The dromedary became the main pack animal of trans-Saharan caravans.
The dromedary, or Arabian camel, has one hump and is exceptionally suited to hot, dry environments. Its ability to travel long distances with limited water made it far more practical for crossing the Sahara than most other large domestic animals. Caravans used dromedaries to carry salt, textiles, metals, food, and other goods.
Camels entered North Africa from the east during antiquity, and their widespread use transformed long-distance desert transport. Camel caravans supported trade between Mediterranean North Africa and the Sahel, helping connect cities and markets across difficult terrain.
The dromedary is distinct from the Bactrian camel, which has two humps and is adapted mainly to cold deserts and steppes of Central Asia. Both species are camels, but only the one-humped dromedary became the classic Sahara caravan animal.