This article forms part of a series of publications under MEDUSA project to promote less-known natural and cultural touristic assets in our partner territories Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Puglia (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain).

Enjoy reading and hope to welcome you soon at one of the wonderful places you will get to know here.

If you are into adventures, Ben Arous, is the place to go! It is in the southern suburb of the capital Tunis and the biggest industrial zone in Tunisia. This region links the north and south of the country and thus holds a strong economic significance. However, it isn’t all. More than 400,000 inhabitants reside in Ben Arous, and they are lucky to have a variety of natural and historical sites they can explore to release the stress and relax. 

In Ben Arous can be found the Boukornine National Park, nearly 20 Km from the capital and one of 17 parks in Tunisia. It is situated on a mountain chain that is home to the famed Twin Summits, after which the park takes its name. Visitors can venture on exciting hikes, explore a multitude of trails and terrains, and discover, on the other side of Jebel Boukornine, the joy of the wondrous view overlooking Sidi Bou Said and the Gulf of Tunis.

The Boukornine National Park has immensely rich biodiversity. To arrive in Djebel Rsass, or ‘Lead Mountain,’ sightseers can take the road from Tunis to Mornag, crossing the vast vineyards. The green landscape of this area is mesmerizing, especially in springtime. 10 km into the hike you arrive to Jbal Rsass, where most of the trail to the 792-meter-tall summit requires a climb. It may seem tough but from the summit itself the view is astonishing. Anyone would fall in love with such a wonderful sight, with the capital and the Boukornine National Park to the east, and Mountain of Zaghouan to the southwest. To reach the summit, and take celebratory photos after a challenging climb, is enough to make this a great, thrilling, awe-inspiring adventure. Perhaps due to its proximity to the capital, this area is already an accessible destination for adventurers and nature-lovers who often come to explore the park and enjoy climbing, hiking, and camping activities there.

Not far from Jbal Rsass, Sidi Salem Garci is a beautiful mountain where the forest is still largely uncharted to most Tunisian hiking groups. Few people have had the chance to enjoy a journey in Sidi Salem Garci which, according to the local community, was once named after a marabout (a wandering holy man). There are some exciting trails to be explored in this mountain, as well as many aspects of the local culture that revolve around pastoralism and pine harvesting by local transhumance communities which set up camps where families can settle seasonally and live a particular pastoral lifestyle.

More than nature, there is an ancient history behind the ruins at the archeological site of Oudhna, or Uthina, 35 km from the capital Tunis. A remarkable archeological site, and very much worth visiting, Oudna is situated in the heart of a fertile plain in gently undulating landscapes. One site, the Uthina Capitol, is distinguished by a spectacular two-floor vaulted basement that still exists to this day. Uthina was among the largest temples in Roman Africa, and its vast, well-preserved 16,000-seat amphitheater is partly carved into the hillside –truly a marvel of ancient architecture!