Challenging Western Sahara

4x4 holidays are very popular among a growing number of adventure seekers. The rougher and more challenging the terrain the happier they are to try and conquer it. It doesn’t get much more challenging than driving through a desert. Driving on sand can be risky at the best of times, but the loose powdery sand in deserts constantly shifts and offers very little traction, making it a particularly treacherous surface. The Sahara desert, which stretches across Northern Africa, has attracted many daredevils out to drive her width.

An equally challenging, but shorter, trip is one across the Western Sahara. The climate in the Western Sahara is typical of a desert region. It’s hot and dry with very little rain. However, the cold offshore air currents that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean often produce thick fog and heavy dew. The landscape is low and flat. In the south and northeast regions there are large rocky and sandy areas that rise up to small mountains. Other than the arid heat, you will also have to contend with the sand laden sirocco wind that blows through winter and spring, and the harmattan haze that covers most of the country for 60% of the time.

When travelling in Western Sahara it’s recommended that you wear light clothing to suit the arid heat. The two official languages are Spanish and Arabic so it would be a good idea to learn some basic, conversational forms of either. It’s not advised to drive at night. Some of the territory is still under dispute and it can be dangerous to wander into these areas in the dead of night without any warning. The primary religion in Western Sahara is Islam and while it’s not practiced as strictly as in other countries, it’s still wise to respect some of the customs. Eat and drink only with your right hand and don’t use your napkin to wipe your hands.

Driving south from the Mauritanian border the climate gets hotter, the terrain sandier and the vegetation sparser. Near the border and about 80km from the renowned Nouadhibou beach is a tidal saltpan called Sebkht Atoueif. The huge pan covers an area that’s 10km wide and 30km long. It’s constantly buffeted by a wind of 15-30 kph. Here the difficulty of driving on sand becomes apparent as any vehicle the size of a Land Rover sinks right up to its axles.

Setting off east from Nouadhibou will take you into the desert and toward Atar, a town in the centre of the country. This is a drive well suited to adventure seekers because the “road” found on the map, is in reality a barely visible piste, rarely used. The piste is largely made up of flat sandy desert and covers 650km. From Atar there is a graded road that will take you to Chinguetti and Ouadane, the seventh holiest and oldest towns in the Sahara respectively. Here there is the opportunity to try your hand at some off road driving, guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing.

Driving east of Ouadane, you’ll discover kilometres upon kilometres of sand and sand dunes. There are no wells, villages or roads. There is, however, plenty of heat, enough to make your goggles fill with sweat. Heavy winds spring up and drop without warning, blowing sand into your sweat drenched face, causing great discomfort. Yet, those who have made the trip declare that it was one of the greatest experiences of their lives. Most are eager to return, to once again feel the freedom the vast expanse of the desert brings, and to test their endurance to the limit. Which, in essence is what an adventure holiday is all about.

Recommended sites:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2005118_hotels-western-sahara.html

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wi.html

http://www.saharanexploration.co.uk/02kiting02.asp

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Car Hire Planet international car rental company one of the leading car rental companies with branches in most countries worldwide.