FAQ

For people who are interested in participating in the Heroes Legend, we have made a list with frequently asked questions. More questions? Don’t hesitate to contact the organisation.

I have little rallyexperience. Is Heroes Legend something for me?
Experience in rally-raids is not required. Some offroad experience is required off course. Riding on roadbook and gps you will learn during the rally. With an average distance of around 500 kilometers for each stage with maximum offroad sections, the days are quit long. Especially the bikers need to be well prepared physically.

What’s an average day like in the rally?
Around 06.00 in the morning you get up and get some breakfast. You pack up your tent and gear, and prepare yourself for your departure. The evening before you prepared your roadbook so that you know roughly what is about to come.  From 07.00 the first bikes start leaving, followed by the cars.  Later in the afternoon you will arrive in the next bivouac.  Depending on how your day went,  you should normally arrive before it’s dark. When you make a lot of navigation mistakes, have a few flat tyres or other technical problems, it can happen you need to drive the last part in the dark. But that’s off curse part of the adventure!
After you arrive you have a drink in the big Heroes Legend tent  and go through the day with other competitors. A great moment to relax a little and enjoy all the stories and atmosphere. Or you start doing your maintenance of your bike or 4x4. From around 19.30 hours you can have a good dinner, and the organisation gives you all the required information for the next day during the daily briefing.  After that you can do some work, have a chat or enjoy a good night rest as another beautiful day lies ahead!

What does the repatriation insurance included in the entry fee  offer?
Should you have to abandon the rally due to illness or an injury, the organisation will make sure you’re transported back home. From the moment you have to give up, there’s a medical team to assist you until your back in your homeland. These expenses are covered by the repatriation insurance which is included in the subscription fee. From the moment you get back home, your own health insurance will take over.

What happens in case of an accident?
We have our own helicopter, which is always on the route with 2 doctors on board who can be  at any place in a very short time.  Every bike is (compulsory) equipped with a satellite tracking system. With this we always know where you are, and you can give an emergency signal after which the organisation will send the helicopter. Besides the helicopter we also have 4 fully equipped medical 4x4’s  who can also assist the competitors. In the bivouac there’s always a medical tent permanently occupied with our medical team where you can go for any assistance.

I have a bike but I’m alone. How is the transport and service organised?
You can participate individually in the Heroes Legend. Transport can be booked with the organisation. This gives you the right to transport a Pierre Henry box, an bag with personal stuff and a set of wheels or tyres. The truck with all your materials will be waiting for you every day in the bivouac. The maintenance to your bike you do yourself. You can also contact other competitors to transport your material, or hook up with a team that offers a complete service package.

How is the start organised?
We have a showstart in Paris which is optional on Thursday October 14th we go from Paris to the start location in the south of France. Here we have the technical checks on Friday. Bikers can hand over their luggage to the organisation when they have booked transport. On Saturday we have the official start with a prologue followed by a connection route to the ferry which will take the participants to Morocco.  Friends, family and sponsors are off course more than welcome to come to the start. They can also take care of the transport of your material to the start location.  
In Europe, the motorbikes car be transported on a trailer.

How Is the finish organised?
On Saturday October 30st we arrive at the famous ‘Lac Rose’ in Dakar.  Here you can invite your friends, family and sponsors. The finish is always a great moment to experience! Around midday the rally arrives at the lake, where the last special will be ridden following the beach. Followed by a nice lunch and the price giving ceremony. At the same time this is also the finish of the event. The hotel night from Saturday to Sunday is not included, but we do have a list with hotels where reservations can be made.

How long takes the transport back to Europe, and how is it organised? 
On the Sunday after the finish you deliver your car or bike in the harbour. The 4x4 participants need to make sure all valuables are out of their vehicles.  After about three weeks the boat from Dakar arrives in Antwerp or L Havre.  Here you can collect your bike or car again. The bikes are transported in containers. It’s also possible to transport cars in containers, or to transport luggage from the 4x4’s in the containers  (added costs) in consultation with the organisation.
Boat 2 ways and customs formalities for your vehicle is organised by us. The price is included in the entry fee. Depending the country where you are from, we can arrange another destination than north of Europe. Contact the organisation for that.

The visas ?
According to your nationality, you need visa to enter the countries. Europeans just need a visa to enter Mauritania.
The visas have a validity limited so no need to apply to it before September.. The organization will supply you a letter you will have to attach with the visa application form before to go to the embassy.  It takes around 10 days and cost  65euros. If you have any question, ask the organization.

How to pay in Africa ?
Euros are accepted almost every where. Of course if you pay with Euro the rate is not good and can be different from one place to another one.
There will be a change office at the harbour of Nador when you enter Morocco. Then on the first bivouac in Mauritania, they will be possibility to change money. Same when you cross the border to Senegal.
Don’t change too much and remember that theses currencies cannot be change into Euros anymore.
Except the fuel and your cigarettes you have nothing else to spend. Everything is included in the entry fee.
Nerveless, you always need to have some cash with you just in case you need anything during the trip.
The bar at the bivouac has to be paid in Euros.

►  Morocco
 1 euro = 11 dirhams

► Mauritania
1 euro = 360 OUG

► Sénégal
1 euro = 655,95 CFA

Vaccines ?
Only the vaccine for the Yellow fever is compulsory.
Nevertheless you have to be up to date with all your vaccines (tetanus, hepatitis, typhoid ..)
A treatment against the malaria must be envisaged with your regular doctor.

Fuel and gasoil ?
For the motorbikes, all the gas station are indicated on the road book.. On few stages there wont be any station on the road so the organization will organize the refueling. The location of those refueling points will be announced during the briefing.
For the cars, there is gas oil everywhere. All the gas station are indicated on the road book. If your car is not equipped with a additional tank, we recommend to have on board a jerrican especially in Mauritania where there is just few gas station.
For the cars which use  ‘fuel’, and only for  Mauritania, you have to order your daily needs in fuel to the organization before the start.
We remind you that in Mauritania you cannot find any fuel in the gas station. The organization will sell fuel to the participants.

Where do I sleep every day ?
Every day we build up a nice bivouac with African tents. You can sleep there after the diner or you can bring your own tent. In any case, Don’t forget a sleeping bag and a mattress. Nights can be cold sometimes. Not far from some bivouacs, you can also find some ‘auberges’ where you can rent a room if you want. Info will be available at the Pc Course at the bivouac.

Is there a shower possible ?
On some bivouacs there are showers available for participants. The other places you can go to the nearest village. Local People will welcome you for few euros.