I am happy to tell you how I became a fan of this travel project:
In 1998 I saw Hotel Tomboctou in Tinghir, Morocco. The then owner and now business partner of mine gave different names to all the rooms in the hotel. Eg Tichit, Oualata and others. Also Mauritanian names. I wondered Mauritania what is it? How is it there? It interested me and so I read up on the subject and found out that caravans that traveled through the desert for centuries did not just march, but that knowledge was collected there. Knowledge about geography, about the weather and about diseases. Knowledge about religions was also passed on in this way and Islam, among other things, also spread in this region. This knowledge traveled from place to place with the caravans on the basis of manuscripts. Some knowledge was kept in libraries and can still be found there, other in the form of stories and tales. Attempts are now being made to digitize this immense wealth of knowledge.
 
Immerse yourself in the world of the people who live in the desert
 
On the trail of the caravan routes: 
The caravans migrated north from sub-Saharan Africa   to Morocco and back. They always gathered from the most diverse provenances in the well-known town of Timbouctou on the Niger knee (also called Tomboctou).
From there they moved westward and reached MAURITANIA, then
they moved north to Oualata, Tichit, on to Chinguetti and Ouadane (also Wadane). From Ouadane we went on three different routes to Morocco, to the cities of Marrakech, Casablanca and Fez.
 
The desire to travel this region with people grew stronger and so the first program "In the footsteps of the old caravans" was born. In January 2020 we moved through these unique landscapes by 4x4.
 
In 2022, too, we want to immerse ourselves in this exciting world and follow in the footsteps of the caravans. Because today the caravans still exist. It's salt caravans that   leave Tichit in winter. Thanks to the rainy season in autumn, salt lakes form. The white gold, the salt, is mined. The caravans transport the precious goods on the backs of dromedaries.
 
But we also want to immerse ourselves in life in the villages, far away from modern civilization. Ksar el Barka is one such place, far out in the sand.
It is guaranteed to be a trip with many highlights. The program should look something like this:


 day 1Arrival in Nouakchott. We enjoy the  overnight stay in the hotel.
 day 2Departure for adventure. Auf der Strasse der Hoffnung, Route de        _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_      l'espoir. First night in the tent.
 Day 3 and 4Visit to Ksar el Barka. Die nicht mehr ganz intakte  Festung ist                  _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_      Zeuge der damaligen Bedeutung des Orts Hier bleiben wir einen  _cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_     _cc78 1905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_    Wait.
Tag 5 Es geht weiter quer durch die Wüste nach Rachid und Tidjikja        _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_                     _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_  Tag with a shower, bed and internet.
 
 Days 6 to 12  Our goal is to be on 19.1. to arrive in Kiffa. Der Weg führt          _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         nach Tichit zum Salz und mit diesem in Richtung Ayoun el Atroûs:                    _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_   Always following the caravans. Wir werden wunderbare          _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         Landschaften geniessen und vielleicht an einer Hochzeit_cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_   _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-13 6bad5cf58d_           _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_                     _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_   may participate. Zurück auf der Strasse der Hoffnung ist ein        _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         Besuch der Krokodile ein Muss. Die Herberge in Kiffa gibt uns                    _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ finally some civilization back.
 
 Days 13 to 15We travel back to Nouakchott. Nouakchott ist eine          _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_         _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_          Millionenstadt consisting of many individual cities.
 day 16          Wir verabschieden uns von diesem extraordinary country. Auf          _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_           _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_  Reunion Mauritania.
 
All information is correct in its global process. However, it should be made clear that changes in the program flow can occur.
 
Other highlights of the trip and more detailed descriptions:
 
Nouakchott:
Nouakchott has been the capital of Mauritania on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean since 1957. Nouakchott was created on a camp site. The nomads come from time to time to stay in the capital, which has quickly taken on the appearance of a modern city. Today it (officially) has around one million inhabitants. 
 
Crocodiles in the middle of the desert:

 
Tidjikja:
Hub, (airport, medical care) provincial capital of the Tagant region in the center of Mauritania. 
It was called Fort Coppolani in colonial times when the French ruled here and is one of the historically important cities of Mauritania.
 
Tichit:
Founded around 1150, it was the trading center of Tagant in the 17th century and is known for its traditional stone houses. The main source of income is the ​Dattelkultur​, followed by the salt caravans.
 
Kiffa:
Kiffa is one of the most important places on the route de l'espoir crossing Mauritania. On our trip we have dealt closely with Mauritania, its population and culture, its nature and way of life, we should also get to know a typical cityscape. Our partner Idoumou has a good hotel here, which allows us to rest for a moment and get to know the city.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiffa
 
Route de l'espoir:
The Route de l'espoir is the most important road connection in Mauritania. It leads from Nouakchott via - Aleg - Kiffa to Nema and to the border with Mali. It was designed and built by Brazilian engineers. 
 
 
Who is this trip for:
If you feel addressed, please contact Edi Kunz:edikunz@bluewin.ch
Best regardsEd Kunz