Falcon in Tunisia photographed by El Golli Mohamed – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tourism has remained a thriving market for Africa over the years with several African countries leveraging the opportunities within that sector to boost its GDP output.
According to the German data gathering and visualization platform Statista “In 2023, travel and tourism contributed 6.8 percent to Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP), up from 5.9 percent in the previous year. During the period in review, 2019 recorded the highest contribution, seven percent. Furthermore, travel and tourism was estimated to contribute to 7.3 percent of the continent’s GDP in 2024”.
In Northern Africa, the region boasts of some big players in the tourism sector. From the elegant pyramids of Egypt to the red city of Marrakech in Morocco, tourism remains a thriving sector for the region.
In the Maghreb region also lies Tunisia, a country that boasts of beautiful beaches, lively weather, a rich mix of Arab and Berber cultures, a haven for pottery and mosaic artworks, a thriving hub of festivals from music to film and the renowned Sparrow Hawk or falconry festival of El Haouaria.
The City of Birds
The city of El Haouaria which rests at the northeastern tip of Tunisia’s Cap Bon Peninsula is a haven of beauty playing host to clear pristine beaches, marvellous cliffs, scenic backgrounds and a town that plays host to travellers and tourists alike.
Beyond the captivating beauty of El Haouaria, the city is also famous as a haven for migratory birds travelling from Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. Among these migratory birds are the sparrowhawk, and the hawk (Borni or Pilgrim) which are commonly used for hunting of quail and Partridge.
It is also famous for its historical caves amongst them the ‘Grottes ‘El Haouaria’ which was commonly used by the Romans and Carthaginians in the past and provides an exciting destination for tourists looking to explore historical sites.
The Caves of El Haouaria – The Roman and Carthage Connection
The Caves of El Haouaria, By Smailtn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Grottes El Haouaria is a collection of ancient caves carved into the cliff through natural forces as well as human activity. With impressive rock formations, its significance in history is that it was a popular location where Roman and Carthaginian forces would extract stone for construction purposes. Quarrying activities during that era can be seen with the various rock formations which gave evidence of the application of ancient techniques.
The quarries of El Haouaria provided a good supply of blocks used in the construction of the Punic Metropolis in the 7th BC. The nature of the rocks extracted from the quarries required the use of plaster coating to further strengthen its structure and provide a perfect finish.
The archaeological history of the metropolis as described by UNESCO World Heritage Convention noted that “the metropolis was the capital of the province of Africa in Roman times, Carthage has played a central role in Antiquity as a great commercial empire. The town was rebuilt by the Romans on the ruins of the ancient city.
Exceptional place of mixing, diffusion, and blossoming of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenicio-Punic, Roman, Paleochristian, and Arab), this metropolis and its ports have encouraged wide-scale exchanges in the Mediterranean”. (UNESCO).
According to the Republic of Tunisia’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in providing a historical outlook of the level of work that went on at the site it noted that “The calcareous tufa, extracted from the quarries of El Haouaria, can be easily carved. Lifting devices were probably installed above the underground caves at the mouth of the shafts.
The blocks of stone that were extracted were transported by sea, weather permitting, to the port of Carthage, on the other side of the Gulf of Tunis, about 60 km away as the crow flies. The quarries of El Haouaria (Hermaea) are a good illustration of the way man grappled with his geographical environment, to write the prestigious history of Carthage”. (patrimoinedetunisie.com.tn)
Learning the Art
The practice of falconry and the use of falcon breeds as a source for hunting of prey traces its history as far back to the Ottoman Empire which was created by the Turkish tribes in Anatolia and existed as far back as 1299. Falconry was commonly practiced amongst the ruling class with Falconry not being restricted to hunting of prey but also a requirement for ransoms, bribes and gifts. (turkishfalconry.com/).
Unlike the Turkish Lords, the art of training and breeding falcons is a leisurely activity that is open to anyone in El Haouaria and Tunisia in general who show keen interest and are willing to learn the skill required to train the birds.
As expressed by Ben Fraj, a local whose family has historical ties in the art of falconry, “Hunting with falcons is part of the cultural heritage. We inherited it from our great-grandfathers. The belief is that we inherited this from the Ottoman Empire as we share similar hunting methods with the Turks”.
Falconry has become not just a sport in El Haouaria but also a culture of preparation where falconers are required to not only possess specific tools to capture these birds of prey, but to also apply a certain skill, technique and method in both training and caring for the birds. Each trainer is expected to name its hawk as well as exhibit falconry signals and expressions to be understood by the bird in question.
During its 50th Sparrowhawk Festival, event commentator and Journalist Amel Djait noted that “the falconers have to dedicate a lot of time to these birds and display treasures of psychology to turn them into hunting animals in only a few weeks. The sparrowhawk, for example, is a very intelligent animal that becomes a hunter at the age of six months. All the work of the trainer consists of developing temperament and finding the rules of training which will adapt themselves best to their personality.
Usually, falconers manage to keep their birds of prey through affection and hunger. The best hunters are usually the birds of prey which eat a lot, digest fast and are always hungry, that’s what urges them to ceaselessly look for prey”.
Because of the delicate nature of the bird, registration as a falconer is not an all-comers affair. Knowledge, understanding and a keen interest in the art of falconry is required, as well as tutelage from a good falconer as a mentor to ensure the right processes are adhered to for success.
The Falconry Festival
Falcon monument in El Haouaria, By amekinfo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The sparrowhawk festival in the city of El Haouaria attracts tourists from various parts of the world to experience the art and skills of the falconers who have spent months training their respective birds to hunt and capture prey.
Occurring every year at the end of the spring hunting season, the festival showcases not only the hunting skills of the sparrowhawk but also the meticulous process invested in by the trainers to prepare the birds as well as provide the materials needed to calm the birds and make them efficient hunters.
The festival which started as far back 1967, has grown into a full complement of activities from the display of local crafts, traditional dances, mountain hikes and cycling races which provides an engaging experience for visitors.
The festival also exposes visitors to the ecological tourist attractions of the city. With visits to the historical caves, and an opportunity to experience the scenic beauty as well as offer bird watchers a front-row view of the array of exotic bird populations that have migrated to the city, the falconry festival of El Haouaria promises an unforgettable experience for every tourist.
El Haouaria’s Falconry Festival continues to redefine how long-standing African traditions and culture when properly harnessed can boost tourism and contribute to the growth of economies in Africa.
Contribution to The Local Economy
The El Haouaria falconry festival continues to remain a contributor to the local economy and tourism of Tunisia especially as it offers not just an experience of the festival, but an opportunity for visitors to explore the historical caves which is an attraction for tourists around the world thereby bringing revenue to the local economy through entrance fees, and likewise contributing to employment opportunities for local tour guides, hospitality vendors and other related activities.
As a contributor to Ecotourism and biodiversity, the city has continued to play its role attracting international interest and support especially as it concerns the preservation of its natural habitat and wildlife.
In a 2017 report – Developing Ecotourism to Conserve Biodiversity in Tunisia, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) whose goal is to protect biodiversity, build long-term local conservation leadership, and nurture sustainable development noted that, “investment in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot through the Association Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO) has seen the development of ecotourism activities for the conservation of key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in northern Tunisia since July 2013.
Association Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO) has provided support to local communities to manage five of the most important bird areas (IBAs) in Tunisia: Jebel El Haouaria Bird Migration Bottleneck Site, Korba Lagoon, Maâmoura Lagoon, Sebkhet Soliman and Lake Tunis”.
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
