Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Argentina, and we want to do the northern loop followed by the southern loop starting from Salta. Since I’ve read conflicting advice, I need your help to figure out if an SUV is enough or if a 4x4 is absolutely necessary—prices are really different! I’d also appreciate recommendations for "reliable" rental agencies. Thanks for your help

hi, Now that I’ve got my new VW Syncro T3 (4x4), I’m hoping to explore some new tracks on my next trip at the end of 2025. Back in winter 2022/23, I wanted to try a recently extended track that continues the one leading to Aït Kine. After the village, I was able to drive on a good ten kilometers of tarmac, which then turns into a nice dirt track as soon as the climb to the pass begins (beautiful ravines). Almost at the last hairpin turn, I didn’t have enough power or traction to make it (my old T3 was only 2x4). I had to turn around, clenching my cheeks the whole way. Has anyone managed to take this track, which should lead to a main road (Igherm or Taliouine?) further north? And where exactly? Is it fully paved now?

Hi there!

I'm considering doing a round trip of Africa, starting in Morocco, then following the west coast down to the south, and finally heading back up along the east coast.

However, I have some big questions about the route:

From what I've gathered after a lot of research, the road seems quite doable without a 4x4 as far as Senegal, or even Benin?

It's between Benin and Namibia that it would get really tough, and I'd either need a 4x4 or to ship my vehicle if I'm in a converted H2L2 van (not 4x4)?

Could someone clarify this for me?

Otherwise, it seems like Southern, Northern, and Eastern Africa are accessible without a 4x4?

As for the vehicle, if a 4x4 is essential, I'm torn between: Kangoo 4x4 Lada Niva 4x4 standard C15 C15 4x4 Renault Trafic 4x4 (H2L2, so still quite large) or a Subaru Libero 4x4

Or would it even be possible with a simple Twingo? ^

But is that enough, or do I absolutely need a 4x4 like a Toyota, Land Rover, or something similar?

Those are my current questions! If anyone has some answers, that would be amazing!

Thanks so much!

Hi, I’m planning a road trip in the Middle Atlas, starting and ending in Fez and heading down to the south of Midelt, the Assoul Massif.... We’ll be traveling with two small 4x4s. I’m looking for detailed maps of this region that include small roads and tracks. Last year, we had a fantastic road trip in the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas using Erfahren maps, but unfortunately, they don’t cover the area we’re interested in this year. Thanks for your suggestions! Dominique

I'm looking for info on the route between Imilchil and Tabant—is it a dirt track, and what condition is it in? Any paved roads? We’ll have a 4x4. My GPS shows a track that would connect Imilchil directly to the Cathedral of Rocks (near Tilougguite), without taking the big detour via the R 306. I can’t find this track on any map. How long should we allow for the trip between Imilchil and Tabant? Is this route doable year-round? Are there any wadi crossings?

Thanks for any recent tips on this route! Best, Dominique

Hello fellow adventurers,

After many self-drive trips in South Africa and 30 days in Namibia last April with a rooftop tent, I’m planning a relaxed 15-day trip to Kenya in a simple 4x4 (like a Rav4) without a tent. The goal is to visit Amboseli and Tsavo East and West parks in January. I’ve read about the differences in climate, vegetation, and wildlife between the two Tsavo parks... We’re thinking of spending one week in the parks and ending with 5-6 days on the coast. I have a few questions about the reserves and the 4x4, and I’d love any tips or observations: - January is the dry season: Is a simple 4x4 enough? - Since we’ll end near Mombasa, is it a good financial and tourist plan to rent the 4x4 only until Mombasa and then take the train back to Nairobi at the end of the trip? - What’s the general condition of the roads, and are there any to avoid? - I read that in Tsavo East, only the Galana River still has water in January. Is it a good idea to enter through Maniant Gate and take the road along the river south, or is it better to head north on the tracks? - Is it better to look for lodging inside the parks, or are there long queues at the park entrances in the morning during this season? - I also saw two reserves around Mount Kenya that look nice. How much time should we plan to visit them, or is it better to focus on Tsavo? What’s holding me back a bit is that the entrance fees have skyrocketed: $80/day/person!! Anyway, if you have any thoughts or ideas, I’d love to hear them to help with my planning!

Hello my friends, You can't imagine how happy I am to be back on my beloved site, loved by its traveling men and women!!!!! I want to travel with my little family (by car, not 4x4) from Taliouine to Tafraoute—it's a route I haven't taken yet (I've already done the one via Igherm), and I don't know the condition of the R106 road. Then, once that's done, our destination will be Zagora via Foum Zguid. I don’t want to go to Tata; my wife can’t stand that city. (I don’t mind because there’s a little local bar that’s not bad ;)) If you have any info, especially about the road conditions in October, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks so much, and I’m so happy to be back here.

Hello, We’re about to book the Saharan Loops 4x4 tour with Fram for April. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this trip. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Michel

Hi there, I’m looking to find a company at Salt Lake City airport that rents vehicles for gravel roads: Burr Trail, Cottonwood Canyon, etc. Thanks

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Zambia in 2 years. This will be our 4th trip to Southern Africa—the last one this year was Moremi, Boteti, KCGR, and KTP as a self-drive with campsites and no guide, just my wife and me. For this year’s trip, we prepared 2 years in advance—bookings are really complicated. We were lucky to get a spot at Bitterpan in KTP (there are only 4 chalets).

We’d like to know if it’s easy to get around Zambia, especially when it comes to restocking supplies. Should we rent a 4x4 in Zambia, Namibia, or South Africa? Botswana is very expensive. Which parks are the most interesting? We’re into wildlife photography.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Jean-Marc

Hi everyone, I’m starting to plan an itinerary for September 2027 focused on Zimbabwe and Zambia. I’d love to visit Gonarezhou National Park—I see there are two sectors: the Mwenezi Region in the south and the area around the Runde River in the north. Should I cover both sectors or just focus on the northern region? For the parks along the Zambezi River, is it better to visit Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side or Lower Zambezi on the Zambia side? Thanks in advance for any tips on the parks in these two countries. Have a great day, everyone.

Hi there, I’m heading to Lesotho in a few days and I’m struggling to find info on the best route between Katse Dam and Sehlathebe National Park. There’s a fairly "direct" route from Thaba Tseka, but the roads seem rough, and we’re not exactly 4x4 pros. Anyone have any tips to share? Thanks!

Hi there, I’ll be in Oman in early March 2025. I’ve rented a 4x4 to reach the Oman Sea coast from Ibra. I’ve seen two options on Oman Off Road:

The OOR 30 route via Wadi Kabbah, Wadi Bani Jabir to Qalhat.

Combine the OOR 30 and OOR 28 routes via the Salma Plateau to Tiwi or Fins.

Can anyone advise me on the current condition of the tracks? For option 2, is it better to head down to Tiwi or Fins? Can this trip be done in one day? Thanks in advance to those who can share some great tips!

Best regards.

Hi everyone,

I’m finalizing my trip starting from Namibia. When I arrive in Divundu, I’d like to head straight to the Khwai area early in the morning to one of the campsites in the Khwai Development Trust. Is the drive doable with a good 4x4 in a day? We’ll spend 2 nights in Khwai, then 2 or maybe 3 nights in the Moremi area (Third Bridge/Xakanaxa/Mboma) before heading back to Maun to wrap up our journey. Is that too much time to spend in each place?

We’d also like to do one or two boat excursions in the delta. Any suggestions for the best options and operators?

Thanks in advance for your tips and advice! Best, Patrick

Hi, I was wondering if it's possible to rent a vehicle in Melchor de Mencos (Guatemala-Belize border)? Are there any rental agencies there? If so, thanks for any info!

Hello, We already did a self-organized trip to Namibia in March 2019, covering Windhoek and the southern part up to the South African border, then heading back via Lüderitz, the dunes, the Atlantic coast, Swakopmund, and Erongo. We’ve organized a second trip for May 2026. Here’s our itinerary and the bookings we’ve made directly or through Booking. The 4x4 Toyota Hilux is reserved with Africa on Wheels in Windhoek—we used them five years ago and were happy with the service.

May 9: Arrival in Windhoek via Lufthansa; Okahandja Country Hotel in Okahandja May 10: Spitzkoppe, Spitzkoppe Tented Camp May 11: Brandberg, White Lady Lodge Tree House May 12 & 13: Twyfelfontein, Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp May 14 & 15: Palmwag, Grootberg Lodge May 16: Opuwo, Opuwo Country Lodge May 17 & 18: Epupa Falls, Omarunga Epupa Falls May 19: Etosha, Dolomite Resort May 20: Okaukuejo, NWR waterhole chalet May 21: Onguma, Mushara Bush Camp May 22 & 23: Waterberg, Waterberg Wilderness Valley Lodge May 24: Brakwater, Windhoek Gama Camp May 25: Return to Windhoek and flight home

- My first question is about the route between Opuwo and Epupa Falls. We’ll take the C43 and D3700. According to the Tracks4Africa map, it’s about a 3-hour drive. What’s the condition of the road? I’ve also heard that the local population, including children and adults, can be insistent and sometimes exhibit dangerous behavior toward tourists and vehicles, asking for food or other things. Is this accurate? After our stay in Epupa, we’ll retrace our steps back to Opuwo, then take the C41 to Galton Gate to enter Etosha National Park. - Do you know what time Galton Gate at Hobatere closes? We’ll need to leave Epupa very early to arrive before the gate shuts, as we’re heading straight to Dolomite Resort.

Thanks for your advice and experiences! Christine

February 2025: The M'semrir-Tamtatoucht link via P7104 is now fully paved, making it possible to do the Dadès-Toghra loop via the pass.

My partner and I are planning a 21-day self-drive trip from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, flying from Montreal to Victoria Falls and renting a 4x4. I’d love to hear members’ thoughts on our itinerary and its feasibility, along with your recommendations for must-see spots, essential parks, lodges, etc.

Our ideal is to start our stay at the falls and head south to South Africa, finishing in Cape Town by the sea for two days of relaxation before returning to Canada. We’re big on photography, not so much on cities, and we usually book accommodations where we can prepare our own dinner. Is this itinerary too ambitious? I’ve read a lot of travel journals and sometimes it seems very doable, other times completely the opposite...

Proposed itinerary: 17 October: Montreal-Livingstone, Zambia (Z) 18-19 Oct.: Victoria Falls, Z 20 Oct.: Kasane, Botswana (BO) 21-22 Oct.: Chobe Park, BO 23 Oct.: Francistown, BO 24 Oct.: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, BO 25 Oct.: Palapye, BO 26 Oct.: Polokwane, South Africa (SA) 27 Oct.: Phalaborwa, SA 28-29 Oct.: Kruger Park, SA 30 Oct.: Malelane Gate, SA 31 Oct.: Winburg, SA 1 November: Bloemfontein, SA 2 November: Beaufort West, SA 3-5 November: Cape Town, SA

Hi, Does anyone know the current condition of the track from Afellah Ighir to the N7 north of Imitek, passing by the Akka Mines? About 57 km total, with the first 14 km (up to the Mine) paved and the rest unpaved. Thanks in advance

Hi everyone,

We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech). We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.

Here’s the planned route (in this order):

Marrakech → Ouarzazate → Draa Valley → Zagora → Erg Chegaga → Lake Iriki → Foum Zguid → Tata → Tafraoute → Aït Mansour → Tiznit → Mirleft → Taroudant → Back to Marrakech

Our goal:

Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline. We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.

We’re planning:

Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day) Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack

Questions:

Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)? Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki? Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing? Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route? The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.

We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert. Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Patagonia for November–December 2026. After reading forums, blogs, and guidebooks, we’ve sketched out a rough itinerary and would love to hear from experts. We initially wanted to rent a camper van, but it’s hard to find options and we have no idea about prices. We’ve settled on starting in Bariloche, crossing into Chile for the Carretera Austral, then back into Argentina before crossing into Chile again for Punta Arenas, and finally ending in El Calafate to drop off the car. We don’t want to make any advance reservations so we can stay flexible based on weather and road conditions. Do you think this route is reasonably doable? And if you have any idea about the cost of renting a car for 17 days with a different drop-off location and the paperwork needed for border crossings… Thanks a million in advance for your replies! Céline

Day 1: Flight – 24 hours of travel, overnight on the plane Day 2: Arrival in Buenos Aires, overnight in BA Day 3: BA, overnight in BA Day 4: BA, overnight in BA Day 5: Flight to Bariloche, overnight in Bariloche Day 6–7: Seven Lakes route, overnight in Bariloche Day 8: Drive to La Junta, overnight stop Day 9: Drive to Puerto Tranquilo, overnight in Puerto Tranquilo Day 10: Catedral de Mármol, overnight in Puerto Tranquilo Day 11: Drive to El Chaltén, overnight stop Day 12: Arrival in El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 13: El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 14: El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 15: Drive to Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 16: Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 17: Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 18: Drive to Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 19: Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 20: Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 21: Drive to El Calafate, overnight in El Calafate Day 22: El Calafate, overnight in El Calafate Day 23: Flight to BA, overnight in BA Day 24: Flight to Paris

Hi there, Can you tell me if the road between Zagora and M'Gouna is easy or difficult for a 4x4? How much time and how many kilometers should I plan for? I’m traveling in May. Thanks!

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Russia and Mongolia, starting from France. Crossing the border at Poland/Belarus or Georgia/Russia—other borders seem either closed or complicated. Tourist visas for 3 months with multiple entries. Do you have any info on Russian companies that cover a 4x4 vehicle for 3 months, and what prices in rubles or euros you’ve paid?

Which bank did you use for expenses? (EuroMastercard and Visa cards no longer work.)

Regarding Russian SIM cards, a new system called "Gosuslugi" has been introduced. How long did it take you to get one, and what steps did you follow?

Thanks

Hello, Is it possible to consider wild camping with young children, mainly in the Anti-Atlas? It’s not an option for budget reasons but rather a way of traveling we enjoy.

If we get the landowner’s permission and offer compensation, is it feasible?

Happy New Year to you all

Hi, I’m looking for recent info about the track between Nkoud and Boumaine du Dadès via Tizi N'Tazazerte. Is it still a dirt track or is it now a paved road? Is it doable in April with a 4x4? Thanks for your tips, Best, Dominique

Hi, does anyone know the current condition of the track/road P1800 that goes from R111 just past Allougoum to Akka Ighane on P1743? Google Maps says it's doable, but all the info I’ve gotten advises against it. From Akka Ighane, at the junction with the road to Auguinane, it was even paved for the 10 km I covered two years ago. But in Morocco, paved roads can suddenly end without warning 😏.

Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip. I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely, After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide. What do the authorities say? My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert. Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs. I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own. Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide. Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld. Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway. Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain. Dates: late December to mid-February. We’ve got plenty of time. If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles. Looking forward to your replies.

February 2025: A new fully paved road (just a few kilometers missing near Tisguine n'Aït M'Rao) from Alemdoun to the Dadès. Gorgeous pass.

Hi Botswana lovers! Has anyone recently crossed the Third Bridge coming from North Gate? What’s the bridge like? And is North Gate open? Thanks in advance! Patricia

Hi there, I’m planning a 3-week trip to Oman this coming November. As I list the different places I’d like to visit, I’m trying to match each one with whether: - a basic sedan is enough - a small SUV with higher ground clearance is really necessary - a 4x4 is absolutely essential.

This is to keep costs down and avoid renting a vehicle that’s too expensive for the whole trip.

Would you have any thoughts on the vehicle choices in the attached file?

Thanks for your insights, and have a great evening! Christophe