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We did not succeed to get our truck out on own strength. So there was only one solution left. The blue truck had to drag the yellow one, out of the muddy track.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.
There was no choice, our yellow truck had to take the same track. The tracks were rather deep now. So we allready knew what would happen...... And yes also been stuck in the mud, but this time a lot deeper than number one. That's why it was a lot more difficult to get this truck out of the mud. We had to do a lot of digging and to use our perforated steel planking. We didn't have no progress at all. At the contrary it became even worse........
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.
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.
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.
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.
North of Douguia are the laterite mines of Dandi. After we passed these mines we took a track in the direction of Lake Chad. The people in the small village at this track showed us the right way and so we reached the bank of lake Chad. We saw a lot of piroques here. This time we didn´t make a boattrip, because it was very hot at midday and we had allready our boattrip the day before at the Chari River. We looked for some shade and found a big tree, in whichs shade we could have our lunch.
We lost a lot of time by all the dead ends of the day and the adventure in the mud. So, instead of going to or reaching Massakori, we had a bushcamp just near Lake Chad. It was a scenic and peaceful place. We did see a lot of elephant dung around. So as precaution we had no food in the tents and put the tents not far from each other. That night we didn't see or hear any elephant ourselves. Only a lot of biting insects around and early in the morning a man, passing by with his camel.
After the two heavy trucks crossed the water and the mud and left their prints, I supposed it's impossible to do the same route at the way back a second time.After all the dead ends of the day and looking at the track behind, I hoped, that we were not on an island with another dead end.Luckily we drove more than an hour between palmtrees on a rather dry surface.So at dusk we looked for a place for the night, without the feeling we were locked by the water of Lake Chad.
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.
Kempinski Hotel N'Djamena N'Djamena
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Novotel N'Djamena La Tchadienne N'Djamena
2 Reviews and 35 Opinions The rooms are fine but the unmissable aircos can be noisy, bring your earplugs along.
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