Moonlit Sahara

Hitchhiking through the Sahara illuminated by the moon, a group of Mauritanian locals and Malian mine workers wait for the infamous iron-ore train going deep into the African desert. Transporting thousands of tons of iron-ore every day, locals make use of the train’s empty carts to hitchhike and bring goods back to their villages.

A group of local hitchhikers wait for the iorn-ore train hoping to hitch a ride back to their villages in the Sahara Desert.

On the outskirts of the port city Nouadhibou on the west African coast, people wait late into the night hoping to hitch a ride on the freight train on its way back into the desert mines. Transporting thousands of tons of iron-ore every day, locals make use of the train’s empty carts to hitchhike and bring goods back to their villages.

Locals arrive with a van full of goods to be loaded onto the empty train carts. For many, the iorn-ore train is the only means of transportation in and out of the Sahara Desert.

As the train arrives hitchhikers scramble to climb in and throw all the luggage over into one of the empty freight carts - the train takes off without warning. Goods brought along range from giant boxes of fish all the way to entire flocks of goats.

As the freight train takes off, everybody rushes to get settled in for the 12 hour trip and then disappear under their huge blankets. Wind pours in through the open top creating a constant whirlwind of sand and iron-ore dust. A quick chat ends with a bite of sand. Anything not weighted down is blown away. Mars is visible in the back.

Morning finally comes around with first light at 6AM.

Morning tea is made over some hot coals and shared among the cart.

A first look of the deep Sahara with first light. Small settlements are built along the tracks.

Passengers pack up their sheets and prepare for the long day ahead.

As the longest train in the world at over 2km, each cart and it’s occupants become smaller the further they are and quickly blend into the horizon.

Hitchhikers patiently wait as the scorching sun quickly takes over from the freezing night.

After 14 hours, the train makes a stop at a tiny village called Choum. Everybody scrams to toss their luggage over the side before the train continues toward the mines.