The further south you travel, the less intense the desert conditions are, giving way to scrubland and savannah. In the flood plains of the Senegal River, the new Diawling National Park is managing to attract birds - including endangered species. This influx adds to the already impressive birdlife found along the Atlantic coast.
Rainfall is almost totally absent in the Sahara region.
Many places can register temperatures below freezing at any time of the year, so pack warm gear. Lonely Planet Publications Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved.