I’m happy to share the flavour of my Sahara retreats through these pictures, mostly taken in 2008 by my friend Peter Bond, and with his 4-minute video.
Transition! Our minibus leaves the tarmac, bumps over the sand to meet the camels.
Our camel caravan heads into the depths of the wilderness.
Our Bedouin guides doing what they love best – leading a caravan. Climate change forced them to leave their nomadic life and move to town.
Our group gathers at every sunset to meditate together, and give thanks for the blessings of both day and night.
Sunset is such a powerful moment in the desert, and the brushwood fire draws us close as the chilly night arrives.
Night falls, and soon the sky will be utterly full with stars. We’ll gather with the Bedouin around the fire for stories and songs.
The Bedouins’ singing is an oral tradition, and it feels like it has centuries of depth to it. We are spellbound!
The thirty camels in our caravan are a major presence. As we sit around the fire, they are around us nearby.
This old Bedouin tent, handwoven from camelhair, gives us vital shade for eating, meeting and siestas.
This date grove amid the dunes is the heart of our retreat: we stay here for four nights, including solo retreat and 24 hours’ silence.
I did make one addition to Bedouin culture, teaching them to make ‘English tea’ at four o’clock, to go with our shortbread biscuits! Peter Bond on the left of the picture, Alan in centre.
Khalifa was the leader of our guides, and head of his family clan of 400 people. His wildlife and tracking knowledge is amazing, and he pointed out all the insect and animal life around us.
We start our slow journey out of the desert: that’s our date grove in the background.
There are many different landscapes in the Sahara, including the archetypal dunes, flat stony stretches, and lots more.
The Bedouin treat us all as family, and deep connections develop. This is Amida Harvey with Hajji Mohammed.
At the end of our time with the Bedouin, they produce necklaces made by their family.
Our group with our Bedouin friends. Hard to say goodbye!
The caravan continues in our memories and imagination.