Uncover the Secrets of the Sahara in Tunisia

If you love digging your toes into the sand but have stared into the sea’s horizon for far too long, why not jump onto the back of a camel to see Tunisia from a new and stunning vantage point. Just behind Tunisia’s bustling coastline cities lies one of the great feats of nature, into which many holidaymakers travel every year. The Sahara desert is the world’s largest and most breath-taking non-arctic desert, covering over nine million square kilometres of Africa and has sand dunes which tower up to six hundred feet high. Tunisia’s tour operators offer desert safaris for those who want to explore this magnificent realm on their Tunisia holidays, either in a cool air-conditioned jeep or by camel for an authentic and first-hand experience.

Whether in a cosy jeep or aloft on the back of a camel, safari-goers can watch the sand dunes disappear into the horizon in every direction. Contrary to many expectations, the Sahara offers many awe-inspiring sights other than sand dunes; radiant pink salt lakes, cascading gorges, spectacular oases and the sites used for famous movies such as Star Wars and The English Patient. You can find tour operators in the major tourist destinations in Tunisia, such as the resorts of Hammamet, Hammamet Yasmine, Port el Kantaoui, Sousse and Skanes which operate throughout most of these sights.

Many safaris head past the desolate Atlas Mountains near Tozeur, then through the Gorges of Selja, whose rocky sides plunge almost vertically down to the narrow valley through which the safari passes. Nearby, the Chott El Jerid salt lake shimmers in red and pink shades in the sun, which can create the most striking mirages. Take a trip from the resorts of the Carthage Coast, Hammamet, Sousse or Port el Kantaoui to visit the sites which featured in two Star Wars movies which have remained the same since the time they were filmed. The Ksar Haddada citadel is fortified into a sheer rock side and featured in Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, and the Troglodyte Village of Matmata featured in Star Wars Episode IV, which is a man-made cave village, in which inhabitants have a cool escape from the sun.

The Tunisian Sahara is also home to a great number of structures still standing from many ancient and other historical empires, as this country has witnessed the passage of the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Vandals, Turks, Spanish and French over a period of three thousand years. In the desert near the town of El Djem, drive through a sea of olive trees to visit one of the best conserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Visit the holy city of Kairouan for a panoramic view of the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, whose interior is adorned with marbled columns and large gold chandeliers.

These affordable trips come in one to four day packages and can include a combination of jeeps, camels and trains for a more complete desert experience and to see the most in the relatively short time you’ll have to explore this fantastic expanse.

Photos / Tunisia360.com

copyright 2010.