Travel Guide Majabat Al Koubra

This name means "the expanse of the Great Solitude". Theodore Monod gave this name to Djouf and it still appears on several maps. The word "djouf", which means "belly", refers to the depression of Taoudenni in Mali. The explorer travelled this arid desert in all directions, with the same passion and curiosity for years.It extends from El Ghallaouya to Aratanne (430 km) and from Ouadâne to Araouane (1,700 km, including 900 km without water). It covers an area of about 250,000 km². More precisely, the Majabât al-Koubrah is like a polygon whose vertices would be the water points: Chinguetti - Ouadâne - El Ghallaouya - Erg Chech - El Mrayer Well - Bir Ounane - Araouane - Faguibine - Oualata - Aratâne - Tichett - Oguilet-en-Nemadi - Chinguetti.Massif without water point. The massif is monotonous, sandy and without water points. They are endless blond dunes, without trees and without shade, without wells and without water. The Arab geographers Al-Bakri and Ibn Battûta had already pointed it out. In the nineteenth century, Heinrich Barth was able to obtain some information. Some regions, including the Jufu, remain unknown, even to nomads, who are often put off by the absence of water points and the scarcity of pastures. To travel a distance of 500 km without water is however feasible with camels.When he crossed these empty expanses, Théodore Monod navigated with a compass for 3 weeks with only one azimuth. On December 12, 1954, he left Ouadâne in complete autonomy. For the preparations, he calculated his water reserves. A very simple but vital calculation which gives 0,63 liter, that is to say 9 small glasses of tea per day (which is not much for an intense physical effort). He plans only one cooked meal per day, in the evening.Five camels. Theodore Monod is accompanied by 2 guides and 5 camels: 2 camels of rise, 2 camels of bottom for the water and 1 camel high-footed (name that the meharists give him) which remade its hump in the pasture and which is resistant. He also carries a radio. From his experience of survival in the Sahara, Théodore Monod brings back some maxims: "Traces of jackal, water near. Traces of fennec, gird yourself and walk It is always necessary to feed the camels along the way especially when the pastures are rare and uncertain.