Tassili N’ajjer
This 500km mountain range in the Sahara desert in southeast Algeria will be the highlight of your holiday (literally) if you make it to the highest point - Adrar Afao peaks 2158 m above sea level. Protected in a National park, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, this area is separated from the rest of civilisation and the nearest town is Djanet, about 10 km southwest of the range, where you can spend a few days gazing at this mountainous wonder that gets its name from the Neolithic times.
The literal English translation of Tassili n'Ajjer refers to the wet climate of the time and is named 'Plateau of the rivers'. Erosion in the area has resulted in nearly 300 natural rock arches being formed and these geological formations eroded Ordovician and Devonian sandstones forming ''forests of rock''. There are actual forests and the woodland features endangered endemic species such as Saharan Cypress and Saharan Myrtle. Along with the flora, there are prehistoric rock paintings that decorate the rocks, forming an outdoor art gallery and museum in one viewing.
Real wildlife can be found among the rocks and art wildlife can be found on the rocks with depictions of herds of cattle, large wild animals including crocodiles. The only human contact with be the drawing of human activities such as hunting and dancing. People travel from around the world to view more than 15 000 drawings and engravings that record the climate change and represent some the most important prehistoric cave art in the world. Trace the evolution of human life on the edge of the Sahara from 6000 BC to the first centuries of the present era.
