Tunisia Way

Inside the wagons

The Lezard Rouge was restored in 1995 and put into the tourist traffic of Seldja Gorge. The train was originally built in 1910 for the bey of Tunisia.
The train has kept its luxurious feel well, just note that there is a run for the best wagons. The leather sofas are the best, and simplest wagons have little to distinguish them from a 3rd class modern train.
Behind the leather sofas, there is an original toilet so lovely that no traveller dares to find out whether it still works. 

HOTELS AND ALTERNATIVES

Nothing. There is a good youth hostel in Redeyef (the end of the ordinary railway, 30 km) and an OK hotel in Metaloui (beginning of the railway to Seldja Gorge, 10 km). If you want something better spend your night in Gafsa (50 km)

RESTAURANTS AND ALTERNATIVES

Nothing in Seldja Gorge, but both Redeyef and Metlaoui have basic restaurants. For anything special, you will have to make a try in Gafsa.

CHANGE MONEY

Metlaoui has a few banks that will exchange foreign currencies and give cash on your VISA or MasterCard.

TRANSPORT

Coming out to Seldja Gorge is only done well with the train from Metlaoui (you could also leave from Redeyef). There is one departure a day with ordinary train (going to Redeyef), while there also is a tourist train, the Lézard Rouge, which does the return journey to Moulares most days of the week. Which weekdays has no service is changed quite often, my last info said that Mondays were without but I did it on a Monday in June 2005.
Getting to Metlaoui is easy, as there are plenty of buses and shared taxis doing the journey. There are also good train connections with coastal cities.