Fada

Fada is the administrative centre of the Ennedi and the point at which expeditions into the massif organise themselves: fuel, water, permits and guides. It sits among the sandstone at the edge of the plateau, a town of low buildings and a market serving a scattered population of herders. The country immediately around it already shows what the Ennedi is, with rock walls and gueltas within reach. The name is also used for the wider district, and the escarpment behind the town carries painted shelters within an easy drive of the settlement.

What you actually see

• The town - the administrative centre and supply point for the Ennedi.
• The market - the trading point for the region's scattered herding population.
• The sandstone setting - the rock country beginning at the town's edge.
• The expedition base - where fuel, permits and guides are arranged.

When to go

November to February is the cool season. March to May is extremely hot. Reaching Fada takes days overland or a charter flight.

Honest expectations

Facilities are minimal and everything must be arranged in advance. Permits for the region are required and take time. The overland journey from N'Djamena takes several days.

Nearby

Aloba Arch is nearby, and Guelta d'Archei is south.