The Sahara

The Tombouctou Kasbah with its fortress-like exterior is an amazing place in which to stay. Inside the suites and public rooms have all the modern conveniences and services a guest could wish for along with the traditional furnishings and colours that reflect the Berber heritage of this part of the world. I got up early this morning in order to watch a Saharan sunrise from the top of the sand dunes and I got there by riding on a single humped camel or dromedary. It was still dark when I reached my mount and straddled the wide saddle on the docile beast. My guide, Moustapha, resplendid in his pale blue djellaba and maroon coloured headscarf,  gave a little click and we were up and away. It was sensational being astride the dromedary as he made his way through the fine grained, golden sand towards the highest dunes. As I rocked and rolled I soon understood why camels are called "the ships of the desert". This particular area around Merzouga is famous for being the sole place in Morocco where one can see a genuine Saharan erg, where large bodies of sand continually drift around, constantly forming new sculptured shapes. I was expecting a red sunrise but instead the sun was a brilliant white. It was a real fun morning! After breakfast we set off in the 4 wheel drive vehicles further into the desert to meet a Bedouin family and see first hand their way of life. The family lived in a large open tent with two sections, one for sleeping and the other a living area. They had plenty of cushions and appeared comfortable. Nearby they had erected a small stone oven in which they cooked their meals and baked their flat unleavened bead. The family seemed content with this nomadic lifestyle. Tomorrow we reluctantly leave the Kasbah and head west.