Survival School Expedition 2004

The Sahara Desert is amongst the most inhospitable places on the planet. It should only be visited by those with a sense of adventure and the very best support network. The Survival School Morocco Expedition 2004 has just returned from dunes near the Algerian border. The pictures below can never do the environment justice. No camera can capture the vast open spaces, the harsh and hostile terrain or the sense of desolation one must feel if stranded there. The expedition was a great success! Survival School would like to thank all those that made the trip for their enthusiasm and humour. A special thanks must also go to Kev Palmer and the Support Crew (Ray and John), and in particular the Moroccan guides and drivers who made everything possible. See you next year.

Background

This year's expedition was to the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Only about 20% of the Sahara is made of sand dunes, the rest is rock. We went to experience the desert way of life and to appreciate the beauty of the place. The Atlas Mountains, the Cedar Forest and the Sahara didn't disappoint. Top temperatures reached around the 40 degree centigrade mark and at night in the Atlas mountains it got down to just above zero.

We proved just how difficult it is collect water, build shelters in the dunes and to navigate. We discovered that the local wildlife had a serious sting in its tail. We saw scorpions, both big and small. The camel riding was a lot of fun and the vehicle preparation sessions were eye opening, to say the least.

The pictures below tell a very small part of the story.