World Travel

Djerba, Tunisia Travel Pictures

Jerba is an island about 20x20 km located in the south of Tunisia, not very far from the Libyan border. It is populated by diverse people, amongst them local Berbers, black Slaves, and Jews who originally flew from Jerusalem around 100 BC. The island is connected to the mainland by a road, originally built by the Romans at a point where the water was just 1 meter deep, and by a ferry. Drinking water is pipelined into Jerba from the mainland.

Jerba is very touristy, catering to package tourists traveling from Europe and operates it's own international airport to ship them in. All locals in contact with tourists speak a wide array array of languages next to Arabic and French: German, Italian, Spanish and English. The hotels along the the northeast coast of Jerba are plenty and built next to each other, nevertheless many parts of the island are quite remote and untouched. Numerous tours of the island and the nearby mainland are available. You can also go on your own by bicycle, motorbike, rental car or taxi.

We did an organized tour on the mainland (Matmata, Gabes), rented a car for a day to tour the island on our own, and checked out the local-market at Midoun by taxi. We spent much of the rest of the week relaxing at the pool or beach, lazy us. The images of our tour are split over two pages. This trip was from 15 to 22 September 2001.

Pictures Part 1: Hotel and Beach environment in Jerba, Tour to Matmata, location of unique underground homes
Cute Mouse This Tunisair plane took us from Basel direct to Djerba
This mouse was busy finding food at Bahnhof Enge station in Zurich.
By popular demand: The Mouse Page!
This Tunisair plane took us from Basel direct to Djerba
Our Hotel, 'Djerba Palace' View from our hotel balcony
Our Hotel, 'Djerba Palace'
View from our hotel balcony
The sea from our hotel balcony. We'd paid a seaview premium for our room, somehow having a better image of it in our mind's eye... Relaxing at the hotel pool
The sea from our hotel balcony. We'd paid a seaview premium for our room, somehow having a better image of it in our mind's eye...
Relaxing at the hotel pool
On the path to the sea, some local buildings and a parachutist pulled by a boat The path to the sea!
On the path to the sea, some local buildings and a parachutist pulled by a boat
The path to the sea!
Tunisian Sunshades The sea at last!
Tunisian Sunshades
The sea at last!
At Djerba beach Camel rides along the beach
At Djerba beach
Camel rides along the beach
Proud camels, they're soooo cool!! So many souvenir plates for sale at the beach
Proud camels, they're soooo cool!!
So many souvenir plates for sale at the beach
Sinking clay camels at the beach Beach Souvenir
Sinking clay camels at the beach
Beach Souvenir
A local fishing boat Beach cafe selling 'Sandwitches'
A local fishing boat
Beach cafe selling 'Sandwitches'
We didn't see any live dolphins but this is how they must look like A bit of algae art on the beach
We didn't see any live dolphins but this is how they must look like
A bit of algae art on the beach
This animation involved tourists pulling their ears and doing knee-bends to the beat of the music. It's amazing what group-pressure can make you do! :-) Some turpentine to get the tar off your feet after a beach walk
This animation involved tourists pulling their ears and doing knee-bends to the beat of the music. It's amazing what group-pressure can make you do! :-)
Some turpentine to get the tar off your feet after a beach walk
Desert scene on the way to Matmata Camels rides for rent
Desert scene on the way to Matmata
Camels rides for rent
Palmtrees heavy with dates There were also some red dates
Palmtrees heavy with dates
There were also some red dates
At Matamata, locals used to live in underground clay homes dug out by hand, 3 meters below ground level Matmata underground house entrance
At Matamata, locals used to live in underground clay homes dug out by hand, 3 meters below ground level
Matmata underground house entrance
Simple interior of Matmata underground house Old woman grinding flour inside an underground house
Simple interior of Matmata underground house
Old woman grinding flour inside an underground house
We had lunch in this underground restaurant. On the wall's a painting of an underground house Desert landscape. Nearby here, some scenes of 'Star Wars' were shot
We had lunch in this underground restaurant. On the wall's a painting of an underground house
Desert landscape. Nearby here, some scenes of 'Star Wars' were shot
Baby camel drinking from a baby milk bottle poses for the tourist cameras. 1 Dinar. Ancient Corn Store
Baby camel drinking from a baby milk bottle poses for the tourist cameras. 1 Dinar.
Ancient Corn Store
Corn Store with Mosque in background Corn Store
Corn Store with Mosque in background
Corn Store
Local in traditional dress Looking out of a room of corn store
Local in traditional dress
Looking out of a room of corn store
Colourful wares for sale Some desert souvenirs
Colourful wares for sale
Some desert souvenirs
Goat peeking out of it's home This road in the sea connects Djerba to mainland Tunisia. It was originally built by the Romans. The Djerba water supply pipes can be seen on the left
Goat peeking out of it's home
This road in the sea connects Djerba to mainland Tunisia. It was originally built by the Romans. The Djerba water supply pipes can be seen on the left
Continue to Pictures Part 2:  Jerba Island tour by car and the colourful Friday Market of Midoun