This region known as CHEGAGA features sand, hills Djebel Bani, Oued Draa … and public enemy number 1, strong winds! Navigation is already a challenge here, and uncooperative weather just makes things worse.

In addition to poor visibility, there is an endless stretch of small dunes. Impossible to stick to a heading… up, down, up, down… for kilometres on end… Or hours on end, as distance is measured in time rather than kilometres. The navigators will have to keep a sharp eye out for features that appear and disappear as they drive up and down… It’s their only hope of keeping their heading, but if the wind rises, they will have to resort to dead reckoning… like on the open sea!

The strongest teams will tackle the dunes towards the end of this first day. Chegaga is less impressive than Merzouga, but you shouldn’t trust appearances alone. The feeling of “surfing” the dunes could quickly be slowed down by an unstable or more exposed dune. And the wind has also done its best to complicate the lives of our Gazelles.

In any case, this will be their last night alone among Gazelle in the muffled calm of the dunes.

The following morning, the goal will be to get out of the sand. Whichever route they choose, the Gazelles will have to cross the Erg, a relatively difficult task. There is no time to be wasted getting stuck in the sand… it would be a pity to mess things up so close to the end.

Once they have exited the sandy hills of Chegaga, the Gazelles will head for the last bivouac. But not in a straight line: that would be too easy. Challenges include Lake IRIQUI and its baseless mountain, dinosaur crests and impassable passes, the cliffs of M’daouer jealously guarded by its Sumerian soldier… And they reach the final bivouac, an emotional moment filled with pride, joy and a touch of regret… that the adventure is already over.

One last night at the bivouac before tomorrow’s long drive to the coast where another world awaits…