Well, we have made it to Noukchott in Mauritania.
For the past two weeks since we left Essaouira, we have been following Mauritania's Atlantic coastline southwards, leaving the Western World far behind. No more hot showers, MacDonald's or well-stocked supermarkets here!
The scenery has changed from Morocco's snow-capped mountains and swift-flowing rivers to the barren desert landscape of the Western Sahara.
We entered Mauritania on December 3rd, travelling mainly along the beaches on the firm sand left by the low tide. We have now spent the past five days travelling 500km through the Sahara Desert, gradually accepting the reality of the desert's great size and remoteness. We have all worked together as a team, sandmatting and digging the truck out of the soft sand. The experience has been unforgettable.
During the time in the desert we have had to rely on the well-stocked truck for food (notably Steve's Angel Delight and peaches), as well as learning how to ration water and wood supplies. Ten days without a shower was a shock to some, but we have all realised how luxurious daily life in the Western World really is.
From here we head for Bamako, the capital of Mali, and then on to the renowned Timbuktu, followed by trekking with the isolated mountain tribe of the Dogon and a visit to the mud-built city of Djenne.
Some of the last two weeks are highlighted in our photo album below. Click on any of the thumbnail images below to see a larger version.
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