Across the Sahara to Chinguetti’s Ancient Libraries 🇲🇷

After visiting the Eye of the Sahara and returning to Ouadane, we picked up another traveller from Greece and a child before continuing together across the desert. Our route took us through the remote Adrar region toward Oasis de Tanouchert, a small but striking pocket of life surrounded by an immense landscape of stone and sand.

The oasis offered a sharp contrast to the harsh terrain around it. Palm trees, water and a small settlement appeared almost unexpectedly in the middle of the Sahara. Travelling through this region made it clear how isolated these communities are and how important places like Tanouchert remain for people moving between Mauritania’s desert towns.

From the oasis, we continued toward Chinguetti, one of Mauritania’s most important historic settlements. Once a major stopping point for caravans crossing the Sahara, the town became known as a centre of Islamic learning, scholarship and trade. Its stone buildings, narrow sandy streets and old mosque still reflect a history shaped by centuries of desert travel.

One of the most remarkable parts of Chinguetti was visiting its ancient manuscript libraries. Inside these modest family-owned collections are handwritten religious, scientific and historical texts preserved across generations. The buildings may appear simple from the outside, but the documents stored within them connect the town to a period when scholars and traders travelled enormous distances across the Sahara.

Chinguetti felt fragile, as though the desert was slowly closing in around it. Sand continues to gather between the buildings, and parts of the old town have already been abandoned. Yet families remain committed to protecting the manuscripts and preserving the history entrusted to them.

This journey across the Sahara was not only about reaching another remote destination. It revealed a part of Mauritania shaped by ancient trade routes, desert communities and knowledge passed down through generations. Chinguetti was one of the clearest reminders that even in the emptiest landscapes, there are stories and histories that have survived for centuries.

I’ll be documenting this adventure along the way — the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you want to ride with me through Africa’s deserts, mountains, chaos, and calm, you can follow the journey on Instagram, and TikTok. I’ll be sharing stories from the road, raw moments, and the reality behind chasing freedom on two wheels.

So, come along for the ride — the long way through Africa.

Peace!