The photos of the eastern side of the Aïr Mountains were taken during various expeditions between 1992 and 1999 to 2002.

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. The lorries are packed with goods and a large number of passengers on top. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

An Azalaï, a salt caravan, is still travelling between Bilma and Agadez. But for how much longer? Soon they will be completely replaced by lorries. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

A group of Tuareg nomads have completed their barter transactions near Adrar Madet and are getting ready to return to the Aïr Mountains. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

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

Citrullus Colocynthis: In the ouadis or valleys, you can easily find large patches 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... - On the edge of 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

This boulder is located in the Oued Tâfidet in the transition zone between the Aïr Mountains and the Ténéré Desert - Niger - 1992

This boulder is located in the Oued Ibil in the transition zone between the Aïr Mountains and the Ténéré Desert - Niger - 1992

These rock needles were put there by human hands. However, it is not known what they mean. - Oued Ibill - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The sand dunes at the entrance to Wadi Tagueït. - Niger - 1992

In the region of Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 1999

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

Landscape with tree, bushes and dune near Tagueït. See next photo. - Niger - 1992

10 years later! Landscape with tree, bushes and dune near Tagueït - Niger - 2002

Landscape near Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 2001

This fresco of giraffes, remarkable for the stencilling and line engraving it required, does not date from the same period as the two figures, including an archer, preceding the herd, which appear to be much more recent. The main animals are between 0.60 m and 0.80 m tall. The rock itself is 2.40 m long. - Tagueït – Aïr – Niger - 2002

Rock engraving, found on the left side of the Wadi Tagueït. - Niger - 2001

Site of the rock engraving on the edge of the Ténéré desert - The man of Tagueït - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Man of Tagueït - Rock engraving on the edge of the Ténéré desert - Aïr - Niger - 2000

These giraffes can be found in the lower part of the Oued Tagueït. Do they come from the pastoral period? - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the lower part of the Oued Tagueït - end of the pastoral period. Five highly stylised giraffes. From the head to the base of the legs of the largest giraffe: 0.95 metres. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the lower part of the Oued Tagueït - Punched giraffe and ostriches on boulders. Height of the stone: 0.50 m. - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan approaches Anakom, another site of rock engravings - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Landscape near Anakom - Aïr - Niger - 2000

It can take thousands of years for the solid rock to turn into mobile sand. - At Anakom - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Still life in the Oued Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Life and death - Still life in the Oued Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Where there is enough moisture, plants can sprout - Oued Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The Guelta Anakom, a water source between rock faces on the eastern slope of the Takolokouzet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the camp at Guelta Anakom - A saddle has to be repaired - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Abakaoua, the chief of the Tuareg tribe Tel-Kédélé - Oued Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Descent over the dunes of Torguit - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent to the Oued Tanakom - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

Still life in the dunes of Tanakom - Aïr - Niger - 2002

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

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

A herd of goats in the upper part of the Oued Agamgam, descending from the high plateau of Takolokouzet - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan descending from the Takolokouzet plateau - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A herd of goats descending from the high plateau of Takolokouzet - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent to the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan stops at Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The dromedaries quench their thirst at the Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Passage through the Agamgam Gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Evening atmosphere in the camp at Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

In the evening light the caravan reaches the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

An acacia tree in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The same acacia tree in the Oued Agamgam, seven years later - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Landscape in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

The Guelta Agamgam between rock faces - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Dromedary camels fetch water in Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Evening atmosphere in the camp at Guelta Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Passage through the Agamgam Gorge - Aïr - Niger - 2001

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

Mobile pantry in the camp at Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp Agamgam - Pumpkin container that is usually filled with milk, yoghurt or cream cheese. - Aïr - Niger - 1992

In Camp Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

A grasshopper in the bushes in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Landscape in the Oued Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

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

The valley of Tafajrit near Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

In the valley of Tafajrit near Agamgam - Aïr - Niger - 1999

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

Camp Tafajrit - The dromedaries eat the greenery from the sparse trees - Aïr - Niger - 1999

The caravan in the Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 1999

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

Balance - The sculpting god has chosen an immense open-air space for the exhibition of his works. Admission is free for all who make the effort to come here. - Tideloukoumt between Aïr and Ténéré - Niger - 1999

Stone mill in the middle of the Arakao - Aïr - Niger – 1999

Nomad grave in the middle of the Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Punched giraffe and cattle on a boulder between Arakao and the grotto at the big dune - Aïr - Niger - 2002

There are many rock engraving sites in the Oued Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Dunes in Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Arakao region is part of the Aïr mountain range, which is one of the most heavily forested areas in the Sahara. But on the border with the Ténéré and its dunes, the already sparse vegetation disappears abruptly. - Aïr - Niger - 1992

A Moulay Moulay bird sits on a dead tree stump in the middle of the Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Arakao dunes and the remains of a dead tree - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Light and shadow - Day breaks in Arakao. Nothing will disturb the silence of the shadow and the oppressive rigidity of the light - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Afternoon in the Arakao. The shadows trace the majesty of the dunes on the sand - Tideloukoumt - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Dunes at Tideloukoumt - On the border between Ténéré and Aïr, the Arakao mountains mark the horizon and are the destination of a long day's march for the caravan. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Near Tideloukoumt in the Arakao region - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Shadows of life, shadows of death in the solitude of the desert. - Near Tideloukoumt in the Arakao region - Aïr - Niger - 1999

As a scout, the guide Abakaoua explores the narrow passage that leads to the top of the Ifiniyane dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

After a long day's march, the dromedaries are led to the drinking trough. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

On the way we collect food for the dromedaries. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

Lone tree in the area of Tineken in the Arakao. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

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

Landscape with tree and dunes in Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 1992

In the Arakao dunes, the approaching darkness drives the gold of the sand into the arms of a cobalt-coloured sky. - Aïr - Niger - 1999

At the edge of the Ténéré, at the end of the Oued Arakao, there is a natural, circular mountain range: the Crab Claw. The caravan crosses this area, which is dotted with sand dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Still life at the edge of the Crab Claw - Aïr - Niger - 2000

At the edge of the Ténéré, at the end of the Oued Arakao, there is a natural, circular mountain range: the Crab Clow. The caravan crosses this area, which is dotted with sand dunes. - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the camp at the Crab Claw at the end of the Oued Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 2000

A Targia in the camp at the Crab Claw at the end of the Oued Arakao - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Crossing the Crab Claw on the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Sand wind in the Crab Claw at the edge of the Ténéré - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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

Dune ascent at Tchi-n-Taboûrak - The dromedaries took the route around the outside of the dunes - Aïr - Niger - 2002

After the crab claw, you follow the Oued Takarit before reaching the large Erg Izane. - 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

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

Sand-blown marble on the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Still life at the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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