Guides' blogs for Algeria and Niger
Last night on the Dunes (25/11/2009)
Today, we retraced our camel’s steps in 4x4s. We left Fachi this morning and managed 155 miles in 11 hours, battling our way through the dunes of Tenere. We have made camp in the dunes, and should reach Agadez for lunch tomorrow. This will be our last night under the stars and with our wonderful team of Taureg helpers. It is a cold night and so we are all sitting close to the fire, drinking warm tea.
A night in the Oasis (24/11/2009)
Today, we enjoyed the tranquil, green fish pools in Bilma, and even more so, finding an old fridge in the market, which contained ice-cold coke. After preparing the vehicles for the run back across the Tenere, we are set up for a peaceful night camped in the oasis, hopefully not disturbed by braying donkeys or call to prayer by the muezzin.
Au revoir camels! (23/11/2009)
Finally, arrived in Bilma where the police are troublesome. All is well though, and en-route to Agadez tomorrow. Have said goodbye to our camels and looking forward to a shower and a cold beer!
Across the Tenere (13/11/2009)
JP is sending daily updates on the group's progress across the Sahara on camel back, here are the first few...
After arriving in Niger it did not take long to pick up a caravan, pack up our camels and start our journey. The first day was hot and demanding, we made poor ground but did well and our first camp was a happy one.
The next day has been no more easy, 37 degrees, 9 hours and sore bottoms! Everyone found it tough going and after setting up camp we all crashed out for a well deserved rest.
Today we rode all through the heat of the day and as the sunset behind us we still had 2 more hours to go. The dusk came down and as the stars filled the heavens the camels stepped patiently on through the blessedly cool night. After sometime Ousmane, our guide, knelt to feel the quality of the sand - 'we are near', he said. I checked my now redundant GPS, we were 200m from the well. We had arrived at the Arbre de Tenere.
More to follow...
Saved By An Airsickness Bag (29/12/2008)
Hello blog readers
Wild Frontiers’ man in Africa Stanley here, currently down here in Burkina Faso’s delightfully named capital Ouagadougou. I am waiting for the arrival of my group of hearty travellers as I prepare for a 2 week adventure to Mali’s Famous Festival au Desert.
This trip is going to be a cracker: a boat trip on the Niger to the fabled city of Timbuktu, trekking the Bandiagara escarpment in a land entwined with the ancient traditions and rites of the Dogon and culminating in the excitement of Africa’s premiere music festival.
What has this got to do with an airsickness bag I hear you ask? Well I got myself in a bit of a pickle on the way out here because I managed to leave my Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (mandatory for entry into Burkina Faso) on my desk at home so as you can imagine, as my flight approached Ouaga I was wondering how to get out of this one. Spotting the yellow air sick bag tucked into the seatback in front of me I thought how similar its yellow was to that of the actual certificate so tucking it into my passport I confidently walked through the Medical Control waving my passport with the half-hidden airsickness bag, a smile, and a cheerful Bonsoir and with that it was Bienvenu a Burkina Faso.
Until next time
Stanley
