Introduction to Desert Life

After leaving the city and its suburbs, we take the beautiful paved road that runs northeast towards the mining town of Akjoujt.
The Trarza region and the Atlantic coast are now behind us, the vegetation changes and becomes increasingly Saharan.

The vast sandy plains of Inchiri lead us towards the somewhat surreal town of Akjoujt. A mining industry is present there and, since the Chalcolithic, Man has been extracting copper, gold and other materials.
Gradually the landscape changes. You are now driving in the Amsaga region.
In the distance, to the east, the dark barrier of Adrâr begins to take shape. You pass the great alluvial plain of Yagref and the village of Aïn Ahel Taya. The road crosses the first step of Adrâr.

After lunch, immediate departure to the El Kheouiya camp.

The track to climb up to the plateau (dhar) is, currently, good but it can be degraded by rains that occur at the end of summer.
A small detour allows you to discover the grandiose landscapes of the Adrâr cliffs. The ruins of Fort Saganne, rock paintings, the succession of plateaus on the horizon are so many attractions...

The last third takes place on the northern edge of the sandy area.
Late morning, we reach El Kheouiya.
This is the meeting place with our Moorish travel companions with whom we share these few days. They belong to this small semi-nomadic camp.

After lunch, immediate departure to the El Kheouiya camp.

The track to climb onto the plateau (dhar) is, to date, good but it can be degraded by rains that occur in late summer.
A small detour allows you to discover the grandiose landscapes of the Adrâr cliffs. The ruins of Fort Saganne, rock paintings, the sequence of plateaus on the horizon are so many attractions...

The last third takes place on the northern edge of the sandy area.
Late in the morning, we reach El Kheouiya.
This is the meeting place with our Moorish travel companions with whom we share these few days. They belong to this small semi-nomadic camp.

Early in the morning we set up our camel caravan. The packed animalsbleated at the top of their lungs.
The loading of our caravan takes place and the camel drivers whirl around the animals with dexterity and skill.
On foot, we head due south into the sand. Walking is easy in this desert environment.
Here, the Saharan nature is generous. Multiple species of trees make this desert vibrant. The specific vegetation made of tall grasses or small plants. We set up our camp in these pure and peaceful places.
After unloading our animals, we take them to "grazing", Be careful, this is not lush Normandy however our animals must find something to eat all night.
The camp lifeorganizes itself and we are part of this organization. Wood, fire, flatbread, water management are so many essential elements that the nomad masters with calm and organization.

Following an unchanging ritual, we break camp at first light.
The animals are packed with precision even though we have the impression that everything is loaded haphazardly on the backs of these animals.
The caravan sets off with the objective of a relief bordered by elongated dunes.
We climb onto this ridge that stretches from north to south and descends into the dunes of the erg Warane. This esker is the remnant of the bed of a subglacial river now prominent.
In Adrâr, we have two similar geomorphological features, this one which is called Herour, and a very beautiful one too which, further west, is the Mega-ridge of Zarga.

Following the same ritual, after retrieving our camels, we prepare our caravan.
Due south, we venture into the sands heading towards beautiful white dune formations.
We climb onto the mega-ridge that heads south, in the dunes of the erg Warane.
This evening, we take advantage of nights with absolutely no light pollution to search for Orion, the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper pointing to the Pole Star.

Our path bends westward to find the dunes bordering the erg Warane.
The dune formations are very specific and diverse depending on the places where they develop. Here, on the edge of this immense massif, they develop in a dense and intertwined manner.
On the Piedmont of the Herour massif, a set of funeral monuments are very visible.

We are now walking through a true Saharan forest.
We are at the confluence of the lower part of the dried-up river coming from Chinguetti and the wadi coming from the north of the plateau. The trees, which fortunately are preserved, form a suitable place for establishing camps and, when it rains, for spontaneous crops.

We head westward. We leave the last plateaus of the Adrâr to reach the Yagref basin.
The cones of black rocks, the cordons of dunes of the Amatlich mark the landscapes of the Amsaga.
Then, the vast plains of the Inchiri take us to the Atlantic coast and the capital of Mauritanie.

Following your flight schedule to France, we will transfer you to the Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport.

A dinner and a room will be at your disposal in Nouakchott to freshen up before taking your international flight.