Chad

Our guides are the best in the business. They know the environment you will be trekking through intimately and hold the highest leadership and first aid qualifications to lead groups in remote places. Furthermore they have worked with the local crews for years and established a fantastic working relationship with them. Many speak several languages and they have operated many individual expeditions in the very environment in which you will be trekking to ensure that their enthusiasm never wanes.

We handpick our leaders for their extensive expedition experience, their leadership skills, and for their ability to relate to the local people with whom they work.

Additionally your main international guide will be Wanderlust Guide of the Year 2012, Luca Alfatti. For such an expedition however, you will also have a further international guide from the local support team and a main Toubue guide.

This is a cutting-edge expedition, with next to no previous information, hence flexibility and adaptability will be the core of your day-to-day experience.

The 360 team will meet you at the airport. We will let you know where and when nearer the time of departure.

You will be eating mainly foods that are easily transportable, like pasta and tinned foods. This is because all food will be purchased in N’Djamena and carried on the expedition with you. Food will be very nutritious, and you will never be hungry however, due to the nature of not being able to restock food supplies, it may become a little monotonous, especially towards the end.

Water will be carried with you however, it will also be collected from the natural pools found across the plateau. It will need filtering and purifying.

You will be trekking with camels for almost all the expedition and the camels will be carrying the water. This means you can refill whenever you need to.

You sleep in a hotel in N’Djamena on the first and last night. Every other night will be spent sleeping out under the stars as the chance of rain is tiny. Tents will be carried in case they’re needed though and you’ll have the option of sleeping in one if you really want to.

There are no facilities in the desert.

You will be expected to go in nature and will bury your waste. We will either burn or take the toilet paper back out with us.

Washing will be wet wipe washes!

The Toubou (meaning ‘rock people’) are a Saharan ethnic group which has inhabited northern Chad, Southern Lybia, northeast Niger and Northwest Sudan for thousands of years. You will be interacting with part of the Dazagra branch, which cover the northern region of the Bourkou, Ennedi Plateau, Tibesti Mountains, and the Bahr el Gazel. Their history is fascinating, and you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with this fascinating ethnic group.

We do have a single supplement available which is for hotel accommodation in N’Djamena.

During the trek you will have the option of either sleep in a single tent or under the stars.

Please see the inclusions and exclusions for full details on costs.

Accidents can happen and anyone undertaking these adventures has to accept there is a degree of risk due to the very nature of the challenge. All our guides are in communication with each other by satellite phone and radio. Our local crew are all experienced in dealing with any problem that will arise. Our guides are either doctors or qualified to the highest standard of wilderness first aid and can handle any emergency with the highest level of competency. We are in constant communication with it should more serious problems arise.

We advise you to check with your GP surgery or a travel clinic on latest advice about vaccinations and to ensure you are up-to-date.

We advocate a little bit of self-help on the trek! If you have a blister developing, for example, then please stop take off your boot and treat it before it becomes a problem.

Your own first aid kit should contain, at a minimum, a basic blister kit, plasters, antiseptic, sun protection, your own personal medication (sometimes your porter might get to camp after you and if he is carrying your medication you may not be able to take it according to the regime you are used to), basic pain relief (paracetamol / aspirin / ibuprofen), a personal course of antibiotics if prone to illness, anti-diarrhoea tablets if you do have a more sensitive stomach etc.

Generally the best approach to take when packing your first aid kit is to include such basic medications as if you would on a family or personal holiday.

Having said that, your 360 expedition leader and/or a member of the local crew does carry a very comprehensive first aid kit which contains a wide range of supplies, and they are fully trained to use whatever is needed for any emergency that may arise.

A comprehensive kit list has been written for you. If you have any questions about any of the items on it, please do call the 360 office as we are happy to advise.

Yes. It is best to bring a sleeping bag which should have a rating of 0 degrees, as it can get cold at night.

You will need to bring trousers, shorts, t-shirts, several pairs of socks, jackets and some good sun protection by way of a hat and sunglasses. Check out the kit list, or call us, for full info! For footwear, you’ll need a good pair of well worn in boots to trek in, and a pair of sandals or light trainers to pad around the camps. A lot of people also like to bring lightweight trekking sandals, perfect for combining the heat and walking through any water.

When in Rome do as the Romans. Shorts and t-shirts are fine to wear during the course of the day. Evening wear generally tends to be casual: long trousers and casual shirt are fine for all hotels and restaurants.

Remember that this is a Muslim country and in religious areas, women should cover their shoulders and legs at the very least.

Fortunately, camels will be the taking the strain for this trip! But remember that there is a 3 day stint which is completely self-supported, which means you need to carry everything yourself: 15kg is probably the limit. Any extra weight such as spare clothes etc. can be left with the camels who will meet you after your three days.

Duffel bags are ideal for this sort of trip. Whatever bag you go for make sure it is robust and has a large capacity. It is far better having a large capacity bag with extra room (after all air doesn’t weigh much) than having a bag too small and finding problems packing your kit. Even having a 100 litre plus duffel bag is not too large.

A daysack is worn at all times during the trek. The content of this is optional but should include: a fleece (if we take a break later in the day when it has cooled down or weather changes), lightweight waterproofs (primarily to act as wind protection), sufficient water for the day, snacks, camera equipment and personal medication, and we’d always recommend having your (head) torch to hand for any times you’re getting into camp after dark.

Your day-to-day sack should weigh no more than 3 – 4 kg and a rucksack of around 40L capacity will more than suffice. This rucksack can be filled to the brim with extra stuff when checking in at the airport. It is important that this bag has an adjustable waist belt to transfer the weight of your daily load onto your hips and from here onto your legs so that your strongest muscles do most of the carrying.

You can always leave things in the hotel in N’Djamena where it will be stored securely. Please do note the bags are left at your own risk and so we would advise not leaving any valuables.

It is very unlikely there will be any rain during the period you will be out in the Ennedi however, a waterproof could double down as a warm layer should it get fresh at night.

The Abyss of Koubue is a seasonal waterfall in the centre of a remote area in Northeast Chad, called Ennedi. The area is a natural and cultural reserve spanning over 50,000km2 where the landscape is characterised by cliffs, natural arches, mushroom rocks, giant labyrinths, and water catchments. The Ennedi plateau is considered a part of the group of mountains known as the Ennedi Massif of which 75% is yet to be explored!

The Ennedi gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2016 thanks to the unique natural formations and rock art some of which dates to over 7000 years old and is testament to the historic role played by the local tribes and landscape.

Over 30,000 people inhabit or travel through the Ennedi Massif every year. Most of them are semi-nomadic groups of herders and their livelihood is tied to water availability and pastures.

The Toubou (meaning ‘rock people’) are a Saharan ethnic group which has inhabited northern Chad, Southern Lybia, northeast Niger and Northwest Sudan for thousands of years. Their society is clan based and they are divided into 2 closely related groups, the Teda and the Dazagara. They languages are part of the Tebu languages.

The ones you will be interacting with are part of the Dazagra branch, which cover the northern region of the Bourkou, Ennedi Plateau, Tibesti Mountains, and the Bahr el Gazel. Their history is fascinating, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with this fascinating ethnic group.

The Abyss of Koubue was discovered by the botanist and explorer H. Gillet during the exploration of the region for his unique thesis in 1957. At the time the abyss was unknown even to the local people.

This is a very ancient region which was covered by the sea many million years ago. It was formed by erosion from wind and temperature. Many people occupied the area such hunters and gatherers (5000-4000 BC) and pastoralists (beginning 4000 BC).

Not that we know! The Ennedi Massif is arguably one of the most remote places on earth but despite this, there are local tribes scattered across the region.

Trekking days can vary, depending on where we are within the Ennedi plateau and where the water holes are. This is an exploratory expedition, and especially after we find the abyss, we’re moving into uncharted territory. If a water hole is known to be far, the Toubou may decide to have a shorter day and let the camels drink and rest. As a rule of thumb, we will be up with the sun, eat and start walking. Typical walking day will be from 5 to 7 hours. Depending on the heat of the day, we may have long stops around lunch time, when the sun is at it’s hottest.

This is a 24 day expedition in which you will be trekking for approx. 10 days following pretty much true north across the centre of the Ennedi Massif.

This trek is a classic ‘Randonnée chamelier’ aka camel supported trek and the local Toubu tribes will provide their camels for support.

Once you reach the abyss you will need to leave the camels  who will descend a different route. You’ll take a more direct route and will be self-supporting yourself for approx. 3 days.

Yes, this includes everything you need for 3 days, food, water, clothing, sleeping equipment etc.

This is a true expedition and you will be very out of your comfort zone. Just getting to the Ennedi on the 4x4s will be an expedition in it’s own right. You will spend 21 days out in the elements. Temperatures will be in the mid to high 30s every day and can potentially drop to 4-5 degrees at night. Your route will be dictated by where the water holes are located and camels will be your lifeline; so the cadence and pace of the expedition will be dictated by their needs.

International flights are not included on this trip, coming from Europe, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Egyptair all fly to Chad. The main airport is in the capital city N’Djamena (airport code NDJ).

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the expedition. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip which should include, at a minimum, medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

No. Your passport should be valid for 6 months after the date you arrive into Chad. If it runs out before you may be refused entry. It is also advisable to have a couple of photocopies of your passport in case of loss.

British nationals do need a visa to visit Chad which costs around 70 euros. We’ll send you more information on this closer to your date of departure.

Personal fitness is important for this trek, and we have included a training programme which should see you at peak fitness! If you are struggling from day one then you will not enjoy the rest of the trip.

You will be trekking around 10km to 20km a day, in sometimes very hot conditions.

Physical preparation does not have to be Herculean: concentrate on cardio-vascular exercise during the week by taking short runs when time allows and try to spend at least 2 weekends a month going on long walks (a decent six hours or 12 miles) carrying a rucksack of around 5kg in a reasonably hilly environment.

This kind of regime will not only prepare your body for carrying minor loads but will harden your body against the big days on the trek itself. In addition it will help you break in your boots and get used to your equipment.

The amount of money you will need depends on how many items you wish to buy or how much you plan to drink when you stay in hotels. As a basic rule of thumb €100-€150 (approximately CFA 140,000) should be more than adequate for this expedition. Chad is mainly a cash economy.

Central African Franc should be purchased in the UK before travelling as ATMs are rare. You may want to take more money than you think you’ll need. You can always change back any excess money on your return.

Our local crew work extremely hard to assure that your expedition runs well. While tipping is not compulsory, it is and always has been very much part of the culture.

We’re busy finding out about the culture and how much tipping we’d recommend and will inform you as soon as we know.

Tipping the 360 expedition leader is entirely at your own discretion.

The currency in Chad is the Central African Franc (CFA).

Chad is predominantly a cash economy and the only place you’ll be able to use a credit card it’s in N’Djamena. There are limited ATM machines.

We’d recommend exchanging money before you arrive in country, Euros can be exchanged at a few banks and hotels in the capital city, but the process is expensive, time consuming and unreliable.

European two-pin plugs with round or flat pins are standard in Chad.

You’re in the desert, there is dust and sand all around, even in the air, and the last thing you want is for your camera to pack up half way through the trek so you need to take care of it. For things that will stay in your kit bag most of the time like (hopefully) your mobile phone, hermetically sealing food bags or stuff sacs will be fine for the duration of the trek and are cheap to buy. For kit that will come out more often, like a camera, consider small roll-top waterproof bags from OverBoard (English) or Ortlieb (German). If you go the whole hog and think about buying a Peli Case or similar, remember these are quite expensive as well as quite heavy and cumbersome depending upon the size, although despite all that they’re very good.

Prevention is better than cure in many cases: take a soft, small cleaning brush or air blaster to dust off your camera at the end of each day, or should you accidentally drop it in the sand. Remember to take great care when wiping or dusting the lens – blow surface dust off first before polishing it otherwise you’ll end up scratching the lens. If you’re using an SLR, try to avoid changing lenses out in the open, wait until you get out of airborne dust and sand, and keep the lens cap on whenever you’re not using it.

While we will do everything we can to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches. Your passport and money should be kept on you at all times. As with travel in any foreign country, you need to look after yourself and your possessions and be aware of your surroundings, and this is no different.

There will be large areas of desert where we’re completely out of signal.

For some reassurance, our leader acarries a satellite phone in the event of an emergency.