Guelta of Matmata

The guelta at Matmata is a rock pool in the Tagant that holds water through the year, and living in it is a small population of Nile crocodiles, one of a handful of relict groups surviving in the Sahara from the period when the desert was wetland. The animals are small, probably from a lifetime in limited water, and local people have long left them alone. The pool sits below a rock face.

What you actually see

• The crocodiles - a relict Nile crocodile population isolated in the desert.
• The permanent pool - water holding through the year in the rock.
• The small size - animals stunted by a lifetime in confined water.
• The rock setting - the face the guelta sits below.

When to go

November to February is the cool season and the practical window. Water level drops through the dry season. Crocodiles are most visible in the middle of the day.

Honest expectations

The crocodiles are shy and sightings are not guaranteed. The track in needs four wheel drive and a guide. Livestock use the pool and the water is not clean.

Nearby

Tidjikja is south, and Rachid is northwest.