Mauritania, stargazing in the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is constantly expanding, and Mauritania is one of the driest countries in the world. Stargazing in this ideal environment is fantastic. I was informed that we would drive through a lot of desert, but I was still unprepared for this amazing experience. Also, staying afar and seeing how an oasis pops out from nowhere in the middle of all this dryness makes you wonder.
Heading off into the desert
Let’s clarify: I am not into motocross or driving cars just for fun. However, enrolling on this trip with Against the Compass made the ride on the Iron Ohr Train the main draw. I also had to take in all the other experiences that this journey would offer. And, I have to say, we were in for a treat.
Driving for hours on these vast flat areas of dry land and desert was quite fun. What speed could they maintain? The car was very solid, so we could roll down the windows and climb out to sit on the door with our bodies outside, holding on to the handle inside and our cameras and phones in the other hand. All this was completely new and a bit of a childish experience to me.
Sleeping under the stars
The desert’s unique feature is the absence of city lights, which makes it ideal for seeing the night sky. I also experienced this in Wadi Rum in Jordan three years ago. The vanguard had already made the camp before we arrived, and we had a few hours to rest or climb the huge dunes before dinner. We got our tents, and could choose to sleep inside or outside. I started inside, but it was so hot, I slept at the tent door, looking up at the amazing sky. It was very comfortable, no mosquitoes, and it did not get humid in the morning.
The Terjit Oasis
We arrived at Terjit Oasis in the middle of the desert. A natural spring turns into a tiny river, creating beautiful, green scenery. Palm plants stand out against the surrounding stony environment. The oasis is a natural wonder. Terjit was part of the trans-Saharan trade routes, where travellers and merchants would relax. The crystal clear spring is the oasis’s lifeblood, which Oasis residents have used for generations. We were served lunch in her, and some of us had a bath and rested in the shade.
Choum Tunnel
We drove through the Choum Tunnel, which is very close to the Western Sahara. It shows the scars of European colonisation in Africa. The Mauritania Railway was built in the early 1960s, and it was planned to connect Nouadhibou to Zouérat to exploit the iron ore reserves at Zouérat. That route still exists today in its original state, except for the tunnel. It is possible to drive through the tunnel, which is about two kilometres long and is today home to bats.
15 minutes inside Western Sahara
Since the Choum Tunnel is just next to the Western Sahara border, we asked to be driven into another country. At least we were told we had crossed the border, but nothing told us we had. I have to say, the sight was not the most interesting either, but there you go!
Next, this post is a lead-up to the final journey on our trip in Mauritania, the madness of travelling on top of the Iron Ohr Train through the desert.
