CHAD continued…

Camp Nomade is truly a fabulous nomadic mobile tented camp, comparable to any other elsewhere in Africa.The camp has it’s own unique Chadian style. Zakouma National Park must be one of the remotest, wildest and best parks on the continent. It’s hardly surprising that my old friend Colin Bell described it after his trip last year as being
“the best wildlife experience I (Colin) have had since Botswana in the 1970s.  Zakouma nailed every other destination for its mass of wildlife and its exclusivity.”

Our highlights this year were simply too many to list, but would include:

A single male lion killing an adult buffalo on the outskirts of camp one evening, then he and half a dozen females feasted on it for the next couple of days. We saw different lions every day, one also stalked and killed a young reedbuck. Another unusual sighting for this park, was of the rare West African Cheetah sub-species. A mother with her sub-adult cub – understandably a little shy, but very approachable. Once again, they chased down, (but missed), a young reedbuck at one point. All very exciting !

Night drives at Zakouma never fail to surprise, with great sightings of Serval, Genet, Civet and a number of Owls each night. There were no Ratel this year having seen them daily the previous year, highlighting  how different each game experience can be. Day in and out, we enjoyed amazing concentrations of Tiang, Lelwel’s Hartebeest, Roan Antelope, Red Fronted Gazelle, Central African Buffalo and some of the last Kordofan Giraffe, (all which would be “life sightings” for many people). Each day, a dozen bull elephants congregated at a small waterhole, where you can be closer than you ever will to a big old bull anywhere on the planet.

But really at Zakouma, it is the birdlife that is the most incredible experience. Even for the “non birder”, the spectacle of tens of millions of Quelea turning the sky black is truly awesome ! Add to that many tens of thousands of other waterbirds, – black crowned cranes, spur-wings and knob-billed geese, pelicans, etc etc. This must be one “the world’s” greatest bird photographic locations.

This time, we also visited The Ennedi Plateau deep in the Sahara. Absolutely unbelievable, – a landscape photographers paradise, colours, hues, shape and form all created by the relentless errosion of sand and wind. One of my guests described it as “Arches National Park, Utah on steroids” ! For all of us, it was truly an awesome part of the “the ultimate Saharan immersion”. Spectacular sandstone formations, ancient rock art hidden in caves, traditional Toubou nomads bringing their camels into oasis, and hidden Guelta’s to drink, where the last (only 6) Sahelian Crocodile still survive. Chad’s typical “tribal nomads” such as the Toubou, have been resistant to the influence of “islamic fundamentalism”, and stay true to their own beliefs. As such, the region is without doubt considered the safest place in the Sahara at the moment ! Now is the time to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

There are some compromises – it is not a weekend away to a luxury resort ! So you should be aware of the following conditions – then Africa’s Remotest Safari, will reward you with some life long memories.
 
1. It’s really really hot and dry, (Approx daytime in the shade 115F/46C, luckily minimum nightime is closer to 70F/21C – so comfortable sleeping. Humidity 10-20%.

2. The wildlife is very shy, as it has seen so few people, and the local tribes really do not like their photo’s being taken under any circumstances, (for both religious and traditional beliefs). So, one needs to be patient, understanding, resourceful, and most of all respectful of their wishes.

3. In the desert, the mode of travel is in comfortable 4×4,s. We move daily, up with the dawn, a light breakfast and then on the road, a siesta at lunchtime, and only stopping at dusk to sleep out under the stars (mosquito nets unnecessary,) or in pup tents (for some privacy). The bathroom facilities are a long walk the nearest bush or rock (in some places not always easy to find).  Instead of a gushing shower at the end of a long day, you’ll have to survive 5 nights on a 2 pint (1 litre) bowl of cold water. It is sufficient to sponge wash yourself, maybe your under clothes, but probably not enough for both. Water as you can imagine is a real luxury in the desert, and is usually saved for drinking.

A remote trip like this is expensive considering the simplicity, – but with that – we shall explore some of the best of the Saharan landscape and wildlife that few others have had the privileged of doing.

Please feel free to contact Steve should you be interested in a web link to an interactive flipbook giving extensive details of next years trips.