Jebel Sidi Abderrahmane
- Hike
- Distance
- 11.8km
- Duration
- 5.5HRS
- Ascent
- 460M
Elevation profile
170-541 M / TERRAIN TILES SAMPLED ALONG THE TRACK
Photographs
Photos: Nicholas.gosse (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start point
- Car
- About 60 km from Tunis (1 h 15) via Hammam Lif, Soliman, Menzel Bouzelfa and the Menzel Temime road to Oum Dhouil, then toward Fartouna.
- Louage
- Louage from Tunis to Menzel Temime or Kelibia (verify the Tunis station locally), then taxi.
The trail
A loop from Sidi Bouali onto the highest ridge of Cap Bon, with its cliff shrine and sea views.
Jebel Sidi Abderrahmane is the backbone of the Cap Bon peninsula, rising to just over 600 m above Menzel Temime and Kelibia. The walk starts in the hamlet of Sidi Bouali near Fartouna and climbs through arbutus, pine and maquis to the marabouts of Sidi Abderrahmane, one set in a cliff hollow with a small cave and a trickling spring. On clear days the view takes in Jebel Zaghouan, Boukornine and the Gulf of Tunis, and sometimes the island of Pantelleria, about 70 km offshore.
- Cliff shrine and spring of Sidi Abderrahmane
- Arbutus in autumn
- Views to Pantelleria on clear days
- Cap Bon ridge
Weather and season
- SEASON
- Oct-May
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.5 C | 9.5 C | 45 mm |
| February | 14.5 C | 8.9 C | 53 mm |
| March | 16.5 C | 10.4 C | 64 mm |
| April | 19.3 C | 12.6 C | 41 mm |
| May | 22.6 C | 15.1 C | 26 mm |
| June | 27.4 C | 18.9 C | 8 mm |
| July | 30.7 C | 21.9 C | 1 mm |
| August | 31.1 C | 22.7 C | 15 mm |
| September | 27.6 C | 21 C | 46 mm |
| October | 23.7 C | 18.2 C | 73 mm |
| November | 19.3 C | 14.2 C | 67 mm |
| December | 15.6 C | 11 C | 52 mm |
Monthly normals 2011-2020 at the start point, from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Shaded months are the season this trail is listed for.
Practical
- Water
- A small spring at the cliff shrine; carry 2 L.
- Guide
- recommended
- Hazards
- Loose, steep descent path; some easy scrambling.
- Route
- Approximate line along mapped paths between verified waypoints. Follow a guide or a GPS track on the ground.
Go with a guide
These operators and clubs organise guided hikes in Tunisia:
- WildyNessTunisian booking platform for guided hikes with local guides (Cap Blanc, Mides, Selja, Dahar, El Haouaria), several with GPS downloads.
- Association Tunisienne des RandonneursHiking association in Tunis that runs and writes up group hikes across the country.
- Mosaic North AfricaTour operator offering custom hiking trips, including the Chebika, Tamerza and Mides oases.
- Destination DaharPublishes the official topoguide (12 stages, 194 km) of the Grande Traversee du Dahar.
- Grand Sahara AventuresDjerba-based operator running Berber village and desert treks in the south.
- Destination TunisTunis-based guide publishing and leading day hikes around Tunis and Cap Bon.