Sahara Douz Festival

Month : December
Place : Tunisia
Famous For : Desert Festival
Attractions : Camel Marathons, Bedouin Marriage, Poetry, Songs, Dances.

The Sahara Douz festival is amongst world"s most awaited desert festivals. It is observed every year in the African country of Tunisia during the month of December. Tracing its origin in the year 1910, the Sahara Douz festival has unfolded as an important mediatic and touristic event followed by cameramen and journalists from all over the world. In fact, this desert fiesta holds a charm to attract everyone with some exciting events involving the "ship of desert" - Camel.

Major Attractions

The festival of Sahara Douz began in 1910 when Tunisia was under French rule. In its first edition, it was named as the Camel festival. The year 1967 witnessed a major turn in the festival"s shape as it took on its modern identity according to the will of Habib Bourguiba. Since then, the Sahara Douz festival is tagged as country's oldest and best-known festival. This festival was also blessed with eminent personalities like M'hammed Marzougui, who dedicated his life to making people aware of and appreciate nomadic way of life and traditions. He took on the challenge and went on to lay the foundation of this grand desert festivity. His efforts beard fruits as thousands of people, mostly from all over Tunisia and other Maghrebien countries flocked to Douz every year fir this four day celebrations. The highlights of Sahara Douz festival includes celebrations in the H"naiech stadium in front of the desert surrounded by Bedouin tents. Camel marathons, fantasia- galloping Arab horses ridden by daring riders, a Bedouin marriage, sloughi desert hunting dogs, catching rabbits are the principal features. Evening are featured by groups from visiting countries, performing popular songs and dances. The main attraction of this desert festival is the annual poetry contest run by the famous desert poet, Abdellatif Belgacem.