More than five minutes of totality across the north of the country
Totality begins at 09:51:06 and ends at 09:56:14 (local time, UTC+1). Maximum eclipse is at 09:53:40, with the sun 43° above the horizon. The partial phases run from 08:44 to 11:09. Figures are for Oran. Algeria keeps UTC+1 all year, one hour behind mainland Spain.
Algeria is where this eclipse first passes five minutes over land. Oran gets 5 minutes 8 seconds, Timgad 5 minutes 20 seconds, Khenchela 5 minutes 18 seconds, Bou Saada 5 minutes 17 seconds. The path covers a wide band of the north of the country, from the Oran coast across the high plateau to the Aurès mountains.
It also crosses some of the best preserved Roman cities anywhere in the world. Timgad and Djemila are both UNESCO sites and both are inside the path. Watching a total eclipse from a Roman forum in the Aurès is about as good as eclipse chasing gets.
At Timgad, in the Aurès mountains
Timgad, Djemila and Tipasa all see totality
High morning sun, and a very dry climate in August
| City | Eclipse | Duration / coverage | Maximum | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timgad | Total | 5 min 20 s | 10:04 | 51° |
| Khenchela | Total | 5 min 18 s | 10:05 | 52° |
| Bou Saada | Total | 5 min 17 s | 10:00 | 49° |
| Batna | Total | 5 min 16 s | 10:03 | 51° |
| M’Sila | Total | 5 min 13 s | 10:01 | 49° |
| Oran | Total | 5 min 08 s | 09:53 | 43° |
| Tiaret | Total | 5 min 05 s | 09:56 | 46° |
| Mostaganem | Total | 5 min 02 s | 09:54 | 44° |
| Biskra | Total | 5 min 02 s | 10:03 | 51° |
| Chlef | Total | 4 min 34 s | 09:56 | 46° |
| Sidi Bel Abbès | Total | 4 min 30 s | 09:53 | 44° |
| Mascara | Total | 4 min 00 s | 09:54 | 44° |
| Sétif | Total | 3 min 23 s | 10:02 | 50° |
| Tlemcen | Total | 3 min 11 s | 09:52 | 43° |
| Blida | Total | 2 min 52 s | 09:58 | 47° |
| Djémila | Total | 2 min 02 s | 10:03 | 50° |
| Tipasa | Total | 1 min 58 s | 09:58 | 47° |
| Cherchell | Total | 1 min 54 s | 09:57 | 46° |
| Algiers | Partial | 99.83% | 09:59 | 47° |
| Constantine | Partial | 99.94% | 10:04 | 51° |
| Béjaïa | Partial | 99.46% | 10:01 | 49° |
| Annaba | Partial | 98.02% | 10:06 | 52° |
| El Oued | Partial | 98.24% | 10:05 | 52° |
| Touggourt | Partial | 96.88% | 10:03 | 51° |
| Ghardaia | Partial | 93.42% | 09:59 | 49° |
| Tamanrasset | Partial | 53.15% | 10:06 | 53° |
Algerian local time, UTC+1. Computed from JPL DE440s ephemerides.
The best single location in Algeria for this eclipse: 5 minutes 20 seconds over the ruins of Thamugadi, the colony founded by Trajan around AD 100 and laid out on a perfect grid. The triumphal arch, the theatre and the forum are all still standing. At 1,000 metres on the northern edge of the Sahara, the sky in early August is about as reliable as it gets.
2 minutes 2 seconds, which is much less than Timgad, but Djemila is one of the most beautiful Roman sites in North Africa, set in a mountain valley at 900 metres. If you are choosing between the two for eclipse morning, choose Timgad and visit Djemila the day before.
5 minutes 8 seconds in Algeria’s second city, with an international airport, hotels and the Santa Cruz fort on the mountain above the bay. Mostaganem, along the coast, gets 5 minutes 2 seconds. This is the easiest part of the country to reach and the easiest to organise.
Roman coastal cities west of Algiers, with just under two minutes each. Tipasa is a UNESCO site right on the Mediterranean. Short totality, extraordinary setting.
5 minutes 2 seconds at the gateway to the Sahara, with the oasis and the Aurès behind. The driest and clearest option in the country, and the hottest by a distance.
The capital sees 99.83% and no totality. Constantine gets 99.94%, also outside. Béjaïa 99.46%. All three are frustratingly close to the northern limit. Blida, 45 minutes south of Algiers, gets 2 minutes 52 seconds, and Tipasa an hour west gets 1 minute 58 seconds. If you are based in Algiers you must move on the morning.
Visas: Algeria requires a visa in advance for most nationalities, and the process is slower and more document-heavy than in neighbouring countries. Many applications need a hotel booking or an invitation. Start months ahead, not weeks. See our visa notes.
Getting there: Algiers Houari Boumediene and Oran Ahmed Ben Bella have flights from across Europe. Ferries run from Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona and Marseille to Algiers, Oran and other ports. Internal flights connect the coast with Batna and Biskra.
Getting around: distances are long and the road network in the north is good. Organised eclipse tours are likely to be the simplest option for the Aurès sites, and are also a practical route through the visa process.
Weather: August in northern Algeria is hot and dry, and the interior is very hot. Timgad and Biskra will be above 35 degrees by mid morning. Bring shade and far more water than you expect to need.
Safety: conditions vary by region and government travel advice for parts of the south and the border areas is restrictive. Check your own government’s current advice before booking. See our safety notes.