The Mythical Camel Trek from Tamarasset to Djanet

You enjoy a free morning to visit Tamanrasset, located at 1,400 meters altitude. Today a major cosmopolitan city, the town retains in its center some traces of its authenticity, particularly around the last tamarisk trees.

The day begins with caravan preparations. You secure saddles on the camels' backs and participate in loading the pack animals before departure. Your camel trek starts with crossing a vast plateau. To the north, the famous Assekrem plateau and the Atakor peaks come into view.

You then cross a pass to descend into the Amezegin wadi, at the foot of the Aleheg mountain, which reaches 1,962 meters. You continue through the Tineftawin and In Dalag wadis before reaching the Téhé n'Oudi plain.

We cross the oued Tahifet and pass near the village of the same name (farmland). We follow the Tahifet to Tazrouk track road for a while, then head up the oued Azrou, before descending into the oued Aborah after crossing a small pass.

We have been since yesterday in a mountainous area, in the heart of the territory of the Tuaregs Adjouh n'Téhélé. The track keeps going up and down. Oueds Aborah, Fisfas and Tamekendout.

At the well of Tamekendout, watering place for camels and full of water. A pass gives access to the oued Touzin where we are bivouacking.

Long crossing over a plateau between two high mountains. Descent into the Aoudjerar wadi. Oudrak pass which gives access to the major Sersouf wadi (tamarisks) which we descend.

The mountain moves aside and we leave it on our left. Oued Tin Lalen (water point), pass giving access to the Oued Adjou, descent of the Oueds Eméharagélé and Ilefsawen. Landscape of granite boulders right up to the Oued Wersegenet.

Wadis In Debiren, In Afegieg, Imbilel. We leave to the east the small village Aït Loaïen of Imbilel (1044 m). We soon emerge into one of the most important wadis of the Hoggar, the wadi Tin Tarabin (which means: "One of the Arab Women"). The first tufts of toulloult (grasses) appear.

Well and bivouac in the wadi Amajjar.

A small pass connecting the Amajjar and Ernazaft wadis. In the distance stands the granite massif of Serkout (2252 m).

Crossing of the Inouhawen wadi made famous by the ambush laid against the Flatters Mission in 1881, at the well that became "Tanout Tan Ikoufar", the Well of the Infidels. Wadis Tassiot Tan Tazabit and Takalous.

Crossing a long plateau, then descent into the Zerzerou wadi. If it has flowed, a small water point slightly downstream, in its gorges. We bivouac higher up, in the wadi.

Tadnest water point where we arrive around noon. We water the camels and fill waterskins and jerry cans. Everyone participates in this important task which allows us to stock up on water for 5 and a half days.

Camp at Tadnest.

Oued In Akaokan ("One of the Damans"). The mountains move further away. We first travel through piles of granite boulders, then across a vast plain until Wadi Anemerou where arasou bushes grow. Arrival around 1 p.m.

Today we cross a good part of the Anahaf chain. A pass carved through a quartz vein gives us access to a vast plateau that we cross heading northeast.

A quick stop midday at the Amedid wadi (without shade) or, a little earlier, among granite boulders.

We head back north and, after a zone of hills, we descend a wide, gray wadi, without a blade of grass. A few more hills, then we make camp in the In Terekfin wadi.

The wadis become increasingly wider. We cross the Amedid wadi again (1116 m), then enter a final mountain range that blocks the gateway to the Ténéré. On our right, on the reverse slope of a hill, we can see an immense pre-Islamic tomb in a "keyhole" shape. Passage of a small pass before reaching the acacia for lunch.

In the afternoon, for several hours, we head towards the right bank of the Tin Hagen wadi cluttered with sand and toulloult. Three small peaks dominate us.

Departure at 5 a.m. The immense Ténéré of the Tafassasset are before us. We cross them to the foot of the Tazat mountain (2061m) where we arrive after crossing the Tamanrasset - Djanet road track. We have just completed the longest stage of the camel trek (10 to 11 hours).

Another long stage until the Tabakat wadi (Jujube tree). Much of the morning, we cross numerous wadis descending from the nearby mountain.

In the Tabakat wadi, we set up camp near a well, quite far downstream from the small recent village of Tabakat. We water the animals and fill the waterskins and jerrycans.

In the morning, we water the camels again and finish the water chore. Departure in early afternoon.

We reach the oued Zawaten'Laz. A little north of our bivouac in the middle of tamarisks, is located the small town of Bordj El Haouas (name of Zawatalaz, former Fort Gardel).

We are approaching the sandstone cliffs of Tassili n'Ajjer. To the south and east, the Erg Admer blocks our way. We skirt around it to the north. The spectacle is breathtaking.

Bivouac within the small dunes of the Oued Sersouf.

Entry into the pre-Tassili region, either via the Essendilène wadi, or via the Hell wadi. Canyons, cliffs, rocky towers besieged by sand will be our world during these last days of camel trekking.

Arrival during the day in Djanet where we settle in the wadi. Quick visit of Djanet, which has lived up to its reputation as the "Pearl of the Tassili". It has developed and expanded enormously. The entire oasis includes four villages: El Mihan, Adjahil, Azellouaz (at the foot of the Tim Beur mountain) and Tin Khatma.

They will leave this morning for the Hoggar. Transfer to the airport during the night.