Night in Tassili

When the sun hides and the overwhelming heat gives way to the coldness of the night, the desert prepares itself to be covered by the magic of a dome dotted with constellations...

Atakor volcanic field

The massive Atakor volcanic field covers an area of about 2150 Km2 in the heart of the Ahaggar massif in southern Algeria. Basaltic scoria cones and lava flows of Pleistocene and Holocene age lie near spectacular older trachytic and phonolitic lava domes and volcanic necks that form some of the most dramatic scenery of the Sahara. The latest stage of activity began around 1.95 million years ago and continued almost to the present. Lava flows cover Holocene lake sediments dated at about 10000 years ago and alluvial terraces in which Neolithic artifacts have been found. Historical pottery has been found within lava flows in the Tahifet area, and oral traditions of the touareg people also suggest that eruptions were witnessed. Sporadic fumaroles and persistent small-scale seismicity have been noted during historical times.

Mount Assekrem in Atakor

Djado

The town of Djado is steeped in moonlight and mystery. Once it was a station on a slave-trading route between Niger and Libya. Surrounded by malarial swamps, adobe dwellings are now occupied by scorpions and snakes. The Djado Plateau lies in the Sahara, in north eastern Niger. It is known for its cave art (often of large mammals long since absent from the area), but is now largely uninhabited, with abandoned towns and forts visible.

Djado

Tadrart Akakus

Around 300 murals and several thousands of rock paintings created 8000 years ago have allowed to reconstruct the uninterrupted evolution of the diverse stylistic trends and the alternations of inspiring motifs along a prolonged period. The most impressive rock paintings are located in the sites of Matkendush, Galghien and Tilizzagham, that are spread along the Tadrart Akakus mountain range, in whose valleys were established several prehistoric settlements. The vast majority of these artworks have been preserved to the present in a magnificent condition.

Tadrart Akakus

Needles of Sissé (Aiguilles de Sissé)

West of the Tibesti massif, about 30 km east from the Niger-Chad border, are located the sandstone spires of Sissé. West of them, starts a field of mega-yardangs that goes along the border.

Tibesti

Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserve

The Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserve occupies a surface area of 77300 km2 in Niger, between the Erg of Ténéré and the Aïr mountains, whose highest elevation reachs 2000 meters above sea level. Within the unusually rich mountain vegetation are included olive trees and wild fig trees, and different species of cereals, such as a type of wild millet. Also the fauna is diverse: together with several types of gazelles coexist baboons, foxes, cheetas and ostriches.

Aïr Mountains
Erg of Ténéré