Croisière des Sables Expeditions
| Company type | Project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Expedition / Automotive endurance testing |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Christian Galissian |
Area served | Sahara Desert, North Africa |
Key people | Christian Galissian |
| Products | Saviem TP3 and SM8 4×4 trucks (used in expedition) |
Croisiere des Sables Expeditions was a 1977 project aimed at crossing the entire Sahara desert using seven 4×4 trucks produced by Saviem. The mission sought to demonstrate the endurance of these trucks over long distances and to install navigational beacons along the route.
Routes
- Imperial Track
Stretching from Morocco to Mauritania, the Imperial Track traverses a dangerous, unmarked region and has remained mostly consistent since its original establishment.
- Cape Verde Red Sea Axis
This route, running west to east, was created to link Africa with the Maghreb nations and Mecca. It has historically been used by Mauritanian pilgrims on their journey for the Hajj.
Within Algeria, three primary desert tracks are notable:
- Reggan Track — extends westward through Tanezrouft.
- Djanet Track — heads toward Djado in Niger, following a route pioneered by Missions Berliet-Ténéré.
- Tamanrasset Track — connects Algeria and Nigeria via a paved road, though much of it has degraded due to severe desert conditions.
Planning
Christian Galissian initiated this expedition, drawing inspiration from earlier Citroën ventures such as the 1924 Black Expedition (Croisière Noire) and the 1932 Yellow Expedition (Croisière Jaune). The team comprised seven Saviem trucks operated by drivers, mechanics, engineers, journalists, cameramen, and a medical professional.
Since no continuous overland route existed across North Africa from west to east at that time, the organizers planned a 10,500 km journey—6,500 km of which were off-road—passing through six oases. The lightweight 4×4 vehicles transported personnel and equipment but depended on a single SM8 4×4 truck carrying 200-litre fuel drums. Each truck carried between four and six additional fuel containers, water tanks, provisions, and externally mounted sand ladders for traction assistance. Weighing approximately 15 tonnes each, all vehicles operated within their load limits.
Beginning
In 1976, Renault's commercial vehicle division Saviem utilized the Croisiere des Sables expedition to highlight its 4×4 models, specifically the TP3 and SM8. Scheduled from January to April 1977, the mission employed Saviem TP3 and SM8 4×4 trucks with the objective of establishing an east-west desert corridor marked by distinctive blue-and-white beacons.
Journey
The convoy set off from Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 4 January and crossed the Sahara Desert via Gao in Mali before arriving at Kharga Oasis in Egypt by April. The group included five SM8s and two TP3s with a total of twelve crew members. Mechanical difficulties caused delays—including a two-week halt in Agadez, Niger for parts replacement—and severe sandstorms challenged progress throughout the three-month trek that spanned between 7,000 and 10,000 km. Daily distances traveled varied widely from as little as 10 km up to 200 km depending on terrain conditions.
Aftermath
The Croisière des Sables expedition heightened awareness of long-range desert travel possibilities and validated the use of heavy-duty trucks in demanding environments. It followed in the footsteps of earlier journeys such as Citroën’s Croisière noire and Berliet’s Mission Ténéré.
Vehicles
The fleet consisted of two Renault Super Goélette TP3 4×4 trucks alongside five Saviem SM8 4×4 vehicles.
Saviem Route
Originating from Gao, the Saviem Route was marked with beacons in areas where vehicle traffic was infrequent. These trucks are believed to have been the first to traverse numerous segments of this path.
Saviem Beacons
In 1977, a total of 25 Saviem beacons were positioned along the route to warn travelers of challenging terrain ahead. These blue and white markers have become a lasting emblem of the expedition; today, visitors often honor them by affixing stickers.
| Beacon | Status | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saviem Beacon 1 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 2 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 3 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 4 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 5 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 6 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 7 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 8 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 9 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 10 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 11 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 12 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 13 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 14 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 15 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 16 | Remains visible | ||
| Saviem Beacon 17 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 18 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 19 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 20 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 21 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 22 | Upright – paint shows signs of fading | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | |
| Saviem Beacon 23 | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | ||
| Saviem Beacon 24 | |||
| Saviem Beacon 25 |