Arrival in the capital of Chad — N’Djamena. Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel and check-in. Free time to relax after the flight and prepare for the upcoming Sahara expedition.
Our expedition kicks off from N’Djamena as we leave the capital behind and head toward the gateway of the desert. We’ll cruise along the asphalt to Massakory (140 km), where the paved road ends and the real spirit of the Sahel begins.
From here, we transition onto the dusty tracks leading toward Moussoro, deep into the Barh El Ghazel region. Our first night under the stars will be a wild bivouac near the village of Chadra, where we’ll enjoy a traditional dinner by the fire.
Today we reach Moussoro, a vital desert outpost. After a quick pit stop to refuel and soak in the local bustle, we leave the town behind and dive into an ever-changing landscape. Watch as the horizon transforms: rolling hills give way to scattered acacia trees and the first true dunes. We’ll navigate through the scenic Bathandjene area, finding the perfect spot for our wilderness camp under the vast African sky.
We swap the rolling hills for a faster, flatter, and sometimes sandy track that stretches toward the horizon. This is the realm of the nomads and the wild! After passing the historic Bathandjene well—a vital life source in the desert—keep your cameras ready: this area is famous for sightings of graceful gazelles. We’ll end the day in a wild bivouac, surrounded by the golden silence of the Sahel.
A day of geological wonders: we visit the monumental Alouba-Toukou Arch (one of the largest in the world), the unique Elephant Arch, the ancient cave paintings at Mandingueli, and the natural Oyo Labyrinth. After exploring the Guelta of Bachikele, a true desert "Garden of Eden," we set up camp for the night.
In the morning, we head to the majestic Guelta d’Archeï to search for the legendary desert crocodiles. In the afternoon, we explore the ancient rock paintings of Terkei.
Explore the stunning Bachiké Canyon, where nomadic people dig wells along the watercourses to water their livestock. We also visit the "Youth Cave," a legendary gathering place for the Ennedi nomads. Here, young people arrive by camel to hold traditional dances, marking this spot as the true gateway to the Ennedi Massif.
We travel from Bachiké through Houbaike to Kalait, the wealthiest and best-supplied market in the region, where we stop for supplies. Our route continues through Arada and Biltine to Abéché, the second-largest city in Chad. From Abéché, we return to the asphalt road leading towards N’Djamena.
We cross the Guéra region, a spectacular landscape dominated by granite peaks, including the famous "Queen of Guéra" and the majestic Pic d'Abtouyour. As the mountains fade, the terrain flattens out. From Bokoro, the heart of the Hadjer-Lamis region, the road becomes more challenging as we head deeper into the dunes.
We continue through the heart of the Hadjer-Lamis region, visiting its second-largest city, Bokoro. The journey then takes us back into the wild, where we find our final desert camp.
After passing through the strategic crossroads of Massaguet, we complete our loop and return to N’Djamena. We expect to arrive in the capital by the afternoon, marking the end of our expedition.
Breakfast at the hotel and a relaxed start to the day. City tour of N’Djamena: discover local markets, culture, and daily life. Free time for rest or last-minute shopping. Transfer to the airport and departure.
