Ong Jemal and Mos Espa

Ong Jemal, the camel's neck, is a rock formation in the desert north of Nefta whose profile gives it the name, and it stands above a plain of dunes and dry lake bed. A short distance away is Mos Espa, the set built for the Star Wars prequels in the late 1990s and left standing: domed plaster buildings, moisture vaporators and market stalls, which the desert has been slowly reclaiming while volunteers occasionally shore it up.

What you actually see

• Ong Jemal - the camel-shaped rock formation above the desert plain.
• Mos Espa - the standing Star Wars set of domed buildings and vaporators.
• The dune field - the sand and dry lake bed around the sites.
• The sunrise - the classic time to be at the rock, with tours leaving before dawn.

When to go

October to April is the season; summer heat here is dangerous. Sunrise trips are standard and leave from Tozeur before dawn. Sandstorms can close the tracks.

Honest expectations

A four-wheel drive and driver are necessary and the trip is sold as a package from Tozeur. Mos Espa is deteriorating and is a plaster film set, not a building. Vendors at both sites are persistent.

Nearby

Nefta is south, and Tozeur is southeast.