Thursday 18th September – N’Djamena – Ngueli

• Arrival at your convenience in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, which is well connected to Addis Ababa, Paris, Istanbul and Cairo, among others.
• Transfer to the hotel with your pre-arranged airport pick-up.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at 3:00pm in the hotel to meet your guide and your fellow travellers.
• We’ll first drive to Ngueli, a bridge marking the border between Chad and Cameroon, over the Logone river. This bridge is used every day by hundreds of people from both countries and feels like an anthill, with a crowd of people trading, exchanging news and haggling all day long. 
• We’ll then enjoy the Walia neighbourhood, a popular area by the Logone river.  It will give us a first glimpse at life in contemporary Chad and a chance to engage with the locals.
• Dinner will be at a local restaurant in N’Djamena. This is usually the main meal of the day for Chadian people, and it is consumed on a large communal plate, typically served on the ground upon a mat, with people sitting and eating around it.
• Overnight stay in N’Djamena.

Friday 19th September – N‘Djamena – Hajer Lamis – Douguiya

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we leave N’Djamena and start a 3-hours epic drive, crossing the desert plains located north of the capital until we reach Hajer Lamis. This is the outskirts of the Sahara Desert, so prepare for great views and a sense of isolation.
• Hajer Lamis is a region close to Lake Chad and a spot where many nomads live. The lake, which gave its name to the country, is covered by a hundred islands and islets of which many are inhabited. It is surrounded by Africa’s second largest wetland.
• Upon arriva,l you’ll see Elephant Rock (Hadger El Hamis), a big stone mass in the form of an elephant! We’ll walk uphill to this unique location, one be most beautiful in the county, for beautiful panoramas over the region.

Afternoon

• Douguia, your next stop, is old hunting camp next to the Chari river which separates Chad and Cameroon. This is a popular chilling spot for the locals. We’ll have lunch there and walk along the river, meeting and discussing with locals, before our drive back to N’Djamena.
• Dinner in N’Djamena. We’ll go out an explore the nightlife of the capital city. Drinking alcohol is frown-upon in the most conservative parts of the country, but not in N’Djamena, so we’ll try to local beer!
• Overnight stay in N’Djamena.

Saturday 20th September – N’Djamena – Koundoul – Gaoui

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll start our city tour of N’Djamena, the bustling capital of the country.
• You’ll have the chance to see the Cathedral (destroyed during the civil war in 1980 but since rebuilt), the Great Mosque, built in 1978, and the local craft centre.
• The National Museum is also on our program. Though many of its artifacts have been lost/looted during the civil war, between 1979 and 1983, it is still an interesting visit and a great way to learn about the arts and traditions of Chad, archaeology, history, paleontology and the Islamic heritage of the country.
• We’ll then drive to the Chari-Baguirmi region, South-East of N’Djamena, which used to be the heart of the Sultanate of Bagirmi, which ruled much of the area from the late 15th to the late 19th centuries. There, we’ll meet nomads in Koundoul and learn about their way of life.
• We’ll relax by the Chari River, a perfect stop for refreshments!
• We’ll also check out the valuable collection of the Sarh culture dating back to the 9th century.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon we continue to Gaoui. This village is said to have been the capital of Sao Civilization (a race of giants in local folklore), it is known for its traditional architecture and pottery made by local women. This time-capsule is threatened by the galloping urbanization of the capital city, which risks swallowing it up as well as its architecture, so now is the time to visit before it’s too late!
• We’ll drive back to the N’Djamena airport for a drop-off, before our evening flights out of Chad. Do not book your flight out of Chad earlier than 10:00pm to ensure you make your flight.
• Group members on our Niger Guerewol Festival Tour will depart to Niamey on Turkish Airlines flight TK631, leaving at 00:05am on Sunday 21st September.

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