Oasis

The Camel
SHIP OF THE DESERT

Camels were domesticated more than 3.000 years ago and people still depend on them for transport across specific environments, especially the desert. In the Arabic Culture, camels are a symbol of strength and hardship and they can carry more than 90 kilograms while walking several miles a day, in the harsh climate of the extreme heat. They can travel as fast as horses, while spending long hours without food & water. Nomads use them to transport their loads, especially in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The most typical way of moving around the desert are the iconic camel trains, widely known as “caravans”. Camel caravans can cover distances from 30 to 40 kilometers a day. In the previous centuries, armed forces used camels as their transportation, which is widely known as “camel cavalry” or “camelry”.