I'll be travelling to Tunisia over the Easter break along with a couple of other bikers. We are concerned about the restrictions that have been imposed on travel in the country recently. Seems to me like most desert travel now has to go through local operators and guides leaving the individual well out of the scene. Looks like the greater part of the Erg Oriental is off limits without a permit and guide I gather....does this even include T2 as per Chris's book? Does anyone have any recent up to date experience of Tunisia since the restrictions were imposed?
Any suggested routes and waypoints most appreciated also.

Cheers

So far no restrictions on the T2 between Douz and Ksar Ghilane. BTW: It's more conveniant to refer to settlements and such. Not everybody reading here has Chris' book at hand.

We've been there in January and it was business as usual.
Although things are changing. There was even not only one but two new cafés (N33°12.012' E9°9.592') that I did not know before. The cafés mark a crossroad that has been seen as such only by the locals in the last years. It is possible to take a shortcut from the two cafés to Douz avoiding the long way via the Café Port du Desert..

From the entrance of national park Jebil (N33°6.163' E9°3.643') up to the next café (N33°8.926' E9°9.524') a new tarmac road has been built. I expect it to reach eventually Douz, maybe with the next few years. If you're interested, ask the guardians at the gate if you may see the animals they keep there. They have three kinds of antelope on display in enclosed areas and are in progress of building a museum. The guys are quite friendly and thankful for a little chat and small presents like a can of coke.

In Ksar Ghilane commerce takes it's toll. Directly at the pool a multistorey restaurant was being built from concrete. And it's hard to have a good night sleep now in the little forest nearby, an additional (to the one of the hotel) power unit is running most of the night. I suggest to evade to the little oasis if you're going to camp.

Some pictures of our trip in December 2008 / January 2009 can be found here.

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Seen whilst travelling - Fernwehstammtisch Karlsruhe - Relief action Togo Togoville e.V.

Hey Mandarax,
Nice pics, brings back a lot of memories.

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www.4x4-travel.co.uk

Thanks for the flowers;-)
There is more: the pics from Tunisia 2006/2007 and from Tunisia/Libya 2007/2008.

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Seen whilst travelling - Fernwehstammtisch Karlsruhe - Relief action Togo Togoville e.V.