CIAD

DAY 1: departure with flights from Italy. Layover and flight to N’Djamena

DAY 2: arrival in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. Opportunity to explore the chaotic Chadian capital, with a visit to the National Museum, the Grand Mosque, and the colorful downtown markets. Transfer to Guéleden, a village inhabited by the Wodaabe (Bororo) nomads. Also known as Bororo (“shepherds in rags”), they are famous for their colorful Gerewol ceremonies, a courtship ritual that takes place during transhumance.

Evening: dinner and first night at the Mbororo Camp, under the starry sky of the Sahel

DAY 3: day entirely dedicated to the spectacular Gerewol ceremonies: amidst hypnotic chants, colorful dances, and faces painted with natural pigments, the men of the clan adorn themselves with feathers and jewelry to win the attention of the women. A unique experience, immersed in the authentic culture of the Wodaabe people

DAY 4: final morning dedicated to the Gerewol, with the concluding dances and farewells to the Wodaabe clan. Afterwards, departure towards the south, crossing savanna landscapes and driving along the Chari River until reaching Ngama, near Bousso

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Ngama

Morning: departure by 4×4 heading north, crossing the landscapes of the Guéra region. Arrival in Mongo, the lively regional capital, and visit to local markets and small villages along the way to discover scenes of daily life in the heart of rural Chad.

Afternoon: leaving the paved road behind, the real off-road adventure begins along the sandy tracks that herald the approach of the Sahara. Continuation towards Oum Hadjar, amidst sandy paths and panoramas signaling the nearby desert. Setting up camp in the surrounding area.

Evening: dinner at the camp in Oum Hadjar

Morning: continuation of the off-road adventure through the magnificent desert scenery of the Batha region, populated by fennecs (desert foxes) and gazelles

Afternoon and evening: itinerary along tracks that wind through the dunes of central Chad, at the southern foothills of the Sahara, with fast herds of gazelles accompanying our 4×4 Jeep convoy. Arrival near Kalaït, an important crossroads of Saharan routes, and setup of the camp for the night. Dinner and night at the camp in Kalaït

Morning: morning dedicated to visiting Kalaït, the military vestiges of French colonization, its colorful market, and the village wells—a nerve center where camel caravans and cattle herds from the region gather to drink.

Afternoon: continuation of the journey through the Sahara Desert, which becomes increasingly rugged and rocky with every kilometer: a prelude to the magnificent Ennedi Plateau in the north of the country. Entry into the imposing Ennedi Massif, amidst sandstone canyons, hidden gueltas, and natural arches sculpted by the wind. Visit to the remote Bachekele Guelta, a vital oasis for desert nomads, and continuation to the majestic Aloba Arch, one of the tallest in the world and a natural symbol of the Chadian Sahara.

Evening: setup of the camp at the foot of the arch, dinner, and night immersed in the silence of the desert.

Morning: continuation of the visit by 4×4 and short treks among the magnificent scenery of the Ennedi Plateau, dotted with incredible rocky spires, sinuous natural arches, and other sensational natural sculptures rising from the Sahara dunes, embellished by millenary rock paintings.

Afternoon: continuation towards the legendary Archei Guelta, an incredible freshwater basin nestled within an inaccessible canyon. In this precious water reserve, illuminated by sunbeams filtering through the narrow gorge, hundreds of camels come to drink, creating one of the most impressive spectacles in all of the Sahara. Furthermore, the last specimens of the Nile crocodile living in the Sahara Desert survive in this guelta. Setting up the camp in a panoramic position near Echiwile.

Evening: dinner at the camp under the stars.

Morning: continuation of the itinerary deep into the Sahara towards Fada, the dusty capital of the Ennedi-Ouest region. Brief visit to the market and departure northwards, towards the Mourdi Valley

Afternoon: continuation of the off-road adventure through the dunes north of Fada, amidst vast sandy desert scenery dotted with isolated mountains and rock formations. Arrival in the imposing Mourdi Valley and setup of the camp

Evening: dinner at the camp in the Mourdi Valley

Morning: departure towards the northernmost regions touched by our journey, not far from the border with Libya. Along the way, a visit to the Demi salt pans, where red salt is extracted—a cornerstone of the local economy.

Afternoon: arrival at the magnificent Ounianga Lakes, a series of 18 lakes with waters shimmering from green to cobalt blue in the middle of the Sahara, set among dunes and palm groves inhabited by semi-nomadic tribes. Opportunity to swim in the waters of Lake Boukou, part of the Ounianga Serir lake group, which is home to a very rare endemic species of freshwater cichlid. Setting up camp on the shores of the Ounianga Lakes.

Evening: dinner at the camp near the Ounianga Lakes.

DAY 11: beautiful sunrise over the Ounianga lakes, followed by the start of the long journey back south through the Chadian desert. Amidst very diverse landscapes, the track crosses the shifting dunes of the Bir Kora well, with some challenging sections due to numerous rocks surfacing in the sand. Setting up camp in the middle of the Sahara and dinner at the camp

DAY 12: departure from northern Ennedi and return southwards through spectacular sandstone formations. Along the way, a stop at the Rocher des 5 Arches, a monumental natural stone arch, and the suggestive Bachike Canyon, where wind and time have sculpted walls and gorges of extraordinary beauty. Continuation of the journey through the Sahara Desert, passing by old tanks abandoned during the 1987 “Toyota War” between Libya and Chad. Approaching Kalaït, the track becomes smoother, making for an easier drive. Arrival near Kalaït, camp setup for the night, and dinner at the camp

Morning: departure from Kalaït heading east towards the Ouadi Rimé reserve. Managed by the Sahara Conservation Fund, with an area equivalent to that of Scotland, it is one of the largest nature reserves in the world. Accompanied by the reserve rangers, we begin our visit amidst the fascinating sub-Saharan savanna environments.

Afternoon: continuation of the visit. Opportunity to spot rare species of gazelles, the Sudan cheetah and, with a bit of luck, the extremely rare scimitar-horned oryx, which was declared extinct in the wild in 2000 but successfully reintroduced to the reserve in 2016. Setting up the camp near the reserve.

Evening: dinner at the camp near the Ouadi Rimé reserve.

Morning and afternoon: departure from the reserve and continuation southward along the ancient riverbed of the Wadi Barh el Gazel, now a sandy expanse crossing the Chadian Sahel. The journey winds through isolated villages and infinite landscapes, where the desert gradually gives way to the savanna. Arrival near Chaddra and setup of the camp.

Evening: dinner at the camp in Chaddra

Morning: continuation southward passing through Massakori and Massaguet, along roads that connect the rural areas of the Sahel to the capital.

Afternoon: arrival in N’Djamena, hotel check-in, and free time for relaxation or final sightseeing in the city.

Evening: dinner and eventual overnight stay at a hotel in N’Djamena while waiting for the flight.

Morning: transfer to N’Djamena airport for the flight with a layover to Italy… And until the next adventure!