Travel Guide Guelta D’archeï

GPS: N 16 ° 53 ' 932, E 21 ° 46 ' 592. Sheltered from a narrow and winding canyon, protected from warm drying rays of the sun by cliffs about metres high, deaf a source whose waters never dry dry. This freshness oasis, unprecedented in the middle of the Sahara (whose name means «desolate land» in Arabic), is not particularly calm: The camels, constantly, blatèrent by refreshing. The camel herds unfold throughout the day, men and animals relax a few hours in the fresh water, wash themselves laughing and make their laundry, while women fill the guerbas made of goat's skin with goudron seeds of coloquinte seeds, without the least of the world disturbed by the brown color and the strong smell of urine cameline of water…Apart from this cheerful tintamarre tintamarre, the famous crocodiles, ancient descendants of the gigantic Crocodylus niloticus, probably remained prisoners of guelta during the drying of the massif, bask on the sand of the beaches, plunging in ponds to the slightest suspicious warning.The first approach of guelta can be done on foot, on the traces of the herds. In passing you can notice at the entrance of the canyon, in a small cave in height on the left, hidden from the regards, ochre rock paintings of horses, camels, farandoles of characters on the residences pegs of heavy bracelets, and the boxes.The river is more or less a sip of water depending on the season. In rainy season, cascades dégoulinent from the walls of the cliffs, while water fades as the dry season progresses to leave only a few ponds in which crocodiles hide in May and June… Towards January and February, you have to wet your feet to go to the search for crocodiles, or just walk in a walk. going back the canyon. First, you need to cross the first pond (dry foot or lightly wetting) in order to reach the rocky promontory on the left, then you descend into the water to the thighs, about a dozen meters away, along the cliff (usually crocodiles are too shy to tickle you) and you get back on the ground. Crocodiles are hiding at this level. To watch them, the ideal thing is to post in height on the rocks on the other side without making noise. The, are waiting for calm to come back to the banks (you see them transparently) and to get the scales warm in the sun. They measure about 1,50 to 2 m and feed on fish. Sands say that once they came to taste a slug leg, but since they have decreased size and content themselves with smaller prey…You can also swim in clean water sinks, like nomads, behind the crocodile ponds.Finally, you can continue your walk through the dried to the final cul-de-sac.If you don't want to wet your feet, you can bypass the obstacle, passing over the canyon. The departure of the walk is on the right, following the footsteps of the cars that go back to the gentle slope and stop at the foot of the rocks.You will not see a trail, but it is easy to climb on the heights, from where you will have a nice view over the valley and then switch towards the left and drop down from the guelta. Don't forget your snail. The brave ones can take advantage of this to climb the top of the cliffs, from where they will have an exceptional view of the guelta…You can also climb the left cliff at the slide level before the canyon entrance. You can then reach a large stony plateau before you face a maze of chimneys and arches, cut deep holes, when you get closer to the cliff walls.You can drop down into the canyon in the slide across the mare to crocodiles. You have to count for two to three hours. Access to guelta is paid; the rate is CFAF 5 000 per person. The site is managed by women's groups which have established a local management committee. The sum paid to enter the site thus benefits the indigenous people who, in favour of the tourist season, install tents, organize traditional evenings and are typical dishes to tourists.