Overland Tunisia Travel
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Tunisia
- 2 Entering Tunisia with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Tunisia
- 4 Gas price in Tunisia and Diesel price in Tunisia
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Tunisia
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Tunisia
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Tunisia
Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.' I can only relate to my experience from 2004 - 2009, obviously a lot has changed since then. I am going back this year as I believe it is safe to do so based on information from a friend in Douz. I entered Tunis on the car ferry, twice from Marseilles and once from Genoa. If you can book on a Tunisian Ferry (CTN) then the immigration and vehicle importation can be done on board, albeit by standing in a long queue, (ie anything up to 2-3 hours). As the crossing is 24 hours the ferries rarely depart on time, as long as they leave on the correct day and arrive the next it seems to be acceptable. Consider the various accommodation options on board, my preference is always a private cabin with shower and toilet. Food - I found the best option to be the "complete" booked with the main restaurant, this gives you 3 meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in the order determined by your departure time. You can do the voyage "on the cheap" but if you are going to spend in the region of £800 on the crossing (with a vehicle) what difference another £200 or so for a little luxury.
Entering Tunisia with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: (date last confirmed correct)
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Tunisia, application instructions and fees see: Tunisia Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
''Entering Tunesia in Tunis by boat is the usual way. With a Carnet de Passage things are easiest but I am reasonably sure you can enter without as wel. Perhaps somebody else can elaborate on that. Further more you need your original car registration, in the same name as your passport. Insurance is mandatory but was never asked for
Process at border
Ariving by boat in Tunis all cars are directed to the process place. There its chaotic and uncomprehensible. There is a lot of pushing, shoving and shouting since all people want to leave as quickly as possible. First you have to find the right booth to get your immigration papers, fill it in and present it to the right guy. He will stap your passport. Then you have to find the booth to get your car paper. You fill this in and find the guy who has to inspect your car. Not easy. After he has done this and signed your paper you should go back to the car booth and get your car papers entered into a computer. After this you should be able to leave. Since there are no signs and no help, you should expect this process to take a few hours, depending on how many cars there are on the ship. Holidays are the worst times. '" Any form of 2 way radio will be confiscated on entry, you can collect it when you depart, best is to hide the evidence somewhere reasonably secure and when asked the question "You have CB radio?" just say "no". Once out of the port you can re-install, CB is very useful if you are in a group. DO NOT use in sight of the National Guard at check points etc.
Cost of entry
There should be no costs involved
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
From memory, in 2006 the vehicle was stamped into your passport, if you left the country the vehicle had to leave with you. In the case of total loss of vehicle a police report would be required.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in Tunisia
I've taken my own vehicle 3 times, RHD Land Rover, and hired a vehicle from Djerba once. Never had any problems, just be aware of the locals, the red/white minibus taxis drive at speed. On the main road south to Lybia it can get very busy and watch out for the Lybian trucks. Do not buy the roadside fuel from bottles, use a normal fuel station. Try to carry enough fuel (in Jerries if necessary) as diesel is not always so readily available particularly on the western, inland roads. Do not drive into the desert alone, even from Douz to Ksar Ghilane always a minimum of two vehicles. ALWAYS have a shovel, and reduce the pressure in your tyres, ensure you have the means to re-inflate them when you return to the tarmac.
Recommended books for Overlanding in Tunisia
Travel insurance for Tunisia
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
You most definitely will need one my advice try to find an international insurance in your home country to cover the repair of your car don't relay on Tunisian insurance as they asks for you to repair out of your pocket then rembourse you and if you're foreigner they will drag it up knowing you will give up
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Drove there in the past with Italian standard licence so an international one mighr not be necessary
Driving side of road
Right.
RHD vehicles can be driven in Tunisia.
None is mandatory there but better have them
Roads
General Road quality
Tunesia has an extensive network of good tarmac roads. For the adventurous one there are a lot of tracks or sand driving in the dunes.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
Between the big cities in the Northern part of Tuneisia there are toll motorways. the costs are low and the quality is good. great if you are in a hurry to get south.
==Bribery there is 24/7 specially the cops on the road don't be surprised if they will plainly ask you to pay to let you go without a ticket lol
Checkpoints
describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas price in Tunisia and Diesel price in Tunisia
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | €0.93 EUR per Liter[1] |
| Diesel | €0.81 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Driving at night is hazardous away from the main towns, there are few if any street lights. You will meet donkey carts, donkeys, mopeds on the wrong side of the road, children and even vehicles, all completely unlit. My Landy had over 400 watts of light on the front, which made driving at night relatively safe, my friend, in his Defender with standard lights, refused after one late arrival in Aghir, Djerba, to drive at night again. Driving in the desert at night is a real No No, you need to know the track really well, off the tracks, ie virgin dunes, would be highly dangerous, DO NOT try it.
Hit and run, vandalism and car theft are frequent but also depends on which town are you in and how big it is anyway it's better and safer park it in a garage or leave it in a gas station paying a little bit of money the gas attendent to keep an eye over it
Special driving considerations
DO NOT enter the desert areas where advised by the National Guard not to. In 2008 a couple were abducted because they did just that; they were held for approximately 9 months, their 2 dogs were shot and it was rumoured that their government paid for their release. On of them was extremely sick when released and it was reported that this was the main reason for the abductors agreeing to the release. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7299953.stm
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Tunisia - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Tunisia
There is a place to camp in Nebul/Hammamet, it is gated and locked at night. There is another in Kebili which is on the road with all the mechanics/vehicle repairers, 2 in Douz that I remember, and one in Aghir, right on the beach on the Ille de Djerba.
Facilities are minimal, toilets and showers and water is about all that's available.
Wild camping in the desert is preferable in my opinion. Ksar Ghilane has a wild camp under the Tamerisk trees and the hot water spring provides a welcome swim to wash out the desert sand.
Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Tap water to be avoided, you can buy water in the general store and many other area the health system isn't reliable better don't get sick while there unless you have the mean to go seek care in expensive clinics
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Tunisia
GPS Maps of Tunisia
Tracks4Africa are the undisputed best GPS maps for Africa.
Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Tunisia
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Tunisia
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Tunisia: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Tunisia - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Tunisia travel guides at wikivoyage
- Tunisia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
