Tunisia's Festival of the Oases
The annual Festival of the Oases transforms the desert oasis of Tozeur into a sprawling tent city filled with thousands of desert nomads and tourists. The festival spans four days during November/December and features horse racing, whip-cracking, snake charming, knife throwing competitions, storytelling, camel racing and camel fighting. A highlight of the festival is the camel races. Not naturally built for speed, the camels and their riders make an interesting if not ungainly spectacle as they race through the sand.
During the festival the streets of Tozeur and the surrounding dunes are filled with music, dancing and lots of food and drink. For the adventurous gourmet, try Camel or Dromedarie kebab or steak (it tastes a bit like lamb) served with couscous. Other tasty Tunisian dishes include Tajine, a spiced quiche and Brik au thon, a deep-fried pastry filled, with tuna, egg, onions, capers and parsley.
Tozeur is world famous for its dates, Deglet Nour (fingers of light). Hundreds of thousands of date palms grown in groves in the La Palmeraie produce roughly 45,000 tons annually. Explore the La Palmeraie on foot and discover the statue of Ibn Chabbat, the 13th Century mathematician that designed the groves irrigation system. For a brilliant panoramic view of Tozeur, Chott el-Jerid (a salt lake) and La Palmeraie, climb the stone steps of the Belvedere Rocks (about a 20 minute climb).
Take a walk through the streets of Tozeur with its Moorish arches, high vaulted ceilings, roof domes, towers, unique decorative doors and geometric patterns woven into the buildings. Visit Dar Charaït Museum, part of the 14th century medina (market place). The museum is housed in an authentic Tunisian palace that has been carefully restored. Exhibits include rare manuscripts, pottery, traditional costumes, jewellery, ceramics, ornaments and wax models of traditional artisans at work. The shops in the medina sell handmade carpets, Berber jewellery, weapons and ornaments.
Chak Wak Park has an eclectic collection of exhibits dedicated to evolution, history and religion. Created by a former mayor of Tozeur, exhibits include full scale models of dinosaurs, a replica of Noah’s Ark complete with animals lining up two by two, the history of Hannibal and the Carthaginian wars.
Visit the salt lake of Chott el-Jerid on the outskirts of Tozeur. The lake itself is an amazing sight – a snow white salt pan that stretches as far as the eye can see. It is the largest of Tunisia’s salt lakes at 7,000 km² and is dry for 10 months of the year. There is a causeway running across it and you can stand on the crackly surface and see the water beneath.
Get a birds-eye view of Tozeur, the Festival, Chott el-Jerid, the date groves and the Sahara on a hot-air balloon tour that can be arranged with the Aéroasis Club in Tozeur.
Expect the unexpected at the Festival of Oases so be sure to take out adequate single trip travel insurance before you leave. Cover that includes theft and medical care provides financial peace of mind in the event of illness or theft. For a hassle-free single trip travel insurance quote, contact us today.
