Tamrit

Once on the top of Akba Tafilalet, the track continues over a gentle rise on a flat and featureless reg. On reaching the top of the rise, the landscape changes dramatically, with eroded humps of sandstone sticking out of the plain, and the fantastic sandstone spires of Tamrit visible on the horizon, an hours walk away. At this point, it is possible to take a detour from the main track to the 'Antelopes of Tamrit' a small but extremely artistic painting situated about 2kms east of the track. The painting is unfortunately much faded, but still, many of the beautifully drawn herd of antelopes are still clearly visible. It's a lovely and less frequented way of getting acquainted with the more impressive paintings to come.

Taking either the main track or the detour, the paths lead to the base of the majestic rock pillars of Tamrit, that are the entrance to the enchanted world of the Tassili. What look like pillars from head on are in fact wall like bastions of eroded sandstone separated by narrow canyons. In the last valley to the left there is a small guelta, and the path continues past it to the main valley at Tamrit with its famous Cypress trees, a legacy of the last wetter period when the vegetation stretched up to the Mediterranean coast. The huge cypresses are thought to be thousands of years old, and have survived both the gradual desiccation, and the timber hungry nomads living in the vicinity. After spring and autumn rains the valley floor can bloom with oleanders, giving the impression of a Greek island rather than in the centre of the Sahara !

There are two campgrounds at Tamrit, one just in front of the pillars, the other about 2 kms to the north. The ground in front of the pillars is too soft for tent pegs , and there is plenty of animal dung due to the closeness of the water hole. The other one is substantially cleaner, but there the ground is more rocky, it's difficult to find a good spot for a tent. The northern campground is conveniently located to make the short excursions to Tan Zumaitak and Timenzouzine, both about an hour's walk away.