Tassili N'Ajjer

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Tassili N'Ajjer is a massive mountain plateau extending for nearly 500 km (300 mi) across the Sahara Desert of south-eastern Algeria. The soft sandstone has been carved by the wind and sand grains that howl across the desert into fantastic landforms, with sheer cliffs and sudden, unexpected, deep chasms and more than 300 rock arches. Because of its isolation, this beautiful landscape remains relatively undisturbed.

During the last ice age, this area used to be far wetter than it is today, and the sandstone has managed to retain some of the ancient moisture, allowing the growth of sparse woodland, including the Saharan myrtle and Saharan cypress.

The wildlife was also much richer thousands of years ago, as can be seen from the cave paintings that dot the area and show such animals as antelope and crocodiles, as well as cattle, indicating that there must have been land for grazing and pasture and waterholes for the crocodiles.

There are also vivid depictions of the life of the people who lived here. In order to protect the rock painting from further damage, visitors can only enter the central area with an official guide or accredited tour group.

Discover Algeria

Shiver as the sun rises over Assekrem, the mountains at the 'End of the World.'Rock the Casbah in Algiers, one of the finest coastal sites on the Mediterranean.Explore the best Roman ruins in Africa, and the oldest rock art in the world.Tie your turban like a Yuareg and be swept up in the magic of the world's greatest desert.

Guidebooks to Algeria