The standard PRC rendering of the desert 'Sahara' is
撒哈拉, with
撒 not
萨.
萨哈拉 is a less standard variant - you'll see it in older translations, Taiwan/HK media, and in personal names. Famous Taiwanese writer
三毛 titled her bestselling memoir
《撒哈拉的故事》 ('Stories of the Sahara'), cementing
撒哈拉 as the dominant form.
