Gerewol Wodaabe + Ennedi Festival (October 2026)

A Trip to the Wodaabe Gerewol Festival and Landscapes of the Ennedi

We are pleased to present a new trip to Chad that combines a visit to the Gerewol Festival of the Wodaabe nomads— one of the most impressive festivals in Central Africa —with a tour of the Ennedi Plateau , where we’ll spend several days exploring its breathtaking landscapes of rock and sand. This journey—a blend of culture, scenery, and nature—is one of the most spectacular and comprehensive ways to discover CHAD.

Traveling to Chad in October

October is a month of seasonal change, marking the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in Chad. It may rain in the central part of the country, and we may encounter flooded trails and roads during rain. The days are very hot, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.

That said, and keeping in mind that the weather conditions aren’t the best, the month of October offers travelers visiting Chad a burst of nomadic cultures throughout their journey—something you can’t experience in any other month of the year.

It is almost certain that we will encounter dozens of nomadic groups on the move. Some of them will provide us with the most memorable images from our trip.

If you’re interested in nomadic cultures combined with the landscapes of the Ennedi, this is the trip for you.

Gerewol Festival of the Wodaabe Nomads

Toward the end of September and throughout October, coinciding with the end of the rainy season, the Wodaabe celebrate the Gerewol Festival, one of the greatest cultural spectacles in this part of the African continent. It’s not usually easy to reach them, but the effort is well worth it.

Every year, in the area around Dourbali, two large Wodaabe clans (the Sudu-Sukaya and the Njadpto) gather to hold an impressive “beauty contest.” The goal is to find a mate, since these nomadic herding families have few opportunities to socialize during their nomadic daily lives.

The Gerewol is a ceremony in which men dance and compete to be the most handsome. The women serve as judges and can choose their future husbands.

The Wodaabe are one of the largest nomadic peoples in Africa and belong to the larger Peul or Fulani ethnic group.

For the Wodaabe or Bororo (Peul nomads), there are three essential purposes in life:

1. Appearance. They call themselves the most beautiful people in the world.
2. Cattle. Cows with large horns are their most prized possession.
3. Family and relationships with his clan.

As a result of this emphasis on aesthetics, the Wodaabe are a truly distinctive ethnic group. The men wear tunics and turbans and shave the front of their heads to leave their foreheads bare. Women wear dark colors in their daily lives and bright colors during festivals. Their hairstyle typically includes two braids that frame their faces and provide them with magical protection. Both sport numerous facial tattoos.

During the festival, we’ll see how the men apply elaborate makeup to enhance their appeal during the dances that take place at dusk and into the night.

This trip to the Gerewol Festival in Chad is, therefore, a unique opportunity to learn about the different nomadic cultures of the Sahel. If you’d like to learn more about the Wodaabe and the Gerewol Festival, check out our blog post: A Trip to the Gerewol Festival in Chad.

Fantasy Landscapes on the Ennedi Plateau

After attending the Gerewol festival and visiting the nomadic groups in the Lake Chad basin, we’ll head to northern Chad. If you thought the Gerewol was an adventure, get ready for another highlight.

We will travel to the Ennedi Plateau ( UNESCO), considered one of the most spectacular deserts in the world.

Traveling to Ennedi is like being on another planet. It’s not a “monotonous” desert—quite the opposite, in fact.

In Ennedi, we find canyons, ravines, oases, and one of the world’s largest collections of stone arches. There are also numerous cave paintings depicting nomadic life from thousands of years ago, as well as wildlife, including the beautiful desert foxes (fennec) and even ostriches.

The day begins with the sunrise casting its light on the rock formations and ends with a night filled with stars. We travel in 4×4 vehicles with local guides and drivers, making numerous stops to walk and experience the desert.

In Kumakonda, we always choose the most spectacular spots to camp, although it’s not at all hard to find them. Around every bend, at every corner of this desert, the views are incredible.

In addition to the scenery and nature, along the way we’ll encounter fascinating ethnic groups, many of them nomadic, such as the Arabs, Tubus, and Fulani. These will be new opportunities to interact with the local people and observe their way of life centered around livestock and waterholes.