Aïr / Tamgak / The relaxation In the mountains, men finally find the time and the place of a real relax where water and fire get married.

Young Targia in the Kel-Tédélé camp in the Oued Tchiulmas at the foot of the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 1992

Targia in the Kel-Tédélé camp in the Oued Tchiulmas at the foot of the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 1992

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - Niger - Aïr - 2003

On the way through a dry valley leading to the Guelta Iffazane - In the far background the Adrar Chiriet, in the middle ground the area of Tebet - Niger - Aïr - 2003

At Guelta Iffazane, the water gushing out of the ground flows over several steps into a small lake. Fresh greenery can be found here all year round - A guerba is filled with water - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Oued with the Tamgak Mountains in the background - Niger - Aïr - 2003

In the Oued Aouï – The Tamgak Mountains in the background on the left - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Warehouse in the Oued Aouï - Salt from Bilma is traded here - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Cérémonie du thé au camp de Tachaouit - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Preparation of food in the Tachaouit camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The dromedaries are freed from their burden - Tachaouit camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The caravan sets off again early in the morning - Tachaouit - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Evening atmosphere in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Everything that needs to be kept safe from the goats is hung up in the appropriate place - Chanounou camp - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Sleeping place in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The dum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is a multi-stemmed palm species with oval, edible fruits. In ancient Egypt, this palm was used for its fruit, fibres and leaves, but the date palm was not native to Egypt and only produced dates when it could be pollinated. - Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Guelta Baloumat in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

During the hottest part of the day, the men find a shady place to rest - Niger - Aïr - 2003

To pass the time, the pieces of the Daara game are moved, a kind of draughts game - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Shortly before spending the night in the camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

In the evening, the camp is set up for the night at the Baloumat guelta - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The camel drivers sit around the fire under which the traditional taguella is cooked - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The meat of a goat is cut into pieces and roasted on the fire - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The cook prepares the food - On the right in front a guerba with water - Camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Tea ceremony in the camp of Chanounou - Niger - Aïr - 2003

A new rope is being made - The white stripes are made of plastic! - Camp at Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Boubakar twists a new string from plastic strips - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

‘Water is life’, the delicious liquid is bottled in the goatskin guerba - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A Targi with his takuba, the sword of the nobleman. As former warriors, the Tuareg are often homesick for their past. In their secret thoughts, they revive the memory of the former rezzous, raids against the caravans that brought slaves and gold up from the south. - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A Targi with his takuba, the sword of the nobles. As former warriors, the Tuareg are often homesick for their past. In their secret thoughts, they revive the memory of the former rezzous, raids against the caravans that brought slaves and gold up from the south. - Guelta Baloumat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

A guerba was filled with water from the Guelta Baloumat - Niger - Aïr - 2003

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak massif - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan on the way to the western exit of the gorge that crosses the Tamgak massif - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan approaches the end of the gorge that runs through the Tamgak massif. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan leaves the Oued Tamgak. Behind the mountains on the right is the town of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Last obstacles before the caravan arrives in the city of Iferouâne - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Departure in the morning sun - Camp Tebet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Rest in the Tebet area, on the edge of Erg Izane - Aïr - Niger - 2000

A last camp in the sand dunes before the caravan makes its way through the mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp on the edge of the Tamgak Mountains - A tagella, the bread of the Tuareg nomads, is baked in sand heated by fire - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Achmed ag Chaoua from the Kel-Tédélé tribe takes a well-earned rest - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan begins its journey through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Ascent to the pass from Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The landscape at the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Descent from the pass of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan in the Oued of Tagerdet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

In the Oued Tagardet - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. - The caravan crosses the Teliaouet - Aïr - Niger - 2000 pass

Descent from the Teliaouet Pass - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The Adrar Tamgak is located in the north-east of the Aïr and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve. The mountain massif is divided into a northern and a southern section by a deep, arching gorge running in a west-east direction. The western entrance to the gorge is around five kilometres from the village of Iférouane. Its eastern exit leads into the sand dunes of the Ténéré desert to the south-west of the Chiriet massif. Underground water flows to the surface at the side gorges, creating large pools of water, especially in the western part. The dry valley running through the gorge is the Tamgak, with the Toufouchi and the Zakkat as important tributaries. - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Taguella is a flatbread, the staple food of the Tuareg living in the Sahara. It is a disc-shaped bread made from wheat flour, which is baked under hot sand and charcoal from a small fire. The bread is then broken into small pieces and eaten with a meat sauce. - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Arali - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Eikerim - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Chemma ag Gafid - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait Touareg Hiram, the prayer leader of the camel drivers - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait of Touareg Bachar ag Akhmadou - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Portrait of Touareg Abakaoua, chief of the Kel-Tédélé clan - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Boubakar - The chief of a Tuareg clan - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Eating millet and milk together - The hand replaces the fork - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

There is always enough time for a chat at mealtime - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Lunch is prepared at the camp - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The caravan moves on through the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2001

A waterhole in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - The water supply needs to be replenished - Aïr - Niger - 2001

The caravan moves through the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

Descent in the Oued Tai Rei Iben, a side valley of the Oued Zakkat - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In the valley of the Gueltas in the northern part of the Tamgak Mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The goatskin guerbas are filled with water. In the valley of the gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also known as Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The caravan travelling in the valley of the Gueltas (waterholes), in the northern part of the Tamgak massif, also called Zakkat - Aïr - Niger - 2002

In a side valley in the south-western part of the Adrar Tamgak - The caravan on the way to Abri Ilem - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

In Tamascheq, the language of the Tuareg, they say Aman Eres. Aman means water and Eres means hole. - In the northern part of the Adrar Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Boubakar, the head of the clan, also acts as a vet. A dromedary needs to be treated. - In the northern part of the Adrar Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Descent from a pass in the direction of Oued Tamgak. - Aïr - Niger - 2001

Camp at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Camp at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Note that the bush serves as a pantry - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountain ranges - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The evening tea ritual in the camp - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

The guerbas are filled with water at a guelta in the gorge between the two Tamgak mountains - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Well in the gardens of Iferouâne. According to old custom, the water is drawn up in a leather bag and distributed into the irrigation channels - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

Abakaoua, the chief of the Tel-Kédéle clan, takes a break - Tamgak - Aïr - Niger - 2000

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