Travel Recap: |
| Day 1- 2 |
Morning: Arrival in Fes, transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we will explore the beautiful medina, a fortified medieval labyrinth on the hillside. Next day we drive through the valleys of the Atlas Mountains to the region of Beni Mellal. |
| Day 3 |
Today we will have lunch in a typical local restaurant in Marrakesh followed by a tour of this exciting lively town. We explore the covered alleys of the great medina and see the plaza, Djamaa El Fna with its colorful crowds of musicians, storytellers and snake charmers. Marrakesh is a unique town and despite being a popular travel destination, it has lost none of its traditional charm. |
| Day 4-5 |
Our 4X4 vehicles will climb through the dramatic scenery of the High Atlas where we will encounter remote villages of pure Berber tribal people. Mount Oukaimeden at 4167 meters dominates this region. We will cross the dramatic high pass, Tizi-n-Test that rises over 2000 meters.
A track will bring us to the ancient village of Ifni where lie the remains of an old Spanish settlement. |
| Day 6-8 |
We drive south traversing the former colony of Spanish Sahara. The Spanish left in the early '70's after the end of the Franco regime. The road will often follow the coastline between desert and ocean. After Cape Juby, we will pass the coastal town of El Ayoun known as Villa Cisneros during colonial times here the Canary Islands lie just 100 miles off shore. South of the gulf of Dakhla we cross the Mauritanian border and arrive at Nouadhibou. The Atlantic coast off Mauritania is one of the main fishing areas in the world and Nouadhibou's large modern port is the base for fishing boats from all over the world. |
| Day 9-10 |
The Banc d'Arguin national park is the richest ornithological reserve on Earth. The Atlantic Ocean is calm and shallow here because it is sheltered by large banks of sand, which form many small islands where millions of birds come to nest. We will spend a full day sailing between the islands in a wooden fishing boat watching the rich variety of local and migratory species as they nest and feed. |
| Day 11-12 |
Driving inland with the aid of compass, GPS and experience we cross a long chain of sand dunes known as the Erg Azefan. We will camp at the Tanamera monolith situated in a unique moon-like landscape. The following day a track in the sand will bring us to the small town of Atar where we will stay in a comfortable hotel built in the Moorish style. |
| Day 13-14 |
We will spend the day soaking up the magical atmosphere of the oasis of Chinguetti, considered the most beautiful in all Mauritania. It is an ancient village of the Berber people; it was also the old capital of the Moorish people and is considered the seventh most holy city of Islam. It is one of the main religious and cultural centers of the nomadic world in the Western Sahara. Today the sand covers many of the old houses. The other part of the village, still inhabited, is sleepy. In the towns old quarter, the Ksar, stands a white stone fort with five towers, a remarkable example of Arab Berber architecture. Chinguetti lies on the trade route of the camel caravans of old and is famous as a place of learning. We will pay a visit to one of the many ancient libraries that hold collections of old manuscripts.
The Adrar massif is spectacular; its dark majestic mountains are surrounded by a sea of yellow sand. Hidden in canyons we will discover lush oasis's where vegetables and date palms grow. These verdant areas are watered using traditional irrigation systems fed by springs that rise in mountain caves. We visit typical adobe villages where the houses have conical grass roofs built by the fierce Moorish tribe.
Tonight we camp in the dunes |
| Day 15 |
Nouakchott, meaning "the place of the winds" is a new capital created in 1960. It has a colorful central market and an interesting museum displaying items of nomadic live.
A comfortable hotel and a good restaurant are another highlight of today. |
| Day 16-17 |
We leave Nouakchott on an asphalt road that crosses the dunes. This road, known as "la route de l'espoir" (the road of hope), links the coast with south western Mauritania. Our destination, Kiffa, is renowned for its traditional glass beads produced by Moorish women. We will be invited into a large tent to view the production process that starts by smashing up glass. |
| Day 18-20 |
Accompanied by a local guide we will start to drive totally "off road" through wonderful landscape passing many sand dunes, lakes, acacia forests and nomadic encampments. The highlight of the itinerary is the archaeological site of Aoudaghost with its miles of ruins hidden in the mountains. Aoudaghost is believed to have been the northern town of the Ghana Empire, the oldest known kingdom in Black Africa dating from the 6th century.
Aoudaghost was a rich caravan town, its main trade being gold. In old Islamic manuscripts it was described as being like Mecca. In those days the whole region was inhabited. Exploring deep caves using the light of torches we will find ancient clay granaries that are hidden there, the cave entrances are fortified by stonewalls. Only a few areas of Aoudaghost have been studied by French archaeologist in the early '60. Thanks to its remoteness these sites are rarely visited by westerns. |
| Day 21-22 |
South of Ayoun al Atrous we reach the border of Mali and the small African town of Nara. The sight of giant baobab trees, flat savannah stretching to the horizon, small adobe villages, vibrant noisy markets and colourful welcoming people we will know we've arrived in Black Africa.
In the late morning we reach Bamako, the capital of Mali and enjoy lunch in a trendy African restaurant. In the afternoon we have a city tour including the excellent national museum, rich in archaeological, ethnographical and tribal art masterpieces from all over Mali.
Hotel day-use rooms will be available for the last shower before the transfer to the airport. |
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| Nights |
Day 01 Fes: Air-conditioned comfortable hotel.
Day 02 Marrakesh: Air-conditioned comfortable hotel.
Day 04 Ifni: Simple Hotel.Day 09 IWIK: Fix camp site in the Banc d'Arguin.
Day 11 Atar: El Waha, comfortable air conditioned bungalows in Moorish style.
Day 13 Chinguetti: Auberge les Caravanes, simple but clean hotel.
Day 15 Nouakchott: Hotel Halima, full air-conditioned international hotel in the Centrex of Nouakchott.
Day 17 Kiffa: Phare du Desert, simple local hotel.
Day 20 Ayoun El Atrous: Residence Nzaha, comfortable, fully air-conditioned.
Day 22 Bamako, Hotel Plaza: Air-conditioned, comfortable. Some day rooms available for the group.All other nights we camp in "igloo" tents or if you choose you can sleep under the stars. |
| Group |
Minimum 6 and maximum 18 participants. |
| Vehicles |
Toyota 4x4, a model specially prepared for African terrain, with reinforced suspension, air-conditioning (on soft sand, the air-conditioning may not be used to avoid overheating the engine).
Air-conditioned minibus can be used on asphalt roads. |
| Vaccinations |
Yellow Fever Compulsory
Anti-Malaria prophylactics: not required for the Sahara regions, but highly recommended south of Nouakchott. |
| Visas |
Necessary for Mauritania and Mali |
| Bivouacs |
Tropical tents, mattresses and camping equipment supplied by the organization.
Everybody's collaboration in setting up camp is essential. |
| Meals |
Cold meals at lunch (mostly picnics) and warm dinners prepared in the camp kitchen by a professional Trans African cook. At dinner good quality wine will be served. |
