Nalut and Kabaw

Nalut and Kabaw

General Information

Nalut lies on the edge of the Jebel Nafusa coastal range. With its fresh air and good views it is a good place to break up the journey from Tripoli to Ghadames. The local restaurant here provides a good local cuisine offering variety of dishes and drinks.

In the town itself there are a few number of shops, along with a Mosque, Town Hall and Post Office, all a short walk from the town centre and main roundabout. The town also has one bank, but it's not always willing to change money.

The old town and qsar (fortified storage area) are visible on a hill to the east of the main roundabout. The qsar was once the old towns' centrepiece, now it remains almost completely surrounded by the uninhabited remains of the old village that clings to the hillside. This qsar is the main section of an ancient granary. The gate is usually kept locked, but inside are small rooms used for storage giving the feel that Nalut was once a small, fortified village. The interior is strewn with old pieces of pottery once used to store dates, wheat, and oil. You can still see an old mill wheel, once used to make pure oil.

There are 3 mosques, with the "White Mosque" only one still in use today, but its rarely used or open to visitors. The Alal'a Mosque is Nalut's oldest, with Arab inscriptions stating that it was re built in 1312.

Not far from Nalut, and also in Jebel Nafusa, is the pleasant town of Kabaw set among rolling hills. This stretch of countryside is one of the more fertile areas and shepherds with their flocks are frequently encountered. Kabaw is famous for its four or five stories high qsar. The "granary" ruin stands impregnable on a hilltop; under threat local people could take shelter here and protect their grain, oil and water.

Our "Wild Sahara" programme visits Nalut. Alternatively it is a convenient stopping off point if visiting Ghadames from Tripoli.