| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Chad attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Chad Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
 the marshlands of lake Chad by sachara
Reaching the shores of Lake Chad, the tracks ended in the marshlands of the lake. So we had to turn and try another track, more eastwards.
On our way back we had a problem in the village, we passed before. We arrived at a central dusty place, after passing some narrow alleyways between the huts, accompanied by many shouting kids.
At this place many tracks were leading in different directions. Before we could make our choice or ask around, a man stopped our truck and told us, that we turned up in a military camp and were not supposed to be there. It didn't look like a military camp at all.
After he chased the kids away from our truck, he brought our driver to his chief. Here she had to talk with a dozen of men in white dresses for nearly one hour, before we could continue our route again. Leave a Comment
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After the second track, that leaded into the water, we decided to have a lunchbreak and siesta in the shade of a big tree nearby. It was extremely hot. From our tree we could see that a motorcycle and a donkey did take the track into the water.
Also here in the middle of nowhere, some kids came to join us in the shade of the tree and stayed for two hours. Of course they were very curious about us. They were very friendly and were excited to be photographed.
The days after we found out, that some of us were obviously pricked by unvisible insects at this swampy spot. The harvest ....dozens of itching stings. Leave a Comment
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 camels by sachara
So we saw also this large group of camels in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where they come from or where they are going to.
Camels are for me always the most enjoyable and intriguing animals, I met in the desert and Sahel. Leave a Comment
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North of Douguia we had our lunchbreak at the shore of Lake Chad, not far from Dandi with its laterite mines.
At the shore we found a place in the shade of a big tree.
And we were not alone, a lot of people gathered around our truck, very curious, where we came from and why we visited this place. Or they only just looked at us, while we were looking at them.
At our departure some little boys from the village nearby jumped at the back of our truck to get a free ride. It was a rather dangerous situation for them. After a few 100 meters elder people of the village noticed them and also tried to remove them from the truck. Leave a Comment
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On our way back to Douguia after our visit to the rocks and Lake Chad, we visited the weekmarket of Mani in the late afternoon.
A lot of people were around: colourfully dressed women and men with turbans. I enjoyed it to walk around at this lively market and look at all kind of local products and crafts.
A lot of curious children were gathering around the truck and us. The chief of Mani didn't allow this and ordered his men to chase the kids away. Leave a Comment
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 village with marketplace by sachara
At he marketplaces in this area you find low roofs as shelters against the burning sun, for both the traders and the goods for sale.
At the day we passed this village, it was not its weekly marketday, so the place was empty and there were only a few people, sitting in the shade of the roofs in the corner behind and maybe selling only a few vegetables. Leave a Comment
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 small village by sachara
In this dry and dusty area live mainly pastoralists. I think, it must be very hard to live and even survive under these circumstances.
On our way we saw some small villages, not more than one or a few compounds, scattered in the landscape far away from any facilities.
The huts have adobe walls and thatched roofs, like in many parts of Africa. Leave a Comment
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 dragging each other out of the
mud by sachara
And yes, we succeeded this way! Very slowly the yellow truck came out of the mud. Most of the time we didn't travel together with the two trucks, but this time we were very happy we travelled this ''off the beaten path'' with our two trucks. Leave a Comment
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In the afternoon we found some dry tracks leading east. Sometimes we had a dead end again at the shore of the lake or marshlands. Then we had to take a more southern track to continue our route. Most people along the tracks were very helpful to show us the right way in the direction of Massakori.
At the end of the afternoon the track ended in front of water we had to cross. We could see that the track continued at the other side.
We had no choice, so we decided to cross. The first truck was stuck in the mud at the other side of the water. Leave a Comment
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Before we returned to the ''cite touristique of Douguia'' we stayed for a while at the market of Mani, north-west of Douguia.
It was not only interesting to walk around at the market, but also to look at what's happening around the market. We saw a pick-up with goats in the back and a lot of men gathering around the pick-up.
The bargaining is done at the end of the afternoon. They are now waiting, chatting and saying goodbye till their pick-up will leave for their small village or compound. Leave a Comment
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