Most people do not realize that the Sahara Desert is not just sand and rolling dunes. Only about twenty-five percent of the Sahara, which is about the size of the United States, is sand. The rest of the Sahara is volcanic hills, gravel plains, rock formations, and some scraggly vegetation. It is the home, surprisingly enough, of over 300 bird species and animals including mongooses, snakes, jackals, deer, hares, foxes, and baboons. It is also wonderful to explore on camel and enjoy sleeping beneath the open sky. (more…)