In order to reach Djanet (Algeria) on the Tamrit high plateau (Tassili n'Ajjer), one must overcome – on foot or by camel – three steep, rocky paths known as akbas, one after the other.

Landscape of Tin-Kani, Rock art archaeological site - Tassili n´Ajjer / Algeria

Climb to the guelta d'Agamgam - Aïr / Niger

Access - wide steps chipped out of the rock, from the floor of Chaco Canyon to the top of the cliffs

In order to reach the cliff dwellings or to climb along the canyon walls, Indians throughout the Southwest had chipped footsize steps into the stone. This is one such a "stairway" near White House Pueblo, Canyon de Chelly (Arizona).

In the midday heat
Piton and landscape with a camel skeleton of which only the skull remains.
Algeria - Tadrart - Tin-Merzouga - 1993

Art in the desert
Natural rock sculpture between Djanet and the cliffs south of Tassili.
Algeria - South Tassili - 1993

Dunes and monoliths
Dunes of Tarka on the border between Niger and Chad.
Chad - Tibesti - 1967

Dhar Tichitt is a Neolithic archaeological site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. It is one of several settlement sites along the sandstone cliffs in the area. The cliffs were inhabited by farmers and pastoralists from about 4500 B.C. and lasted until about 2300 B.C. This area is one of the oldest known archaeological settlement sites in the western part of Africa. About 500 stone settlements were scattered throughout the region in the former Saharan savannah. In addition to raising livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats), the inhabitants hunted, fished, gathered wild cereals and cultivated rush millet. - View of a wind-eroded rock from a grotto. - Mauritania - 1970

From Djanet, two passes lead over the rock face that forms the western edge of the Tassili n'Ajjer to the summit plateau: the Tafilalet pass (photo), which leads in three successive steps (Akba) to the village of Tamrit, and the more direct and steeper Aroum pass, which leads to Jabbaren. - Algeria - 1962

The Tin Tazarift area also has bizarre erosional forms. - Algeria - 1966

Rocky landscape in the Tissouar area, shaped by erosion into strange sculptures, in the highlands of the Tassili Mountains. Hidden amidst these stone citadels are the numerous rock art sites. - Algeria - 1966

The Oued Terarart south of Djanet in the evening sun. - Algeria - 1966

In prehistoric times, when water still flowed through the Sahara, the erosion of the rivers formed strange mythical creatures out of the stone. Today, the water has disappeared and the wind takes care of the erosion that gnaws at the rocks and slowly grinds them into sand. - Algeria - 1969

Rock formation in the south of Djanet - Algeria - 1962

Years have passed since the last rain. Only in the evening, when the shadows of a rare plant finally lengthen on the pale-multicoloured carpet of soil, does the immense panorama show its true face. The rock, lost on the edge of the Adrar Tin-Amali somewhere southeast of Djanet, is reminiscent of an island. Don't we also have an ocean in mind when we call the camel a "desert ship"? - Algeria - 1969

Grandiose rock formation in the Zouar region of Tibesti. To compare the size, look at the two people. - Chad - 1967

On the edge of the Ténéré desert, towards the Tibesti, the relief of the Sahara winds in the strange shapes of stone sculptures. - Chad - 1967

The dunes of Tarka, with their strange rock formations, are located on the edge of the Tibesti River in Chad, near the border with Niger. - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

Sand dunes and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

The "West Island" in the big ring. Site 8 is located in a shelter of these rocks. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

Sand dunes with waves and rocks in Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

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