Jugurtha was a Numidian king who has lived during the second half of the 2nd century B.C. We are going to follow his steps and learn more about the Berber architecture and culture.

Day 1:

In the north-east of Tunisia, the village of Kesra, which is situated about fifty kilometers away from Siliana on the highway of Kairouan, stands on a hill of 1200m of altitude. The village is characterized by a Berber architecture based on the construction of large stone blocks. It is considered the highest of Tunisia. This perched Berber village is known by the quality of its water sources that flow out in waterfalls, creating with the green plains breathtaking scenery.

For a better understanding of the Berber lifestyle, we recommend you to visit the village Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions. It displays a collection of traditional costumes and jewels that relates to some of the Berber daily life habits.

Continue on to Makthar which is about only 16 km away from Kesra. Your next stop will be the archaeological site of Maktaris (the ancient Makthar). This Numidian area, ultimately Romanized, is home to a set of unique Numidian and Roman monuments, such as megalithic dolmens and schola of juvenes, as well as the great baths and arc of Trajan.

If you ever get the chance, try not to miss the visit to the museum of this area, several items that were discovered during the excavations are on exhibit. In El Kef, you can choose one of the few hotels to stay in overnight. If you ever arrive before 4 pm, we recommend you to visit the Kasbah, a fortress built in 1600 by the Ottomans in order to defend the town of El Kef.

Day 2:

We advise you not to get up late. This day is centered around the visit of the Table of Jugurtha. Buy your food from El Kef and head off towards Kalaat Snan, where a rare and unique geologic structure of 1271m stands. The Table of Jugurtha is so-called because it has served as a fortress for the Numidian king’s army during the war against Rome.

A staircase carved into the rock allows access to the table. Caves and basins are also excavated; the caves have served as attics as to the basins, they were necessary for the rainwater harvesting. Be careful, do not go near the coastal cliffs, they might be a little dangerous.