Lézard Rouge

A restored beylical train running a daily round trip from Métlaoui through the Selja Gorge, a deep red-rock canyon cut by the small Oued el Berka. The carriages are early 20th-century, originally built for the last bey of Tunis, with polished wood, brass lamps, and large windows for the scenery.

The trip takes about ninety minutes return, with the train slowing or stopping at the most dramatic viewpoints. Schedules vary by season and the service has periodically been suspended — always check locally before counting on it. Tickets are sold at Métlaoui station.

things to do sight transport
A story
The Red Lizard was the private train of Mohamed Bey, the last ruler of pre-protectorate Tunisia, built in Italy in 1910 with gilded carriage interiors and brass fittings. After half a century parked in a Tunis siding it was restored in the 1980s and put to work on a tourist line through one of the most photogenic gorges in North Africa.