Chad – Ennedi Massif

Arrive in N’Djamena.
Transfer to hotel.
If there is time, in the afternoon we explore the city with our local guide.
Overnight in N’Djamena

We take three days to cover the 1,200km journey from N’Djamena to Kalait.
Initially, we travel east through the Sahel towards Mongo, passing villages such as Bitkine and Ab Touyour. The landscape gradually shifts as we enter the Guera Massif, a region of granite outcrops and low hills. This is an ethnically diverse area, home to Hadjerai communities, where we visit villages and local markets where possible.
From Mongo, we continue through savannah and rolling terrain towards Abeche, the historic capital of the Ouaddai Kingdom and an important stop on former trans-Saharan trade routes.
Beyond Abeche, we turn north towards the desert. The landscape becomes increasingly arid as settled farming communities give way to nomadic groups. We eventually reach Kalait, the gateway to the Ennedi.

We continue into the Ennedi Mountains, spending three days exploring one of the Sahara’s most striking regions.
Our focus is the Archei area, known for its canyon systems, rock formations and gueltas (desert waterholes). At the Guelta d’Archei, we often encounter Toubou nomads with their camel herds, and this is one of the last places in the Sahara where desert-adapted crocodiles still survive.
We also visit lesser-known rock art sites scattered across the plateau, exploring both on foot and by vehicle. The region is home to semi-nomadic groups, including Zaghawa and Tama communities, who we may encounter during our time here.
During this period, we stop at the small settlement of Fada.

After completing formalities in Fada, we head north, leaving the Ennedi Mountains behind. We drive into the sand seas of the Mourdi Depression, following old caravan routes that once linked Fada with the salt pans of Demi and Teguedei. The salt trade continues today, and we may see local communities harvesting and transporting salt along these routes.

We drive westwards to the Ounianga Lakes, a UNESCO-listed site and one of the most unusual landscapes in the Sahara.
These lakes lie among dunes and cliffs, with fresh and saline waters existing side by side. They are surrounded by palm groves and small settlements that depend on salt extraction and trade.
We observe traditional salt harvesting methods and, where possible, meet Toubou traders who transport salt across the desert, exchanging it for millet and sorghum.

Leaving the Ounianga Lakes, we begin the journey south-west back towards Kalait.
The route takes us across remote desert terrain, passing through the Ouadi Doum area, where remnants from the conflict between Chad and Libya can still be seen, including abandoned military equipment. We then continue through the Kora dune fields, an area of high dunes and rocky outcrops.
As we re-enter the Ennedi region, we stop at Bichagara, known for its distinctive rock formations and arch-like structures, before continuing on established tracks towards Kalait, where we resupply.

The final days involve a long drive south-west back through the Sahel, with stops at seasonal water points used by pastoral and nomadic communities, including Toubou and Kreda groups.
Along the way, we encounter herds of camels and cattle gathering in the early morning, as herders go about their daily routines, often accompanied by their families.

We make our final leg of the journey and return to N’Djamena.
Transfer to hotel.
Overnight in N’Djamena.

Transfer to airport.
End of trip.