We climbed the dunes around the camp to watch the sun setting over the Sahara Desert from a particularly high vantage point with a great view.
Blessed with good weather, we could see the desert landscape stretching far into the distance from the top of the dunes, and even what looked like the town of Merzouga beyond. As the sun gradually dipped lower, the colors and shadows of the dunes shifted, allowing us to enjoy a beautiful side of the Sahara that is quite different from the daytime.
That night, we moved to a dark area away from the camp lights to enjoy stargazing. Unfortunately, it was too dark to capture well on video, but in the desert where there is almost no strong artificial light, the night sky was filled with more stars than you could ever see in the city. I think being able to enjoy not only the sunset but also the starry night sky afterwards is one of the greatest appeals of staying in the desert.
If you leave the camp to look at the stars, please be aware that once it gets dark, the surrounding desert scenery looks very similar, making it easy to lose your sense of direction. Please be very careful to return safely to camp by not walking far alone and instead accompanying a guide.
By the way, as I was walking through the darkness looking at the stars, I was a bit surprised to suddenly see a few camels standing quietly. The sight of only the camels appearing in the quiet desert, completely different from the daytime, remains a very memorable travel experience for me now.
If you have the chance, please visit and take your time to experience the Sahara Desert as it transitions from a beautiful sunset into a sky full of stars.
