Go back to Mauritania.
Go back to Ben Amera Day Eight.
Atar.
In the morning, we said “good bye” to Dah and the camp hosts and headed east back towards Atar. Mohammad, our primary Mauritania guide, was with us of course but we got a new driver named Deyah. A couple hours later we were in Atar doing a bit of food shopping in the outdoor market. We then continued east on a good but unpaved road towards the ancient city of Ouadane, making a quick stop along the way to check out some 6000 year old cave paintings. We arrived in Ouadane in the late afternoon and did a walk through the sprawling ruins of its old city.
Photos
Saying “good-bye” to our camp hosts as we get ready to leave for Atar and then on to Ouadane (Nov. 2024).
Spanish climbers starting up La Marmouladah on Ben Amera (Nov. 2024).
The Spanish team on the first pitch of La Marmouladah. Click for a video (Nov. 2024).
A little break: a tank and a pool of water for animals in the middle of the desert (Dec. 2024).
Back on the tarmac (Dec. 2024).
Views from along the highway north of Atar (Dec. 2024).
The paved N1 highway just north of Atar (Dec. 2024).
Along the drive from Ben Amera to Atar (Dec. 2024).
Outskirts of Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar. Mohammad is going to do some shopping for supplies while we walk around (Dec. 2024).
Strolling the outdoor market in Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar randomness (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar market (Dec. 2024).
Atar market (Dec. 2024).
Two of the most common modes of transportation (Dec. 2024).
Women selling veggies (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Have never seen this many well broken-in Mercedes sedans (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
Atar market (Dec. 2024).
Atar (Dec. 2024).
The dirt road connecting Atar and Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Stopped by to see some prehistoric cave paintings. A guide is giving us a bit of background information (Dec. 2024).
4-6 thousand years old apparently, dating back to when this region was a lush savanah (Dec. 2024).
Mohammad serving up another excellent lunch in the desert (Dec. 2024).
With a curious ass watching us. Actually, this guy (gal? they?) got loose and we tried to help the farmer capture it (Dec. 2024).
Along the drive (Dec. 2024).
Welcome to Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Going in to check out the old city of Ouadane in the afternoon before it gets dark (Dec. 2024).
The (no longer used) minaret of a mosque in the old city of Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Shirley and Mohammad (Dec. 2024).
Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Views of the mosque from the minaret (Dec. 2024).
Old mosque (Dec. 2024).
Ouadane’s old city (Dec. 2024).
Old city during sunset in some dusty conditions (Dec. 2024).
Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Ouadane (Dec. 2024).
Checking out an old residence (Dec. 2024).
Breaking & entering (Dec. 2024).
Another mosque, this one at the other end of the old city and still in use (Dec. 2024).
Heading to our auberge (Dec. 2024).
Our auberge in Ouadane. Nice but, with a busted mosquito netting on the windows, the night was a bit hellish (Dec. 2024).
But the water pressure in the shower was good (Dec. 2024).
Ouadane auberge (Dec. 2024).
Go to Ouadane To Tanouchert Oasis.
Go back to Mauritania.