Tunisia 2024 | A Desert to Explore

March 29th – April 6th, 2024

Texts and photos by Matteo Marinelli | R.T. Earth

“In travel there is a certain taste of freedom, of simplicity… A certain charm of the limitless horizon, of the path without return, of the night without a roof, of life without excess” – Théodore Monod

Just like at sea, in the desert it’s a bit like this. When you raise your eyes from the ground to the horizon, you cast a glance at our unexplored boundary, and I believe this fascinates all those who love to experience the world.

A NEW TYPE OF JOURNEY

Unlike previous years, when HERERO 4X4 exclusively offered trips dedicated to exploring our territory, in 2023 the company focused on developing new accessories to provide greater livability, practicality, and comfort, precisely for those who make these vehicles their home while traveling. A new design that brings these old Land Rovers a bit more into the modern era without compromising the charm of the classic. So what better than the challenges of the desert to test these accessories?!

Tunisia 2024, Jebil National Park

A NEW ADVENTURE

And here we are again, with backpacks on our shoulders, or rather loaded into the trunk of our Defender 90, ready for a new adventure. And this time too, with old and new friends with whom we share at least two passions: travel and off-roading. Our destination? That cursed sand that bewitches you, those dunes that once tasted never leave your mind (after all, a bit like sand in your shoes) and that magical desire to find the tallest, the perfect dune.

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We fantasize, like surfers among the waves, while we are still on the ship; with a sea that offers no respite to those who suffer from it!!! The night welcomes us to Tunis, and, freed from customs procedures, a short transfer takes us to Hammamet for the night.

Our first day in Tunisia is spent quickly transferring as far south as possible via asphalt. Before sunset, we reach Matmata. Along the way, we have the opportunity to visit a troglodyte dwelling; the family living there shows us around the rooms and kindly offers us tea and honey on warm bread produced by them.

We set off again. Our goal is to reach Ksar Ghilane for dinner and start sleeping under the stars…

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THE ZMELA CRESTS

We leave the oasis of Ksar Ghilane; a few dozen meters of asphalt separate us from the first track, and a few kilometers later the Zmela crests appear in front of us. A brief briefing by Fabio (SEALAND ADVENTURE) explains how to tackle these high crests and the first challenging kilometers of sand.

The caravan moves swiftly, and a few inevitable sand traps don’t slow us down much. Relentless wind torments us throughout the day until we reach the first camp, where it gives us peace just long enough to have dinner and recount the day by the fire.

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Wake up early! Today’s goal is to camp with a view of Tembaine. For a few kilometers, we continue south towards the well of El Mida, the southernmost point of this journey. A continuous up and down from one ridge of dunes to another, and so on until sunset, one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. The sun sets slowly next to Tembaine, everything turns amber, and the sky merges with the color of the sand until dawn.

THE SUMMIT OF TEMBAINE

We set off again, not for long, just enough to reach the foot of the mountain with our vehicles. A short hike leads us to the top of Tembaine. The view from its almost 300 meters above sea level is fantastic; we marvel at the 360-degree view of the sea of sand of the Grand Erg all around us.

This Tunisia has stolen our hearts!

Back at the vehicles, we set off again, with a few more crests interrupted by the small plains that connect them, fast stretches of tracks lead us to Douz. Where we enjoy a relaxing evening chatting over a game of billiards and a few puffs of shisha.

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THE LAST GEM BEFORE RETURNING

The journey back to Tunis for boarding gives us the opportunity to stop in the town of El Jem, which hosts some of the best Roman ruins on the African continent. Thysdrus, as it was known at the time, reached its peak of splendor during the 2nd century as a focal point for the production and trade of olives and, inevitably, precious oil.

At the heart of the city stands an amphitheater, a testament to Roman colonization in the area, built on a similar but older structure; it was mainly used for gladiator fights and thrilling chariot races and could accommodate up to 35,000 spectators on three levels. This monument remained intact until the 17th century, after which the population began partial demolition to recover building materials. Finally, various conflicts definitively marked it as we see it today. In 1979, the structure was declared a “World Heritage Site”.

After visiting the amphitheater, we went to explore the market. Among a thousand stalls and absurd chaos, where you can find everything from spices to dates and local produce. We are catapulted back 80 years when we see that you can also buy animals, live, of course.

Fleeing from the chaos of the market, our last stop awaits us: a relaxing dinner in Hammamet with a sea view at sunset. From there, the final stretch of highway takes us to the boarding point.

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Tunisia 2024 Spring Edition

In every journey, we seek a uniqueness that can leave a mark, thanks to the expertise of the organization. My account of Tunisia 2024 doesn’t end here. A new piece will be unveiled shortly in the next travel program. New routes farther south, new sands to traverse, and new adventures to tell.