Chad: I.- The Eden of the Sahara. Lake Chad

I have already decided what my trip will be this summer before I go to Norfolk, if I go... I'm going back to Chad (I've already told you that I lived there...?), I want to go through the Tibesti, the most incredible place in the world, no doubt. I am looking for volunteers to join me in this adventure.

So I'm going to announce the call in the style of Shackleton, one of my favourite heroes:

"Men/women (more of the latter) wanted for dangerous journey. High price, intense heat, long days of discomfort, many hardships, little food, no sex, lots of bugs, constant danger, and a fair chance of returning alive (the latter is for encouragement)".

Even so, the trip will be worth it, believe me.

 I'll start by showing you Lake Chad, which you have to see before it disappears, because with climate change it is in serious danger and it is estimated that it will dry up in about 20 years. Unless the Bardems take action and call a "mani" to solve it, of course...

It was discovered by Clapperton and Denham in 1823, who christened it Lake Waterloo, although without much success as nobody calls it that. At the time it was thought to be the source of the Niger River, but in fact the only watercourse that feeds the lake is the Chari River, which flows through the capital Ndjamena.

The inhabitants of the islands and shores of the lake are the Boudoumi, who, according to Jules Verne in "Five weeks in a balloon", were very fierce pirates. I don't know, either their customs have relaxed a bit or I'm just unconscious and can't quite identify the danger.

The Fulani also live in the immediate vicinity. As Chad is shallow, it is common to see them crossing parts of the lake with their floating horn baits.

Here are a few pictures of the Fulani, because a picture is worth a thousand words and that's how I was speechless when I was in Lake Chad for the first time.

And just for the foolishness of being able to say that I had bathed in Lake Chad, among hippos (although you can't see them in the photo) and the fearsome capitane fish (whose bites don't even spare the hippos), I took a dip. It might seem reckless, but in my profession, fear is not an option, you know, and here is the proof:

I am aware that with this photo a myth falls down, but I didn't know how to retouch in the pobrepoint this debris body that I seem to have.

And as I don't want to leave you with this image for today, I'll leave you with one of those appearances that knocked me out for the whole day until I had a gin and tonic at the "carnivore" in Ndjamena.

This is much better, isn't it?

Well, I'll leave you for today, next day we'll fly to the border with Darfur and from there we'll go up to the Ennedi, in the north. You will love it, I know you will.

Deserting
setielena@gmail.com
8 Comments
  • Iciar
    Posted at 04:03h, 16 March Reply

    How funny you are!!!! You crack me up! I loved the debris body thing!

    • undiaenlavidadecuchara
      Posted at 16:30h, 16 March Reply

      ay prima, what a joy to hear from you, we are a disaster, tell Nacho that I'm looking forward to going fishing one day.

  • MARIA
    Posted at 10:17h, 16 March Reply

    Bufffff! what photos! When are you taking us?
    By the way, the June trip to Morocco seems to be on track; we will almost certainly be flying on 01 June .................................. and we'll be talking about it.
    Best regards.

    • undiaenlavidadecuchara
      Posted at 16:31h, 16 March Reply

      Well Maria, I'm looking forward to it too. I'll take advantage of the next trip I make over there to get everything organised. How did you finish the other day? I'm sorry I had to leave early.

  • Melissa Córdova
    Posted at 04:40h, 14 November Reply

    I'm from Chile, I study Tourism Management Engineering and I have a subject related to geography and climatology, I have to present a paper about it and I chose Chad, for climatic reasons, and as I don't believe in coincidences, I came across your blog and I found it wonderful! I have to present everything tomorrow and I'm fascinated watching your blog and your adventures. Thank you for sharing something so wonderful, if I had the means, I would do the same, in the meantime I am content to read your comments and laugh with your humour and your adventures ! A hug and my best energies to you from the other side of the world !

    • undiaenlavidadecuchara
      Posted at 22:22h, 14 November Reply

      Hi Melissa, I'm glad you liked my blog. With what you've written you've fed my ego for a long time. You should know that I've gone to work with a smile from ear to ear. It's even making me want to write another entry...
      If you still need anything from Chad, (one of my favourite countries) just ask me.
      A hug
      and what do I say to myself, why don't you become a follower of the blog, that today there is a promotion and if you become a member the day you pass through Spain you get a beer for free at El Lateral (I have to advertise, if I reach 50 followers they give me a huge discount at the supermarket).

  • Tomas
    Posted at 10:41h, 06 February Reply

    Hi, how are you? looking for information about the chad, I came across your blog, I loved it.
    Well, we want to go to the area of Ennedi or Tibesti, this is the doubt, I think both are worth it but we have to choose one...
    I have contacted a local agency but if you know of a reliable one I would appreciate it.
    A hug

    • undiaenlavidadecuchara
      Posted at 23:10h, 06 February Reply

      Hi, I'm so envious of the trip you have planned. Both areas are incredible, I'm more attracted to Tibesti, but on the other hand Ennedi is also spectacular and it's a bit safer right now. For both trips you have a lot of work ahead of you, but they are worth it. The only company I know of there is tchadevasion, they are serious. When do you want to go? How many of you are there? Best regards

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