Tamanrasset Municipal Campground — Hoggar Overland Basecamp

Tamanrasset’s municipal campground sits on the south side of town and has long been the default basecamp for overlanders prepping for the Assekrem run or the broader Hoggar circuit. It’s a flat, open dirt compound — nothing glamorous — with basic pit toilets and sometimes a water point depending on the season. Capacity is loose; you’ll share the lot with Tuareg traders, trans-Africa rigs, and the occasional tour group. It gets busy during the Saharan high season (Oct–Mar). Nights here are cold in winter, roasting in summer.

Access is straightforward on paved roads right into Tamanrasset — no clearance required to reach the camp itself. Use this as your last real base before heading north into the Atakor volcanic field on the piste. Stock fuel, water, and food here; once you’re on the Assekrem track, you’re fully committed. Check permit requirements at the local gendarmerie before departure.

Hoggar gateway — stage here before the piste.