Tadjelaïne: Prehistoric Splendors and Breathtaking Landscapes Following in the Footsteps of Henri Lhote

Morning 4x4 drive to Dider. We visit the Tin Tehrert engravings. Dating from the Bubalian period (approximately 8,000 years ago), these mysterious Neolithic men left us an entire bestiary. The non-exhaustive list includes several giraffes, gazelles, owls and even a rabbit. All of unparalleled artistic quality and sometimes of impressive size (an entirely decorated cow is more than 6 meters long).

After the visit we rejoin our caravan in the Askou wadi. Departure of the camel trek. After the Askou gueltas, the first landscapes of sandstone plateaus scattered with rocky ridges open up before us, carved into great labyrinths harboring the first rock paintings. Bivouac in the Tadjelaïne wadi.

Hiking towards the gueltas of Talmest, a paradisiacal spot that also contains a beautiful shelter decorated with paintings. They are located near the evening bivouac, we pass large tumuli before reaching the site of Tehoun Terouhat, a kind of "fortified" enclosure containing several small frescoes of outstanding quality; its frescoes featuring an extraordinary bovine bestiary. Descent to the bivouac via a small wadi lined with rocky slabs.

Probably the richest day from the point of view of rock art, bringing us successively to the sites of Iheren 1 and 2, and Tin Abeignar, two large labyrinths brimming with paintings whose beauty is matched only by their scenic diversity. The stone forest of Ihéren contains several very lovely ones, including the great shelter of Ihéren and we will devote a good hour to admiring these dozens of cows, sheep, giraffes, characters who seem to relive before our eyes scenes from the daily life of these first Neolithic Berbers. Facing the freshness and artistic quality of these paintings a unique emotion will overtake us and it is in wonder that we will seek answers to the thousand questions that these incomparable artists seem to ask us through their works.

The great isolated tamarisks of the Aden wadi mark the landscape of our bivouac this evening.

For this long day, we leave the wadi Afen to head to the Tan Toudouft site, with large alcoves again covered with paintings of renewed quality and theme. It is there that we admire one of the most monumental paintings of the Tassili in the form of a life-size hippopotamus entirely decorated with arabesques.

Then we cross the last piece of plateau separating us from the great wadi Tasset, at the bottom of which we descend to delight in the magnificent guelta of In Imededen. We thus skim the northern tip of the plateau delimited by the wadi Tasset. Just beyond rise the impressive cliffs of the famous Fadnoun plateau. Return on our tracks to reach the bivouac in the wadi Imerda.

This day, very peaceful, besides the paintings of Tiaraournine, will allow us to discover the majestic confluence of the Tasset and Tadjelaïne wadis, raising their banks like powerful natural ramparts.

This final day is a true highlight with the stunning and fascinating paintings of the Tahi Lahi cave, surpassing in graphic quality and scenographic diversity everything the plateau has offered us so far. Frescoes comparable to those at Ihéren, they were discovered in 1949 by the Bernard mission and Henri Lhote devoted several weeks of work to them.

Then we leave the plateau to dive into the Ihérir valley. The track crosses the Azouzoum pass; the escarpment is very impressive and the view that opens before us gives us the measure of the Tassili des Ajjer. Three hundred meters below, a "river of greenery" winds at the bottom of the Adjé wadi which joins the Ihérir wadi just before the village, a lush oasis.

The descent is not easy for our camels and it will take the caravan a good two hours to reach the bottom of the valley. The camels barely unloaded, we part ways with our team who will immediately climb back onto the plateau because the presence of numerous oleanders forbids the camels to stay in the vicinity of the village.

We arrive at Djanet in mid-afternoon, and upon our arrival, a good shower awaits us to refresh ourselves after this long journey across the desert.

Invigorated, we then set off to discover the capital of the Ajjer. We explore its picturesque streets, where every corner reveals a facet of the rich local history, and we immerse ourselves in the lively atmosphere of its emblematic market. Here, Tuareg culture unfolds in all its splendor through vibrant colors, artisanal fabrics and traditional objects.

After a final dinner, savoring the local delicacies one last time, we head to the airport around 10:30 PM. It is with our minds filled with unforgettable memories of our Saharan adventure that we leave this land of contrasts and wonders.