Tidjikja

30 October 2022

I set off this morning in a minibus to the desert town of Tidjikja. The ticket was booked the night before for 1300Rp and I was joined by two young French travellers.

The journey was a wonderful 12 hour experience along the road through the desert terrain. We were accompanied by families of women and children and individual men, all travelling towards this desert area. We became a nomadic family - sharing food, prayer time stops and a dinner break where couscous, goat's meat and Mauritanian sweet tea were served in tents. A natural feeling of comradery was established amongst these welcoming and open travellers. I felt I was being looked after - and was aware that the driver was taking responsibility for my wellbeing as well as the other women and children's.

Arriving in Tidjikja seemed like coming to the middle of no where - it was dark, dusty and the end of a tiring day. I walked to the Auberge Caravan de Desert and knocked on the gate. The caretaker came over from across the road and showed me a room in a cabin for 1000Rp without AC. My French companions chose to camp somewhere in the village. I took a short walk along the road by the Auberge to look for food - ended up buying biscuits and water as the shops have a limited supply of produce, all of which must be transported here from the coast.