Sahara Desert Expeditions

Our goal at The Other Africa is to offer unique, challenging and rewarding Expeditions and Trips that take place in locations that experience little or no tourism. Below you will find three of our most spectacular Sahara Desert Expeditions.
Northern Mali, Sahara Desert Expedition, Niger Camel Expedtion , Great Sand Sea and Gilf Expedition

Northern Mali, Sahara Desert Expedition                                            

PURPOSE: Exploration of ancient routes with the focus on the Great Camel Caravans
 
Our Desert Expedition will start and finish at the infamous City of Timbuktu. Yes Timbuktu does really exist; it is the pulse of Northern Mali and gateway to the Sahara Desert. Once you experience the culture and vibe of Timbuktu you will see how it has gotten its reputation.

As we depart Timbuktu, we immediately enter the Sahara following the last of the Camel Caravans as they make their way from Timbuktu to the legendary Salt Mines of Taudenni, Some of the Caravans can have up to two hundred Camels in route to Taudenni. Upon our arrival at Taudenni we witness this fascinating ancient Salt Mining process. From Taudenni our journey takes us through even more remote areas as we search for the renowned R’Gaybat Nomads. We then reach the Adrar des Iforas, a range of mountains home to ancient rock art and rarely visited Tuareg Camps. In this region we discover the site of Es Souk, an ancient and mysterious village, a center of the caravan trade.
After a long crossing among the silent Saharan spaces, we arrive at the Niger River, the trading highway of this region.
We make our way back to Timbuktu, where our amazing journey ends.

Niger Camel Expedition

PURPOSE: To deliver medicines and millet to Desert Nomads in isolated regions

This remarkable Expedition will start in the legendary town of Agadez. Agadez is located in the center of Niger and is the main business/trading hub in that area of the country. Agadez is also the gateway town to the Sahara Desert of Niger.
As we depart Agadez we immediately head into the Sahara Desert. For the first three days of our journey, our mode of transport will be in 4x4 vehicles until we meet-up with our guides. Our guides will be local Tuareg gents that will assist us with the ways of riding the camels comfortably and safely.

For the next six days we travel on the camels looking for and meeting the local nomads so we can complete our mission of the delivery of the medicines and millet.

After several days of roughing it a bit, we meet up with the vehicles again and travel to the oasis of Timia. It is quite a stunning site as we see green for the first time in a long time. The oasis is very beautiful and has lush gardens, fruits, vegetables and maybe a cool drink.

As we depart Timia we make our way back to Agadez where our journey ends.

Pricing

4 to 6 Pax : from 3 690 Euros per person
7 to 9 pax : from 3 290 Euros per person

All Niger Trips are priced in Euros.

Click here to convert into your own currency

Great Sand Sea and Gilf Expedition

PURPOSE: Explore this remote region in search of historic sites and artifacts

As we depart Cairo we travel to the western desert of Egypt. Most folks have heard of the White Desert, famous for its one of a kind white limestone rock formations and its Oasis Towns. We will be driving through the White Desert on our way to Dakhla.
This is where our final preparations will be made before we head into the extreme remote west. In Dakhla we obtain our supplies, as it is the last town to acquire any provisions for the next twelve days, our vehicles also go through their final checks before our journey deep into the desert. 

Over the next twelve days we head in a westerly direction and then north until we come to the Oasis of Siwa. During our remarkable expedition we will experience some of the most beautiful scenery on our planet. The Gilf area has it all, flat open sand plains where we travel speeds of one hundred kilometers per hour in our vehicles. We climb mountains and deep dunes, with our vehicles and on foot. Camp is sometimes set-up at a site where you get the feeling, no one has ever been here before.

Days are spent covering a lot of ground, however we do this at a very comfortable pace. There are several historic sites on our route including remnants from World War II. In addition to these incredible sites we take the time to make new discoveries, which are very likely in these areas.

As we travel out of the Gilf area, off in the distance one can start to see the Great Sand Sea and its name fits it perfect. We spend the next three days traveling through this complete Sea of Sand. You will be amazed at the varying colors, the changing terrain of the sand and of course the endless large dunes. The Great sand Sea covers some 650 Kilometers in length and is about 350 Kilometers wide. One of the most unusual finds in this area is Silica Rock or Silica Glass as it is also known. It has its own very distinctive color, which are varying shades of green. Historians and Geologists believe Silica was formed about one hundred million years ago when a meteor hit this area of earth. In order for this rock to form in this color scheme, the temperature had to go upwards of twenty two hundred degrees Fahrenheit for only two minutes for the Silica to form. This is the only spot on the planet Silica can be found.

As we start to see a mixture of rocks and sand we know we are getting closer to Siwa Oasis. Driving up over the last dune we see greenery for the first time in twelve days, it is a natural hot spring in the desert. After all of this wonderful desert travel a plunge in the hot spring is most welcoming! 

This Expedition is available Oct - April

Contact us for a price quote : explore@theotherafrica.com

Several other Sahara Desert Expeditions are available, contact us today for more information.

Contact us :explore@theotherafrica.com