The rock stairway
136 steps to the top.
Ahmedettoro — Public domain · SalmaBenAissaTunisia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SalmaBenAissaTunisia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Slim Alileche — CC BY-SA 3.0
Jugurtha's Table is a flat-topped mountain in north-western Tunisia, near the town of Kalaat Senan in Le Kef Governorate. It rises about 600 m above the surrounding plain to a summit of 1,271 m, and its top covers about 80 hectares. The rock mass is visible from far off like a giant table set among the plains, and it remains one of the finest views in the region. Local tradition links the name to Jugurtha, the Numidian king who fought Rome, but scholars doubt the connection. What is certain is that the mountain served as a fortress and refuge through much of the Middle Ages and after, and the French opened a mine nearby in the 20th century, now abandoned. In 2017 Tunisia's culture ministry began steps to propose it for the UNESCO list. The only way up is from the north, where the slope eases, then you climb a stairway of 136 steps cut into the rock, guarded by the remains of a tower. On top is a broad rock surface with about ten cisterns dug into the ground, stone ruins and a small shrine. From the edge you see plains and mountains to the horizon, so take care, as the cliffs are sheer and unfenced. The mountain is about 57 km in a straight line from Le Kef and about 21 km from Haidra, and a car is the best way to reach it. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and a warm layer, as the wind is strong on top. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
136 steps to the top.
About ten in the summit ground.
Plains and mountains to the horizon.
Kalaat Senan, Le Kef Governorate, Tunisia
The stairway is steep but short and needs reasonable fitness and sturdy shoes, and you should avoid it in rain or strong wind.
No, it is a local tradition that scholars doubt, though the name has stuck.