Gerewol Festival, Faya, the Lakes and the Ennedi
Savannah & Big Cats 19 days rustique

Gerewol Festival, Faya, the Lakes and the Ennedi

From the ritual dances of Guérewol to the sacred crocodiles of Archei, a mythical journey between Fulani culture and Tchad desert

From€949per person
28 years of local expertise4.62/5 (36 reviews including 34 Google)

Duration

19 days

From

€949/pers.

Ideal seasons

Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec

Style

Expeditions

Comfort

rustique

Travelers

Solo, With friends, groupe

The spirit of travel

This exceptional grand journey combines Peul culture and the Guérewol festivals with the vast Sahelian and Saharan landscapes of northern Tchad.

From the banks of the Chari south of the capital, to the vast sandy plains of the Djourab passing through the unique world lakes of Ounianga and the beauty of the Ennedi, we invite you on a great magical and unprecedented crossing.

The stages of your journey

D1
N'DjamenaHôtel
D2
DourbaliBivouac
D3–5
DourbaliBivouac
D6
MassakouriBivouac
D7
Kouba OlangaBivouac
D8
Faya-LargeauBivouac
D9–10
Ounianga SérirBivouac
D11
MourdiBivouac
D12
FadaBivouac
D13–16
Massif de l'EnnediBivouac
D17
AbecheBivouac
D18
MongoBivouac
D19
N'Djamena

Highlights

Authentic Guérewol Celebrations
Ounianga Lakes UNESCO Listed
Wild Ennedi Massif
Crocodiles of the Guelta
Ancient rock paintings
Bivouacs under the stars

Day-by-day itinerary

Jour 1
D1

Arrival and welcome at the airport

We land in N'Djamena, capital of Chad, where we are welcomed by our guide and transferred to our comfortable hotel.

We always choose a comfortable hotel in N'Djamena that is clean and has working air conditioning and shower.

Hôtel
Jour 2
D2

Police control departure for Dourbali

N'DjamenaDourbali

1h96 km

Mandatory in the morning, passport verification, luggage loading and departure to reach the village of Dourbali, lunch on the road

Bivouac
Jour 3
D3–5

Guérewol

Welcome from the Fulani people by the village chief, and preparation of celebrations, body paintings, you can participate.

During these 3 days, we will attend different celebrations and dances, visit the region and participate in the daily life of nomads.

Explanation of the societal structure and life of the Fulani M'bororo or Woodabe people.

BivouacBreakfast
Jour 6
D6

Return to Ndjamena Bivouac on the Massakori Road

We then head to the sahel. Night in the middle of nature, bivouac.

DourbaliN'Djamena

1h1596 km

We head back to the capital, stop to buy fresh produce on the way out of the city.

N'DjamenaMassakory

2h124 km
BivouacBreakfast
Jour 7
D7

Mossoro - Kouba Olanga bivouac

Due north across the barren land, the Sahel unfolds before our eyes, vast and endless, clay gives way to sand, cattle are replaced by camels, it is not uncommon to cross paths with gazelles and jackals.

MassakoryKouba Olanga

1000 km
BivouacBreakfast
Jour 8
D8

Djourab - night in Faya

Kouba OlangaFaya-Largeau

5h280 km

Crossing the dunes in the early morning when the sand is still hard. Arrival at Faya, in the heart of the largest oasis in the Sahara (70 km long)

Night in a camp organized by women's groups.

BivouacBreakfast
Jour 10
D10

Ounianga Serir - Bivouac

A set of 14 lakes including Lake Bokou the only one that is not salty.

We can swim there but without sunscreen, soap or other shampoo. The ecosystem is fragile, there are quite a few fish in the lake.

Walk and night in the dunes above the lake.

BivouacBreakfast
Jour 11
D11

Salin de Teguedeî and half-bivouac on sand

Beautiful salt mines where we will see how salt corots are harvested. Night in the shifting sands of the Mourdi depression, sheltered by a barkhan.
BivouacBreakfast
Jour 12
D12

Sabi nyalla, Fada

We skirt the western façade of the Ennedi, across vast sandy plains. We will bivouac in the heart of a cluster of Nyalla, an erosive formation of sandstone battered by water and wind.

Dépression de MourdiFada

BivouacBreakfast
Jour 13
D13–16

Immersion in the Ennedi Massifs (Archei, Nohi, Aloba, Bachikele, Terkey...)

The heart of the Ennedi, guelta, crocodile rock paintings, canyon and arches.

We have our privileged bivouac sites and our routes.

Bivouac
Jour 17
D17

Kalait, night in Abeche

Descent to Kalait, the old Oum Chelouba, a commercial hub of Libya, Sudan BET.

We continue to Abeché, bivouac before arriving in town.

Bivouac
Jour 18
D18

Mongo

AbecheMongo

6h388 km

Long road across the Sahel.

In Mongo we sleep at the foot of the Guéra mountain near small Hadjeraye villages.

BivouacBreakfast
Jour 19
D19

Arrival in Ndjamena in the afternoon

Last itinerary for arrival in the capital.

Transfer to the hotel for a shower.

Transfer to the airport for boarding according to your flight times

Meals at your own expense.

Breakfast

Price per person

This trip can be tailored to your preferences

This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.

Not included

  • International Flights
  • Meals in N'Djamena
  • Repatriation Insurance
  • Tips and drinks

Included

  • 4x4 vehicles and drivers and fuel
  • Bivouac equipment: mat, mattress
  • Food and the Chef
  • The local guide of the Toumay-voyages team
  • Entries to sites
  • Travel permits
  • File fees
  • Local insurance

Practical Information

Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.

The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.

See our specific terms of sale for full details.

In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:

  • Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
  • Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
  • Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total

We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.

Les informations ci-dessous concernent les voyageurs ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen (EEE), de la Suisse et du Canada se rendant au Tchad dans le cadre d'un séjour touristique. Les règles d'entrée pouvant évoluer, nous vous recommandons de vérifier les informations auprès des autorités officielles avant votre départ.

Passeport

Pour entrer au Tchad, votre passeport doit être valide au minimum six mois après la date d'entrée dans le pays et comporter au moins deux pages vierges pour les tampons d'immigration.
Le document doit être en bon état (pas de pages détériorées, déchirées ou modifiées).

Visa obligatoire

Les ressortissants de l'Espace économique européen, de la Suisse et du Canada doivent obligatoirement être en possession d'un visa pour entrer au Tchad à des fins touristiques. Il n'existe pas d'exemption de visa pour ces nationalités.

Le visa peut être obtenu :

  • auprès de l'ambassade ou du consulat du Tchad compétent avant le départ,

  • dans certains cas, à l'arrivée à l'aéroport international Hassan Djamous de N'Djamena (visa on arrival), sous réserve de confirmation préalable auprès des autorités tchadiennes, cette possibilité pouvant être soumise à conditions.

La durée de séjour autorisée est généralement de 30 jours, renouvelable sur place auprès des services d'immigration tchadiens.

Les autorités peuvent demander :

  • un billet de sortie du territoire (vol retour ou continuation),

  • une preuve de ressources financières suffisantes pour la durée du séjour,

  • une invitation ou justificatif d'hébergement.

Santé et vaccinations

La vaccination contre la fièvre jaune est obligatoire pour entrer au Tchad. Le certificat international de vaccination (carnet jaune) sera exigé à l'arrivée.

Des vaccinations supplémentaires sont fortement recommandées par les autorités sanitaires :

  • méningite A, C, Y, W135 (le Tchad se situe dans la ceinture africaine de la méningite),

  • hépatites A et B,

  • typhoïde,

  • rage selon les activités prévues.

Un traitement antipaludéen préventif (prophylaxie antipaludique) est fortement recommandé, le paludisme étant présent sur l'ensemble du territoire. Consultez votre médecin ou un centre de vaccinations internationales avant le départ.

Voyage avec des enfants

Les mineurs doivent être titulaires de leur propre passeport valide et d'un visa individuel couvrant la durée du séjour.

Dans certains pays européens, lorsqu'un mineur voyage sans l'un de ses parents, une autorisation de sortie du territoire peut être exigée selon la réglementation du pays de résidence.

Autres nationalités

Les conditions d'entrée peuvent varier selon la nationalité. Les voyageurs concernés doivent se renseigner auprès de l'ambassade ou du consulat du Tchad de leur pays de résidence.

Pour participer à nos voyages, il est fortement conseillé d'être assuré en assistance-rapatriement et frais médicaux à l’étranger.

Votre agence locale vous encourage à prendre connaissance du contrat spécifique élaboré avec notre partenaire CHAPKA ASSURANCES et AXA ASSISTANCE.
Pour souscrire à une assurance, connaître les garanties et les tarifs, suivez le lien ci-dessous.

CAP EXPLORER : La solution d’assurance complète conçue pour vivre sereinement votre voyage !

Choisissez la formule qui vous correspond le mieux:

  • Explorer'Multirisque

  • Explorer'Annulation

  • Explorer'Assistance

  • Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire

Spécifiques à nos voyages, nous suggérons fortement d’y souscrire.
Si vous choisissez de souscrire à l’une de ces formules, la convention détaillant l’ensemble des garanties et les modalités de déclaration du sinistre sont disponibles sur le site Internet de l'assureur.

Votre agence locale en aura connaissance, mais seul le participant est responsable du respect des procédures de déclaration de tout sinistre. Le participant doit donc conserver cette convention avec lui pendant toute la durée de son voyage.

Chapka — Cap Explorer

Our insurance partner

Travel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.

Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insurance

Frequently asked questions

A tourist visa is mandatory and must be requested from the embassy before departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. An up-to-date vaccination record is required, particularly for yellow fever. The security context requires maximum vigilance. Before booking, verify with the consular authorities of your destination the entry requirements applicable to your nationality.

Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.

You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.

For a tailor-made quality trip, budget between €250 and €450 per day and per person, including accommodation, meals, 4x4 with driver-guide and activities. International flights (€800-1,200 return) are extra. Chad remains a rare and demanding destination, reserved for experienced travellers.

Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.

Absolutely. We adapt each itinerary to the traveler's profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed pacing, family-friendly accommodations, engaging and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our English-speaking local guides know how to capture children's attention with age-appropriate stories.

It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You refine every detail together until it's perfect. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.

In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.

Payment is generally made in two installments.

Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) guarantee which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on site throughout your stay.

Faris, Sahara Guide from Chad
28years of expertise

Let's talk about your adventure — Desert North

Sahara Guide from Chad, based in N'Djamena

In Chad, the desert is never empty. There are the traces, the landscapes, the stories, the camps, and that light that changes everything throughout the day.

Faris

APST Guarantee Secure Payment 24/7 Assistance4.62/5