Die letzten Kamelkarawanen der Sahara (360° - GEO Reportage)

Even in the time of the pharaohs, camel caravans laden with ivory, salt, ostrich feathers, and other precious goods traversed the sandy desert between present-day Sudan and Egypt. To this day, Bedouin tribes in the Sahara follow these ancient trade routes, only now the camels themselves are the commodity sold to Egypt. One of the most important and at the same time most dangerous routes leads from Kordofan and Darfur to southern Egypt. It is the Darb al-Arba'in - "The Way of 40 Days." Only experienced caravan leaders dare to attempt this trek. 360° GEO Reportage embarked on the grueling journey through desert heat and dryness. A film by Monika Hielscher and Matthias Heeder © 2010, Licensed by MedienKontor / ARTE Season 11 - Episode 19 Subscribe to wocomoTRAVEL: https://goo.gl/tIk2Qc Follow us on Facebook:   / wocomo   Press release: The elderly Bedouin Nuri Gomaa actually retired from the caravan business a long time ago. For decades, he was one of the most sought-after trek leaders between Darfur and Aswan in southern Egypt. He loves the vastness and beauty of the Sahara, knows the dangers of the desert—and knows where the vital water sources are. Nuri's tribe, the Besharis, has lived for over 1,000 years in an area stretching from the Red Sea through northern Sudan to Upper Egypt. Like their ancestors, the Bedouins still breed camels and are sought-after guides of the large caravans. There are an estimated 3 million camels in Sudan alone, and over 200,000 animals are sold to Egypt each year. While many herds are now transported by truck over modern paved roads, the old desert trails still exist. Nuri, a Bediun, now intends to attempt one of the most dangerous routes one last time, as second caravan leader in charge of a herd of 100 camels. The route leads through the western foothills of the Bayuda Desert, heading north to the banks of the Nile. A 360° GEO report follows the caravan across the Sahara. As much as Nuri loves the desert, the journey is a tough test for him. How will he cope with the hardships? Will Nuri get along with the other men on the trek, Sudanese from the Qahla tribe? But most importantly, will all the camels survive the arduous desert march safely?