Tenoumer Crater Ridge Traverse, Hiking the Sahara's Meteorite Impact Landscape
PUBLISHED MARCH 19, 2025
We hiked the Tenoumer Crater Ridge, a striking 7 km circular route tracing the rim of this ancient meteorite impact site deep in the Sahara. Under the relentless desert sun, with temperatures reaching up to 30-35°C, the journey took us across a diverse terrain of mixed sand, sand dune ridges, rugged slopes, and jagged rocks. Each step revealed the immense force of the impact that shaped this 2 km diameter crater, which forms an almost perfect circular shape, over 20,000 years ago.
Walking along the crater’s edge, we were immersed in a world where geology meets adventure, surrounded by the silent remnants of a cosmic collision that forever altered the desert landscape.
TENOUMER CRATER RIDGE TRAVERSE, HIKING THE SAHARA'S METEORITE IMPACT LANDSCAPE
STARTING POINT / Camp Site inside the Crater
EQUIPMENT / hiking boots, turbant, camel bag, backpack, torch
DISTANCE / 7 km total
TIME / 4-5 hours loop
OVERALL TIME / half a day
MAX ALTITUDE / 363 mt
ELEVATION GAIN / 393 mt
DIFFICULTY / E+
HIKERS / Giulio, Luca
On the 28th of February 2025, after months of planning and during my 4th expedition to Mauritania, Luca and I decided to hike the rim of one of the most well-preserved meteorite craters in the world, and one of the most remote, Tenoumer, located in the Sahara desert.
After a full day of driving from Zouerat, the prosperous mining town where iron ore is extracted and from which I boarded the Iron Ore train back in 2020, we arrived at Tenoumer the day before our hike. We set up camp right inside the crater, ready to explore its unique landscape.
photo by Luca Abbate
We had visited Tenoumer back in 2022, but we only stopped for the night.
Even then, the place struck us deeply, and we knew we had to return. Ever since, the dream of traversing the ridge has never left my imagination and my dreams.
This time, however, we slept well the night before, a stark contrast to our last visit. Back then, Tenoumer greeted us with a night of caos, as extremely strong winds from the northeast howled through the crater, making sleep nearly impossible.
photo by Giulio Aprin
Initially, the crater's origin was a subject of debate, with theories suggesting volcanic activity due to the presence of basaltic rocks nearby. However, current geological evidence confirms that Tenoumer is an impact crater, formed by a meteorite collision. Dating studies estimate its age to be approximately 1.57 million years (Ma), though earlier studies proposed ages ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 years.
photo by Giulio Aprin
We rested in the morning, waiting for the temperatures to drop before setting off. By 16:00, we were ready to leave camp and begin the climb up the ridge, a steep 100-meter elevation gain to reach the rim. Our starting point was close to the ridge itself, inside the crater.
photo by Giulio Aprin
The climb, though short, was demanding, entirely on soft sand, which made each step forward feel like it was half a step backward. The temperature was still high, and the sun hit us relentlessly, but after some effort, we made it to the top. Despite the short distance, the view from the summit was breathtaking—an unobstructed, perfect circle of the crater, the ridge stretching out in every direction.
photo by Luca Abbate
As we crossed a thin crest of sand dunes, the terrain quickly transitioned to rocky ground. We spent quite a bit of time taking photos and videos, capturing the incredible landscape that surrounded us. This ridge we were traversing is not only a remarkable geological feature but a direct result of a meteorite impact that occurred about 20,000 years ago.
photo by Luca Abbate
The crater’s nearly perfect circular shape, with a diameter of 2 kilometers, marks the site where the force of the impact forever altered the desert terrain. The surrounding landscape, formed from a mix of volcanic basalt and wind-eroded earth, holds the scars of that collision, with the rocky outcrops and jagged cliffs serving as reminders of the immense power that shaped the area.
photo by Giulio Aprin
The hike alternated between short ascents and descents, patches of sand, and rocky stretches. At times, the landscape flattened out briefly, but the sense of scale and depth was hard to comprehend, given the sheer size of the ridge. My goal was to stay as close to the perfect ridge line as possible, even though the terrain made it tricky to interpret its precise contours. My GPS was an invaluable guide through this vast and unfamiliar land.
photo by Luca Abbate
As the sun began to descend, the temperature finally started to ease, and a cool breeze kicked in, making it easier to breathe. We had carried 3.5 liters of water, knowing we'd use it all on the trek. We had planned to start in the late afternoon to experience both daylight and dusk from the ridge, with the possibility of finishing under the cover of darkness.
photo by Luca Abbate
photo by Luca Abbate
The terrain became more manageable as we continued, with rocks giving way to smoother surfaces. In the second quarter of the ridge line, we encountered two dunes. The first was not too long or difficult, but the second, a massive, steep dune, proved to be far more challenging. By this time, the sun had set, and the diminishing light left us with just enough to see the shadows of the path ahead. As we reached the second dune, we were enveloped in complete darkness.
photo by Luca Abbate
photo by Giulio Aprin
We stopped for few minutes to enjoy the incredible view of the crater and admire the raw power of Mother Nature.
photo by Luca Abbate
Right after, we switched on our headlamps, focusing solely on each step, knowing that any mistake could result in injury. From the top, we could see the steep drop-offs on either side of the dune, offering no margin for error. The simple reminder of the risks of the desert came back to us—though the hike itself wasn’t technically difficult, even the smallest misstep could lead to serious consequences. Tenoumer is far from civilization, and a medical emergency would require hours of driving to reach help.
photo by Luca Abbate
The last two quarters and a half of the hike led us deeper into rugged terrain, where we scrambled over massive rocks and steep inclines. The challenge was no longer just about endurance but also about careful navigation, as we climbed over small peaks that dotted the ridge. Among them was the tallest peak, standing at 363 meters above sea level, about 113 meters above our starting point.
photo by Giulio Aprin
As the sun disappeared and light almost gone, we continued our trek under the cover of night. The transition to cooler temperatures was a welcome relief, and the air felt lighter, allowing us to breathe more freely. With each step, the vastness of the desert became more apparent as we moved further from the camp, leaving behind only our footprints in the sand and rock. The silence of the night, broken only by our footsteps, was punctuated by the gentle rustle of the wind through the rocks and the inimaginable sound of the sand sliding down the small dunes below our feet, singing or echoing like the sound of a trombone.
photo by Giulio Aprin
Above us, the sky transformed into a celestial canvas. The stars, unobstructed by light pollution, seemed to stretch infinitely, their brilliance heightened by the desert’s extreme isolation. The Milky Way arched across the heavens, casting a faint, ethereal glow that gently illuminated the terrain around us. The serenity and beauty of the night added a magical element to our hike. The solitude was profound, and the sheer quietness of the desert under the stars gave the adventure a sense of timelessness.
photo by Giulio Aprin
As we neared the final stretch, the fatigue from the long hike was beginning to set in, but the thought of the mission's completion and the sense of accomplishment kept our spirits high. We had come so far, traversing terrain few had ever seen, and the final moments of this adventure would be just as unforgettable.
photo by Giulio Aprin
Late into the hike, a realization hit us: we had made a foolish mistake, one born out of the rush and excitement before leaving. In our eagerness, we had forgotten to bring snacks or any source of energy for the long journey ahead. While I was physically fit enough to handle the challenge, Luca determined enough, and though the hike wasn’t technically demanding, our bodies soon began to crave fuel. The lack of nourishment started to take its toll. Our energy reserves were running low, and with every step, our focus began to slip. We felt lightheaded, dizziness creeping in as exhaustion settled deep into our muscles. It wasn’t long before we could feel our strength fading, but despite everything, we refused to abandon the hike.
photo by Luca Abbate
The final stretch of the last quarter of the crater seemed to go on endlessly. With every turn, we thought we were nearing the descent, ready to complete the loop. But each time, the crater threw another challenge at us, another stretch of rocky terrain that felt like it would never end. It felt as though the crater itself was playing with us, and the darkness above seemed to laugh, adding to the surreal, almost mischievous atmosphere that surrounded us.
photo by Giulio Aprin
Finally, we reached the steepest part of the ridge. It was a massive descent through huge rocks, sharp, slippery, and dangerous. Every step required our full attention, as a single misstep could have led, once again, to injury. Our bodies screamed with exhaustion, but we pressed on, taking our time with each careful movement. It was only at the very bottom that we realized where we were; just one final climb up the ridge, and we would be back at the starting point.
So we pushed ourselves up the last stretch. The physical toll had been heavy, but the prospect of finishing the journey fueled us forward. When we finally arrived back at camp, the sight of our driver and cook waiting for us felt like a reward in itself. We were exhausted and drained but we had made it. We immediately drank two liters of water, took a much-needed shower, and savored a well-deserved meal. Despite our fatigue, a sense of fulfillment washed over us. We had completed this incredible adventure.
We wew proud of ourselves.
Stunning