Western Sahara. Anyone been lately ??

[ButtonMoon]

Almost finished my Morocco route, if I've got time I'd like to head further South to the bottom part of the Western Sahara, has anyone been there lately and is it safe (as anything can be), UK Gov are saying don't go, but what is it really like??

Reason is I want to see this beached ship it's massive !

co-ordinates are: N 20 46.264, W 17 2.679

Cheers

 

[DrFarkoff]

Here ya Go

<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N+20+46.264,+W+17+2.679&aq=&sll=18.964978,-16.182387&sspn=5.805489,7.064209&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=20.771067,-17.04465&spn=0.001402,0.001725&z=14&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=N+20+46.264,+W+17+2.679&aq=&sll=18.964978,-16.182387&sspn=5.805489,7.064209&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=20.771067,-17.04465&spn=0.001402,0.001725&z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

 

[Ogmios]

I doubt (but that's no guarantee) there's been much change in Western Sahara since i was there 3ish years ago.
BUT - that wreck is in Mauritania. The border crossing is a PITA. Dunno if i'd go to that much trouble for it.
Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[ButtonMoon]

I doubt (but that's no guarantee) there's been much change in Western Sahara since i was there 3ish years ago.
BUT - that wreck is in Mauritania. The border crossing is a PITA. Dunno if i'd go to that much trouble for it.
Have fun whatever you decide!

It looks quite bleak down there! did you go as far as that? how was it for fuel?

 

[ButtonMoon]

Here ya Go

<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N+20+46.264,+W+17+2.679&aq=&sll=18.964978,-16.182387&sspn=5.805489,7.064209&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=20.771067,-17.04465&spn=0.001402,0.001725&z=14&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=N+20+46.264,+W+17+2.679&aq=&sll=18.964978,-16.182387&sspn=5.805489,7.064209&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=20.771067,-17.04465&spn=0.001402,0.001725&z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

yes, that's it ! anyone been ??

 

[Posh Pete]

A bit of clarity needed here. Western Sahara is effectively part of Morocco. Albeit under military occupation. You will find it no different to other parts of Morocco other than a lot more military / Police checkpoints. Just make sure you have plenty of fiches to hand over to the squaddies. Mauretania is a different matter and, as Ogmios says, getting in will take a few hours so try to avoid being there at the hottest time of the day. There is not a lot of shade!

Looking at the ship on Google maps, it looks as if it might be possible to get at it from the WS side. However ... you may find access blocked by anything from barbed wire to the remnants of mine fields. The satellite does not seem to show any tracks either so getting the bike there might be tricky. Saying that, there are buildings there and photo's have been taken so other folk have managed it! I would check on HUBB as well as here.

 

[ButtonMoon]

A bit of clarity needed here. Western Sahara is effectively part of Morocco. Albeit under military occupation. You will find it no different to other parts of Morocco other than a lot more military / Police checkpoints. Just make sure you have plenty of fiches to hand over to the squaddies. Mauretania is a different matter and, as Ogmios says, getting in will take a few hours so try to avoid being there at the hottest time of the day. There is not a lot of shade!

Looking at the ship on Google maps, it looks as if it might be possible to get at it from the WS side. However ... you may find access blocked by anything from barbed wire to the remnants of mine fields. The satellite dooes not seem to show any tracks either so getting the bike there might be tricky. I would check on HUBB as well as here.

Thanks for that. Need more information before I commit myself to such a long trip. Cheers.

 

[Ogmios]

It looks quite bleak down there! did you go as far as that? how was it for fuel?

Bleak - i'd never thought of that word while i was there, but i suppose it is. HUGE skies, horizon wayyy wayy away off in all directions.
Great for meditative riding. First time in my life i actually enjoyed going more or less in a straight line for hundreds of miles!
Fuel, you will have to plan out in advance - i was with a group of mental patients - sorry; other C90 riders and we had the luxury of a support car, driven by Mr iFan - who had a fair bit of practice at planning ahead in Morocco.
We went as far as The Gambia.

scotboxers post = good advice.

 

[Fanum]

You won't get to that ship without crossing the Mauri border......It's out at t he end of the Nouadhibou peninsula, and you DEFINITELY have to cross the badlands and the border to get to it.

 

[Tim Cullis]

There's practically zero danger as the police and military will keep you away from danger areas. I've been turned back four times on my trip. Once I was only 800m from a dinosaur site I wanted to visit and I spent 30 minutes trying to persuade the military patrol that we should all go together and have a look.

On the positive side, unleaded is currently just 39p per litre below Tan Tan.

But there is the occasional 'ensablement'

 

[Fanum]

On the positive side, unleaded is currently just 39p per litre below Tan Tan.

It's heavily subsidised by Morocco, as you know, to get their people down south (along with total tax breaks and other incentives if they move)

I wouldn't call it Petrol though.......it's calorific value is so low it barely ignites under a blowtorch

(Ok, kidding aside, we had two scoots on the first trip that started losing what little oomph they had at Laayoune, then actually wouldn't even run on the stuff any further south so we had to put them in the truck......when we got to Nouakchott we tried some fresh fuel and they started up immediately)

 

[ButtonMoon]

There's practically zero danger as the police and military will keep you away from danger areas. I've been turned back four times on my trip. Once I was only 800m from a dinosaur site I wanted to visit and I spent 30 minutes trying to persuade the military patrol that we should all go together and have a look.

On the positive side, unleaded is currently just 39p per litre below Tan Tan.

But there is the occasional 'ensablement'

Great video Tim.

Let's make it easy. First time solo in morocco wanting to do mainly piste. Head to WS. yes or no ???? Pros & cons ? Anyone.


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[Fanum]

Great video Tim.

Let's make it easy. First time solo in morocco wanting to do mainly piste. Head to WS. yes or no ???? Pros & cons ? Anyone.


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No.

Too much better and more varied stuff to do elsewhere......by far.

EDIT....plus "pistes" and the WS don't mix, unless you like 1800 mile long mined sand berms keeping the Polisaris out of their homeland.

You mentioned 4-5 weeks I think.......I'll come back to this, 'cos that would be one fantastic chance to sample a bloody good cross section of the hugely different areas in Morocco

 

[ButtonMoon]

No.

Too much better and more varied stuff to do elsewhere......by far.

EDIT....plus "pistes" and the WS don't mix, unless you like 1800 mile long mined sand berms keeping the Polisaris out of their homeland.

You mentioned 4-5 weeks I think.......I'll come back to this, 'cos that would be one fantastic chance to sample a bloody good cross section of the hugely different areas in Morocco

Thank you Fanum. I respect your option & advice. I think u might be spot on ! yes I got 4-5 weeks. Hopefully I'll see some really fantastic things. & people. Got a plan, got routes but changing my mind everyday, I've got it all on my laptop, but today I thought I'm over planing! Thinking I should plan the first 2-3 days then just wing it ?


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[Corp.Clinger!]

With that amount of time,and if it were I,I'd just go where the front wheel took me! A general direction and then off you go....as Fanum states.....so much to see that will produce a wide a varied experience.

I ride every October normally and only have a general plan....see here,for example.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=934266


As an aside if you download OSMaps you'll find that in this link you'll get Maroc. Garman maps are hopeless for Maroc whereupon the OSM will show actual trails where you can even route from one village to the other off road,albeit 9 times out of 10.

Have a wee peep here if you wish.

http://mapas.alternativaslibres.es/downloads.php

Have a great trip...








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