Iherir Valley

Iherir is a canyon on the northern side of the Tassili n'Ajjer where water stands permanently in a chain of gueltas along the valley floor, an exceptional thing in this part of the Sahara, supporting palms, oleander, fish and a village built against the rock above the pools. The wetland is listed under the Ramsar convention. Cliffs several hundred metres high close the valley on both sides, cut with side canyons, and rock art is found in the shelters. The Tuareg community that lives here farms small gardens and keeps goats. It is reached only on four-wheel-drive trips with guides and forms part of the Tassili n'Ajjer World Heritage area.

What you actually see

• Permanent gueltas - standing water in the canyon floor.
• A village built against the cliff - the settlement above the pools.
• Palms and oleander in the valley - the vegetation the water supports.
• Rock shelters with paintings - the art along the canyon walls.

When to go

November to March. Two to three days including the drive. Permits and guides are compulsory. Nights are cold in winter.

Honest expectations

Access is long, rough and entirely dependent on a guided vehicle. There are no facilities. The gueltas are the community's water supply and swimming or washing in them is not acceptable. Rock art is fragile and unprotected.

Nearby

Djanet is south-east; the Tassili plateau lies south.