|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Nomads of Niger
as featured in Treks in a Wild World
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Niger is a country of astonishing diversity of climates,
landscapes and ethnic groups. Rarely filmed and only for the
hardy adventurer, Niger is one of the last undiscovered desert
destinations in the world.
Holly Morris begins her trek in Agadez, where she
visits the Wodabe Gerewhol Festival - the traditional
gathering of the nomadic Wodabe herders. The long thin features
of Wodabe men are emphasised with bright makeup and fine jewellery
as they try to woo the women with dancing for long hours and
try to reveal their personal charm to eligible young women.
|
|
Holly heads up into the Air Mountain range to the oasis
of Timia and the Tuareg, one of the most revered
of the North African nomadic tribes. The Tuareg are renowned
for their bravery and their proud and warlike stance, with
their blue eyes peeking through long taguelmoust - a shawl
or scarf that completely covers their face. The Tuareg are
also famed for their 'cavalcades' - camel races through villages
where a hundred rider race for the prize of a sword. Holly
herself becomes the first woman ever to enter a camel race,
cheered on by women in their finest silver jewellery, singing
and clapping to the sound of drums.
|
|
 |
|
Caption: Ships of the Desert at the Tuareg Camel Races
|
|
Holly ends her trek by heading back across the desert in
search of Africa's most spectacular migration - the salt caravans,
as hundreds of camel trains make the long journey across the
desert to trade salt and dates.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
