Bucket List #B207-12C Subsection XVII- Sahara Desert

 

 

It has 9,400,000 sq. kilometres (3,600,000 sq. miles), reaches heights of 180 metres (560 feet),  receives less than 250 mm (10”) of rain a year, temperatures that exceed 122 C (50 F) and average 30 C (86 F) annually and it is our destination on Day 3.

 

 

 

The Sahara Desert stretches across most of North Africa, touching the Red Sea, Mediterranean and   Atlantic Ocean.  It is the largest, hot desert in the world, second only to the Antarctic for largest desert.  Much of the landscape is barren stone plateaus, gravel plains, salt flats with about 25% in sand dunes.

 

 

 

Movies have been a driving force for much of the development of my bucket list. I can blame this one on Lawrence of Arabia. Watching Lawrence charging over the massive sand dunes on a galloping camel was just too irresistible a vision for a 10 year old. But being ten, my knowledge of geography was a little sketchy, so the Sahara Desert was mistakenly but irrevocably added to the bucket list. But as they say, “Go big or go home”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our destination was the Erg Chebbi dunes located just a short camel ride away from the Algerian border. Happily a short but sadly a hot and dusty ride. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a moment to stop at small factory outside of Erfoud that specializes in producing products made from the local stone.  What is special about this stone is that it is filled with a million years of  history. About 41,000 years ago, the area was once part of a large sea and the area is rich with fossils.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped to visit a mosque / tomb near the city of Merzoug. It has been beautifully restored and is one of the few opportunities for non-Muslims to see inside a mosque.

 

 

 

 

 

 We were only allowed into the central courtyard where we could peek inside the prayer rooms.

 

 

 

The mosque is located next to a ksar that has been refurbished and home to about 40 Berber families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction techniques are very simple and materials easy to access here as they consist mainly of mud, mixed with a little straw.  Adding a roof and some walls is pretty inexpensive.

  

  

 

 

 

But living in a mud house doesn’t mean you have to forgo some of life’s little pleasures.

 

 

 

  

 

There is power, water, television......

 

 

 

 

 

and a new stove is easy as mud. Did not see any mud washers or dryers but we did not see into all the rooms.

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

Kids were playing in the very safe streets.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

......while mom worked from home. Despite the heat, we found the ksar to be quite cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Merzoug, the drive only took a few hours but much of it off road. We got up close and personal with the gravel plains that make up much of the area approaching the dunes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived to our two star bivouacs shortly before lunch.

 

 

 

 

This gave us a bit of time to eat and prepare  ourselves for a sunset camel ride out into the dunes. 

 

Another lovely feed of tagine with a Moroccan salad. MMmmmmm. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look out Lawrence of Arabia, here come Brett and Nonie of the Sahara.

 

 Oooo, those camels don’t look very happy. I don't think they like to be petted.