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2 Aug 2016
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West-East Sahara crossing by camel caravan
Hi everyone,
I am planning an expedition to cross the Sahara on camel, I know this could take months.
The idea is still in its infancy, however this is a general call out to other people who might be interested in joining me or finding out more.
I've started to gain momentum in my research and I'm reaching out so if anyone simply has experience or knowledge regarding guides, salt caravans, fixers, people they know who have done similar or any advice, it would be whole heartedly well received. Or if you think I'm completely nuts please let me know 
I will still research this stuff myself, but I don't know what I don't know so I'll take any and all advice.
A bit about me - I'm a 35 year old film composer from Sydney and recently my life got turned upside down for numerous reasons, so I thought to myself 'I want to have a life changing experience' and thought this would be just that adventure.
So please get in touch if you want to know more or are thinking of doing something similar! Lets chat
Have a great day,
Dan
Last edited by DanNewBeginnings; 2 Aug 2016 at 15:15.
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2 Aug 2016
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Location: Montreal
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North Africa is very safe these days. Especially Tunisia (as it has always been). Been there twice in the past 18 months.
Early January 2015 - Ksar Ghilane
Near the Lybian border
I returned to Douz in May 2016. Didn't go any lower as it was stinking hot. Too hot to cross the desert to Ksar Ghilane alone this time.
Sure, doing the annual pilgrim route from Mauritania thru Mali, Nigeria, Tchad, Soudan, Saudi Arabia to Mecca might prove difficult though. ;-) You can ride from Morocco to Nouahckott through Western Sahara if you stay on the main road. But once in Mauritania, it will be risky to go East toward Mecca. ;-)
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2 Aug 2016
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Brave man. I spent two days on a camel. Never again. Even a KTM is more comfortable!
__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]
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2 Aug 2016
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Well youre supposed to walk with the camel, not ride it 
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3 Aug 2016
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Thanks for the advice and stories everyone, seems it might be a bit more challenging than I first thought, particularly security. I am determined to make it happen though, and it's good to know I'm the next nutter that has come along to suggest the idea. I'm thinking I should work out a country at a time.
Please keep the posts coming!
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3 Aug 2016
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Hard to tell how seriously to take this.
OP, have you any experience with camels? I mean, at least enough to know that they tend to be surly, opinionated, difficult to load, and hideously uncomfortable?
Have you any experience with self-supported desert travel? How about movement in low-level war zones? Spent any time in Africa at all? Etc.
Not trying to criticize; it's just that you're not giving much to go on here. What you're proposing is unlikely to come to any sort of fruition unless you happen to have considerable resources at your disposal--this means money, time, stamina, skills and experience. Plus some more stuff, like luck.
There are folks here who're well-supplied with much of the above. You might attract some interest if you can demonstrate real potential; otherwise, you look like just another dreamer.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
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3 Aug 2016
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Hi Mark,
Thanks for the message, I understand I haven't given you much to go on. I do have the time, money, stamina and some skills, but as far as unsupported desert camel travel in low level war zones I have no experience.
The idea is still in it's infancy, but reading others stories I believe it is possible (political climate depending of course). This thread is just a generic call out to others who might be interested or to offer advice/tips. I've already made contacts within a few days, and a route is starting to form, but as far as logistics it is still a way away.
Perhaps you could offer some advice on what might make people take me a bit more seriously? Or how to demonstrate real potential? Or better yet how I might connect with some more experienced folks on here?
Thanks,
Dan
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4 Aug 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanNewBeginnings
Hi everyone,
A bit about me - I'm a 35 year old film composer from Sydney and recently my life got turned upside down for numerous reasons, so I thought to myself 'I want to have a life changing experience' and thought this would be just that adventure.
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Hi Dan,
The "Impossible journey" was 30 years ago, and Asher as far as I remember the story worked in Sudan with Camels and spoke fluent Arabic! Things has changed since then ....
Dan you are from OZ and maybe not so aware of the Problems with Kidnappings in the past and other Political problems which paralysed basically the Sahara and Africa Overland Tourism, thats where your research should start, in deep!!!
Asher's book is a good start and if you take all the current security aspects in consideration add them to Ashers experience then you might find that there's a hell of a lot more Adventures out there with even a better survival chance than E-W Sahara.
Don't forget the mines in Chad.
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4 Aug 2016
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Thanks for all the more info. Yes I have been doing a lot more research into the political climate and which boarders are closed (overland & militarised). Plus Libya is sort of a no go zone as far as I've read. I know of the kidnappings too, however there are also a lot of people saying they've been there recently and everything felt safe.
Travelling across Chad is out of the question, so I'm thinking a route change is in order. Perhaps the EW crossing was possible 10 years ago, it would be extremely hard today. I'm now thinking Mauritania/Morocco (more research on boarders needed) into Algeria into Tunisia and finish at the Mediterranean.
Yes I totally agree with getting there first and climatising myself to the country. Would be a lot easier to get info re guides/camels etc.
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4 Aug 2016
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mines and UXO s
There are more mines between Mauritania – Morocco – Algeria than in Chad!
We have seen many UXO s in the border area between Mauritania/Western Sahara/Algeria/Morocco.
Chad is the safest Sahara country for the moment, except the borders with Nigeria.
(my last trip was in january and the next in february J)
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4 Aug 2016
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Ok cool thanks for the info, what do you mean when you say 'we have seen more mines...'?
I've read that it's ok there so I'm just getting conflicting information. I was just wondering where you got your info from?
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4 Aug 2016
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Going Maure - Algeria - Tunisia wouldnt count as a crossing of anything. really.
From Morocco you cant get anywhere except north and south.
Let's speculate.
How about Mauretania - Algeria - Niger - Chad - Sudan?
Impossible, of course, but take it bit by bit and analyze it.
Supposing you have all the visas arranged.
Make a route with suitable distance between water holes.
Figure out where to get camels and guides.
Only five countries
Is it possible to cross from Mauretania to Algeria? If not, why not?
From In Guezzam to Agadez you would need an escort.
Then probably another escort from Agadez eastwards. Hugely exepensive, if at all possible.
Is it possible to get into Chad from Niger these days?
Why would it be impossible to cross Chad, even with the mines, if you find the proper guides?
Can you cross inte northern Sudan from Chad?
Once in Sudan you should be ok I think. "Almost there".
The answer to the questions is "probably not"
but we dont really know, since noone has done it and noone has asked.
Paula Constant might have made it, if there hadnt been a tuareg uprising in Niger.
Diplomatic Niger… | Paula Constant
And then there was the Arab Spring and everything that followed.
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24 Aug 2016
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Western Sahara - Mauritania border open?
Hi there,
Was just wondering if anyone had recent experience crossing from Western Sahara into Mauritania overland?
If so was wondering where you crossed? Any challenges faced etc.
Thanks,
Dan
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24 Aug 2016
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Dan, please do even some elementary research before asking such questions.
Click the banner above that says ' Trans Sahara Routes'
It's updated every few months and looks like this:
Or the last post in the uppermost sticky titled:
Mauritania Visa: Rabat or @ the Border
or the one below it that says:
Border crossing into Mauritania
Both have had responses in the last couple of weeks.
The HU travel forums are a great resource where a little reading and clicking first goes a long way.
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mines and UXO s
Hybrid Mode
