
Thanks for your reply .
RR.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 16 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 46
i dont see the reason to tip the police

they are just doing some paper checking. if you have all the paper, why u have to give the gift. i can say almost all Mauritanian gendemarie or military on road checkpoints are quite friendly to foreigner.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 17 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rome, ITALY
Posts: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomiskx
Anyway, if it is any help I have all the routes I did in my GPS memory still so I could forward the track if anybody wants it.
Simon
Hi Simon,

I'm planning more or less the same trip for the next month
or so. Your track log could be very useful to me, would
you send it, please ?

Thanks
Mario
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 18 Jun 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Denmark
Posts: 15
Hi nomiskx
I would too be interested in Your track log

Grove
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 28 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Cool Mauritania

Hi all,

We had a slight difficulty with customs on the border of Mauritania and Morocco as they wanted a 10 Euro import tax for our car. When I asked for a reciept they got really upset. I did have a Carnet which they weren't happy about.

We then had a policy of not giving any gifts, we got stopped every few miles and they said , "Nice mobile phone." I agreed, smiled, shook some hands and carried on pleading poverty (Which was true).

We never felt threatened in Mauritania, the people were great. Always trying to be as helpful as possible and even giving us directions etc. I wouldn't venture into the desert without a GPS (Car) and a back up one (Handheld). However, I wouldn't every say we felt alone.

We pulled off the new desert road and drove about 2km to park up for dinner and while we sat having some soup a nomad came walking by and we shared some food with him. He was very grateful. So it was almost impossible to be alone. Even while going for a wee someone woudl walk by.

However, we stuck mainly to recognised roads and routes as it was out first time in the Desert.

Andy

P.S. It rained and rained in Janaury of this year. I am trying to organise going back in early 2008. I suspect I will not be able to get 7 weeks free before then.
__________________
I came, I saw. I ran for it.
Reply With Quote
Reply


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
Some Mauritania Travel Info craigcc Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 16 29 May 2006 06:29
Mauritania Visa and Carnet AndySabb North Africa 6 3 Jul 2005 13:48
Anyone travelling down through Morocco and Mauritania at the Jenni North Africa 6 23 Jul 2004 18:30
From Morocco to Mauritania and back Driezza North Africa 2 4 Nov 2003 21:27
First trip to Mauritania rama North Africa 1 13 May 2003 15:54

 
 

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!

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 05:12.