Terjit

1 november 2022

Some of the journeys I make turn in to epic adventures in themselves. Todays' was one of them.

I booked to travel in a pickup from Tidjikja to Terjit with Nishat who owned a travel company in the town. She not only co-ordinated the movement of human passengers between Tidjikja and Atar, animals and products went in the pickups too. An amazing logistical operation which for us today involved finding a herd of goats along the way, putting them all in the pickup adding the luggage on top and getting everything safely to the destination. All in a normal days work for this driver.

It was incredible to witness how this all works. I watched as the herd of goats was located, tied up and bagged, loaded onto the pickup whilst in the middle of the desert. In the background a herd of camels passed by herded by two guys on their own camel, manoeuvring the herd through the open expanses. Along the way, we stopped for prayers and food with the driver always looking out for everyone's needs.

The landscape was spectacular today. Open desert land backed with mountains of dark rock with incredible layered markings showing where ancient water levels must have been.

I was dropped off at the Terjit junction and picked up by Jamel. He drove me to the tent camp at Chez Jamel, high above the Terjit valley overlooking the oasis settlement. Totally spectacular and an amazing base complete with small swimming pool and a wonderful cook....