FJ Expeditions Home Page

____________________________________________________________

This website is dedicated to the Libyan Desert (or Eastern Sahara), one
of the least explored and most strikingly beautiful places on this planet.
____________________________________________________________

Last updated: 9^th January, 2008. What's New?

The site contains three sections:

The Libyan Desert

Contains general background information on the Libyan Desert, including geography, a detailed account of and various original documents relating to its history and exploration, descriptions and photo galleries of the main rock art and archaeological sites (Wadi Sora, the real "Cave of Swimmers", Karkur Talh rock art sites, Ain Doua, Abu Ballas and others) and information on the desert's fauna and flora.

Expeditions

Provides news updates and itineraries for expeditions planned by Fliegel Jezerniczky Expeditions, as well as reports and many photos from past expeditions. Section also provides practical information for expedition participants.

Resources

Provides a selection of high resolution Landsat images of the Libyan Desert, as well as links to the few websites, and a comprehensive bibliography of various books books and articles related to exploration, history and rock art of the Libyan Desert, including a full listing of the various editions of Almásy's writings. There are some hard to find old books and maps available.

RECENT ADDITIONS

See also the NEWS section !

			2007 October trip account An account of our October expedition, organised primarily to explore unsurveyed parts of Jebel Uweinat. We did make some splendid rock art finds, however the highlight was to observe the aftermath of yet another summer rain, which left pools large enough to swim in all over the mountain.
			2007 March trip account with video footage An account of our March expedition to visit the rock art sites of Jebel Uweinat and the Gilf Kebir, illustrated for the first time with digital video footage.
			2007/2008 expeditions programme announced Three new expeditions are planned for 07/08, all to the Gilf Kebir / Jebel Uweinat, starting from Egypt.
			Rock Art of the Libyan Desert NOW PUBLISHED ! The long wait is finally over ! The complete illustrated catalogue and bibliography of all known rock art sites in the Gilf Kebir - Jebel Uweinat area has been published on DVD. It may be ordered on-line. The DVD contains over 7500 photographs of more than 500 recorded sites.
			Solar Eclipse, Libya, 29th March 2006 A photo account of our March Eclipse tour.
			It rained at Uweinat !!! The miracle we've been waiting for seven years repeated itself! On our last visit in October, Karkur Talh and other valleys were filled with lush green vegetation, and millions of yellow flowers. The flora and fauna pages have been extensively updated with the noted new species.
			New rock art finds in the Wadi Wahesh Instead of the cancelled Sudan trip, we decided to make a two week expedition, principally to Jebel Uweinat, to continue exploration of the unknown parts. In the upper reaches of the Wadi Wahesh (south Uweinat) we found a very rich group of paintings, some of them in a hitherto unknown style.
			2004 October trip account Added the account of our October trip to Jebel Uweinat and the Gilf Kebir. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the show put on by a horned viper, who proceeded to have it's dinner right in front of our cameras.
			Unpublished historic photographs by F.G.B. Arkwright Bimbashi (capt.) Arkwright was Commanding Officer of the No.1. Motor Machine Gun Battery of the SDF, occupying Bir Murr at Uweinat in 1934. His sons, Anthony and Philip discovered these photos in a family album, and have very kindly permitted them to be shared with all of us. Some photos show Almásy, as well as the ascent of Uweinat.
			Exploration of Jebel Kissu and the Hassanein Plateau Acount of the March trip to Jebel Uweinat, the Gilf Kebir and the Great Sand Sea. Spent a day at Jebel Kissu and south Uweinat, explored the top of the Hassanein Plateau where we found amazing new rock art sites.
			Wadi Sora & Karkur Talh Added the long overdue account of our special two week trip to the rock art sites in the western Gilf and Karkur Talh. Created a page on the amazing Foggini/Mistekawy cave near Wadi Sora which was visited on this trip.
			Exploration of Arkenu & Western Uweinat Account of our 2003 October trip to Libya. Exploration and new rock art discoveries at Arkenu, Karkur Idriss and Karkur Ibrahim. Visit to Jebel Sherif and South Uweinat thwarted by Libyan officialdom.
			Mystery of the "White Blob" solved Traverse of the Great Sand Sea, exploration and new rock art discoveries near Wadi Sora and Karkur Talh. All in the latest trip account.
			Spectacular rock art sites discovered A number of truly spectacular paintings and dozens of other new sites were found during our expedition to Uweinat and the Gilf Kebir in October, 2002.
			The SDF Kufra Convoys The little known history of the Sudan Defence Force truck convoys supplying Kufra from Wadi Halfa in 1941-42. Contains an account intended for Bagnold's never published LRDG history.
			Sister site on the Tassili N'Ajjer Have created a sister site with many photos and description of rock art sites in the Tassili N'Ajjer, southern Algeria, based on our 1991 and 1993 trips
			Unpublished Bagnold Photographs Stephen Bagnold, son of Ralph Alger Bagnold, has most graciously provided scans of unpublished photos of the early expeditions.

This site is optimised for 600 x 800 resolution or greater and Microsoft IE5.
Copyright notice: Text and photos from this site may be freely copied and used for private, educational and research purposes, mentioning the source (for websites, please provide a link). Contents may not be used for any commercial purposes or publication without permission.
Site design by Claire Spottiswoode, Birding Africa