Inclusions
Exclusions
Chad Tours
Travel To Chad
The Great Oasis of the Sahel
Our Chad tours are ideal for those seeking adventure, cultural immersion, and a chance to see some of Africa’s most remote and beautiful landscapes. While it requires careful preparation, the experience can be incredibly rewarding for those willing to venture into this lesser-known part of the continent.
Share this page:
Exploring Chad through our tours provides a distinctive experience in one of Africa’s most secluded regions, highlighted by the Sahara Desert and wildlife-rich Zakouma National Park.
Known as “The Great Oasis of the Sahel,” Chad is also home to the vibrant Gerewol Festival, where the Wodaabe people celebrate with music, dance, and traditional rituals.
With over 200 ethnic groups, Chad’s cultural diversity is as captivating as its natural beauty. Though travel here requires careful planning, those who visit will find an authentic and unforgettable experience.
Where?
N’Djamena – Dourbali – Gerewol – Elephant Rock – N’Djamena.
When?
September 16 – 22nd, 2025
Visa?
We will apply for your Chad invitation letter which allows you to apply for the visa at an embassy of your choice.
Chad Tour - September 2025 Research Trip
September 16th | N'Djamena
- Own arrival into N’Djamena. Airport transfers are provided to our hotel downtown.
- Today is mainly an arrival day so feel free to arrive at any time.
- Dinner and overnight in N’Djamena.
September 17th | N'Djamena - Dourbali.
- After breakfast, we’ll visit the Immigration Office for registration.
- Visit the N’Djamena Central Market. here you can shop for local goods, including traditional textiles, spices, and handicrafts. It’s an excellent spot for experiencing the daily life of the city and interacting with locals.
- Drive from N’Djamena to Dourbali, and onto the Gerewol area to set up our camps.
- Overnight at the camp.
September 18 & 19th | Gerewol Festival
- The Gerewol Festival is one of Chad’s most vibrant and unique cultural events, celebrated by the Wodaabe people, a nomadic group within the larger Fulani ethnic community. This annual festival is a stunning showcase of beauty, dance, and courtship rituals.
- The festival is a key social event for the Wodaabe, serving as both a celebration and a way for young men and women to find potential partners. It is deeply rooted in the Wodaabe’s cultural values, particularly their emphasis on beauty, charm, and endurance. The festival is one of the few opportunities for members of different clans to meet, socialize, and form relationships.
- The highlight of the Gerewol Festival is the Yaake dance, a competitive beauty contest where young Wodaabe men, known as Gerewol dancers, compete to be recognized as the most handsome and charming. The men spend hours preparing for the event, applying intricate face paint, wearing traditional attire, and adorning themselves with feathers, beads, and jewellery. The face paint is often in vibrant colours like red, yellow, and white, with patterns that accentuate their facial features, particularly the symmetry of their faces and the whiteness of their teeth and eyes, which are highly prized traits
- During the Yaake dance, the men form a line and begin to sing and dance rhythmically, swaying their bodies and rolling their eyes to attract attention. Their movements are slow and deliberate, designed to show off their beauty and stamina. The judges of this contest are typically young women, who will select the most attractive man based on his appearance, charm, and the grace of his performance
- For the young women of the Wodaabe, the Gerewol is an opportunity to choose a partner, sometimes even for a first or second marriage. Unlike many other cultures where marriages are arranged by families, the Gerewol allows women a degree of freedom in selecting a partner based on personal preference. The festival’s atmosphere is festive and flirtatious, with a strong focus on romantic expression.
- The Gerewol is also an essential part of the Wodaabe’s nomadic lifestyle, as it typically coincides with the end of the rainy season when the group gathers in one location before beginning their migrations. The festival’s timing ensures that there is ample food and water, allowing the Wodaabe to focus on the celebrations without the immediate pressures of their pastoral lifestyle.
- We’ll fill the days exploring and mingling as well as eating and sleeping at our camp.
September 20th | Dourbali - N'Djamena
- In the afternoon we return to N’djamena, depending on the arrival time, to visit some points of interest in the city including:
- The Artisan Markets. Visit artisan markets like the Village Artisanal to see and purchase traditional crafts, including jewellery, pottery, and woven items made by local artisans.
- Stroll around Place de la Nation, a central square in N’Djamena, where you can see the Independence Monument.
- Enjoy sunset, dinner and drinks along the Chari River which overlooks Cameroon.
- Overnight in N’Djamena.
September 21st | N'Djamena - Dougia - N'Djamena
- Today we’ll take a day trip to Elephant Rock and the town of Dougia on the banks of the Chari River.
- The journey to Dougia provides opportunities to experience rural Chadian life and the serene environment along the Chari River.
- The Elephant Rock is a large, sculpted rock formation that has been naturally shaped by wind and erosion over time. Its elephant-like appearance is particularly evident when viewed from certain angles, where the “trunk” seems to extend downward towards the ground, and the overall shape mimics that of an elephant’s head and body.
- Drive back to N’Djamena.
- Walk along Avenue Charles de Gaulle, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, lined with shops, cafes, and embassies. It’s a great place to get a feel for the city’s modern side.
- Dinner and overnight in N’Djamena.
September 22nd | Departure
- Transfer to the airport.
- End of the Chad Gerewol Festival Tour.
What else?
Chad Tour
September 16 - 22nd, 2025
Fly to N'Djamena
The capital city and the gateway to Chad
Hotels and Camping
6 nights in Chad
The Cost
€2,450