The last time Maximilien Bruggmann travelled in the Sahara was in 2003. Most of the photos in this group are from this trip. Some photos of the Tamgak area were taken between 2000 and 2003.

The Adrar Bous is a 1123-metre-high mountain on the north-eastern edge of the Aïr high mountains in Niger. It is surrounded by the Ténéré desert and is part of the Aïr and Ténéré UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve. The mountain has an elliptical shape covering an area of 16 by 10 kilometres. The Adrar Bous is a refuge for Palaearctic migratory birds in the middle of the desert. Typical woody plants for the mountain are Acacia ehrenbergiana and Acacia raddiana (pictured). The isolated mountain was inhabited in the Neolithic period, as evidenced by sites with 10,000-year-old human remains. Arrowheads and tools have been found, as well as Sahara rock paintings, 9500-year-old pottery and a 6000-year-old cattle burial. - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

The caravan has left Adrar Bous and is on its way south - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp in the Temet region, south of Adrar Bous - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan continues southwards - Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Dune spectacle in the Temet region - 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

Dunes at Temet - In the dry season, the Wadi Temet consists only of a scorching hot riverbed, at the edge of which a lone tree struggles to survive - 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

Traces in the sand in the Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Dromedaries quench their thirst at a waterhole in the Temet region - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Instead of the traditional guerbas, modern water canisters are filled with the delicious liquid - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan follows the Oued Temet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan follows the Oued Temet, which is lined with imposing sand dunes - In the background the mountain Ti-n-Galene - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The camp site for the night is soon reached - Temet region - Mount Tazoubit in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The next morning, the caravan resumes its journey - Temet region - Mount Tazoubit in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

The camp at the well of Tezirzek is reached - Niger - Aïr - 2003

After arriving at Tezirzek camp, the woman's saddle has to be repaired - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Three Targias in the Tezirzek camp - An old tin barrel serves as a drum - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Two happy Targias in the Tezirzek camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Targia at the well of Tezirzek - Between the high plateau of the Ténéré and the Aïr Mountains, the well of Tezirkek attracts nomads and their animals. Unlike the men, the women do not wear headscarves. - Aïr - Niger - 2003

Women's smiles - The smiles of the women at the well of Tezirzek testify to their confidence in their freedom and the serenity that a hard but happy life brings. - Aïr - Niger - 2003

Women's smiles - The smiles of the women at the well of Tezirzek testify to their confidence in their freedom and the serenity that a hard but happy life gives. - Aïr - Niger - 2003

This Tuareg boy´s hair plaits are consecrated to Allah. In the camp of the Kel-Tédélé of Tezirzek - Aïr - Niger - 1992

A young Targi in the Abakaoua camp in Tezirzek - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Tuareg boy in the camp of the Kel-Iguéga of Tezirzek - Aïr - Niger - 1992

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

Members of the Kel-Iguéga clan in the Tezirzek camp - Niger - Aïr - 1992

"Tent" of a family of the Kel-Iguéga clan in the Tezirzek camp - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The brother of Abakaoua, head of the Kel-Tedélé clan, with his son - Tezirzek well - Niger - Aïr - 1992

Portrait of a Targis in the Kel-Iguéga camp near Tezirzek - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Young Targia with her little brother in the Kel-Iguéga camp - The boy carries a lucky amulet containing a written verse from the Koran - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 199292

The goats are supplied with water - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 1992

And suddenly a scorpion crosses the path - Well of Tezirzek - Niger - Aïr - 1992

At the time of the horse (around 1000 BC), the aborigines liked to represent themselves in such a way that one could draw up an inventory of their various representations, which were often accompanied by one or more horses. - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 1992

Rock engraving from the horse epoch. Two figures (the one on the left is 0.70 metres high) are holding a creature together on a rope, which is indistinguishable but resembles a child! - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 1992

In the late afternoon, the Targis bring their dromedaries back from the pasture to the camp - Well of Tezirzek- Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

Cutting the drinn on the way, fodder for the dromedaries - 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

The caravan travelling through the dunes on the edge of Erg Izane - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan travelling through the dunes on the edge of Erg Izane, between Tezirzek and Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Boubakar has to make a new rope - Camp in Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Playing draughts in the camp in Oued Tchioulmas - Niger - Aïr - 2003

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

Nature in detail - Dunes near Tebet - Niger - Aïr - 1992

This dead tree still serves as firewood - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The question remains: where does this plant get the water it needs? - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

The well of Tchou-m-Adegdeg - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

At the well of Tchou-m-Adegdeg - A goatskin guerba is filled with water - Tebet region between Adrar Chiriet and Tamgak - Niger - Aïr - 1992

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

A veil of respect - To follow the ancestral way of life, tradition and freedom merge in mutual respect. - Camp of Chanounou - Aïr - Niger - 2003

Wife of Chanounou, the chief of a traditional Tuareg tribe - Aïr - Niger - 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