AUTUMN 2009, SPRING 2010 - UP TO 18 DAYS

SAMPLE ROUTE

We will collect our guide from GHAT (or AL AWAYNAT (Sardelles)) or SEBHA.  Heading out of Ghat to the south and the Algerian border we will soon reach the canyon of the WADI AKAKUS.

After reaching an arch in the rock we will wind through canyons and over small dunes stopping to inspect the many rock art sites in the vicinity.   

We will then return to Alfouar campsite at Sardelles for one, possibly two nights, restock and refuel.

We will then drive from Sardelles to the town of MURZUK. We will then set off across the IDEHAN MURZUQ.  Officially the Erg if off-limits because it stretches to the Niger border, so we keep our plans to ourselves...

The IDEHEN MURZUQ is full of evidence of stone age peoples, everywhere there are stone circles, burial chambers, occupational sites dating back to 300,000 BC, stone age tools are strewn around; axes, blades, as if left there, in a hurry.

More recent occupation is the Neolithic (about 4,500 to 1,000 BC, there are potsherds (ceramic and pottery), fine Neolithic blades; delicately made but ruthlessly effective, in a myriad of colours.  There are remains of ostrich shell 'dishes' & 'mugs' all around. 

The sand is of many colours, reds, golds, coppers, silvers; red, yellow white under the azure blue sky, bands of bright, fresh colours in the rock sediments, a dusting here a dusting there will reveal a kaleidoscope of vivid colour; blues, greens, purple...It is not for nothing that this pigmented rock was ground down for painting...