Some generations of Algerians are familiar with the adjective attached to the oasis of Taghit: the enchantress. In recent years, more and more tourists have been coming here for holidays, especially in the run-up to the universal New Year, during spring or autumn.
Discovering the Taghit Region
Some call it the pearl of the Saoura, a flagship region of southwestern Algeria, straddling the borders of three neighboring countries: Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania. Along with Timimoun, located not far away, as well as Djanet, located in Tassili N’Ajjer, Taghit is one of the most beautiful oases on the planet.
What makes Taghit famous are its famous sunsets and sunrises, among the most wonderful. In this oasis that extends over 93,000 hectares, the beauty of the natural landscapes is breathtaking.
The Taghitis have established a real way of life, anchored in zenitude, especially since local nomads, the Zayanes, come to garnish this already culturally rich landscape even more. The settlement of the region dates back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the rock engravings that abound in Taghit.
The history here in Taghit goes far beyond the symbolic monuments of the region, such as the old Ksar, estimated to be eight centuries old. A majestic dune serves as a unique sand ski slope, but also as a sandblast therapy. In Taghit, you can also visit several water-draining galleries called “foggaras”.
The launch, in 2022, of the exploitation of the Gara Djebilet iron mine, located in southwestern Algeria, precisely in the wilaya of Tindouf, has only attracted more foreign tourists to Taghit.
Where to Stay in Taghit?
To date, Taghit, located in the heart of a palm grove between the rocky massif of Baroun and the dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental, has a 4-star hotel (Saoura) but also a multitude of residences and reception points (guest houses and bivouacs) closer to ecological and cultural tourism.
Despite the recent creation of ten new wilayas (administrative departments/districts) in Algeria, the commune of Taghit has remained administratively within the mother wilaya of Béchar, the capital city, about a hundred kilometers away.
Taghiti Folklore and Culture: A Gold Mine to Discover
In Taghit, human beings are lulled by the bewitching rhythm of the Diwan, a local musical genre. Taken up mainly by the group Lemma (meaning regrouping or communion), the Diwan is recognizable by the sound of two instruments in particular: the Guembri and the Karkabou.
The Diwan is similar to the “Ahellil” of Gourara, another musical and poetic genre typical of southwestern Algeria. Thanks to the work of research, popularization, and defense of the national heritage, the Ahellil of Gourara is now inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Ahellil, which is played throughout the night until the first light of day, is accompanied not only by the rhythmic clapping of hands by dozens of participants, but also, and especially, by songs in unison. A whole art that is taught from generation to generation in Taghit.
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