JABAL BIN GHANIMAH AND KOUROU ARKENNE, ALTERNATIVELY,

AUTUMN 2009, UP TO 18 DAYS

SAMPLE ROUTE

The object of this pioneering tour is to explore the JABAL BIN GHANIMAH, and JABAL TOUMMO (Niger) area, (Libyan BI’R’AL WA’R) and KOUROU ARKENNE range, and possibly incursion into the MASSIF D’ATAFI (Niger) and TIBESTI (Chad). 

We cannot pass easily from Libya to Niger without special permission, an armed escort and visas.  We will ‘wild’ camp (on piste) for most of the trip.

From Tripoli after a night in a hotel we drive to Gharyan and Mizda, on the way we will take on extra supplies and Fuel. The route is straightforward and relatively quick. 

Our next stop will be Abyar Ash Shuwayrif (399 kms) where we will stop for lunch. At Brak we will take on more supplies of food and refuel.

For the Jabal Ban Ghanimah we will stay in the Zuwaylah area initially, then move on to Al Qatrun or Al Wigh for exploring the southern tip of the Jabal for about 6 days (5 nights), and for the Kourou Arkenne area, we will spend some time ‘wild’ camping, and exploring the area for a futher 3-4 days.

The Jabal Bin Ghanimah is an extensive mountain range and in order to have enough time to explore the Jabal fully we will ‘wild’ camp in this region.

The Niger/Chad border cuts through the Massif d’Atafi, both sides have tracks that run into either country. 

CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULED ITINERARY

From Al Wigh we will drive towards the Libya/Niger border (Jabal Tammu), and if our access to Niger is blocked, we will head back north and wild-camp at TAHRAMI or Al Wigh,  then head south through the Murizidie Pass (an option here is if we cannot make it over either border, is to explore this region at the northern tip of a massif that extends into Chad, a remote and little-explored region).

At the current time the border with Chad is open, and if it proves feasible, we could probably pass unofficially between Libya and Chad over the open desert.  If we are successful in this then we will take a few days to explore the areas within the Chad or Niger border.

This tour is a pioneering one and as such will explore a new area; the successes on this trip will be built upon for a more extended tour to the Tibesti and later Ennedi in Chad, or the Djado Plateau in Niger.

Parts of the border area between Libya and northern Chad are dangerous, so care on this section of the route is crucially important - the route is also subject to confirmation.  Likewise the border between Libya and Niger may be a flashpoint, this is why we are asked to take an armed escort and join a convoy already heading further in.

An alternative route (from Algeria) after visiting the Jabal Tadrart is to head south along the Jabal Tadrart escarpment as far as is possible, the Jabal Tadrart transits both the Algerian and Niger borders; the southern most tip of the Jabal Tadrart touches into Niger.  Refuel and resupplying in DJANET.

Another route, along the MESSAK MELLET escarpment skirting the western Idehen Murzuq also runs south through the Southerneastern tip of Algeria and into Niger, loosing itself into the Mengeni Hamada (Niger). In fact unofficially the Messak Mellet could be considered the border between Libya-Algeria-Niger.    Ultimately it looses itself in the beginning of the DJADO PLATEAU. Refuel and resupplying in either SEBHA or SARDELES for this route.

Alternative routes to the ones above will be fully mapped out, and the duration and costs of extending the tour by a few days to take account of these new variables will be applied.