The Aloba Arch
Soaring.
AmIdRe — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sven.oehm — CC BY-SA 4.0 · anmede — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Sven.oehm — CC BY-SA 4.0 · NASA Johnson Space Center — Public domain
The Ennedi Plateau is a sandstone massif in the middle of the Sahara in north-eastern Chad, in the Ennedi Ouest and Ennedi Est provinces. It covers about 60,000 square kilometres, roughly the size of Switzerland. Wind and temperature swings shaped it over thousands of years into rock arches, pillars and mazes. Hunter-gatherers lived here from about 5000 BC, followed by herders from about 4000 BC. It is known for a large collection of rock art showing mainly cattle, some of it nearly seven thousand years old. Semi-nomadic herders with camels and goats live here today. It joined the World Heritage List in 2016. You see huge rock arches, the best known being the soaring Aloba Arch, along with pillars and gateways in red and orange amid golden sand. Cave walls carry ancient paintings of camels and cattle in white and red. At sunset the rocks turn orange and cast long shadows on the sand. It is about 34 km from Fada in a straight line. Visits are on rare organised trips with four-wheel drives and guides. Do not touch the rock art. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Chad's northern provinces, including this area, so read the current advice before any planning.
Soaring.
Camels and cattle.
Orange rocks.
North-eastern Chad
Some of it is nearly seven thousand years old.
Yes, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the area.