Visitors to Tunisia come mainly for the sands; either the beaches or the more hostile Sahara Desert dunes. Adventure holidays are on the increase and the exciting challenge of a desert safari with all its risks, sights and challenging experiences appeals to many.

There are several companies which run four-wheel drive trips out into the desert from the oases and from the coastal resorts. These give a great first taste of what a safari can offer, but these trips are not cheap. More experienced travellers are choosing to hire or import a four-wheel drive vehicle and are making their own safari trip. Knowledge of the potential hazards and a properly prepared vehicle are essential for such expeditions. Fuel and spare parts must all be carried, and that is just to start with. Load-carrying vehicles should be compared between the short wheelbase which is stronger, or a long wheelbase which makes overloading less likely. Land-Rovers still reign supreme in this field and can carry 5 passengers comfortably, plus plenty of luggage space.

Roof racks are a tempting option for loading up, but can make a vehicle unstable in steep terrain. They can however easily carry self-recovery gear which may be vital, such as sand ladders, a jack, ropes, shovels and jerry cans. New tires are important and should be suitable for sand and occasional rocky outcrops, not mud. Tyre pressures should be checked daily. A spare tyre may be too bulky to carry but with a set of tyre levers and a repair kit, punctures can be efficiently repaired.

One final important part of the preparation is route planning. Off-road driving increases the rate of consumption of petrol and oil, and driving unplanned miles while lost could leave you short of these essentials. Many 4-wheel drive vehicles which normally achieve 18 miles per gallon on the road will drop as low as 8 mpg in this difficult yet exhilarating terrain. Would-be adventurers should practise off-road driving skills and enroll in a specialized driving school to learn all about desert driving before leaving the security of civilization.