The Tenere desert is 500 km north of Agadez and about 300 north of the Air Mountains. It has incredible beautiful sand dune areas, and those disappointed bytheir first desert experiences should absolutely come here to see this one.
This is quite a remote area, so you need at least about a week to see the desert, starting from Agadez. The best thing to do is to travel in a group of cars and you would probably be wise to hire at least one guide as well. The road to Bilma (not always a road in the western sense of the word) crosses the Tenere desert from west to east, and offers the best possibilities for exploration of this beautiful region.
Arbre du Tenere In 1999 a Japanese Tourist Replaced the metal stick with a large metal and glass sculpture/compass.
Arbre du Tenere The arbre du Tenere used to be the most isolated tree on the planet. About 400 km from the nearest tree, it was even mentioned on the Michelin map.
In 1973 a Truck driver hit it. They have put a metal version of the tree and the remains of the orignal one have been transported to Niamey and are kept in a museum there.
You find the replica of the tree after a drive of 179 km from Agadez on the Bilma road.
Tazole After about 100 km on the Agadez- Bilma road, you pass Tazole. Just south of the road is a huge dinosaur cemetary that testifies of the great natural richness the Sahara possessed in earlier days. The fossils are quite spread out over an area of 150 sqaure km, and due to the changing sand dunes you never know what you will be able to see. But for the lovers of old fossils it is a very rewardinmg trip.
