Flies in the desert

[Andrew Baker]

Why is it that no book I have read on the Sahara mentions flies. They are everywhere, even in the remotest parts of the Ergs, in vast numbers. What do they eat for God's sake. I read somewhere that they live on the long gone remains of animals and vegetation. Is this true? Does anyone have a reliable fly deterrent?

[Chris Scott]

I have to say that I can recall only one occasion in 20 odd years when the flies got on my nerves in the Sahara.
In winter they are non existant in my experience but in the summer it may get worse - near crap-ringed wells especially.

If you want flies I can recommend Gregory National Park in the NT - if you dont leave that place without swallowing a couple you're not breathing enough...

Chris S

[Sam Rutherford]

Flies? What flies? Mosquitos near lakes, that's it. The world is a curious place!

Sam.

PS Australia, by comparison, is infested by them - Chris, enjoy! (particularly on a 'bike!).

[onlycookie]

I wouldn't quite say infested, but there are places...

Anyhow - I reckon it's the same as in Australia - if you are unlucky enough you get the odd day, week, month, year or place or whatsoever when there's a plague - ohterwise it's all not that bad...

...keep your helmet on, if they get too nasty - or take a hat with a sunshield and attach some strings with cork on the end...

...keeps them away from your face pretty well - just need enough strings!

[RichLees]

I remember going nuts in Tamanrasset last winter ... its the only reason I'll be taking a two skin tent this yeat. I must have killed 30 in the shower-room before attempting to shave.
worse, though, are the midges in scotland. not as big as the alaskan blighters, but the coroner determined they had contributed to the death of a dutch motorcyclist who went so nuts at having them in his helmet that he rode around Skye (?) without a lid.
Richard

[Luke]

In most camping shops you can get 12volt versions of those ultra violet zapping things, but I think that my ears and ankles must radiate a type of UV that is infinitely more attractive to all flying biters. It is nevertheless quite satisfying cleaning electrocuted midges and mossies off the grid in the morning.
Here's to walking around looking like a beekeeper
Luke

[Andrew Baker]

We travelled in Algeria for the whole of last october and it is safe to say that wherever we were, within seconds the flies were on you, in your ears, eyes, and around your mouth. I wouldn't say we were driven mad by them but they sure were irritating. I was impressed to see that within a few minutes of the sun going down, which at these latitudes was quite rapid, they all vanished. As soon as the sun rose, out they came. The insect lotion we had worked for 5 minutes and then they were back....

[Tubarao]

Having grown up & lived in the Northern Territory (Aus'), & also lived in Guinea Bissau & Senegal; if fly are your biggest problem, your bloody lucky!

Regards

DAVID

[hed]

I have been travelling around the Malian Sahara for a bit and have noticed that you only get flies near settlements, Araouane, the last settlement north of Timbuktu being the worst I ever experienced. I must say though that with a bit of mental training one can become quite stoic about it and deal with it that way. Better even is to move a few kilometres away from these settlements, into the desert and you will have no flies at all. They are always associated with people and livestock, so move away from that ... no flies.

cheers hed

[Andrew Baker]

I don't know, perhaps it was a good fly year, or maybe the same ones were following us. Having done only the one trip to the desert, I can't comment on anywhere other than Algeria in october.