A British family camping in the Sahara Desert was forced to abandon their tent after nearly 30 venomous scorpions surrounded it. Faraz Shibli, 40, from Aynho, West Northamptonshire, had taken his wife Bryony, 41, and their three young children—Oswin, six, Idina, four, and Alaric, one—on an adventure to Tunisia.
The family set up camp in a remote part of the Sahara on April 11, a location suggested by local Amazigh people about 45 minutes from the nearest town. However, as night fell, they spotted scorpions crawling around and up their tent. Faraz said: 'We counted around 29 scorpions. There were also big spiders and dung beetles, but the scorpions were venomous—especially dangerous for children.'
The family remained calm to avoid alarming the children but quickly decided to leave. Faraz explained: 'We didn't panic. We showed them to the kids and tried to stay relaxed, but we ended up having to whack a couple with our shoes. It's important for kids to learn that when something becomes too dangerous, you make a judgement and leave.' They dismantled the camp and drove back to a previous location overnight.
Faraz, a barrister who frequently travels with his children, said the experience was an 'important lesson' in risk and judgement. Despite online critics accusing him of irresponsibility, he defended the trip: 'The more time kids spend inside on screens, the more parents need to push outdoor experiences. When you're sitting in the dunes together, you actually talk to each other and interact properly as a family.'
The family had originally planned a trip to Pakistan but changed to Tunisia due to tensions in the Middle East. Faraz noted that the scorpion swarm was unusual, likely due to the daytime heat of 26-27°C driving them into hiding until nightfall. His son Oswin later took a framed scorpion to school for show and tell, excitedly recounting the desert adventure.
