Oualata

Oualata, on the edge of the Sahara was once a major trading point and cultural centre. Now it is almost abandoned and being slowly engulfed by Saharan sand and is only accessible by 4WD over 100km of reasonably uncomfortable piste...and that is from the end of the Route de l'espoir at Nema, itself hardly a quick day trip from anywhere.

Not much in the way of facilities, apart from a number of quite pleasant if basic auberges. If your taste is for dinner under the stars accompanied by the sound of bleating goats, then you can certainly relax here.

If, however, you are a koranic scholar you can find some fairly impressive ancient texts in the library; at least so they say, although not being able to read Arabic myself they could easily be copies or even mail order catalogues for all I know!

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