"Le Lézard rouge" a Al Metlaoui Travel Page by JLBG

From Metlaoui, you can (no, you must!) take the '"Lézard rouge" (Red Lizzard). It is the former Bey of Tunisia special luxury train, built in 1900-1920. It has been brought to Metlaoui a few years ago and is now running for tourists on a regular basis from Metlaoui to the phosphate mines of Moulares, on the railroad used to bring out the phosphates, following Oued Seldja and it's breathtaking cliffs.
On a former visit, in 1974, the Red Lizzard was not yet in Metlaoui but it was possible to go on the phosphate train, on request. I wrote in January to be allowed to. We left for Tunisia in July without any answer, so we passed by Metlaoui but could not visit Oued Seldja. Back home, I found a letter that said, OK, you can come on the phosphate train when you like.... I finally did it, much later, on the touristy Red Lizzard !