Taoudenni Caravan Languages
 

Hi everyone,
I'm planning on going to Timbuktu-Taoudenni this coming fall. I would like to travel by camel, perhaps join one of the caravans. What language do the guides from Timbuktu speak? What about the caravan members?
I speak English, Spanish and French, but I would like to at least learn some phrases beforehand of the local language. It might just make the trip that much more enjoyable!

Thanks!

Sebastian

I have not done it myself but I imagine the Berabish who operate these caravans will speak Hassaniya, an archaic form of Arabic spoken in Mauritania, and any Tuareg present will speak Tamachek which has its roots in the Berber languages of the north.

But your French will initially be most useful.

There was another thread on the azalai recently: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...timbuktu-40906

Ch

Confirmed
 

I can confirm Chris' reply -that the camelliers on the Timbuktu - Taoudenni caravan speak Hassaniya -as Chris says, an Arabic dialect. (Wikipedia has an entry for this term). Tamachek is spoken in and around Timbuktu, but few of the caravan operators are Tuareg -they are primarily opearted by the Moorish Arabs who speak Hassaniya. (The Tuareg tend to be further east in Niger.)

Thanks a ton guys.

Hope to successfully complete the trip and return back with interesting posts/tips!

Look forward to it.

If there are any Peace Crops training centres around where you live, they may do Hassaniya classes:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.wherepc.africa.mauritania

They taught me some handy swear words.

Ch