In many places in Europe, it is considered a rite of passage to tour the Sahara Desert by four wheel drive vehicle, at some point in your life. Travelers love the Sahara Desert because of the exhilaration of being surrounded by so much sand and dunes, the fact that it's one the true adventures left in the world, and the direct experience and history of the little known people who lived here thousands of years ago, as well as the exotic peoples that live there today. Couple this with beautiful desert sunrises above hundred foot dunes and having dinners bonding and camping out with Touareg guides each night - it makes for a world class and unique travel experience.
The Sahara Desert is the largest, driest, and hottest on earth - we regularly experienced 120 degree temperatures but you do generally get used to it. This is far different than its history however - it was once a green, wet oasis teaming with life 4,000-10,000 thousand years ago. Those people left thousands of rock carvings telling an almost photographic history of this place that now gets less than one inch of rain each year.
(above) The hundreds of miles of Sahara dunes meet the Air Mountains in the Tenere area of the desert.
The Sahara Desert is the largest, driest, and hottest on earth - we regularly experienced 120 degree temperatures but you do generally get used to it. This is far different than its history however - it was once a green, wet oasis teaming with life 4,000-10,000 thousand years ago. Those people left thousands of rock carvings telling an almost photographic history of this place that now gets less than one inch of rain each year.
(above) The hundreds of miles of Sahara dunes meet the Air Mountains in the Tenere area of the desert.
The DaBous Giraffes (above) are in Northern Niger near Arlit - home of the infamous Uranium mines. The giraffe rock carving is over 8,000 years old and viewed as one of the best in the world. The carving shows an adult giraffe with a leash on its nose and juvenile giraffe behind. It was found in 1998 by nomadic Touaregs on the top of a 50 foot black granite hill. Scientists estimate it took at least eight years to carve it.
It was from a very different time in the Sahara then where it was green and there were giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, gazelles, and dozens of other long extinct animals - and there are thousands of rock carvings in Northern Niger and Southern Algeria show it.
These carvings of "Libyan Warriors" were made about 2,500 years ago by a pastoralist people that raised cattle. There is Tomacheck graffiti that is hundreds of years old to the right of it.
A Touareg man stops with his camel at a small lake on the road to Agadez.
A Saharan oasis is located near the northeastern Air Mountains in north central Niger.
The ancient Saharan salt caravan town of Agadez is beautiful, safe and exotic (above). Visit the 600 year old, mud brick Agadez Mosque (center) and plan your trip from here with the local Touaregs. The hand made silver jewelry in Agadez is among the best in the world. And don't forget about going to Niger in September for Cure Salee and the Wodaabe Gerewol festival (#8 Coolest Place).
Please Please note that there has been a rebellion going on in the Agadez/Touareg areas for several years so plan accordingly. We understand it may be coming to a close shortly though. Great Saharan tours can be done in Mali, southern Morocco, southern Algeria and southern Libya as well, though Chad should be avoided for safety reasons.
Please Please note that there has been a rebellion going on in the Agadez/Touareg areas for several years so plan accordingly. We understand it may be coming to a close shortly though. Great Saharan tours can be done in Mali, southern Morocco, southern Algeria and southern Libya as well, though Chad should be avoided for safety reasons.
Best Time to Visit: November to February (during the cooler winter)
How Long to Stay: 7-10 days and use Agadez as your base
General Costs: Low cost by yourself but that can be dangerous, Medium cost with Touareg guides and trucks
What To Do: Visit Agadez, Touareg culture, ancient rock art desert tours, camping in desert
How Long to Stay: 7-10 days and use Agadez as your base
General Costs: Low cost by yourself but that can be dangerous, Medium cost with Touareg guides and trucks
What To Do: Visit Agadez, Touareg culture, ancient rock art desert tours, camping in desert
UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes
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