Hunter or warrior? This engraving, still unknown to the public, dates back to 3000 b.C. - Abri Ilem / Tamgak / Aïr / Niger

Aïr / Tamgak / The relaxation In the mountains, men finally find the time and the place of a real relax where water and fire get married.

The caravan on the Takolokouzet plateau - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Young Targia in the Kel-Tédélé camp in the Oued Tchiulmas at the foot of the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Targia in the Kel-Tédélé camp in the Oued Tchiulmas at the foot of the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The dromedaries come back from grazing - In the background the Tamgak Mountains - Near Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Travelling from Adrar Chiriet to Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The march continues towards Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

Landscape at Camp Tanao - On the left the Tamgak Mountains, in the background the Adrar Chiriet - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The camp of Tanao against the backdrop of the Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Tanao camp against the backdrop of the Tamgak - Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Soon the camp of Tezirzek is reached - In the background the Tamgak massif - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Tamgak massif is close - Niger - Aïr - 2003

From the edge of the Erg Izane, we head towards the mountains of the Tamgak massif - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

The Guelta Eloukouloukan has water all year round - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - A guerba is filled with water - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

Dune in the Oued Aouï - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

Warehouse in the Oued Aouï - Salt from Bilma is traded here - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp in the Oued Aouï - Tea is prepared in the morning - A taguella is being baked between the teapots - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Cérémonie du thé au camp de Tachaouit - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Preparation of food in the Tachaouit camp - 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

Evening atmosphere in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Everything that needs to be kept safe from the goats is hung up in the appropriate place - Chanounou camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Sleeping place in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Still life in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

The dum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is a multi-stemmed palm species with oval, edible fruits. In ancient Egypt, this palm was used for its fruit, fibres and leaves, but the date palm was not native to Egypt and only produced dates when it could be pollinated. - Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

The Oued Tamgak is reached. Dum palms line the guelta of Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan has reached the Oued Tamgak. Dum palms line the Guelta of Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

During the hottest part of the day, the men find a shady place to rest - Niger - Aïr - 2003

To pass the time, the pieces of the Daara game are moved, a kind of draughts game - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Shortly before spending the night in the camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

The camel drivers sit around the fire under which the traditional taguella is cooked - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The meat of a goat is cut into pieces and roasted on the fire - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The cook prepares the food - On the right in front a guerba with water - Camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Tea ceremony in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

A new rope is being made - The white stripes are made of plastic! - Camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Boubakar twists a new string from plastic strips - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

‘Water is life’, the delicious liquid is bottled in the goatskin guerba - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A Targi with his takuba, the sword of the nobleman. As former warriors, the Tuareg are often homesick for their past. In their secret thoughts, they revive the memory of the former rezzous, raids against the caravans that brought slaves and gold up from the south. - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A Targi with his takuba, the sword of the nobles. As former warriors, the Tuareg are often homesick for their past. In their secret thoughts, they revive the memory of the former rezzous, raids against the caravans that brought slaves and gold up from the south. - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A guerba was filled with water from the Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak massif - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Guelta Baloumat in the Tamgak Gorge - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

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

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

Camp at the end of the gorge that runs right through the Tamgak massif. The tent made of mats is for visitors to the area. The camel saddles are parked in front of the tent - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The dromedaries are loaded again in the camp at the exit of the gorge - Tamgak - 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

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 path of the caravan leads into the Tamgak Mountains, which present themselves like an insurmountable wall - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The area changes from sand dunes to stony terrain - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent to Guelta Eloukan before heading into the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

On the edge of the Tamgak Mountains you can find rock engravings like this stylised woman - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak Mountains - A tagella, the bread of the Tuareg nomads, is baked in sand heated by fire - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Achmed ag Chaoua from the Kel-Tédélé tribe takes a well-earned rest - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

Ascent to Guelta Iffazane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Where there is water, life germinates - The Iffazane waterhole offers a rare treasure: water that provides fresh greenery all year round. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Where there is water, life germinates - The Iffazane waterhole offers a rare treasure: water that provides fresh greenery all year round. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. The dromedaries take up a lot of water, they will certainly need it - 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

Taguella is a flatbread, the staple food of the Tuareg living in the Sahara. It is a disc-shaped bread made from wheat flour, which is baked under hot sand and charcoal from a small fire. The bread is then broken into small pieces and eaten with a meat sauce. - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Arali - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Eikerim - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Chemma ag Gafid - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Hiram, the prayer leader of the camel drivers - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait of Touareg Bachar ag Akhmadou - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait of Touareg Abakaoua, chief of the Kel-Tédélé clan - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Boubakar - The chief of a Tuareg clan - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Eating millet and milk together - The hand replaces the fork - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

There is always enough time for a chat at mealtime - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Lunch is prepared at the camp - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

Landscape in the gorge that runs through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

The caravan continues on the heights of the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A waterhole in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - The water supply needs to be replenished - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A waterhole in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

There were lions in the Tamgak Mountains until around 1920. This cairn is a lion trap in which a goat was tied to a stone slab that could close the trap. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Curious rock formation at the Guelta An Rhon n'Ajad - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The guelta "An Rhone n'Ajad", where there is very good water - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Pre-Islamic tomb in the northern Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

Detail of a rock in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A tomb in the northern Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - The watershed between the Oued Tamgak and the Oued Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

On the heights in 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

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains. The big tree is called Aborak by the Tuaregs - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains. The trail of the dromedaries in the evening light - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

An oued in the valley of the gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan follows an oued in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

A Targi refreshes himself in the valley of the gueltas (waterholes). In the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A dromedary drinking water in the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan passes a waterhole. In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes) in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The goatskin guerbas are filled with water. In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Guelta Bilal in the valley of the Gueltas (water holes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

The Guelta Mirroir in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - 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 the gorge between the two parts of the Tamgak Mountains - 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. - 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. - A canister fell down during a difficult passage - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep gorge running in an arc in a west-east direction. The caravan on its way through this gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

Abri Ilem - A shelter with rock art - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Balance - Landscape in the area of Abri Ilem - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Olive tree in Adrar Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan in the gorge that crosses the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The clan chief Boubakar - He wears sandals like the Europeans - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The Guelta Settafan in the deep, arched gorge of the Adrar Tamgak running from west to east - Aïr - Niger - 2001

In Tamascheq, the language of the Tuareg, they say Aman Eres. Aman means water and Eres means hole. - In the northern part of the Adrar 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

Pre-Islamic burial site, about 600 years old. In the northern part of the Adrar Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent from a pass. The Oued Tamgak in the background. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

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

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

Camp at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Camp at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Note that the bush serves as a pantry - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Dum palms (Hyphaene thebaica) in the background - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

The evening tea ritual in the camp - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the evening at the camp, a taguella is baked - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The guerbas are filled with water at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

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

Abakaoua, the chief of the Tel-Kédéle clan, takes a break - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Photo Gallery