The Ennedi Massif

The Ennedi Massif, a vast sandstone plateau in the remote northeast of Chad, is one of the most spectacular and least-visited natural wonders in the Sahara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary beauty. Over millions of years, wind and water have eroded the sandstone into a surreal labyrinth of soaring towers, pinnacles, mazes of canyons and stupendous natural arches, including some of the largest stone arches on earth. Its hidden gorges shelter thousands of years of ancient rock paintings and engravings, and, most remarkably, the Guelta d'Archei, a permanent water pool in a dramatic canyon where a relict population of desert crocodiles survives, along with camels and wildlife, amid the emptiness.

What's there

• The stone arches - the stupendous natural sandstone arches.
• The rock towers and canyons - the surreal eroded labyrinth.
• The Guelta d'Archei - the desert pool with relict crocodiles.
• The ancient rock art - the thousands of paintings and engravings.

When to go

November to February, the cooler winter months, are the only comfortable time to explore, as the Sahara is scorching for much of the year; even then, days are warm and nights cold. The massif is deeply remote, reached only by long four-wheel-drive expeditions with guides, and visited on multi-day camping trips.

Things to know

Ennedi is extraordinarily remote and reached only by long four-wheel-drive expeditions with a guide, fuel, water and camping equipment carried for the whole trip; there is no accommodation, no signal and no resupply out there. For the reward of one of the most spectacular desert landscapes on earth, a labyrinth of stone arches, canyons, ancient rock art and surviving desert crocodiles, Ennedi is genuinely magnificent and unforgettable.

Nearby

The Lakes of Ounianga and the town of Fada are within the vast region.