We were at 2,000 feet above sea level and all around us were rocky plains with mountains in the distance – just 20% of the desert was covered by sand dunes. The landscape was dotted with acacia bushes providing grazing for camels and goats.
There was little traffic on the road camels wandered onto the highway, unfazed as we passed close by – another good reason not to drive after dark.
The weather was very warm, 35° in the shade. We stopped at a camp site and asked the gate keeper whether they provided food – he said he would find out. Later we took our passports up to the gate-house but there was not a soul around. It was getting late, we were tired and hot and, as we had had little to eat since breakfast, so we made a meal for ourselves in the truck. Much later in the evening we were surprised when the proprietor turned up asking whether we were ready to eat as they had prepared a meal for us. We felt embarrassed and a bit awkward having to refuse the food. Fortunately the proprietor didn’t appear to feel we were responsible and gave us cheery wave goodbye when we left the next day.
Next stop was Sidi Ifni, a town on the Atlantic coast popular with surfers. We were hoping it would be a bit cooler there.
