Tunisia🇹🇳 | national parksChambi National ParkTunisia’s highest peak, pine and juniper forest, soaring eagles, Kasserine plain | things to do and best time to go

Chambi National Park offers forest walking on a rugged limestone massif, and its character is wild rather than manicured. There are no well-known waymarked trails with published lengths, so the walks people actually do are informal routes along forest tracks on the lower and middle slopes. Terrain is steep and stony, with loose gravel on the ridges and soft pine litter in the woods. Water is scarce on the mountain, so carry all you need.

• Lower forest track walk: Starting from the foot of the mountain, a track climbs through Aleppo pine. Expect two to three hours out and back at an easy to moderate

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Chambi National Park offers forest walking on a rugged limestone massif, and its character is wild rather than manicured. There are no well-known waymarked trails with published lengths, so the walks people actually do are informal routes along forest tracks on the lower and middle slopes. Terrain is steep and stony, with loose gravel on the ridges and soft pine litter in the woods. Water is scarce on the mountain, so carry all you need.

• Lower forest track walk: Starting from the foot of the mountain, a track climbs through Aleppo pine. Expect two to three hours out and back at an easy to moderate pace, with shade most of the way and a gradual gain in height.
• Mid-slope woodland loop: Higher routes wander through holm oak and juniper, with rockier footing and a steeper pitch. Allow half a day. Moderate fitness and sturdy boots are enough, though route-finding takes attention because paths are faint.
• Summit approach: The route toward Jebel Chambi is a demanding full-day climb on exposed, rocky ground. Because the summit zone is a military area, it is closed to casual hikers and open only with official authorization.
• Wildlife and birdwatching: Wild boar and jackals move through the woods mostly at night. In the daytime your best sightings are eagles and other raptors circling above the ridges.

Getting there is the hard part. Chambi National Park lies west of Kasserine, and there is no regular public transport to the mountain itself. Most travelers reach Kasserine by bus or shared taxi (louage), then hire a local driver for the final stretch. Crowds are essentially nonexistent, and you may walk all day without meeting another person. Local police or national guard posts sometimes ask about your plans, so carry your passport and be friendly. Enquire in Kasserine about the current access rules and any entrance arrangements before you go. Spring and autumn give the most comfortable walking, while summer heat bakes the lower slopes and winter can bring cold, rain and even snow near the top.