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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 23 Jul 2005
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UK-Timbouctou
(reposted from journey planning)

I'm considering a trip to the festival in the desert near Timbouctou. It starts 13th January and Im wondering how long I should allow for the outward leg. Time is sadly very short.

I'd be travelling in a 110 300tdi and have desert piste/African experience.

Any ideas ?
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Old 25 Jul 2005
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Friend of mine did this journey in 5 weeks return and said it was very hurried

See http://www.jamesuk.net/Timbuktu.html

Rich


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  #3  
Old 25 Jul 2005
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If time is short and you're only going for the festival then why not fly? Air France flies to Bamako from Paris. I've also used Point-Afrique (http://www.point-afrique.com/) to get to Mali. They have flights from Paris to Mopti. You can then get to Timbuktu by boat or road/ferry. You can get a visa for Mali easily in Brussels if you need one.

[This message has been edited by Ian (edited 25 July 2005).]
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Old 26 Jul 2005
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"If time is short and you're only going for the festival then why not fly? "

Ah, but where would be the fun in that? ; ) . Actually, I had considered a flight, but it's getting there and back that's the really interesting part.

Many thanks for everyone's responses. It seems 15 days is a reasonable time (following the quicker route via Nouakchott through Mauri). There would be more time to enjoy the return leg via Atar.

The other thing concerning me (aside from time pressure), are the growing food shortages in those areas. I wonder how serious the situation will get in Mauri/Mali over the next few months ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4717033.stm

Worrying stuff.

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 26 July 2005).]
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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In other words, you're not just going for the festival. You're going for the journey.

But if time's short? A trip to Timbuktu and back in a few days would be a great achievement (I think the shortest time suggested to me was 6 days to get there - I believe the suggester ended up having a nice tour of Morocco), but IMHO, and experience, you have to take it slowly down there to enjoy it.
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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The plan would be:

Down the Atlantic route sticking to the sealed roads. Then East from Noukachott via Nema. Judging from some regular travellers down there, 15 days is a reasonnable schedule.

3 days + at the festival. (inshallah)

Then return North through Mauri at a more relaxed piste pace via Tidjika (sp)/ Atar: 15 days.

Then 7 days 'blinkers on' back up through Morocco and Europe.

Seems 'doable'. But, like you say Ian, outside from the 20 days or so at the festival and on the Mauri pistes, how much fun is it going to be?

I'm not one for targets and endurance marathons and having done 3,000 miles in a week on Euro roads last winter I'm not looking forward to doing that part again (at least not in a LR).

Hmmmm...







[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 28 July 2005).]
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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Hi,

actually this matches with my plans! Only difference is I would like to find possibility of going from Timbuctou to Algeria, and Tunis. Actual arrival at Timbuctu at the moment for us is from 10 - 15th january. May be we can figure something together-ish?

Kaspars
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Old 28 Jul 2005
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I think one possibility is all the way to Nema on tarmac (possible if the atlantic route is sealed?), then down to join the infamous Kayes to Bamako piste, then from Bamako to Douentza, and from there it's around 120kms to Timbuktu, plus you need to use the ferry to cross the river.

There's a sealed road from Bamako to Douentza, and I think the piste from Douentza to the river south of Timbuktu may even be sealed now. Much of it was well graded when I attempted it a couple of years back. I've no idea about the piste from Nema to Timbuktu, but I'd guess there'll be lots of soft sand. Perhaps another contributor might know.
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Old 29 Jul 2005
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Ian -- That's pretty much the route there I had in mind. As far as I know it's all sealed to Nema now.

"the infamous Kayes to Bamako piste,"

When you say 'infamous'...???

One thing I've heard is that the Niger can flood it's banks around that time of year and make the ferry unuseable for cars. Do you know if there is an alternate route to get around the problem ?

Kaspars -- I'm still considering the trip, but it would be great to hear your plans, share info and perhaps convoy up at some stage. Beers in the desert and the best of Mali's musical talent -- can't get much better than that.

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 28 July 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 28 July 2005).]
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Old 29 Jul 2005
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Hi

Well we are thinking of this - been looking at the loop route thru tunisia - algeria etc. to mali then back up the atlantic route, visiting the festival of the desert

Are there any problems at present transiting western sahara given the current issues http://www.arso.org/intifada2005e.htm

2 Landrover 101's , and 4 people



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  #11  
Old 29 Jul 2005
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<"the infamous Kayes to Bamako piste,"

When you say 'infamous'...???>

The direct (rail) route was very rough 20 years ago but I believe it is now largely sealed - well south of the rail line (via the big dam?).

Kayes up to Nioro and then down towards Bamako is still very corrugated though. Last bit is sealed

But if coming south of Nema you only need to go down to Nara (Mali) and then work your way up and east to Tim, all north of the river delta. We did this years ago (Feb) and it was easy (nice villages with mud-brick mosques) apart from border down to Nara (grass & ruts - hard on 2WDs) and the last sandy streches to Tim. No need to go down to Bamako, IMO.

Chris S

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Old 31 Jul 2005
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Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Scott:
<"the infamous Kayes to Bamako piste,"

When you say 'infamous'...???>

The direct (rail) route was very rough 20 years ago but I believe it is now largely sealed

Kayes up to Nioro and then down towards Bamako is still very corrugated though.

But if coming south of Nema you only need to go down to Nara (Mali) and then work your way up and east to Tim, all north of the river delta. We did this years ago (Feb) and it was easy (nice villages with mud-brick mosques) apart from border down to Nara (grass & ruts - hard on 2WDs) and the last sandy streches to Tim. No need to go down to Bamako, IMO.
My apologies to all - directions were from memory of the maps. If you go to Nema then clearly there's no need to go to Bamako.

I'd heard, as Chris says, that at least one route from Kayes to Bamako was very rough and difficult. But I've never done either route.

Cheers,

Ian.
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Old 1 Aug 2005
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Hi Richard - tried to email you, no response so far. Your email OK?
or try mine - klivins@yahoo.co.uk
Kaspars

Quote:

Kaspars -- I'm still considering the trip, but it would be great to hear your plans, share info and perhaps convoy up at some stage. Beers in the desert and the best of Mali's musical talent -- can't get much better than that.

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 28 July 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 28 July 2005).][/B]
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Old 2 Aug 2005
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Kaspars –*I've been away from my computer, just sent you a mail.
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Old 2 Aug 2005
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rclafton --

Would be really interested to hear what you've found out about Algeria (esp visas/guides). Do you have an itinery yet for your outbound trip ?

cheers
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