City: Chad
Top Things to do in Chad
Top 6 Nature & Parks in Chad, Chad
Coordinates: 15°N 19°E / 15°N 19°E / 15; 19
Restaurants in Chad
1. Tibesti Mountains
2. Lakes of Ounianga
3. Guelta De Bachikele
4. Arco de Aloba
5. Zakouma National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Zakouma National Park is one of the last remaining intact Sudano-Sahelian ecosystems in Africa. Due to its close proximity to the centre of the Chadian Basin, the terrain of the park is almost exclusively flat with the exception of the beautiful granite inselbergs found in the south-west near Ibir. As one of three national parks in Chad, Zakouma forms an integral part of the conservation of flora and fauna in the region, as well as being the only game viewing destination offering guest accommodation in the country. The Chadian government has been committed to protecting this natural heritage even through many years of conflict. Today Zakouma is one of the most important protected areas in Central and West Africa. Zakouma has three tiers of accommodation available in the park. Camp Salamat which is a camp site for self catering. Tinga Camp which is a 3* lodge which offers traditional safari activities and very reasonable prices. And new to the park is Camp Nomade which is a high-end mobile safari camp which will be open from January 2015.
Reviewed By antwerp88 - Toronto, Canada
Like many on their first safari I visited Tanzania's iconic Serengeti and the northern circuit, but my second safari was to be very different. I did a deep dive into African wildlife conservation, community support and tourism conservation which kept leading me to a word that sounded fascinating and an organization that was truly noteworthy. Zakouma, Zakouma, Zakouma ... it seemed like those in the know were all raving about this remarkable conservation success story located in a remote corner of south-west Chad. And as I read the story of Zakouma, I read the story of African Parks, a wildlife conservation organization that manages Zakouma and 19 other national parks across Africa. I was so impressed with Zakouma and African Parks that I wanted to visit so I could contribute to Zakouma's exemplary conservation story. Zakouma National Park is definitely off the beaten safari track and required a thorough investigation into the logistics of travel to such a remote location and the the best opportunities to visit - either solo or with a group. I definitely did my homework, over about a 2 year period; I contacted every safari guide and agency that was leading trips to Zakouma. I even contacted Zakouma directly and inquired as to solo travel. In the end, I decided to travel with a small group led by the remarkable and pioneering Sangeeta Prasad founder of Chalo Africa and Kenyan guide/naturalist extraordinaire Zarek Cockar for the Zakouma segment, in an itinerary that would encompass both Zakouma and the Ennedi, a rocky plateau and desert region of Chad that I longed to visit. Sangeeta's Zakouma and Ennedi trip was the only itinerary that included both areas and gave them the time they required, as well as the Ouadi-Rimé Ouadi-Achim Game Reserve in Central Chad. I definitely made the right decision and embarked one of the most unforgettable trips of my life. Zakouma - probably the most authentic wildlife experience in Africa - species in huge numbers and great diversity - interesting and varied terrain - visited Rigiuliek Pan twice and it was fabulous - a birders paradise - great for birders, but also fantastic for other species - the Zakouma elephants are a legendary wildlife conservation success story. I was lucky to witness, for about an hour, a vast herd of 200-300 elephants leisurely cross a river - this was the sighting of a lifetime and brought tears to my eyes Wildlife Sightings: - cheetah (very rare to see in Zakouma, but they are there), lions (multiple prides), african wild cat, serval - roan, tiang, kudu, lewel hartbeest, red fronted gazelle, western kob, defassa waterbuck, bush buck, striped gazelle, bohor reedbuck, duiker - buffalo (huge herds) - Kordofan giraffe (large numbers) - elephants - striped hyena, spotted hyena - patas monkeys, tantalus monkeys, baboons - many civets, genets and bush babies - ostrich - crocodiles, nile monitor lizard, spurs tortoise - cobra Birds: - enchanting clouds of red billed quelea murmurs - carmine bee eater, red throated bee eater, green bee eater - great white pelican - black crowned crane - african spoonbill - knob-billed duck, white faced whistling duck - egyptian goose, spur winged goods - saddle bill stork, wholly necked stork, african open billed stork, marabou stork - abyssian crowned hornbill, african grey hornbill, northern red billed hornbill - bateleur eagle, tawny eagle, african frish eagle, long crested eagle - greyish eagle owl - senegal coucal - abyssian roller - spur winged plover, african wattle plover - great white egrets, little egrets, cattle egrets - sacred ibis, glossy ibis - purple starling, long tailed starling, nightjars TINGA CAMP = 5 STARS - loved Tinga Camp and highly recommend it - a comfortable down-to-earth camp with a fabulous location overlooking a dried river valley that acted as an avian highway - awseome! - the rooms were neat and comfortable with a bed, desk/chair and closet with an overhead fans, electrical outlets and mosquito nets (though did not need the nets as it was dry season so did not really notice any mosquitos) - each room had an ensuite toilet and a separate shower and sink area - each chalets is built with 4 separate rooms that are well sound proofed - the main open-air reception, dining and lounge area which is also thatched and overlooks the riverbed is just simply perfect - excellent food - great service - outstanding guiding and safaris (mornings, afternoons and evenings) I visited Ennedi in late February and Zakouma in early March 2020, just before Covid shut the world down and I am so glad I went! We flew into Zakouma on a charter flight from the Chadian capital of N'Djamena and we drove back with a tented camping overnight enroute as it is a long drive. We did the Ennedi portion of the trip in 4x4 vehicles driving the entire distance, due to a cancellation of the scheduled domestic flights. But it was awesome - quite the roadtrip - and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Zakouma is unforgettable! If you ever get the chance to go, GO! It's an authentic safari in the conservation story of the century.
6. Lake Chad
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By chadian4206ix9ine
big alpha lake by far best place ever 10/10 would go there again i alredy have been there 65 times perfect for hiding dead bodies and swims with the family the brown colour makes it unique wouldent buy the tour the if you are a real chadian then you dont go on boat you swim.
