Selja Gorge

The Selja gorge cuts through red and ochre rock west of Metlaoui, and the railway built in the 1900s to carry phosphate from the mines runs through it on ledges, bridges and through tunnels. The Lézard Rouge, a train of carriages built for the Bey of Tunis in 1910, runs excursions along the line when it is operating. The gorge can also be walked along the track, which is how many people see it.

The landscape

• The gorge walls - red and ochre rock rising above the railway line.
• The Lezard Rouge - a 1910 royal train running excursions through the gorge.
• The railway engineering - ledges, bridges and tunnels cut for the phosphate line.
• The walk along the line - the route on foot through the gorge.

When to go

October to April is comfortable; summer is very hot in the gorge. Train services are intermittent and must be checked. Mornings are coolest for walking.

What to expect

The Lezard Rouge service has been suspended for long periods and cannot be relied on. Walking the line means walking on an active railway. There is no shade and no water in the gorge.

Nearby

Metlaoui is east, and Tozeur is southwest.