Morocco Trip July/August 2016

NiallRussell said:

ahhh.

when I was driving my car registration had to be valid in my home country other wise i HAD to import the car and pay the hefty fees and deal with the paper work. because my car papers where valid it was 45 minutes at the borders and no issues.

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Registration (log book) must be current, and preferably in your own name as whilst in most countries it is possible to use a vehicle registered in another name accompanied by a letter of permission (translated to the relevant language), a copy of named owners passport and all vehicle documents it causes massive headaches and delays. I've done it several times in Africa with company owned vehicles and once made it across the Sahara from UK to The Gambia in an old Mercedes van using an out of date road tax reminder, in someone else's name, as the log book! Long story and the log book was rediscovered on our last day in Gambia Life is a lot easier with all paperwork present and up to date but anything is possible in Africa

thanks for the info - I'll remember that when planning next trip.

Did 6 week trip in Spring and doing another this autumn - helps justify the cost of shipping the 110 to Cape Town and back.
Most important document is the V5 and of course the Carnet.
Did get stopped by police and asked why I wasn't displaying a tax disc.
Basic insurance is included when fuel is purchased. Outside Cape Town it is difficult to hit anything as the roads are deserted.
The N (1996 model) was a bit confusing at vet fence checks etc. as this is also the letter used for Namibia vehicles.
Tons of dust and corrugations on the roads!!.

OLDUN said:

Did 6 week trip in Spring and doing another this autumn - helps justify the cost of shipping the 110 to Cape Town and back.
Most important document is the V5 and of course the Carnet.
Did get stopped by police and asked why I wasn't displaying a tax disc.
Basic insurance is included when fuel is purchased. Outside Cape Town it is difficult to hit anything as the roads are deserted.
The N (1996 model) was a bit confusing at vet fence checks etc. as this is also the letter used for Namibia vehicles.
Tons of dust and corrugations on the roads!!.

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bet you loved it Ken.

I did. Took my son's 80 series on Monday to Barking to go into a container and the M4/M25 was horrible.

Well i'm hoping to be off in a few weeks.

Current condition is:

• Discovery 2002 TD5 - 92K - Serviced 2 months ago
• 2" Terrafirma Lift
• 6x 235x85x16 General Grabber AT2's (thanks to Scuba Mike for the recommendation)
• Tmax Dual battery split
• MCB4x4 Tubular full length Roof Rack
• Snorkel
• Rear Ladder
• Nudge Bar
• Rock Sliders
• 6x driving lights and one rear working light
• Dynachip Stage 1 remap - Torque

In the past few days I've had delivered or will be getting:

• 2x 20l jerry cans
• 20l plastic water holder
• 4 x Waterproof boxes for bits on the roof
• Need to get the rear windows tinted for security
• Mantec steering Guard
• Front and rear diff guards.
• security cable (for spare time on roof) and ratchet straps
• T-MAX 12V Air Compressor BA2641
• 30M Rope
• Tow cable
• Jackall High jack, Spade, Axe - Waiting on getting info back from MCB4x4 regarding roof rack brackets for these.
• 10x90 Binoculars
• Sleeping Bag

Quechua 2 second 2 man tent

• Still need:
• Sand Ladders - both plastic and aluminium are pricey
• cooking utensils and crockery
• grill for cooking - going to take some coal in a waterproof back or maybe use camel poo
• chairs and table
• Halfords 40L Fridge (really light and wasn't going to get one but it's just me on the trip)

Tools to take:

• Basic Tools
• Oil and capturing device
• Rubber gloves
• Disco Td5 Manual
• Phone to call Garage to back up limited knowledge

Fun toys to take:

• Parrot Bebop 2 Drone
• GoPro Hero 3 (still pondering buying this)
• Running gear

Missing anything?

I'm contemplating doing the following:

• Buying a CB radio - even though i'm going on my own still may be useful
• Installing a rear camera I bought which i'm not to keen (want a ARB one now but £300+) as with tinted windows and large load in the back this could be useful
• dog guard although the disco 2 ones are £130ish

Be very careful with the drone. Moroccan authorities are not very keen on them and people on some forums are saying that they are in fact illegal there. Don't fly it anywhere near the border with Algerea, no matter how remote you think you are there are military lookout posts everywhere. That includes pretty much all of the Rekkam plataux, the Eastern routes down to Erg Chebbi (although you may get away with it at Erg Chebbi with it being such a tourist hotspot), all of the Southern Desert routes and the whole of Western Sahara.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who have got away with it but it could spoil your day if you get caught.

MrIFan said:

Be very careful with the drone. Moroccan authorities are not very keen on them and people on some forums are saying that they are in fact illegal there. Don't fly it anywhere near the border with Algerea, no matter how remote you think you are there are military lookout posts everywhere. That includes pretty much all of the Rekkam plataux, the Eastern routes down to Erg Chebbi (although you may get away with it at Erg Chebbi with it being such a tourist hotspot), all of the Southern Desert routes and the whole of Western Sahara.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who have got away with it but it could spoil your day if you get caught.

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Ah did not know this, yeah could be a bit of a downer after spending £750 on it

--->Also you want to have a guide in your car if you are driving on your own. He will know the dangerous places and have multiple simcards for moroccan networks. The signals in the desert area are mixed and random strength if any. If you cross too close to the Algerian border you can get in serious trouble.

Stay away from the known drug areas and have your wits about you. Hire or buy a satellite phone then phone signal is not a problem. The idea of having a guide in Morocco seems very unnappealing. Yeah there are some dodgy patches around the border of Algeria and Morocco. Driving off road and then camping within a few hundred metres of the border at night was probably not one of our best moves so don't do that.

--->Don't go offroad in West Sahara. Some places have landmines and only the military knows where. They will not be happy about foreigners in their fields.

We dipped in to the Western Sahara and did some off road. Millions of un-exploded land mines and the limbless locals are a testament to that (shared dinner and a story with a few) and I very much doubt the military knows where they all are, either. Stick to established paths which are often marked out by stones for confirmation and do not stray, however tempting it may seem or if a different route seems easier. Even if you are desperate for a dump...stay on the path. If you do find you accidentally stray, reverse on the exact tracks you went in on. We were welcomed as foreigners not a problem there although my friend had to admit when he had to go off in the back of someone elses Landie to get fuel (we were stranded in no-mans Land) he was a little alarmed when the driver had to do a detour to get an axe and said it'd be best if he avoided the check points. I was very happy when he came back! I'd recommend it though...from my limited experience you really do get the sense if being in the middle of absolute no-where and seeing what look like bunkers made out of sand is quite interesting and equally eerie. I would definitely go again and perhaps venture further in.