A moving and long-awaited return

The camels groan, stirring. The rahla is positioned ahead of the hump, secured. Atfeil and his son Zohor move with precision around the animals. Happy, they are happy. In the Adrar Et Tmar, in Mauritania: the pleasure of seeing each other again is real. It has now been 8 years since we last saw one another. Our hair has turned grey; the work of time is relentless. The children have grown, they are now vigorous men and ravishing young women. Life in the desert is unchanging in this place, time flows simply like a handful of sand through the hand, slowly, inexorably. We head due south to venture deep into the bush as they say in Mauritania, El badiyat. What a joy to walk again across these vast, pristine expanses, to spend time with our companions, to sleep under the stars, to gaze at the horizon without any particular purpose. We walked at a leisurely pace, moving forward letting our instincts guide our steps. The pleasure of being there was enough…

Magnificent memories, delightful moments to come

March 2018: yes my friend Atfeil, we're doing it again! No, rather we're continuing to write the story of Saharan tourism. The environment has changed, but the Mauritanian desert remains true to itself. Atfeil, do you remember our first bambée together… in 1994? You were wary of me just as I was of you. We set out from the well in the middle of the wadi, straight ahead, mid-morning. You wouldn't take your eyes off me, questioning, curious, but also defiant. What is this nasrani (foreigner/Christian) doing in the Adrar (mountain/Saharan region)? Why is he walking? Why won't he ride a camel? On foot, 45 km further, we reach Wadâne at sunset. A unique spectacle, a magical moment, and an unbreakable friendship was born that day.

The return of Saharan tourism to Mauritania, the return of a love story

Everyone is ready! This 10-year interruption has been difficult for everyone. You returned to what matters most, the harsh life of the desert, isolated from the rest of the world. We set out again to meet those who kept this beautiful story alive, to visit those places that have shaped my life. Here, serenity reigns, not a shadow of worry, vigilance has no place. The Mauritanian Adrar is as peaceful as we had never known it. My last trip was in July 2008, everyone was waiting for a revival, for confidence to return with a heavy dose of confusion. In 2018, they are still waiting with mixed fortunes. My brother and friend Mohamed Salem has, over time, sold all his camels and gradually withdrawn into his home. Morale has deserted this man who was so generous and cheerful. His brother Mahmoud, on the other hand, preferred to distance himself from the city and managed to keep part of his herd. Motivated, he is fully ready to resume the caravans. He speaks with energy and conviction. The Mauritanian Adrar more ready than ever! The town of Wadâne has changed; the ruins of the ancient city have been restored. The minaret of the 12th-century mosque has been straightened, a small square. The new town has spread across the plateau to the northeast, allowing the old caravan city to keep its character above the palm grove. Dear travelers, we invite you to explore this region, to immerse yourselves in the human and natural Mauritanian environments so singular far from the turmoil of daily life. Everything is now in place for us to experience unforgettable moments. More than ever, strengthened by unique experience acquired over decades, we develop rare journeys with responsibility, ethics, and respect.