Jebel Uweinat Expedition, Libya, 2023 Participants:  6 confirmed    4 tentative  Trip Status:  TENTATIVE

The exact dates and itinerary will be finalised after consulting with participants. The plan is to spend at least 10 days in the Arkenu - Uweinat region, partially visiting known areas, and partially exploring some remaining "blank spots". Depending on the composition of the group, some one or two day treks may be made to the upper parts of the mountains. Depending on the atitude of the Libyan police and military at the Uweinat checkpoints, we may also visit some smaller massifs to the south and west of Uweinat. Benghasi will be the point of departure, at present there are direct commercial flights from Tunis and Alexandria, bypassing Tripoli. The following is a tentative itinerary:

Day 1. - Benghasi - Kufra

At present there are two flights a week between Benghasi and Kufra, our schedule will need to be adjusted around these. To make our life simple (and flexible) two weeks are planned to be able to take the onward and return flights on the same days of the week.

We will also need the day to purchase and pack supplies while the permits are being prepared, and load the vehicles. Depending on the flight schedules we might leave in the afternoon, or spend the night in the fine Sudan hotel (the only one in town).

Day 2. – Kufra - Jebel Arkenu

All things going well, we may even be able to start on the afternoon of the previous day, but in any case a ful day is enough to reach Jebel Arkenu from Kufra if starting early.

Days 3.-5. - Jebel Arkenu

Three days are planned at Jebel Arkenu. One of the most important objectives is to make the trek up to the amazing shelter with 90 sq.m. of paintings (published in Sahara 22, 2011) found by Mark Borda in 2010 in the eastern (sandstone) part of the mountain. The trek is modertely difficult, with a 400 metre altitude difference and a roughly 3 kilometre horizontal distance each way. It is doable in a day, but we might decide to make a bivouac at the site to allow more time for photography.

Days 4-9. – Jebel Uweinat

Six days at Uweinat (including a half day to get from Arkenu to Uweinat), enough to visit all principal sites and areas along the western part of the mountain, plus also offering the opportunity fr the exploration of some remaining blank spots.

Days 10-11. Garet Shezzu

Garet Shezzu is a smaller mountain 60 kilometres to the south west of Ain Doua, with a surprising wealth of sites also found by Mark Borda in 2010 (Sahara 22, 2011). Hopefully we can obtain permission to visit it, allowing two days to see all.

Day 12. Yerguehda hill

A small hill 80 kilometres to the south of Ain Doua, where Bagnold and companions have found a very interesting site with paintings in 1932. In 2001 we managed a visit, but noone has visited since, I would very much like to take digital photos if a visit is possible.

Days 13-14. Return to Kufra

For safety two full days are planned for the return journey, with a possible vsit to Jebel Sherif along the way.

Day 15. Kufra - Benghasi

Flight back to Benghasi, then depending on connections, home.

Back to planned expeditions...