Nature in Tunisia: national parks, forests and desert

Tunisia is about much more than beaches. Within a few hours' drive, you move from the damp forests of Kroumirie to the steppes of the centre, then to the oases and dunes of the Sahara. The country protects its most remarkable habitats in a network of national parks, including UNESCO-listed Ichkeul, Boukornine on the doorstep of Tunis and Chambi, home to the country's highest peak.

This diversity delights hikers, photographers and birdwatchers. Spring is the best season to enjoy it: the hills are covered in flowers, the wetlands still host many birds and temperatures remain pleasant, even in the south. Autumn, milder after the summer heat, is an excellent alternative, when the first rains turn the hills green again.

Nature

Our picks

Ichkeul National Park

Around a lake and marshes overlooked by Jebel Ichkeul, this UNESCO-listed park welcomes thousands of migrating waterbirds every winter. A small eco-museum explains how this fragile ecosystem works.

Bizerte

Boukornine National Park

Recognisable by its twin peaks, this wooded mountain overlooks the Gulf of Tunis near Hammam-Lif. Its trails through Aleppo pines offer fine views over the capital.

Tunis

Chambi National Park

Near Kasserine, it protects Jebel Chambi, Tunisia's highest point at 1,544 metres. Aleppo pine forests, mountain gazelles and Barbary sheep find refuge here.

Forests of Kroumirie

Around Ain Draham, the mountains of the north-west are covered with cork oaks and Algerian oaks. It is the greenest and wettest region of the country, ideal for hiking.

Tabarka

Mountain oases

Chebika, Tamerza and Mides nestle their palm groves in gorges and canyons near the Algerian border. Waterfalls and abandoned villages create spectacular landscapes.

Tozeur

Grand Erg Oriental

South of Douz begins the immense sea of dunes of the Sahara. A night under the stars or an excursion to the oasis of Ksar Ghilane leaves an unforgettable memory.

Wetlands and birds

Lying on a major migration route between Europe and Africa, Tunisia attracts many birds. In winter, Ichkeul hosts geese, ducks and coots, while the coastal lagoons and sebkhas often attract pink flamingos, notably around Tunis and Djerba. On Cap Bon, El Haouaria is known for the passage of birds of prey in spring and for its falconry tradition.

Mountains and forests

The Tunisian Dorsal crosses the country from south-west to north-east. Jebel Zaghouan, with its Roman Water Temple, Boukornine and Chambi offer fine routes. In the north-west, Kroumirie and El Feija National Park shelter dense forests and discreet wildlife, including the Barbary stag, reintroduced and protected in the park, as well as wild boar and many species of birds.

Sahara and salt lakes

The south reveals striking mineral landscapes. Chott el Jerid, a vast salt lake crossed by a dead-straight road, produces mirages and surprising reflections. Further on, the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, the oasis of Ksar Ghilane and Jebil National Park, deep in the desert, invite adventure, ideally between October and April.

Destinations

Where to experience it

The North

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