Now we embark on a camel trek, and I invite you on a technical and ethnographic journey through a schematic and geographic representation. The geographic distribution of three major types of Saharan saddles demonstrates that these three cultural areas occupy, schematically, separate meridional compartments divided by regions that are largely empty – the Taoudeni Basin/Tanezrouft and the Tafassasset Ténéré – where human life is considerably sparse. The existence of these north-south corridors polarizes Saharan life in a determined direction and shapes its economy, caravan routes, and exchanges. These areas correspond to zones more favorable to human settlement and movement but allowed little or no transversal relations because they are separated by these particularly desert regions. The western domain is also that of the Moors, the central that of the Tuaregs, but also of the Chaambas, the Kuntas and the Berabishs who use the same type of harnessing, and the eastern extends from Tibesti to the Sudanese borderlands and involves diverse groups ranging from the Tedas-Dazas to Egypto-Sudanese nomads. The Moorish world and the Tuareg world touch at only one point today, at the Sahel. The Tuareg world and the Teda-daza world overlap only in the Fezzan region.

Saddle by saddle, from east to west

In the East, pack-saddles:

From Toubou Sahara in Sudan, among the Afars to the Arabian Peninsula, camel drivers use both the withers and the loins of the camel, and they ride on a sort of pack-saddle. This straddles the hump without ever touching it, as there would be a risk of injury to the animal. Terké, the Toubou pack-saddle This pack-saddle, the Terké in the Teda-Daza language, rests forward and back on the withers and loins of the animal. Deceptively simple in appearance, the Terké is complex in its construction and demands perfect knowledge of camel anatomy. It consists of two forks connected by four cross-beams. No metal rivets are used, but rather skillful lashings and green leather tensioners. The front fork rests on the withers through two lateral cushions. These are what directly support the rider's weight. They press on the two muscular masses found at the top of the ribs, on either side of the spine. They must leave the shoulder free and take no bearing on the ribs themselves, the spine, or the hump. The fork and rear pad, less heavily loaded, rest on the animal's loins. The rider rests on the Terké's horizontal cross-beams, directly above the front cushions. A covering, sheepskin or goatskin, softens and distributes the contact. Among the Tedas-Dazas (Toubou), the camel is piloted on foot and by rein on a pack-saddle taking support on the withers and loins.

The West, withers saddles:

When Chaambas, Moors, Kuntas, Tuaregs and Berabish mount in the saddle, they use only the withers of the camel, the free space in front of the hump. Tarik and Tahyast – Tuareg saddles In the center – straddling, if you will, several countries, Niger, Libya, Algeria and Mali – lies the tamasheq saddle. Characteristic and elegant, the Tarik takes place on the animal's withers. It consists of a seat bearing, at the front a cross and at the rear a backrest. To mount, the rider straddles the harnessing and takes a seat on the saddle seat, feet placed on the animal's neck. The camel driver is balanced both on his seat and on his feet where he maintains constant contact. This is par excellence the saddle of the Tuaregs. It is also used by Arab nomads, the Chaambas. It was principally manufactured in northern Niger. The Tahyast, sister of the Tarik, is commonly found in the Hoggar, in the Adrar of the Iforas. More rudimentary, it differs mainly in the form of its pommel – a planchette rather than a cross. It is also used for animal training as it is much more robust than the Tarik. It is also the saddle used by Moorish groups, the Kuntas and Berabish of northeastern Mali. The Tarik and the Tahyast in Tamasheq, the language of the Tuaregs, is called Rahla by the Chaambas, the Berabish and the Kuntas, who are Arabic speakers. Among the Tuaregs, Berabish, Kuntas and Chaambas, the camel is piloted on foot and by rein on a withers saddle.

The Rahla – the Moorish saddle In the West, between western Mali and Algeria, the Atlantic Ocean and southern Morocco extends the Moorish Rahla, the traveler in Arabic. Highly recognizable with its lateral ears, offering excellent comfort for those with slender thighs, this true bucket-seat is likewise positioned in front of the hump and places its rider in a high position. It is relatively hollow, with prominent and rounded side panels, short rounded pommel, and cantle matching the shape of the panels. Its construction is sophisticated, consisting of a balance of the woods that compose it and two types of leather that solidify it as they dry. The rider's legs are positioned on the same side of the withers and the feet have no support. Today, the entire Moorish area speaks Hassaniya Arabic. Among the Moors, the camel is piloted by stick on a withers saddle.

By way of conclusion

May this approach, which I intend to be pedagogical, allow each of us to have a faithful understanding of what a camel trek in the central part of the Sahara can be. Whether you are a novice or experienced, I hope that desire and curiosity will drive you to explore the trails, choosing, as we do, this mode of travel. It also contributes to a responsible and sustainable tourism experience.