Worth watching out for.
 — John Cleare

Sahara Overland

Sahara Overland

Excerpt:
Introduction


Contents list | Introduction | Where to go | When to go | What can I do in... | A Short History of Pistes


To see the earth in its natural, elemental state, untouched by human endeavour, is a rare and humbling experience. From sun-baked plateaux to sublime sand seas, the Sahara makes a strong and lasting impression. Few experiences can match the thrill of heading out across a trackless wilderness, drinking tea in a nomad's tent, or setting up camp beneath a cliff face fired red by the setting sun.

In a world where mobile phones, signposts, piped water and emergency services are all taken for granted, the thought of visiting a region without these safety nets can and should be daunting. Even with satellite navigation and communication, travel in the Sahara is not without its risks, and some will relish the return to civilisation.

But once you've tasted the exhilaration of travelling for days through the desert, you'll find this satisfaction enhanced by an appreciation of your self-sufficiency and a growing confidence in your route-finding skills.

Along with the ability to navigate competently, suitably prepared and provisioned transportation, be it with two wheels, four wheels or four legs and a hump, is vital to any desert venture. This is something that is often miscalculated by the first-time visitor – it certainly was for me back in 1981 and this is the book I wish I'd had then. Advice on preparation takes up the biggest part of this book because, with the exception of organised tours, it will absorb the bulk of your time and money before you even reach the desert. it's followed by some aspects of the Saharan environment and an outline of travel opportunities. Part 7 comprises detailed itineraries across the entire Sahara to give a vivid impression of what life on the piste is actually like.

Sahara Overland

Excerpts: