Sheer adventure and excitement were packed in hundreds of kilometers on the road, across the Sahara Desert in 1998. The Donnavventura team discovered all the beauty of the biggest sand desert on the face of Earth. The caravan, made of five impressive off-road vehicles, left Genoa, Italy, to eventually land in Tunis and then proceed to a brief stop in fascinating Monastir. Then, our travel explorers drove all the way to Djerba, the biggest island of North Africa. The actual final destination of the expedition, Libya, proved quite difficult to reach, due to the strict embargo enforced on that Country: still, the Donnavventura team managed to obtain some very special visiting permits and thus traveled all the way to Tripoli, the capital city, and then reach the very heart of the desert and its magnificent sand dunes.
Africa, the most ancient amongst emerged continents, a place packed with striking contrasts and unmistakable charm, where untainted and wild nature constantly challenges its centuries-old populace; the locals and the natives proudly strive on daily basis to overcome the harsh living conditions.
Mankind has never been able to tame “the beast” and its magnificent, though treacherous landscape. Mother nature has always won the fight, so men have got to simply cope and do their were best to survive. There’s no place like the desert: an apparently empty void, filled with most fascinating features, even for the most skeptical visitor or traveler.
Reaching the Fezzan region proved just as difficult: the Donnavventura team had to challenge some desert storms, eventually arriving in the south-western part of the Country after having… lost their way because of the dunes disappearing in the wind! The caravan had to cope also with some break downs and was forced to abandon two vehicles, along with some gear crates, in order to make room for the whole travelling team. Those two cars were later recovered by the local army.
As the journey got more and more challenging, our young travel reporters redoubled their efforts and resolve, deflating the tires in order to almost glide on the golden dunes and reach the first village on the map. Touareg hospitality provided unforgettable solace and top quality refreshments, including the typical food made with corn, rise and camel meat.
Eventually out of the woods, the Donnavventura expedition heade North and stopped by the magnificent Lake Mandara – a true mirage in the desert! The huts reflected in the cobalt blu pool, offered some unforgettable sights to our reporters’ cameras.
Before reaching the end of the 1998 expedition, the Donnavventura crew drove all the way back to Tunis and then headed back home with tons of wondrous memories, experiences and unforgettable encounters.
The members of expedition team were: Silvia, Claudia, Eliana, Antonella, Raffaella, Federica, Rita, Valentina and Manuela.
