From the same site (it appears that the Belgians are now quite active in the area and that there Are some major caves on Djebel Zaghouan after all!)
"This mid-January, the cave depth record for Tunesia has deepened by our belgo-tunesian expedition (Groupe Spéléo MJC Zaghouan: Mohamed Tiouiri, Mohamed Khomsi, Mohamed 'Dynamite' Kassem; Erik Ledegen, Dirk Verschueren and Erik Van den Broeck, SC Hades Aalst VVS).
After the 269m 'record' with the discovery of the Gouffre des 4 Fous (Djebel Zaghouan) which our previous belgo-tunesian expeditions 1&2 had already reached during 2000-2001, we have now pushed the high terminus in the Grotte de la Mine - Ghar Djebel Serdj (Oussletia, entry 950m asl), which has regained its position of Tunesia's deepest cave. Its new depth is now 305m with a potential of -600m.
Our exploration was halted in a gigantic bedding plane of about 38m wide... because of the lack of water, which we had to get over 200m down in a source giving us less than 10 litres per hour ! The heat of over 20 degrees was hindering the climb over huge boulders, while a safe traverse along the wall was carried out before climbing up into the new extension, with loads of pitches and chimneys still inexplored.
(to be continued)
Photos: T200201/02/03/04 and T2002EX7: our secret weapns from De Berghut Hamme (Petzl Duo Light + white LED's), Apple (PowerBook Titanium G4) and Honda (Power Tool EX7).
Art & Pics © www.speleo.tv 2002 / Erik Ledegen & Erik Van den Broeck
Report on a Tuniso-Belgian expedition to caves in the Tunesian extension of the Atlas mountains, djebel Zaghouan, with its -1000 metres depth potential, where the team discovered the deepest caves of Northern Africa.
This was the start of a close corporation between Flemish speleologists and the only active team of Tunesian cavers from Zaghouan. A story about technical perfection and stimulation of speleology on a national leisure basis for young people, prospection, exploration and conservation of this virgin karst area."
