Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

Leg 4 - Sunday March 27th

NEIJAKH / NEIJAKH – ideal distance 128 km – estimated time 11:00 – Looped route

The sand cathedrals of Erg CHEBBI, providing a mix of stress, joy and tears...

The time has come to plunge the competitors into a world of softness and beauty, source of apprehension for newcomers and pure pleasure for the seasoned "Gazelles of the sands": the dunes!

However, the competitors’ levels of skill and experience vary considerably. Although sand is an important part of the rally, every team needs to be able to handle this leg. For that reason, facing the dunes is optional, depending on the technical ability, competitiveness, and strategy of each team. Three routes are offered: an easy route, where teams should be able to reach all of the CPs but will be penalised; an intermediate route with lower penalties; and a difficult route that can lead to a comfortable advance in the rankings but with a greater risk of misadventure or even failure. 

So the less seasoned teams can choose a low-risk route that alternates between wide rolling spaces and tight landscapes. For the others, sand will be the colour of the day!
The real exploits will be left up to the few brave souls who dare…

But watch out, once the sand has been conquered, orientation skills will still be needed to locate the last CPs of the day and make it back to the bivouac.
And for some unfortunate (or adventurous) souls, tonight may be spent alone in the dunes, under a brilliant canopy of stars. Not a sound to be heard except the mocking bark of a passing fennec: the silence is profound and surprising!