The best museums Sahara

A museum entirely dedicated to the region of Fezzan, from prehistory (photos of engravings and cave paintings, tools) until today, passing through the exposure of a mummy and reconstitution of a garamantique tomb, with a skeleton in folded position, and giving a good overview of the thousands of garamantiques tombs of the Wadi El-Ajal (also renamed Wadi el-Haya). Explanation in English.

In this nice museum, you will learn a lot about the part of the Sahara located in the Douz region. With a rather pleasant museology, you will understand the natural (fauna and flora) and cultural heritage of the Grand Erg Oriental, as well as the traditional life of the five tribes that historically populated the Douz region. You will learn a lot about the camels, these inescapable animals of the region. In the center of the museum stands a large nomadic tent. An interesting stop before going to really survey the desert!

In the middle of the desert, under a hut, Yeslem collected hundreds of pieces of the Neolithic, such as bifaces, elephant teeth, weights for fishing nets... We must encourage him in his initiative of safeguarding, because these are so many pieces that will not go into the luggage of unscrupulous collectors. One cannot help but have a thought for Theodore Monod, the scientist and explorer, who in his time surveyed the Mauritanian relief in search of such pieces. Coordinates : 21°29'36 "N,11°19'53 "W

Built on the road leading to the great Aswan Dam, it is impossible to miss this imposing and strange building whose architect seems to be inspired by a mixture of Nubian art and Soviet style. In the tradition of propaganda museums developed by every Egyptian president, the latter, inaugurated in early 2016, pays a heartfelt tribute to former Marshal Abdel Fattah al Sissi, elected two years earlier. But for once, there is no question of the greatness of the Egyptian army. The hero is the Nile, represented at the entrance by a fountain that rises to the ceiling. The eleven African flags, hung all around, are a reminder of the continuum that exists between these countries and the solidarity that should flow from it.

Right wing: a tribute to the Aswan dams. After the medals awarded by Nasser and the USSR to the builders of the 1964 dam, an ancient Egyptian waxwork takes a break. Without further explanation, the window next door displays a letter from Nasser celebrating the Aswan Dam and a letter from al Sissi praising the Nile Museum. The massive models of the 1898 and 1964 dams are of great interest. It is easy to see that the older one let more water through thanks to its hundred or so small openings, whereas the new dam has only about forty small windows. A junk shop window in the corridor follows, where different types of national pride are jostling for position.

Left wing: memorial objects. The fashion for holograms also seems to have reached Egypt. The first is Alaa Bacha Mubarak, the inventor of the Qanater dams north of Cairo. The second, in the background, is the Minister of Irrigation at the inauguration of this museum. The room is dotted with objects belonging to some countries of the Nile basin and technologies that were used in the construction of the Aswan dam.

^1st floor. The eleven "brother" countries were asked to furnish it, but the small number of donations says a lot about the political divisions that remain deep. It is, all the same, the only space in the museum where the daily life of the people of the Nile is evoked through paintings by Egyptian artists. Crowded aquariums close the visit.

Archive library. Open on request, it is a gold mine for those looking for archive photos, old newspaper articles and original maps of the Aswan Dam

This introduction to Nubian daily life and the history of the region is highly recommended. It will give you an understanding of the conflicts in the community and the complex relations with the Egyptian authorities. Aware that the Nubian heritage was in danger of disappearing, Mohammed and his wife Fatma took it upon themselves to build this small museum on the ground floor of their own house. Mohammed will show you all the objects from a Nubian house, a series of stuffed animals from Lake Nasser and Nubian stones.

The site consists of a small museum and the archaeological site of Egyptian ruins.

Museum. Interesting collection of pharaonic statuettes, pottery and jewellery.

Archaeological site. Excavations have uncovered objects dating back to Thutmosis III (18th Dynasty). It is here that the temple of Khnum was erected but destroyed in the 19th century by Mohammed Ali.

Nilometer. Several times restored, this scale of measurement dates from the cartouches of Amenophis III

The museum, adjacent to the city's library, is a motley collection of very interesting objects, but it needs some tidying up and cleaning! It will be easier to enjoy the visit of this site if you are accompanied by a serious and well-known guide, for a small fee of about 1,000 MRU. Otherwise, you may miss the local traditions and nomadic customs represented by many household utensils and objects. Nice view from the terrace of this traditional house.

In the direction of Choûm, 12 kilometers from Atar, is the museum of Touezekt, opened in 2005 by the patron El Khalil Ould Dah N'Tahah. This small structure presents in a detailed and precise way the habits and customs of the Mauritanians: nearly 6,000 archaeological pieces are exposed, as well as a hundred manuscripts! You can observe coins, stamps, military medals, utensils and traditional costumes... And other collections testifying of the history. Like what, a lot of good will can make up for the lack of means.

It is Zeinebou Abdel Kader who manages the museum today and takes care of the visits to the library, which no longer has a curator since the death of Mohamed Lemrabott Ould Taleb who was in charge. Tidjikdja was an important center of religious education. More than five thousand manuscripts make up its library, covering Islamic jurisprudence, medicine, social sciences, Arabic grammar, poetry, esotericism, astrology, mysticism...

A few kilometres before arriving in Matmata, a magnificent cave ensemble reveals itself. Its owner, Faisal Habib, has for some years wanted it to be a luxury hotel. But the project is slow to take shape. In the meantime, Diar Amor is also a café, a shop, a restaurant and a modest museum located in the family house of Faycal, three generations old. Shame on the location (too) tourism: all the coaches stop here. 

Housed in the Maison d'initiative, this small museum, inaugurated in 2004, is dedicated to the memory of the author of The Little Prince. Saint-Exupéry spent two years of his life at Cap Juby (now Tarfaya) as a station manager for the airmail company. During his stay, he found inspiration for much of his literary work. Through explanatory panels and photos, the museum retraces the life of the pilot and industrial founder of the Toulouse airmail company, Mr Latécoère. An exciting visit to the heart of Aéropostale's history.

A rich collection of fossils and pieces of dinosaur skeletons, as well as maps, diagrams and various reconstructions that explain the origins and evolution of our planet. In the center of the main hall, there are reconstructions of an iguanodontid dinosaur made of plaster and a pterosaur hanging from the ceiling, as well as a silicon simulation of a theropod egg nest. The museum has been chosen to be the nucleus of a future "Geopark of the Dahar".

The museum is located in a traditional house in the medina of Nefta. The strength of this museum? Its incredible collection of hundreds of photographs illustrating the landscapes of the region and especially the way of life of its inhabitants and their traditions. Thanks to them, and to the comments of the inexhaustible and passionate curator, you will learn everything about the history of Nefta between 1850 and 1950. In the courtyard of the museum are exposed various objects of the local craft industry.

This museum was born in 1999 to promote the Amazigh origins of Tamezret. Mongi devotes his time and energy to it. A true militant of his culture, he collects objects that bear witness to the life of his ancestors and collects the memory of the village from the elders. In a pleasant troglodytic house, Mongi tells a thousand and one stories about the local culture. He is also a craftsman: margoums, shawls and leather boots are reproduced identically by hand from ancient pieces.

Dar Taoufik is an open air museum. The very welcoming Taoufik welcomes you in his superb 420 year old troglodytic house. This house has kept all its original architectural aspect. In front of the freshness of the earth, you understand the way of life of the inhabitants of yesteryear. We come to Dar Taoufik to admire the architecture, we stay there because we are offered a delicious snack made of honey and olive oil and we want to come back for the extraordinary and warm welcome that your host reserves for you. A stop more than recommended!