Germa

About this place

Germa is an archaeological site in south-western Libya, known in ancient times as Garama, and once the capital of the Garamantian Kingdom in the heart of the desert. The Garamantes built a thriving civilisation in the Fezzan before trade routes and climate shifted. Its eroded mud walls stand on flat ground and give a rare sense of the depth of desert history. Garamantian power peaked in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, often in conflict with the Roman Empire to the north. Garama had about 4,000 people, with another 6,000 in nearby villages. In 203 Emperor Septimius Severus campaigned here and captured the city but soon left. Sources differ on what happened to it in the 7th century. You see tall mud walls worn by the wind, the remains of rooms and lanes, and behind them the line of sand hills and the palms of the valley. A little way off are the Garamantian tombs, blocks shaped like small pyramids. Early morning or just before sunset is best, when shadows pick out the shapes of the walls. It is about 146 km in a straight line from Sabha and about 55 km from Gaberoun, so you can combine them. You need a car and a tour operator who knows the road. Bring plenty of water and avoid the summer heat. Sources say foreigners need a tour operator or local sponsor to visit Libya. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to this area, so check official guidance before making any plans.