World’s Best Adventures
IN THE
ROAD TRIP MAGIC DESERT ALGERIA OF
PROGRAM 2015 23rd of October until 2nd of November Desert road trip & a Tuareg festival or 25th of December until 4th of January New Year’s eve in the heart of the Sahara
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Introduction
You’re invited to join us on a magical road trip into the desert of Algeria. The Sahara is the largest and most beautiful desert in the world. It’s alluring and completely addictive. The Sahara is the place where Antoine de Saint-Exupéry found his inspiration to write Le Petit Prince. Even the setting of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist took place in the desert. Tadrart, a region in the deep south east of undiscovered Algerian Sahara, is the area we are heading to. Giant dunes dotted with oases, mountain ranges, strange rock formations and life of Tuaregs that follows age-old tribal traditions.The former Belgian King Baudouin and the Spanish King Carlos loved the region of Tadrart. It’s the place where you can find both serenity and serendipity. If you are interested in an exclusive and once in a lifetime experience, this is your great opportunity!
Contact Badra Djait, Belgian-Algerian guide-companion
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Scenic Tadart
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Various spectacular desert landscapes We will explore a small part of the Sahara together, the Tadrart. The Tadrart is part of the National Park of Tassili N’Ajjer, meaning ‘Plateau of the Rivers’, rivers that turned into deserts. Tassili N’Ajjer National Park is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1982. The plateau is a magnificent ‘lunar’ landscape of sandstone forests and canyons and is twice the size of Switzerland. The premier rock-art area in the world The Tadrart is also home to one of the most important collections of prehistoric cave art in the world, offering a permanent open-air art exhibition on rocks and in caves. One of the most famous engravings is the weeping cow on a cliffside near Djanet. There are some 15.000 drawings and engravings that depict hunting scenes, with elephants, giraffes, lions, and both human and spiritual beings. This incredible open-air gallery tells us the story of the changing fortunes of this part of the Sahara, the climatic change, the animal migrations and the evolution of human life on the edge of the Sahara from 8000 to circa 1500 years ago. The cow is crying because of the desertification in the region and thus the lack of water. The area of Tadrart is also littered with arrowheads, arrow shafts and pottery shards. Wandering there feels like you are the first person to walk into an ancient world. Ancient trees and plants The Tadrart is a floristic and faunistic island of Sahelian life in the middle of the desert, and harbours the endangered species of Saharan Cypress and Myrtle tree, one of the rarest trees in the world. Their existence dates to prehistoric times. Mail: badradjait@yahoo.com / Phone: 0032 494 594 465 / Facebook: RoadTripinMagicSaharaofAlgeria
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The Rose of Jericho, also called ‘the Rose of the Desert’, is one of those prehistoric plants. It’s a small and grey plant of about 15cm. After the rainy season, the plant dries up, dropping leaves and curling branches into a tight ball. Once it gets wet in the rainy season, this seemingly dead plant uncurls itself in a fast tempo into a white flower. That’s why it’s also known by the name ‘the plant of Resurrection’. There is a similar plant called the false Rose of Jericho that uncurls itself in about three hours (!) into a green plant. Most large animal species have disappeared, but the Barbary sheep (mouflon), the gazelle, hyrax, wild cat and possibly the cheetah are still present. The most famous animal in Algeria is the fennec fox, a small nocturnal fox that lives in desert environments. The fennec fox is not only the national animal of Algeria, it also serves as the nickname for the Algerian national football team: “les Fennecs”.
Tuareg People Besides the stunning beauty of the various desert landscapes, what really makes this trip so special are the local guides who join us, the Tuaregs, a noble people who are referred to as the ‘blue people of the Sahara’ in reference to the indigo turbans worn by man, which define their identity. The Tuareg guides look after you and know the Sahara by heart. The Tuareg are seminomadic of North African Berber origin and presently number circa 1 million. They live in southern Algeria, southwestern Libya, Mali and Niger, and in fewer numbers, in Burkina Faso and Nigeria. They speak Tamasheq as well as French and sometimes English. For centuries they traded using camel caravans, now they use 4X4s to ply the desert. They have a way about them that is very lovable. They are great companions and have an excellent attitude. They love good stories and jokes. Being with them around the campfire under thousand stars, hearing their stories, and listening to them singing and making music, you get a glimpse into a totally different world. Contact Badra Djait, Belgian-Algerian guide-companion
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Program 1
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23rd of October - 2nd of November Desert road trip & a Tuareg festival Day 1: Flight from Brussels to Algiers and from Algiers to Djanet.
Djanet is an oasis village in the deep south of Algeria: pleasant and calm, with large, shady palm trees where daily life follows the slow rhythm of the desert. A remote village of 14.655 inhabitants. The closest village is more than 400 kilometers away.
Arrival in the night in Djanet, transport to and sleeping in a guesthouse/hotel. Day 2: Experiencing the Tuareg festival
This festival celebrates the sealing of a peace pact and thus the end of an ancient war between two tribes, el-Mihane and Zallouaz. It’s a magic festivity with music, beautiful costumes and jewelry in which Tuareg men and women participate.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Djanet Sleeping in a guesthouse/hotel
Day 3: Breakfast in Djanet Visit of the local market in Djanet Lunch Start the road trip with the Tuaregs and the 4X4s Camping in Oued In Djaren Day 4-9: Visit of different sites, trekking and camping in Moulinaga, Tin Merzouga, Bouhediane, In Tehak, Wan Zawatene, and in In Ahar Day 10: Back to Djanet in hotel/guesthouse, showering and resting Possibility to visit the old town of Djanet Day 11: Flight to Algiers & to Brussels Back home with lots of unforgettable memories. Mail: badradjait@yahoo.com / Phone: 0032 494 594 465 / Facebook: RoadTripinMagicSaharaofAlgeria
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Contact Badra Djait, Belgian-Algerian guide-companion
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Program 2
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25th of December - 4th of January New Year’s eve in the heart of the Sahara Day 1: Flight from Brussels to Algiers and from Algiers to Djanet. Arrival in the night in Djanet, transport to and sleeping in a guesthouse/hotel. Day 2: Breakfast in Djanet; Visit of the local market in Djanet; Lunch; Start the road trip with the Tuaregs and the 4X4s; Camping in Oued In Djaren. Day 3-8: Visit of different sites, trekking and camping in Moulinaga, Tin Merzouga, Bouhediane, In Tehak, Wan Zawatene, and in In Ahar. Celebrating New Year’s eve with Tuareg music in the heart of the Sahara. Day 9: Back to Djanet in hotel/guesthouse, showering and resting. Dinner in evening. Day 10: Visit to the local market, the old town of Djanet and its gardens, the museum, … Day 11: Flight to Algiers & to Brussels. Back home with lots of unforgettable memories.
Mail: badradjait@yahoo.com / Phone: 0032 494 594 465 / Facebook: RoadTripinMagicSaharaofAlgeria
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Practical modalities
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1. The guide: Your experienced guide-companion is Badra Djait. She is a Belgian from Algerian origin who lives in Ghent. She obtained a master degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology and one in Arabic Language and Islamic Culture, and works in Brussels in the Flemish Parliament. She loves to travel all around the world (Peru, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, ‌) and getting new inspirations. But the beautiful Algerian Sahara is her addiction. Since she discovered it five years ago, she came back almost every year. She will guide you all the way safe from Brussels to the desert and back. The perfect knowledgeable person who will make you feel comfortable and safe. 2. Climate: The climate is dry, the air is pure and healthy. The mean temperature in October is about 24 degrees Celsius. with average afternoon temperatures reaching 31 degrees and overnight temperatures of 19 degrees. The average temperature in December is about 14 degrees Celsius. Afternoons can be warm with average high temperatures reaching 21 degrees. Overnight temperatures are generally a little cool with an average low of 8 degrees. Please bring warm clothes for the evenings and nights. And bring your own sleeping bag. You have the possibility to sleep in a tent or under 10.000 stars. Mattresses will be provided. 3. Food: The food and water is healthy and natural. The food consists of breakfast (bread, jam, cheese, honey, tea or coffee), lunch (salad, bread, tinned fish or a cooked dish, followed by fruit), late afternoon tea with biscuits, peanuts and tea, and dinner (a cooked dish, salad, bread, dates and tea and coffee). We have enough water to drink. Contact Badra Djait, Belgian-Algerian guide-companion
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4. Safety: Safety is our priority. You travel with specialized local Tuareg guides who have more than 15 years experience with travelers. They are not only great companions, they also possess a thorough knowledge of the terrain. They know the ins and outs of the Sahara and lead us safely all the way through the desert.
The Tuareg have a satellite phone they use in case of emergency. In the desert you get the chance to disconnect from the world. It means there is no possibility to use your mobile phone or internet. In the town of Djanet you can use your phone or find internet again, but there is no credit card or ATM access. So please bring cash (euros) with you for personal expenses. The exchange is easy. 5. The price: The price is 1.500 euros and includes: - Flight tickets Brussels-Djanet and Djanet-Brussels - Transfers from and to the airport - Transport like the 4-wheeldrive in the desert - Services of guides, drivers, a cook in the desert - Guesthouse at arrival and departing in Djanet - Camping material (tents and mattresses) - Breakfasts, lunches and dinners in Djanet and desert - Permits for National Park Tassili N’Ajjer Excluded: - Costs of travel visa - Travel insurance - Personal expenses Minimum: 3 participants and maximum 8 participants. 6. Visa: All travelers need a visa to enter Algeria. To apply for an Algerian visa you need a letter of ‘invitation’ from an Algerian contact or tourist agency. Badra Djait is the perfect person who can help you with this invitation. Please provide her with a clear scanned copy of your passport.Once she obtains your Algerian letter of invitation, you can take or send your passport to the Algerian embassy in Brussels and have your visa stamped in your passport. Badra Djait can also help you with getting the visa in your passport. 7. Inscription: Registration deadline is 15th of June for the first program and 15th of August for the second program. It’s necessary for Badra Djait to organize the invitation letter and - if you need - to obtain your visa from the embassy. After you obtained your visa, you will be required to pay a cash advance of 40% of the sum. The inscription is then definitive. The remaining 60% can be paid 8 weeks before travel. Mail: badradjait@yahoo.com / Phone: 0032 494 594 465 / Facebook: RoadTripinMagicSaharaofAlgeria
BADRA DJAIT Belgian-Algerian guide-companion
Mail: badradjait@yahoo.com Phone: 0032 494 594 465 Fb: RoadTripinMagicSaharaofAlgeria
Ready for an unforgettable desert trip? Book your trip and bring your camera.The Sahara desert is a land of beauty, history and adventure. For those who are willing to experience her charms, they will collect a wealth of memories.
Contact Badra Djait. She will give you all the answers you need.
QUOTES: ‘I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...’ (Antoine Saint-Exupéry, author of Le petit Prince) ‘A nomad at heart are those who seek for freedom.’ (Tuareg) ‘What attracts you personally to the desert? It’s clean.’ (Lawrence of Arabia) ‘The king [Baudouin of Belgium], he romped in the dunes, clambered the sandhills and slided down, applauded by Queen Fabiola.’ (Mark Eyskens)
CAUDRONBLEU©