Tuareg Experience (Egypt or Morocco?)
 

Hi there Guys at Horizons Unlimited!

My name is Pablo and i am from Argentina!
The thing is that i am slowly planning a trip to north Africa... and would really like your advice where i should go!

My main interest is to hear some of the great nomad music that North Africa has... and of course get some images and stuff... It sound a little "tourist".. but i really want to go to Africa!!!

Anyone can reccomend if it better or maybe say... Egypt or Morocco? which one?

Most / less expensive? Ideal time for being there? One, two three months?

Also.. many people reccomend Mali...

Thankssss!!!

:scooter:

Hello Pablo from Argentina.

First thing to say is that if you really want to meet genuine Tuareg you won't find any in Morocco or Egypt - there people are predominately Berbers or Arabs. The Tuareg homeland is central Sahara (map here), unfortunately at the moment it is not so accessible.

People rightly recommend Mali (and West Africa) for great music, but this is different from less well known North African music. This is a great CD to hear the difference.
Culturally Mali will be more classic 'Africa' - different from Sahara and North Africa. Hotter too, even in the cool season.

Maybe consider Mauritania for the desert nomad aspect (Moors, not Tuaregs, but similar lifestyle - see this post). Then go to Mali for easily found music. This will all be harder travel in crowded bush taxis and not so cheap, but probably more rewarding than the regular routes in Morocco and Egypt. Of those two I would choose Egypt: tick off Cairo and the Nile pharaonics right down to Aswan, maybe Siwa & Western oases and Sinai if its safe. Plus English is widely spoken here if you do not speak French for the other places.

Best time is not northern summer and stay as long as the money lasts ;-)