Events calendar Sahara

Folk party and camel races.

The feast of the Tuareg.

The Olympia Nights Festival or festival of Essouk takes place in the small village of Essouk, located 60 km from Kidal, in the Adrar des Ifoghas. The festival is usually held in early January. The atmosphere is impressive: in the light of headlamps, music groups occur in the desert. Big carpets serve as a stage. The stands are granite stones that span the landscape. In the day there are great camel races, but also tents where you can see calligraphie calligraphy and craftsmen. The various tribes are at this festival for moments of important exchanges (Takoubelt). The festival was created to make this region very isolated and also attracts European travellers.

The Tamadacht festival takes place in Andéramboukane (the city bordering the Niger and Mali) each year in January. It was the feast of the Tuareg Ouelleminden that came to take part in these meetings, to traditional dances, to camel races, because Tamadacht signife "contest" in Songhaï. It is a stunning traditional festival that brings together several tribes of Azawagh, including Fulani and Songhai. Many Europeans came to attend. Tribes compete with beauty, elegance and address. This festival was also created to make known a busy region and its extraordinary traditions and also to ensure that the tribes can resolve certain issues: marriages, for example, or problems related to the region. Since the region is far from everything, it is recommended that you use a local travel agency to get there.