Jebel Uweinat

Jebel Uweinat rises to nearly two thousand metres where the borders of Sudan, Egypt and Libya meet, an isolated massif of granite and sandstone in the middle of the driest part of the Sahara, and its wadis hold rock paintings and engravings of cattle, giraffe, hunters and dancers from the period when this country was grassland. Pools in the rock hold water after rain and are the only source for a very long way. The rock art was first reported by the Egyptian explorer Ahmed Hassanein, who reached the mountain in 1923.

What you'll find

• The rock art - paintings and engravings of cattle, giraffe and figures in the wadis.
• The massif - granite and sandstone rising to nearly two thousand metres.
• The green Sahara record - images from when this was grassland rather than desert.
• The rock pools - the only water for a very long way in any direction.

When to go

November to February is the cool season and the only practical window. March to May is extremely hot. Expeditions take a week or more.

Before you go

This sits on a sensitive tri-border and permits are required and difficult; most expeditions approach from Egypt or Libya rather than Sudan. It is a full desert expedition with no infrastructure. Rock art is fragile and must not be touched or wetted.

Nearby

The Egyptian and Libyan borders meet here, and Wadi Halfa is far east.