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Chad Gerewol (or Guérewol) Tribal Festival - Festival of the Mbororo Nomads @ Dourbali, Deep Desert. Expected date: 15th of October. 

The Gerewol Festival (Guérewol Festival) in Chad is a spectacular display of traditions and culture that have been around for hundreds of years, and have remarkably remained very authentic. In the blistering desert heat, the focus of the festival is around these young men as they compete for a wife who ultimately chooses them based on a number of factors.

The Gerewol Festival is sure to be one of the most unique experiences that Africa has to offer, and one of the least known as well. The Gerewol Festival tour is packed with color, culture, food, and once in a lifetime experiences, you will not find anywhere else. Thanks to attractiveness being a large part of the courtship equation, the colorful costumes and original make up the men have worked tirelessly on is of a grand scale. Typically made up of mud and clay, it is said that in order to prepare their make-up and to be unique, they sometimes walk for days finding a new ingredient to include as part of their attire. 

You'll have the opportunity to watch these men dance and sing songs for hours on end in order to prove their stamina to their prospective wives. 

Itinerary Gerewol Festival 

Day 1: Arrival in N'Djamena

Upon arrival at N'Djamena airport, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel in the city. Depending on the time you arrive you can opt to rest for the remainder of the day or head out and explore this great city. Overnight in N'Djamena.

Day 2: N'Djamena City Tour + Gaoui

After the Police formalities this morning, depart the hotel around 09 :00 am. Today guests will visit the National Museum - Dembé Women's Market, rich in colors and African scents. Lunch isnot included today but guests will be taken to a restaurant. At 15h, visit the historical museum Gaoui and the cattle market. Back to the hotel in bed and breakfast. Overnight in N'Djamena.

Day 3: N'Djamena - Durbali 90 km - Mbororo - Gerewol

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, guests will depart around 08:30 am north via Zina to reach the area of Massinya, passage of the area of the Arab and Boulala nomads- and woodabé (Fulani Mbororo). Along the way there will be some meetings with some nomads in transhumance. Meals included today will be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Overnight in Tents. 

Day 4: M'bororo Camp-Guerewol

This part of the crossing of the plain with its rich treasures with its men and women who perched on donkeys or carts hurry daily with multitudes of activities (market gardening and seasonal agriculture). Formerly animists, the inhabitants of this region, the Peulhs, have kept the tradition of various sacrifices for a part of this population that remained on the plateau. Highlights: living amongst the nomads, Guerewol dances. Meals included today will be breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Overnight in tents. 

Day 5: N'Djamena

We are going to greet our hosts and happy nomads after 2 nights of ceremonies. Today it is necessary to depart to leave towards the plain. We leave this region to meet other ethnic groups on our way back, who have a cult of beauty and have also kept their culture as the Arab Choua and other ethnic groups of Baguirmi. We will visit some camps or markets in the region to experience this atmosphere. Return to N'Djamena in the evening. Dinner is not included this evening. Overnight in N'Djamena.

Day 6: Elephant Rock - Airport

This morning after breakfast, depart the hotel and drive to Elephant Rock (Hadjer lamis) to visit the elephant-shaped rock in the Karal region. On the way back, guests will enjoy lunch at a nearby seaside resort called Dougouia.  Just the Chari River separates Cameroon from Chad. Guests will visit the village, which is being built in the Sudanese style. Lunch is planned at this camp restaurant in Dougouia. Return to N'Djamena in the early afternoon with a stop at the livestock market. Upon arrival in the capital city guests will be transferred to the airport for their departure flight. Breakfast is included today and a sandwich at Dougouia. End of tour.

Included:

• Driver

• Guide

• 4X4 with fuel

• Cook

• Camping equipment (foam mattress, tent)

• Meals as mentioned

• Accommodation as listed

• Invitation letter

Not included:

• Travel/medical/cancellation insurance

• Drinks 

• Sleeping bag/sheets/pillow 

• Flights