Aloba Arch
A sandstone arch in the Ennedi with one of the largest spans measured anywhere.
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UNESCO World Heritage
The Aloba arch stands in a side valley of the Ennedi, a span of sandstone cut by water and wind that is usually measured at around a hundred and twenty metres high with a span of about seventy seven, which puts it among the largest natural arches recorded anywhere and the largest in Africa. It is thin at the top and looks improbable from below. The Ennedi massif around it was inscribed by UNESCO in 2016.
What you actually see
- The arch - a sandstone span usually measured among the largest in the world.
- The thin crown - the narrow band of rock left at the top of the span.
- The side valley - the enclosed wadi the arch stands in.
- The UNESCO listing - the 2016 inscription of the Ennedi massif.
When to go
November to February is the cool season and the only practical window. March to May is extremely hot. The site is remote at any time.
Honest expectations
Reaching it requires a full desert expedition with guides, fuel and water carried; there is no infrastructure. Permits and arrangements take months. Sand and heat govern everything.
Nearby
Guelta de BachikƩlƩ is nearby, and Fada is the region's town.
What to pack for Aloba Arch
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.