Niger - salt caravan (Azelaï) between Bilma and Agadez

Light caravan - For one-day trips, the camel drivers leave behind bags, riding saddles, food and feed supplies at the camp. They will only ride the camels when the heat makes walking unbearable. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 1999

Caravan leaving for Gouloukou - Gouloukou is marked on the map! The sound of the name is reminiscent of gurgling water. This is not surprising: Gouloukou is a fountain where tadpoles like to have fun. - Niger / between Aïr and Ténéré / 1999

The great outdoors… - The caravan moves southeast, towards the endless Ténéré. - Niger / Ténéré / 2000

Guelta of Agamgam - Among volcanic walls, clan chief Abakaoua leads his camels to a drinking hole and its amazingly fresh, cool water.

The only possible way - In a narrow canyon, the caravan of camels examine the only passable route through the rocky chaos. - Abri Ilem / Niger / Aïr

Niger - caravan in the evening light - Erg Izane

Touareg caravan - On their way to a distant water source, the caravan stop before nightfall, and then the camels are fed with the hay they carry on their packs. - Niger / Ténéré / Erg Izane / 2000

Crossing the Tagardet pass in the Aïr mountains.

Arrival at the Kel Tédélé camp site.

Filling up with water for people and camels at the Takarit well. (Oued Takarit / Aïr / Niger)

Aïr / Tagueït / The guide In the desert, it is always the man of knowledge and experience who chooses the best route to preserve the resources of the caravan.

Erg Izane / Getting into another world The caravan is about to enter a mineral universe that is no longer the world of men but that of an intact nature where only the nomads know how to survive.

Ténéré / The long walk Beyond the dunes of Izane, the massif of Tahmert will be the point of arrival in the evening of a long and beautiful day sailing through the Sahara.

Ténéré / Erg Izane / Stop in the shadow No tree, no rock as far as the eye can see. For the rest of a few minutes, the only shadow is that of the camels, but they can only turn their backs to the sun.

Azalaï in the sandstorm – Niger – Tenere

Getting into another world
The caravan is about to enter a mineral universe that is no longer the world of men but that of an intact nature where only the nomads know how to survive.
Niger - Aïr - Erg Izane - 2002

Well of the Ténéré tree
At the bottom of this 36 meters deep well, the water is of poor quality, but necessary for caravaneers. It is brought to the surface by muscle power or with the help of animals.
Niger - Tenere - 1967

Entering another world
The caravan is about to enter a mineral universe that is no longer the world of men but that of an intact nature where only the nomads can survive.
Niger - Aïr - Erg Izane - 2002

In the morning light
Caravan in the Temet wadi.
Niger - Aïr - 2003

Illizi in Algeria: The Touareg woman - wife of Amastan - loads her dromedary with her household goods. - Algeria - 1962

Meharists on a reconnaissance ride at Fort Gardel, Tassili n'Ajjer. - Algeria - 1966

The well by the tree of Ténéré. The mediocre water is found at a depth of 36 metres and is brought up by hand by the Tuareg or Toubou men of the caravans. A few metres further on is a second well, but unusable: a camel has fallen in. – Ténéré – Niger - 1966

And the caravan moves on, untouched, it seems, by fatigue, thirst and sandy winds. Never does the leader lose his way, of which he knows every dune, every bend. But sometimes, consumed by his too great efforts, a camel falls as if struck by lightning. It will not rise again. Often, not only must the animal be abandoned, but also its burden left behind if no replacement camels follow the train. And all along the track, white skeletons, slowly buried by the sand, mark the harsh ordeal of the peaceful "desert ships". - Ténéré - Niger - 1966

Camel breeding is the occupation of the noble. In reality, they are dromedaries in the Sahara, but they have been called camels for centuries. Up to the age of three or four, the camel stays in the pasture. Then it starts to be trained. Between six and eight years, it is put to work. Male animals are usually used for the large caravans. – Niger - 1966

Camel market in In-Gall in Aïr (Republic of Niger). As in all marketplaces in Africa, people haggle extensively. The Tuareg are very vain. They often wear bracelets made of stone, e.g. serpentine, slate or limestone, above their elbows. The man in the white gandura on the left has a braid hanging from the litham on either side of his head, a custom typical of the Aïr. – Niger - 1966

Each tribe has its own special mark that it burns on the animals to be able to recognise them if they get lost. – Niger - 1966

The dromedary is a common domestic animal throughout North Africa. The southern limit of distribution is in the Sahel zone from Senegal to Sudan at about 13-15 degrees north latitude. - Kabara - Mali - 1969

This Touareg needs an umbrella to protect it from the sun. - Near Tabalak in the northern Sahel. - Niger - 1970

As a means of transport, these two Touaregs from the Tabalak region need a dromedary. The use of an umbrella is unusual. - Niger - 1970

In front of the Tabalak pond, Niger, the two Tuaregs on their camels form a striking contrast: one could better imagine them in the gorges of the Tassili. The trees are dead, although their roots are in the water. This is due to the fact that a pool is by definition temporary and can form after a rain that fell years after the last one. Combine this with the fact that when pasture becomes scarce, shepherds cut off all the branches that still have some leaves on them for the needs of their flock. The terrible drama in the Sahel has been made much worse by this custom. - Niger - 1970

In front of the Tabalak pond, Niger, these Tuaregs on their camels form a striking contrast: one could better imagine them in the gorges of the Tassili. The trees are dead, although their roots are in the water. This is due to the fact that a pool is by definition temporary and can form after a rain that fell years after the last one. Combine this with the fact that when pasture becomes scarce, shepherds cut off all the branches that still have some leaves on them for the needs of their flock. The terrible drama in the Sahel has been made much worse by this custom. - Niger - 1970

On the way through the Wadi Taligit, which leads from Djanet to the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

On the way in the Wadi Taligit, which leads from Djanet to the high plateau of the Tassili. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Tin-Kani is an archaeological site in the Tassili N'Ajjer region in southeastern Algeria, home to impressive geological formations as well as numerous rock paintings. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

A Targui leads his dromedaries through the labyrinth of Tin-Kani. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

The Ti-Sfad area is located southeast of the famous Sefar site on the Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau. It is an impressive landscape with stone forests and standing rocks. The visitor will find here a labyrinth of deep passages (Ti-Sfad means "The Passages" in the Tamahaq dialect) into which the sunlight never penetrates at any time of the day. Undoubtedly one of the most magnificent landscapes of the Tassili National Park. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

In the Tin-Messeous area, there are many stone forests with shelters where rock paintings can be found. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

Departure of the caravan. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

The caravan forms up for departure. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

The caravan leaves the Adrar Madet in a westerly direction. About 70 kilometres lead through the Erg Brousset to the foothills of the Aïr Mountains. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2000

The caravan begins with the crossing of Erg Brousset. - Niger - 2001

Late afternoon in Erg Brousset. - Niger - 2000

In the desert, it is always the man of knowledge and experience who chooses the best way to obtain the caravan's resources. - End of the crossing of Erg Brousset. Abakaoua, the Tuareg chief, leads the caravan to the sand dunes of Tagueït. - Niger - 2001

On the way to the Tagueït waterhole - Niger - 2000

The dromedaries are led to the nearby well of Ibil, where they can quench their thirst. - Tagueït - Niger 2002

The dromedaries have quenched their thirst in nearby Ibil and return to the camp at Tagueït. - Niger 2002

Descent to the Oued Tanakom - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Travelling between Anakom and Agamgam - Descent over the dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan en route to Agamgam - The dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The feet of a Tuareg nomad - Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan reaches the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan between Agamgam and Tafajrit - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan passes through the exit of a canyon into the Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The day's hike is coming to an end. We soon reach the camp site for the night. - Tineken - Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan crosses the Crab Claw at the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The dunes of Tchi-n-Taboûrak rise on the north side of the Crab Claw - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The last large waterhole is in the Oued Takarit. Here you "fill up" with as much water as possible before entering the large sea of dunes of Erg Izane. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The last large waterhole is in the Oued Takarit. As much water as possible is "refuelled" here before heading into the large sea of dunes of Erg Izane. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Camp in the dunes of Lérouanan - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

On the threshold of the entrance to Erg Izane, a large sea of sand dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The dromedaries return from grazing - Camp in the dunes of Lérouanan - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Arrival at the Kel-Tédélé-Tuareg camp in the Oued Gouloukou - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The clan chief Abakaoua of the Kel-Tédélé - Oued Gouloukou - Kogo - Air - Niger - 1992

Setting off to cross the Erg Izane - Oued Gouloukou - Kogo - Air - Niger - 1992

Setting off to cross the Erg Izane - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2002

Setting off to cross the Erg Izane - To the right, at the back, is the area of Tchi-n-Taboûrak, from where we departed. - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2002

The caravan begins to cross the Erg Izane - Issouane - Air - Niger - 2000

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2001

On the way in the Erg Izane - Abakaoua is lost in silent prayer - Air - Niger - 2001

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2001

Halt in the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2000

The caravan on the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane to the camp of Elik-Ouan-Aggan. In the background, the Taghmert Mountain. - Air - Niger - 2001

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane. The Sloughi Temet is also there - Air - Niger - 2002

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

On the way in the Erg Izane - A dromedary needs to be reloaded - Air - Niger - 2000

On the way in the sand sea of the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

Crossing the sand sea Erg Izane - In the background, on the left the mountain Adrar Chiriet, on the right in the distance a marble hill - Air - Niger - 2002

Immersing into another world - The caravan enters another universe that is no longer the world of humans. In this untouched nature, only the nomads can survive. - On the left, the Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - Air - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - The hour of prayer - Air - Niger - 2002

In the late afternoon in the Erg Izane - In the background, the mountain Adrar Chiriet - Air - Niger - 2002

The march continues through the dunes of the Erg Izan - In the back left the Adrar Chiriet - Air - Niger - 2002

Under the full moon shining in the sky, the caravan marches through the endless dunes of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan on its way towards Taghmert - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The march continues in the direction of Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Camp at the foot of the Adrar Bous - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan before arriving in Bous - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

View of the caravan from the Bous barrier - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan moves in the morning light in Wadi Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan travelling in the dry riverbed of the Wadi Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan in a dry valley with sparse vegetation in the Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Citrullus Colocynthis: In the Wadis or valleys, you can easily find large fields of small pumpkins or watermelons. They are round balls scattered on the ground. Some are fresh, others are dried. You are not allowed to eat them, but they are used for medicinal purposes. For rheumatism, as a laxative, for gonorrhoea, for urinary tract infections, for diabetes... - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The brother of the clan chief Abakoua fetches a dromedary from the pasture - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The caravan continues south towards Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp in the dunes - Between Tezirzek and the Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Travelling in the dunes between Tezirzek and the Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way home to the camp in the Oued Tiétak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - In the far background the Adrar Chiriet, in the middle ground the area of Tebet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Oued with the Tamgak Mountains in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

In the Oued Aouï – The Tamgak Mountains in the background on the left - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The dromedaries are freed from their burden - Tachaouit camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan sets off again early in the morning - Tachaouit - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

In the evening, the camp is set up for the night at the Baloumat guelta - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan on the way to the western exit of the gorge that crosses the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan approaches the end of the gorge that runs through the Tamgak massif. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan leaves the Oued Tamgak. Behind the mountains on the right is the town of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Last obstacles before the caravan arrives in the city of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Travelling through a wide wadi in the late afternoon - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Loading the dromedaries at the camp in Oued Takarit - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Departure in the morning sun - Camp Tebet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Rest in the Tebet area, on the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

A last camp in the sand dunes before the caravan makes its way through the mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan begins its journey through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Ascent to the pass from Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The landscape at the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent from the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagerdet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the Oued Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. - The caravan crosses the Teliaouet - Aïr - Niger - 2000 pass

Descent from the Teliaouet Pass - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. The western entrance to the gorge is around five kilometres from the village of Iférouane. Its eastern exit leads into the sand dunes of the Ténéré desert to the south-west of the Chiriet massif. Underground water flows to the surface at the side gorges, creating large pools of water, especially in the western part. The dry valley running through the gorge is the Tamgak, with the Toufouchi and the Zakkat as important tributaries. - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan moves on through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan moves through the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Descent in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan travelling in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In a side valley in the south-western part of the Adrar Tamgak - The caravan on the way to Abri Ilem - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Boubakar, the head of the clan, also acts as a vet. A dromedary needs to be treated. - In the northern part of the Adrar Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent from a pass in the direction of Oued Tamgak. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Well in the gardens of Iferouâne. According to old custom, the water is drawn up in a leather bag and distributed into the irrigation channels - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the evening, the dromedaries are taken from the pasture at the Boubakar camp - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Many animals gather around the well of Afis - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Two proud Tuareg ride through the camp on their dromedaries - On the left the clan chief Bachar - Tanet Mellet - Niger - Aïr - 2001

A dromedary mare is milked at Brahim's camp near Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 2001

About 5 kilometres from Iferouâne is the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers, which flow down from the Tamgak massif. The Tuaregs have set up camp here. - Preparations for a march into the Tamgak massif - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - The dromedary pulls the goatskin water container out of the well to irrigate the maize field - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Two Targis return to the camp on their dromedaries - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The Achekwa, a camel bag, is made by the wife of the blacksmith, the Malem - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The achekwa, a camel bag, is made by the wife of the blacksmith, the malem - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Departure atmosphere at the camp in the region of the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Where will the next ride take us? - Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Photo Gallery