In April 2027, join SOE Expeditions on an extraordinary 10-day journey across Tunisia, following the trail of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), retracing Montgomery’s legendary Left Hook and honouring the New Zealand soldiers whose courage helped turn the tide of the North African campaign.
This is the story of desert reconnaissance, audacious manoeuvre and extraordinary battlefield leadership. It is also the story of New Zealand’s Māori warriors, whose actions at Tebaga Gap and Takrouna became defining moments in the history of the New Zealand Army.
The LRDG, operated deep behind enemy lines, navigating some of North Africa’s most unforgiving terrain. Their reconnaissance helped identify routes through the Jebel Dahar that enabled the Eighth Army to outflank the Axis defences of the Mareth Line. This intelligence and the wider Allied manoeuvre contributed to the advance towards Tebaga Gap and the decisive fighting of March 1943.
At Tebaga, we explore the actions of the 28th (Māori) Battalion, including Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu VC. On 26–27 March 1943, Ngārimu led his platoon in the assault on Hikurangi, a forward feature below Point 209. Wounded but refusing to leave his men, he continued to lead the defence against repeated German counter-attacks until he was killed. His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously for his exceptional courage and leadership.
Our journey continues to Takrouna, where New Zealand troops faced a formidable enemy position on a steep, rocky summit in April 1943. Here, the actions of Sergeant Haane Manahi and his fellow soldiers became part of the enduring legacy of the Māori Battalion. We examine the assault, the terrain and the fighting that made Takrouna one of the most memorable actions of the Tunisian campaign.
Across 10 days, we travel from Djerba and the Mareth Line into the Matmata hills, the desert beyond Ksar Ghilane and the approaches to Tebaga Gap, before continuing north towards Takrouna and Tunis. Along the way, we explore the LRDG’s desert tactics, Montgomery’s operational manoeuvre and the experiences of the men who fought across this extraordinary landscape.
Expect immersive battlefield exploration, expert historical guidance and nights beneath the vast desert sky. Stand on the ground where reconnaissance shaped strategy, where infantry fought for every ridge and where courage under fire became legend.
We conclude in Tunis with a remembrance visit, reflecting on the human cost of the campaign and the legacy of those who fought.
From the LRDG’s desert patrols to the Māori warriors of Tebaga and Takrouna, this is more than a battlefield tour. It is a journey into the history, terrain and extraordinary courage that shaped the North African campaign.
Upon your arrival at Djerba airport, our dedicated team will be there to warmly welcome you, followed by a brief introduction to set the stage for the incredible journey ahead.
After the introductions, we'll transfer to the hotel and gather for an orientation to the ground the LRDG patrols knew so well. The day will culminate with a delightful evening meal, setting the tone for the camaraderie that will define our expedition.
We travel from Djerba to the Mareth Line for an introduction to the formidable defences and the military museum, then continue through the Matmata hills, where the desert war reached its true turning point.
Over the course of ten days, we will traverse the southern desert by 4x4, spend nights in a desert camp and under wild-camp skies, and walk the ground of the Tebaga Gap and Point 209.
We close at Takrouna, where the Maori Battalion's heroes stormed and held the fort against fierce resistance, and then at Medjez el Bab for an ANZAC Day remembrance, connecting with the history and spirit of those who dared this bold mission.
Our journey unfolds through the rich layers of Tunisia's past. In the storied city of Tunis, the ancient medina's whitewashed lanes and bustling souks sit beside the extraordinary mosaics of the Bardo, while nearby Carthage tells of the Phoenician empire that challenged Rome.
its ancient harbours and baths still whispering of that age, and Sidi Bou Said perches above the sea in blue and white, for long a haven for artists and writers.
We explore the great Roman city of Dougga, its theatre and temples among the very finest ruins in Africa, standing as they have for over two thousand years, and continue to Sbeitla, where a remarkably complete forum and three temples speak of the empire's African heartland, its golden stones rising from the surrounding plain.
We close at El Jem, where the colossal amphitheatre, the third largest in the Roman world, still dominates the town, its vast arena once roaring with the spectacles of another age, a fitting final place to connect with the history and spirit of the civilisations that shaped this remarkable country.
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