The pool
In the canyon floor.
Souleymane Torbo — CC BY 4.0 · Valerian Guillot — CC BY 2.0 · anmede — CC BY-SA 2.0 · anmede — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Emilien Lebourgeois — Public domain
The Guelta d'Archei is one of the most famous gueltas, or permanent rock pools, in the Sahara, in the Ennedi Plateau of north-eastern Chad, south-east of the town of Fada. It is a pool at the bottom of a narrow canyon between tall rock walls, where camel herders bring their animals to drink. It is one of the most striking sights in the desert. Several animals live in the guelta, most notably the West African crocodile. Fossil remains and rock paintings show this species once lived across most of the Sahara. The crocodiles surviving here are one of the last known colonies in the desert. The guelta is part of the Ennedi natural and cultural landscape on the World Heritage List. You see a narrow passage between reddish-brown sandstone walls rising sheer on both sides, with a dark pool at the bottom ringed by green plants. Water and wind have left wavy marks on the rock. Soft sand and scattered trees lie at the entrances. It is about 37 km from Fada in a straight line. Access is very hard, with no paved roads, and the trip from N'Djamena takes about four days by four-wheel drive. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Chad's northern provinces, including this area, so read the current advice before any planning.
In the canyon floor.
Sheer and red.
At the water.
Ennedi Plateau, south-east of Fada, north-eastern Chad
A permanent rock pool in the desert.
Yes, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the area.